dan_b
A2OC Donor
@Richard, that article is 2 years out of date!
This is the latest one
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7293011.stm
This is the latest one
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7293011.stm
car tax
- Thread starter knocker
- Start date
davidu
A2OC Donor
Have already posted enough on this thread but just wanted to agree with ULP's idea about running an old Mercedes 250, i know people who do just this. Very solid reliable motoring in a car that has had it's environmental impact spread over many years. I'm as guilty as the best of them for having my head turned by the newest and latest shiny car, mobile etc. (a bloke in the Apple Shop was amazed the other day that i wasn't planning to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G, despite only getting the original one a few months ago!)
Older cars can be pretty cost effective and despite their lack of 'green credentials' in terms of emissions they will always have less of an impact on the environment than a newly produced car. My first car was a (leaky) 1972 Beetle which i sold for £250 more than i paid for it 2 years later! And then a lovely VW 1600 (Type 3) which again i got back what i paid for 2 years down the line. Both of course were tax-free!!
Older cars can be pretty cost effective and despite their lack of 'green credentials' in terms of emissions they will always have less of an impact on the environment than a newly produced car. My first car was a (leaky) 1972 Beetle which i sold for £250 more than i paid for it 2 years later! And then a lovely VW 1600 (Type 3) which again i got back what i paid for 2 years down the line. Both of course were tax-free!!
dan_b
A2OC Donor
The good ol' Dust-to-Dust arguement, which has a lot of sense behind it. Depending on whose figures you believe, between 50-90% of the total energy consumed by a car in its entire life cycle is expended during its manufacture, not to mention the incredible amount of R&D and testing new products are subjected to as well these days, and of course all the increassing sophistication of the technologies means more complex, energy-intensive and polluting manufacturing and global distribution of parts.
That's where the claims that the Jeep Cherokee is one of the least polluting cars you can buy from cradle to grave, whereas the so-called Green Prius is one of the absolute worst.
Anyway, I'm happy with my frugal little A2 now; you have to play the system.
That's where the claims that the Jeep Cherokee is one of the least polluting cars you can buy from cradle to grave, whereas the so-called Green Prius is one of the absolute worst.
Anyway, I'm happy with my frugal little A2 now; you have to play the system.
the_IT_bloke
Past Member
Funny
I thought the original reason we had road tax was to assist in the building and maintenance of the roads....
I have an A2 1.6FSi, so that equates to £120 - £125 road tax, but is reletively small and really light so has less effect on the road as my A3 1.9TDi which is bigger, heavier, took more resources to make, has more torque will disturb the road more and is only £35 road tax.
I agree with the comment that once road tax income goes down the rates will come up again.
Its the same with water meters, the water company has to generate a certain revenue to survive (yes and make a profit) but if everyone goes on a meter then the cost per gallon will go up to balance, we will just consume less...
I am all for going green and conserving the earths resources, regardless of if global warming is 'man made' or not, if we keep on going then we will run out of resources eventually and will be living on one big rubbish tip...
I have never really understood road tax, this seems to be a tax on owning a poluting car for a year rather than the amount a poluting car gets used and the polution it causes...
I know its unworkable and impossible, but the ideal solution would be a swipe card for your car with the details of the cars polution rating on the card. The tax you pay at the pump would then vary depending on the car.
Instant charging on the amount a poluted car is used and the polution it causes. Then scrap road tax altogether and save the time and expense managing and policing the system!
I know it would be open to abuse but it sounds great!
I thought the original reason we had road tax was to assist in the building and maintenance of the roads....
I have an A2 1.6FSi, so that equates to £120 - £125 road tax, but is reletively small and really light so has less effect on the road as my A3 1.9TDi which is bigger, heavier, took more resources to make, has more torque will disturb the road more and is only £35 road tax.
I agree with the comment that once road tax income goes down the rates will come up again.
Its the same with water meters, the water company has to generate a certain revenue to survive (yes and make a profit) but if everyone goes on a meter then the cost per gallon will go up to balance, we will just consume less...
I am all for going green and conserving the earths resources, regardless of if global warming is 'man made' or not, if we keep on going then we will run out of resources eventually and will be living on one big rubbish tip...
I have never really understood road tax, this seems to be a tax on owning a poluting car for a year rather than the amount a poluting car gets used and the polution it causes...
I know its unworkable and impossible, but the ideal solution would be a swipe card for your car with the details of the cars polution rating on the card. The tax you pay at the pump would then vary depending on the car.
Instant charging on the amount a poluted car is used and the polution it causes. Then scrap road tax altogether and save the time and expense managing and policing the system!
I know it would be open to abuse but it sounds great!