Will they let us keep old cars ?

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

hi everyone, i own an old 97. e300 td. 7 seat est, great machine, i am an engineer and like to look after things. i don't like design obsolesence, it's not green, but i realise thousands of jobs have slowly come to rely on it. i was infrormed recently that the powers that be are considering a "ten year scrap car threshold" to stimulate jobs etc. this was done in japan, 5 yrs ago bringing in a 5 yr threshold for all cars. the ethics of this in uk would not look good, in that the people that care and don't just scrap everything when it breaks etc, would not like it. the alternative would be to covertly get the parts suppliers to cut the parts at the age threshold. with new cars now being piled high in fields, the oem's would like the idea, some have allready started. porsche still have a spare parts policy based on their marketing voice, "we will supply the parts as long as you have the car". if mercedes were lobbied i wonder if they would consider this ? after all "pigs will fly" ( if you put enough dynamite" under them.) the powers that be did not want to be responsible for increasing the min age for young drivers, so instead they got the insurance brokers to do it via their premiums, this is why young drivers are either well off or driving arround without any cover. let's enjoy our old cars whilst we can. herbiemercman.

 

[roofless]

what would you pay for a 9 year old 500sl ? whats a years fun worth

 

[popuptoaster]

No chance that'll happen here, the car nuts on a thousands of forums already start writing to the government at the slightest hint that they are making it harder to own or modify old cars let alone your average joe who wont even BUY a car till its ten years old and sensibly priced.

 

[Beaucoupnice]

So does this apply to vintage cars?

I hate to see some of those classics trashed!!

 

[roofless]

if it was to be done i would think it would only be cars made from a fixed date like the free road tax system but it would start from say 2010 & end of life would be 2020

 

[Juddian]

I sincerely hope it doesn't happen, but its been something i've dreaded for the past 20 years as politicians have accelerated their total power base mainly through propaganda, and the use of the bought and paid for (with few exceptions) media.

As the few remaining free thinkers in the 2 houses of parliament die off, and are replaced with professional politician clones it becomes a distinct possibility.

You only have to look at this from a NuLab propaganda ministers viewpoint (and make no mistake call me dave's crew are no different), the way this could be legislated as saving our planet.
Think how the average owner of a 10 year plus MB type vehicle could be portrayed to a brainwashed electorate, Heaven knows what they'd call us.

 

[popuptoaster]

Its not gonna happen here, the government dont have the muscle, can you imagine the amount of people who buy 500 quid bangers cos thats all they can afford who would suddenly vote against them when they found out they were effectively being banned from driving in faviour of "rich" people who can afford new cars?

You cant compare Japan to us, they've had a super strict MOT running for years that makes it cheaper to buy a new car than get an older one through it, why do you think we get all those cheap imports from Hong Kong? Its because the cars are worthless over there, so bringing in a law to prevent ownership of older cars isnt gonna cause them any grief as most people already have to do it anyway.

 

[television]

These scares and ideas have been cropping up since the 70's

 

[psmart]

Problems are that the UK no longer 100% legislates itself, we are at the whim of Europe and probably the only member who obeys European laws without question.

As mentioned in an earlier thread, in Germany they brought out Umweltplakette's, basically grading your car white, red, yellow or green according to a few criterion. Cities have either banned or plan to ban cars who are red/yellow, so in effect forcing owners to ditch their cars, as what use is a car if all it can do is travel the Autobahns and not get to your house? As of next January, my ML270 wont be allowed in the cities I frequent. Its only a matter of time before this system goes to other European countries as Europe seems to be a trial and enforce dictatorship, ie. try something in a state, roll out to country and then roll out to other member countries! For example, the GO system of Lorries paying to use Motorways, initially in Austria and now throughout Germany!

 

[popuptoaster]

Red Ken tried to ban cars with no cats from the congestions zone until someone pointed out that an MG Midget produced less Co2 than a BMW X5 even with the cats on the bimmer. Even Germany has exemptions for older cars, i have a freind whio lives there and he has a 1960 Ford transit with a 24v V6 bunged into it, and is building a mk2 capri with a BMW V12 engine, both of which he is allowed to drive wherever he wants.

 

[robert_jean221]

Maybe the answer is to move to africa, if it can move (not necessary under its own power) then its acceptable.

Bob

 

[psmart]

Red Ken tried to ban cars with no cats from the congestions zone until someone pointed out that an MG Midget produced less Co2 than a BMW X5 even with the cats on the bimmer. Even Germany has exemptions for older cars, i have a freind whio lives there and he has a 1960 Ford transit with a 24v V6 bunged into it, and is building a mk2 capri with a BMW V12 engine, both of which he is allowed to drive wherever he wants.

Trouble is these are all new laws and your friend could get caught out. A bit of info:-
http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/int_england.php?SID=5k9gm0u52ibu331jjre207vja7
http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/index.php?navID=74&SID=5k9gm0u52ibu331jjre207vja7
http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/index.php?navID=27&SID=5k9gm0u52ibu331jjre207vja7
If his vehicle is graded Weiße, or white then special exceptions, but if you own a 10 year old diesel, which is red, no exceptions (from what Ive been told, living and working with Germans).