How many of you have had to change cars due to ULEZ Tomorrow

[Tannaton]

I've just changed my job and I have to visit an office in Birmingham once a week, which is about 2 miles into the Clean Air Zone. My 2015 XC60 D5 is about 2 months off being a Euro 6 so I have to pay the £8 a day. I usually go up the night before but charging is midnight to midnight so a early night in the hotel costs another £8 even though the Premier Inn on Waterloo Street is circa 2.2 miles into the zone.

I can't claim the cost of the charge on expenses as I get a generous car allowance - which I think is perfectly fair enough. Given that the cheapest Euro 6 XC60 D5 SE LUX Geartronic on e-bay right now is £19,000 I've decided I can afford £50 a month in charges and I'll keep my 2015 E5 car.

There is an admin assistance in the office with a 2015 1.4 Diesel VW Polo that does about 70 to the gallon but it's Euro 5 so costs £8 a day. Her boss has a 2017 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 and pays nothing... how does that make any sense?

Given the costs of second hand Euro 6 "bread and butter" cars are circa 50% more than a year ago, it feels like a punishment....

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by Spike56

Correct,but no allowance made for those who live here. Expect to see more of us in towns near you..........

This shows the hypocrisy of all politicians who use taxation as a tool to influence behaviour.

If a car is considered to be too polluting to be allowed inside the North and South Circulars then that's one thing. Charging a car's owner £12.50 for looking the other way each day is another thing, however, and it exposes the lie within. In short, given sufficient wealth, one can buy oneself out of trouble. A bit like bribery, really.

A cynic might suggest that it's all about political posturing while making a tax grab from those able to pay on the one hand and, on the other hand, causing real problems for those millions who are less well-off but who need to run a car.

A visiting alien might call it sheer madness, and I can sense legal action in the form of people versus Mayor just around the corner.

What we humans do to each other can be quite astounding. I think I want to be an Apeman.

[JJD1]

And all foreign plated cars seem to be exempt !

[volvo always]

Nearly 2 years ago I was looking for another car as my 2006 Lexus IS 220D was scrapped as head gasket went.

Looked at a few cars. Wanted petrol as don't do the miles, around 8k a year. Went to Kia and had no used petrol Automatics. Thought about a Skoda Octavia but only get SE spec for budget.

Looked at Used Toyota from main dealer, Saw a hatchback Auris Hybrid, thought too small. Took it for a drive and liked it and decided to buy an estate TS version. Had none in stock so bought a slightly older one with less miles and had it delivered to dealer from Basingstoke, with £500 deposit. It was the colour that I liked. Nothing fancy basic Icon plus spec. A few days later, test drove it, they put 12 months MOT on and it looked lovely. Also bought a service plan for 3 years and an extra 2 year warranty.

My Grandparents lived in Birmingham and this was to enable me to drive to visit them through the zone. They have now moved near me so I can care for them. I like the Hybrid drivetrain, it's economical and zero road tax as pre April 2017.

James

[Forg]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

A cynic might suggest that it's all about political posturing while making a tax grab from those able to pay on the one hand and, on the other hand, causing real problems for those millions who are less well-off but who need to run a car.

Inequality is a real issue, I agree so ain't commenting on that part ... but the law-makers aren't just pocketing the money from the "tax grab".

According to this ...
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/defa...f_redacted.pdf
... they money earned in London, apart from what the scheme actually costs, goes towards public & people-powered transport infrastructure.

So those who choose to (or have to) pay that money are paying for non- or less-polluting alternatives for everyone in the area. I'd assume the other cities mentioned are the same.

[Forg]

Originally Posted by JJD1

And all foreign plated cars seem to be exempt !

Are you sure that's not all VW ones?
And have you checked that the exemption isn't just a big green sticker applied at the VW factory saying "I certify this car exempt, signed Sadig Kaaan" (with some very small print if you look very carefully that says "sticker applied by VAG Emissions Technologies Group") ... ?

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by Forg

Inequality is a real issue, I agree so ain't commenting on that part ... but the law-makers aren't just pocketing the money from the "tax grab".

According to this ...
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/defa...f_redacted.pdf
... they money earned in London, apart from what the scheme actually costs, goes towards public & people-powered transport infrastructure.

So those who choose to (or have to) pay that money are paying for non- or less-polluting alternatives for everyone in the area. I'd assume the other cities mentioned are the same.

Hmmm. That would be public transport.

Will a large portion of the UK population that currently owns cars eventually be forced back into using public transport by schemes such as this and the drive towards electric cars?

[Spike56]

When I worked I had a 7 am start. The first train to Victoria arrived at 7.10 and then a further bus trip in. No allowance made and someone waiting for me to relieve them. I could however drive in and park before the congestion charge timing. Also finished at 6.30pm so outside the charge. I would not be able to travel to work by public transport!

I've seen that someone requested the location of the cameras under the FOI regs. Refused.... because you might try and avoid the cameras!

I also see it expanding to the M25, the perfect boundary, in the near future!

[Forg]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

Hmmm. That would be public transport.

Will a large portion of the UK population that currently owns cars eventually be forced back into using public transport by schemes such as this and the drive towards electric cars?

I'm pretty sure they've stated that this is exactly the goal, haven't they?

Oh wait, I doubt the electric-car thing will have much effect there, but this anti-pollution/anti-congestion thing is pushing people in the direction of "getting places without driving" for sure.

Many will spend the money as a one-off, for example I was happy to pay a few tolls when I went for a pleasant Sunday afternoon drive in the Volvo, same for someone who's (for example) spending 20x as much on theatre tickets on a one-off basis; but I wouldn't want to paying that money daily.

[TeamG]

I’m just starting a new role in London and was looking forward to driving my diesel guzzling XC60 (av 22-26mpg) in three days per week whilst my employer covers the tolls.

Unfortunately, I found out that my Volvo is exempt and that the site I’ll be visiting is outside the zone.

I do get a free Oyster card as part of my war disablement pension, but I’m not travelling underground with the peasants!