Budget

[scillyisles]

Indeed, so band M will include all S4, RS4, RS6, S6 etc registered after 23rd March 2001. 2006 S3 too. Grrrr.

Even the 2002 S3 is band K so will be paying substantially more tax and the 2.5TDI A4 Avant will be in band J anyway.

Yes - I believe the governments own figures show 72% of all cars will pay more VED in the new system. Some (such as RS6) are going to pay more than double - ouch indeed.
There are some inconsistencies in the new system for example cars registered before 1 March 2001 are only classified in two bands and the max VED is £200. So my RS2 which currently costs me £185 per year will cost me £200 per year under the new rules.

[GardinerG]

So suddenly my car uses the roads and creates pollution twice as much as someone doing 40,000 miles a year in a diesel estate. I do 10,000 miles a year. They are clueless pr1cks, aren't they?

If they were really that worried about pollution they'd tax the petrol more and have a fixed annual TAX to allow use of your car on the roads (if required for registration purposes). Just my 2p though.

[derdle]

They are clueless pr1cks, aren't they

I think we all know the answer to that one don't we?

As I said before it's nothing to do with pollution/environment.

They are trying to force people either onto crap public transport or into cars that are so underpowered they are unable to overtake a bus doing 40 mph. We've all seen the queues of cars stacked up behind a bus/lorry or car&caravan (urrgh) and nobody can overtake...except us (from the back of the queue!!!)

[bobbler]

The whole thing is ridiculous. Now while it doesn't directly affect me at the moment due to our car, I am still frigging miffed.
So we do about 15 miles a week in it (if that) putting out 255+ g/km, yet our neighbour in their Ford Ka does 130ish g/km but sits in traffic commuting into Bristol every week - 16 miles each way so double what we do in a WEEK they do in a DAY! They are putting out far more polar bear killing emissions than I am.
Who the hell came up with this?!? How is the annual charge fair in any shape or form?
How do they justify that your ROAD tax is based on the emission rate and not on how many miles your doing? I use the road less so should pay less for its upkeep then...no?
Why do I still need to pay £70 a year on my motorbike when it puts out next to frigging nothing? Should be in the same band as the lowest of the cars - free.
Why is it that they are actively encouraging people to sell their older vehicles and just buy a new one? Surely there is a huge CO2 cost in the manufacture of the vehicles in comparison to the gains of downsizing? Are we to encourage the throwaway culture here too?
And further why is it that I have to pay for it, yet we see very little being pushed in the way of industrial reduction of CO2 IF its such a big thing. Why is it up to Joe Public to fund the annual tea party for up their own arses ministers of no common sense.

[GardinerG]

In a way I understand the reason behind the Showroom Tax on new cars that aren't eco friendly, e.g. the new RS6. BUT If you want one, you are going to buy one. It's called freedom of choice. Irrespective of another grand on top, so the whole thing failed from that point of view too. Pay for what you use, simple solution. Why bother with road pricing schemes when the price of petrol does it all for you. After all, even with road pricing it will be the companies that pay it through raised sallaries and the like, and in the end it will just hurt the economy. Can't they really see the big picture?

[GardinerG]

Surely there is a huge CO2 cost in the manufacture of the vehicles in comparison to the gains of downsizing?

Couldn't have put it better myself. Throwaway culture indeed.

[derdle]

Can't they really see the big picture

They don't have enough brain cells between them see a big picture.

[derdle]

Throwaway culture indeed

...but not platic bags. 4p tax on them threatened for next year.

[bobbler]

Throwaway culture indeed

...but not platic bags. 4p tax on them threatened for next year.

That's just to bolster the moves Marks and Sparks have already made. Its a jump on a bandwagon move at best.
If they where so concerned with that REALLY then why do they not offer paper alternative like they have in the USA for just about forever?

[JohnW]

well guess what will happen now.

I predict prices of post 2001 sports and poluting cars will take a major hammering, especially on the second hand market. The cost of the tax is money down the drain. I know its no different to money lost on depreciation, but as said elsewhere many of these are either second cars, or ones used for low mileages. To justify an RS6 sat in the garage most of the week will become much harder.

Boy am I glad my RS4 is pre March 01

The motorbike tax thing is a good point too. I have no idea what the figure is for my bikes, but why should they not be brought into line too, using a sliding scale, and not paying more than an equivalent poluting car does.

I agree that maybe the VED should be a peppercorn figure, and added to the MoT. Do away with the discs, and have a sticker that must be displayed. They issue blue MoT stickers, but most people bin them.
I also agree that people that cover more miles should pay accordingly. Hell, if you have more than a couple of cars / bikes it cost a small fortune in tax alone, so i'd probably save money despite my high miles
I would guess this is their concern - just maybe they would lose out as a result of doing this.

Anyway, isn't this all about jobs for the boys ?
Making systems that are tricky and complex to manage and tun, so it needs loads of people and its cost can be justified.
Cynic, me ?

[confusionhunter]

Im thinking .... " which country will I move to when I give up completely on this one"....
I hear Canada is nice... Grass looking significantly greener over most fences all the time....

[s4woody]

so my M5 has a rating of 346G/KM..can somebody explain that in laymans terms..am i going to get fooked..
oh and its reg date is 12/06/2001...
but hold on..down the bottom of my logbook it also says..
exhaust emmissions
co(g/km 1.249
hc(g/km or g/kwh) 0.108
nox(g/km or g/kwh 0.104

now im really confused

[derdle]

I'm thinking New Zealand.

[derdle]

I'll not mince my words....You're fooked!

346g of CO2 per km is in Band F at the moment, but will be in band M from 05 April 2009. VED for 2008/09 is £ 210 and then £ 440 from 05 April 2009 and then £ 455 a year later.

Paul

[s4woody]

this is road tax..i pay £205 a year at the moment..and going up to £455..