Change of car? Maybe.

[brian1951]

Four wheels and a board make a rattling good ford.

[Steve M]

Four wheels and a board make a rattling good ford.

Philistine.

[bulleidboy]

Both of our Volvo's (2004 V40 Estate & 2010 XC70 Estate) are serviced by an independent, and we have never had any problems. The local Volvo dealership went over to Kia. We've have had the V40 from new, and it does under 1000 miles per year - it's like new - I think the last time it had fuel put in it was probably August 2019. It only moves when I have to get the ladder out - which is in the garage roof!

[Walkingthedog]

I find my car doesn’t have any problems when it isn’t used.

[bulleidboy]

It's the "Sport" model so stiff suspension and it has a front spoiler which I stupidly ran over a kerb and dislodged and broke last year. It cost about £475 for new parts and painting - I won't do that again - and I keep getting reminded not to do it again! The only problem with "normal" older cars is the road-tax - this car is only a 1.8 but the road tax is over £300.

[Brian]

Road Tax is no longer based on engine size, but the vehicles CO2 emissions and for new vehicles registered since 1st April 2017 the value of the car when new for the first year then year 2 on a flat rate of £145 pa.. Over £40K new and you're into mega 1st year RF tax. Then with an added £320 on top of the flat 2nd year rate for five years from year 2 on. See https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

It is rumoured that the Electric car grant/allowance offered by the government on new sales of 'all electric' vehicles is to be removed in the 2020 budget!!

Now the question has to asked, with the UK government stating all new car sales of Petrol and Diesel cars from 2035 being banned and they have to be electric or Hydrogen powered (or whatever comes along!) and currently no RF tax payable on these vehicles and far fewer petrol/derv sales at the pumps, how will the UK government obtain its massive revenue income it currently has?

[Steve M]

Brian, don’t you read the papers? It’s the magic money tree that will save the day.
Or a tax on oxygen.

[Mr Bones]

I think in driving and political terms it's called a 'U Turn'. As they did with Hybrids. No Tax initially until they realised their mistake and then started taxing them. When we replaced my wife's Toyota Yaris hybrid we went for the older model which is still exempt tax. No doubt at some point that will change again....

[RAF96]

I am taking my lad to pick up his ‘new’ 66 plate Fiesta at the weekend.
£-Zero road tax, but the 3-cylinder 1-litre petrol motor knocks out 125 bhp with performance to match and over 60mpg claimed. He wanted the 140 bhp boy-racer variant but we couldn’t find one within his (i.e. my) budget.
A step change from his elderly 1.9 diesel 150 bhp Saab 9-3 Aero.
If they can make petrol engines this efficient then I don’t see an immediate future for poorly developed (so far) motors.

[Walkingthedog]

I have a Bmax with the same engine, uses the Fiesta floor pan. Goes like a rocket, I love it. The claimed mpg is however rubbish. Bit like the 200 mile range on an electric car, perhaps at a steady 50 along a runway but not if you are driving through the Brecon Beacons.