...and you thought our car tax rules were bad.

[RedM]

In the latest issue of Evo they write about how other countries are penalising gas guzzlers.

 

In France, a car that emits just 161g/km or more will now get you a £2000 bill.

 

In Holland, they've introduced an £86 charge for EVERY g over 240g/km. A Ferrari 599 is subject to a £22,000 penalty under the new scheme.

 

It can only be a matter of time before our government tries to implement something similar. I think we've got off lightly so far.

[carl0s]

In the latest issue of Evo they write about how other countries are penalising gas guzzlers.

 

In France, a car that emits just 161g/km or more will now get you a £2000 bill.

 

In Holland, they've introduced an £86 charge for EVERY g over 240g/km. A Ferrari 599 is subject to a £22,000 penalty under the new scheme.

 

It can only be a matter of time before our government tries to implement something similar. I think we've got off lightly so far.

 

Is that for real? It just sounds a little unbelievable to me. Are you sure they're not just 'proposed changes' that haven't actually happened or something?

 

This got me thinking whilst waiting for my kebab to be cooked last night.. surely it has to be better to buy a low emissions car and modify it stupidly. They don't re-check the CO/2 levels do they?

[JamieP]

Ill be for it with a 6.0L V8, do they do this on cars brought from a certain date, dont seem fair if you buy a car then something like this comes out, would almost make the car worthless.

[RedM]

I thought it might be an April Fools joke but Evo don't do editions by month, just by number.

[carl0s]

Ill be for it with a 6.0L V8, do they do this on cars brought from a certain date, dont seem fair if you buy a car then something like this comes out, would almost make the car worthless.

 

Yep, you're right. It makes no sense that they have applied it retrospectively this time around. In the past, all the changes were for cars bought " from now onwards", the point being that it sways people in a particular direction when buying a new car. But this time around they have screwed a load of people who bought their cars up to seven years ago.

 

I've been thinking something else lately, and I'm quite keen on it. My idea is that if we don't like much of what the government is doing, then we should kick them out come next election.

 

I understand a lot of people don't bother voting, because there's nobody attractive to vote for (voter apathy), so my thoughts are that we should all vote for the only party that isn't New Labour, that actually has a chance of winning elections. I guess that'd be the Conservatives would it?

 

It might not improve much, in that the conservatives are just a different bunch of money wasting politicians, but it would send the message that we're not happy and we're kicking you out!

 

If we all vote for our favourite minority party (BNP, FreeDrugsforAllParty, LowPetrolCostsParty.. whatever it is that does it for you in particular), then it'd just be a wasted vote in that regard, but if we all voted for the most likely winner who isn't new labour, then it could achieve something.

 

Or am I totally missing some obvious point regarding politics and the way voting works?

[carl0s]

do they do this on cars brought from a certain date.

 

It's on cars first registered on or after 1st March 2001. So a Y-reg car would be cheaper to tax than a 51-reg identical car, I think.

[Pete]

A Ferrari 599 is subject to a £22,000 penalty under the new scheme.

 

That's insane. That type of car is only likely to do a couple of thousand km a year anyway.

[SilverSoop]

Thats rediciculous! If that sort of thing comes in, my supra will probably be the first to get hit on this forum because as far as i know,

i seem to be the only person alot more for road tax than anyone else!

So if this comes in...ive had it!

[colsoop]

That's insane. That type of car is only likely to do a couple of thousand km a year anyway.

 

Exactly,i said something similar in another thread. The idea is clearly just about money not supposed environmental benefit.

[RedM]

Where's DB when you need him? He'd be able to say if the Dutch one, at least, is genuine.