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

If I was using a van every day it would be essential and worthwhile to change. A lot of people are leasing vans and there was plenty of notice of the arrival of the charge so they will have changed their vans. I don't want to sound like I agree with it but something had to be done and it has forced a lot of the worst offenders to clean up their act.

Overall traffic in London is a massive problem for so many reasons it makes your head hurt to try and sort it out.

They've introduced a huge scheme in the area I live in where only borough residents can drive through some areas and out of borough cars get a £120 fine. There are plenty of angry motorists but more than 50% of the population of these areas don't even own a car.

I’d love not to have a car but it is completely impossible to travel to work etc without one. There are no other options. I can’t even car share as none of my colleagues live anywhere near me. The thought of that additional cost is scary.

That is a nightmare. I only hear about these things on here. I imagine you have public transport and the tube etc to get around. That’s not an option for me. I would suspect there’s a few dodgy number plates around to avoid the CCTV or the lock over the number plate on a bike.

Things haven't got so bad that I've had to use public transport but I've heard it's available for people in need 🙂

It has taken a while to figure out whether it would be sustainable to keep the van, so far it's not a problem but I'm looking at options. I think they will keep moving the goalposts too so I'm also considering going classic van (over 40 years old) as they are not charged ULEZ, congestion charge and don't even need an MOT.

Transit with the sliding drivers door. Available to view on The Sweeney daily - ITV4😀

Good shout. I wonder if the tyres squeal whenever you go round a corner.

Crossply! It’s the done thing when a Mk1 Granada is chasing you😂😂😂

Had a long chat with my partner about moving on the 900 due to the incoming ULEZ expansion. After sitting down and doing the sums we both agreed it was probably best just to forget about changing for now and see how expensive it becomes. I estimate we use the car probably no more than once a week and that's mainly to take the dog somewhere nice for a walk. I'm going to look into a dog bike trailer for Beckenham as that's just a bit too far to walk to which should knock down usage by at least 50%. £300 a year on top of the usual costs is still a lot but isn't enough to make me think buying a newer car would make us financially better off.

The car is a rolling project that we are both very attached to and selling now would be a mistake as it still needs work to reach it's realistic value. When we're in the position to be able to afford an electric car or even better not need a car we'll take it but for now we're going to try and forget about it.

Looks like they are banning crit-air levels 4 & 5 from late December, which would still allow Euro 4 diesels from 2006 as they'd be a crit-air 3.

I don’t know why more people aren’t buying pre 1980 cars in London. No road tax or mot needed, cheap insurance and no ULEZ charges. And a lot of fun and smiles from others.
No new production costs either and properly maintained shouldn’t be ott with omissions.
You know it makes sense

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1509673

Personally I don't fancy schlepping a young family around in a 40+ y.o. car.

+1

I'm pro the ulez where it is. I'm sure it makes a difference. I'm very sceptical it will make much difference in the burbs other than on a few major routes at peak time. No point in offloading our offending car - it's probably worth a grand. Will just have to suck up £12.50 to go to the tip or on bigger family trips. Imagine the car will die sooner from lack of use.

£12.50 a day though and all the added costs..
Fuck dat

Yep. Especially when you have to share the road with an increasingly large percentage of 2+ tonne SUVs.

Driven by tossers usually.. that can’t squeeze their steroid wagons into parking spaces.
Not sure most modern family cars would stand much of a chance vs. a big suv thing

It would probably be more productive for London as a whole to restrict car size / weight than charge ULEZ.

Imagine the difference if something like the Kei car class was the norm.

Isn't that the way they've done it in Tokyo?

I would only consider it because I've got enough experience and tools to keep one on the road. Most people are not going to know what to check when the alternator light comes on.

Old cars also smell funny.

Sort of. They were basically massively incentivised through tax relief, cheaper insurance and parking benefits etc that, not too long ago, they made up over half the market.

Absolutely this. Better on so many levels... If we must persist with private vehicles in dense urban areas.

Even the particulate pollution would be massively reduced. Think of the difference a small 14" wheel an tyre supporting a 800kg car versus a 2100kg SUV on 260mm wide, 22" tyres

Right, sorry. I get confused between Crit’air and Euro numberings as they work in opposite directions.

Boss idea. Spot on

I could use a cargo bike to do the shopping but the camper is ideal for going mountain biking- getting to races without it would be extremely difficult, and getting to ride at weekends challenging. Luckily the camper is new enough to avoid the ULEZ.