lhatkins said:
Leonard you make a good and valid point, new cars are subject to emmison laws, but old cars are not, this should either be stopped or the older cars milage be caped, ok so there might be a case for "classic" cars for shows, but these should be used to commuting unless they are modified to comply with the emmision levels.
That's certainly NOT the point I'm making!
I'm saying that the environmental damage caused by
making a car far outweighs the environmental damage it's emissions will cause throughout it's entire life!
Therefore it would be better to
extend the life of a car as far as possible in order to minimise the pollution caused by making a new one to replace it!
Frinstance, if my 30 year old Land Rover (which incidentally runs in 2wd unless I press the yellow lever) were to be scrapped and replaced by a new one they'd have to mine 1/2 tonne or so of aluminium, and the same of iron, then smelt them at a couple of thousand degrees, then cast/forge them into whatever shape, then produce a shedload of plastics (that'll never degrade) out of fossil fuels, and put it together in a power-hungry factory.. Then transport away my old Landy (more fuel), and crush it, or recycle anything useable, all using more power produced by burning coal...
Surely it makes more sense to keep the old one going, then none of that extra power usage would be necessary!
I should be rewarded by the government for regularly using 2 vehicles over 30 years old, instead of having to pay £160 tax on the Landy, and £60 on the Guzzi! (The Guzzi's the year after the tax exemption cut off - should have been a rolling date!)