[Mgs] UK scrappage scheme

[Richard Gosling]

Well, no-one is going to be legally obliged to scrap their old car, but
there's not much to stop someone buying up a perfectly servicable Morris
Minor for #500 then getting #2000 for trading it in against a shiny new
Discovery (which ironically will produce lots more emissions than the
Moggie).

Even people who already own classics could use this scheme to scrap
perfectly servicable cars.  For example, say someone has a slightly scrappy
but reasonably running Midget, probably not worth much more than #1000.  He
wants/needs to sell it - there's a kid on the way, he's getting too old for
it, he's fed up with the maintenance and repair and wants to get an MX5
instead - it happens.  What's he going to do - sell it for #1000 to a new
enthusiast who wants to have a fun little car, or someone who's going to
restore it, or is he going to trade it in for #2000 against a new car, and a
perfectly good (and economical, and fuel frugal) Midget ends up in the
crusher?

At the very least this measure is going to play havoc with the entire market
for second-hand cars worth under #2000, which represents a large proportion
of our hobby.

This government has already had a go at us by freezing the date for road tax
exemption practically within days of coming to power 12 years ago.  I'd
rather not see any classic cars crushed through another ill-thought-out plan
of theirs...

BTW, petition still isn't open for signing - I'll let you know when it is!!

Richard

2009/4/23 Paul Hunt <paul.hunt1 at blueyonder.co.uk>

>  There's no point, it's optional.  You only take part if you want to!
>
> PaulH.