Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

How does it work, are there just shitloads of ANPR cameras or something?
How do they know if the car has moved etc?

fuck yeah this is great to here. just the simple joy of some new wheels and rubber.

are there just shitloads of ANPR cameras

Yep

Strategically placed ANPR cameras. Because of railways and such it's impossible to make all but short journeys without crossing a fairly small number of pinch points.

The goal is to make regular drivers switch vehicles, so it's not a problem if some journeys aren't picked up, or if a minority of drivers figure out where the cameras are and aren't.

This is an option. It isn't so bad to just keep it for long drives and bike trips. The electric car is actually fine for day trips ~100 miles each way. The bigger car has such a neat 4x bike carrier on the tow bar though, and space for 4x adults and camping equipment to match.

We'll give it a go selling outside London. But I don't think we'll find anything as nice and well looked after as a ULEZ safe replacement.

In Germany there's a company doing Euro 5 to Euro 6 conversion kits fitted for €3600. That's too much. But interesting.

I’ve just realised that even only keeping it for long journeys, if you leave one day, and return the next, that’ll be £30 a pop. And you’ll obviously still be taxing and insuring it. So even just leaving it in the garage is costing you.

Interesting about the conversion kits. It really wouldn’t surprise me if that becomes a much more common thing. If ULEZ is rolled out nationwide, there will just be a massive surplus of non-compliant cars.

Doesn’t help you right now I know.

:(

Where did you look for open box deals, sounds like a good plan?

I'm in the states so it's not applicable. I called around to dealers asking if they stocked it and one said they had and open box. When I got it it was clearly USED. I didn't care but I asked the sales person whether it was the case and he explained it was a common phenomenon.

We'll give it a go selling outside London

What is it? £?

I’ve just realised that even only keeping it for long journeys, if you leave one day, and return the next, that’ll be £30 a pop. And you’ll obviously still be taxing and insuring it. So even just leaving it in the garage is costing you.

I think you're underestimating how little a lot of Londoners drive their cars in anger, at least pre-Covid. If you started assigning the cost of ownership to each trip, £30 is buttons.

(though I'm glad people are just geting rid. Diesel cars and vans were a huge mistake)

If ULEZ is rolled out nationwide, there will just be a massive surplus of non-compliant cars.

They're only ever going to be implemented in a few city centres that most of the UK population never drive into.

My 996 isn't registered as ULEZ compliant because it's too old, but it would pass the required test so you can, if you wish, register it with TFL and drive it around the centre of town paying only the congestion charge.

I drive it into town so infrequently, and am so lazy, that I have not bothered to do this and just pay the fee whenever I do so. I think that was maybe twice last year.

Late-2010 BMW 320d ED in Monaco Blue metallic with walnut and black leather interior. It has such complete history with it that it would be easier for me to forward you the original spec from the dealer when it was purchased rather than list it.

Haven't looked into market value yet as I had some summer adventures planned. (ULEZ extension is October.) But I'd be open to the idea of finding a forumenger home. I will list here first when the time comes for sure.

Should I consider advancing plans and PM you asap?

I did wonder at the use of freeway. I'll keep an eye out and see what's around.

Late-2010 BMW 320d ED in Monaco Blue metallic with walnut and black leather interior

Estate?

Ok, where to start, it is a very limited edition toy for the rich. Yes, it is electric yes it does 0-60 is very fast.

The car looks unbalanced and the massive tyres ruin the look of the bertone design

The final joke is having the engine noise from an alfa pipped in through the stereo while having none of the handling characteristics of the 105 giulia.

Yes. I'll PM you.

Why doesn't the bonnet fit?

I dunno - given it's a toy, it's a good looking one. I think it's pretty cool, would drive.

My frustration is with the October expansion though. Which brings the ULEZ zone up to the south circular.

Also, is it new enough to have some factory emissions figures recorded on the second page of the V5? This would mean there was no testing necessary.

I don't think they'll accept the V5c figures. I'm not sure they'll even accept independent test results, though could well be wrong on that.

They want a piece of paper from the homologation department of the manufacturer with your VIN on it, the NOX level, and signed by a named individual. I had to do it with mine, as I live about a mile inside the expansion zone to the West.

That is the bit I don't get. You can have motorbikes tested and pass. Even two strokes motorbikes pass as it the emmissions are for oxides of nitrogen. So if motorbikes pass petrol cars will.

You could get 'stuff' for commercial vehicles (extra catalysers) to reduce the NOx readings of a diesel is there space to fit the bits. But on quite a few vehicles it wasn't economically viable.

A few have enquired about converting to LPG which would meet emissions but have been told it cannot be reclassed which is piss poor in my opinion.

I can get to work without going inside the South Circular but you can bet that will be a nightmare with everyone else doing it also, I can see it causing absolute chaos on the roads.

It is a step front.![] Here is a better angle to see the step (https://uploads.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/alfa_romeo/10867012.jpg)
Bonnet opens to the front, at a guess bonnet is open after taking some engine shots.

A few have enquired about converting to LPG which would meet emissions but have been told it cannot be reclassed which is piss poor in my opinion.

That seems odd IMO. As you have the motorbike certification, yes two strokes pass. You could get certification of modifications on commercial vehicles. When the LEZ came in on commercial vehicles on some older PSV it was cheaper to wait till the motor needed work and replacing the engine with a later engine that met emissions regs. No idea what that is like now as the zone emissions have been reduced further.

EDIT: there were incentives for commercial users with in the zone to trade to a newer vehicle was there one for people living in the zone?

There's a scrappage scheme for charities and people on low incomes, but not more generally.

The goal of the scheme is to reduce overall emissions in the zone. Retrofitting old engines to just about pass doesn't necessarily help that goal. Last time I looked at the numbers a big part of the modelled improvement in air quality was from an expected reduction in people driving full stop.