Classics May be Banned

[hawk20]

Classics May Be Banned

Some environmentalists are urging the EU to ban the use of cars older than 10 years. They argue that banning older cars would lead to them being replaced with more modern cars more beneficial to the environment.

But replacing a car every ten years with a new one could be far worse for the environment causing more extraction of raw materials, increased disposal of scrapped vehicles, and extra consumption of energy to manufacture more new cars. This would lead to more CO2 being produced and might well outweigh any gains from banning older cars.

The classic car movement wants support to resist this threat and asks those who can to please sign an E-petition on the government site at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/classic-cars


I don't know if others have posted on this issue before but it seems a worthwhile cause, especially since so many older cars in the UK are Mercedes.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed

Ended with 25,000 signed up

 

[television]

This would also hit every not so well off family in the UK.

I do not think that any government would try this

 

[recycled]

They might if they realise that classic cars do not pay tax or do they?

 

[Howard]

Remember that the word 'environmentalist' contains the word that describes them best ...

 

[Natalie]

I shall break the law then if it were ever to be introduced!

 

[st13phil]

They argue that banning older cars would lead to them being replaced with more modern cars more beneficial to the environment.

That single sentence accurately encapsulates the muddled, unscientific, illogical thinking of many in the environmental movement

 

[maddog]

it was a load of tosh the story was started to scare people it was never going to be considered

 

[SilverSaloon]

it would never happen.

 

[SilverSaloon]

They might if they realise that classic cars do not pay tax or do they?

well a ten year old car would! a ten year old car can look and drive brand new if looked after properly.

 

[DaveK]

All those people with cars registered before March 2001 have been jumping up and down about not being affected by the new VED rates.
Don't be so sure. Next budget could well see a set of rules to increase VED on a climbing rate for such cars based on the older the car, the higher the increase.

 

[imadoofus]

This was discussed here about a year ago, IIRC.

The FBHVC (Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs) lobbies hard on this kind of issue and, at the moment, it seems we (classic car owners) are relatively safe.

Some observations I previously made on this forum based upon data gathered by the FBHVC and others:

- Historic vehicles account for less than 1.3% of the vehicles registered on UK roads, and only 0.8% of the 255m total in Europe.

- Historic vehicles are actually driven for 0.1% of the total annual mileage driven by all vehicles in the UK. Over 65% of classics registered in the UK travel less than 900 miles per year.

- The 'classic car' industry is worth £3bn in the UK, and export activies generate a further £300m per year.

- More than 27,000 people earn some or all of their living from the classic car movement.

At this point, it is therefore generally agreed that there are bigger fish to fry with regard to environmental impact.

 

[Dave Lewis]

All those people with cars registered before March 2001 have been jumping up and down about not being affected by the new VED rates.

No they haven't.

 

[DaveK]

That's were you're getting confused... by following the ' environmental impact " line. You have rightly pointed out that there is big money involved...and were there's money, there's a Labour Chancellor ready to demand his slice. he know s people will want to keep their Classics and will stump up to do so.

 

[imadoofus]

That's were you're getting confused... by following the ' environmental impact " line. You have rightly pointed out that there is big money involved...and were there's money, there's a Labour Chancellor ready to demand his slice. he know s people will want to keep their Classics and will stump up to do so.

Yes, but the point is that the costs involved in him so doing will outweigh the revenue generated, as there are so relatively few classics around.

The vast majority of the cars are SORNed for most of the year. I know several people who tax their cars in June, run them until September, and then get a refund on the unused tax, and SORN the car again until the following summer.

Also, anything that adversely affects employment will be viewed as a hot potato by the Government

 

[verytalldave]

Bearing in mind most PM's are driven around in cars that are usually well over 10 years old, I find this unlikely.
Mrs Thatcher had 12 - yes twelve - of the old shape Rovers P5's bought because she loved them so much and she knew that the shape would not be around for ever (unlike her). As far as I know, some of that fleet of Rover cars are still available for ministerial use if required. Those cars must now be over 30 years old. Can you see them being scrapped?

 

[imadoofus]

Next budget could well see a set of rules to increase VED on a climbing rate for such cars based on the older the car, the higher the increase.

And what's that if it's not an "environmental line"?

 

[imadoofus]

Mrs Thatcher had 3 or 4 of the old shape Rovers (P5's?) bought because she loved them so much and she knew that the shape would not be around for ever (unlike her).

P5's. And I'm not sure she had them purchased, because Ted Heath, Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan all used P5's

Edit: Sneaky edit by Dave

 

[DaveK]

The ' environmental line " is just an excuse to steal money out of our pockets .
Easy then saying ' we're going to fleece you cos we can." better to make out it's for our own good.

 

[imadoofus]

I know! Which I why I wondered why it was me who was 'getting confused' by mentioning it