the news show today tonight 6.30 channel 7 on Monday has an item which by the sounds of the add is about govt plans to get older cars off the road by increased costs..
could be sensationalist advertising (cos they suck like that) but any truth in that sort of talk is a bit scarey... anyone know anything about proposed changes???

well, registration in Japan does that
and in Europe big cars are more exxy to rego

in australia where we're poorer and actually need our cars due to the vast distances between places? hmmmm.

the only reasons i can think of for making older cars more expensive to keep:

1. more negative impact on environment due to old technology, older machines etc. i personally dont rule all cars being that, its a general misconception

2. pressure from large car manufacturers on the government to increase sales

this would make it not too logical seeing a 998 engine would do much less damage than a 3.8L v6

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Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

They'll probably bring in the safety aspects of it too, since new cars all have airbags as standard.
I heard somewhere if everyone upgrades to the safest car in its class, we'd have 90%
less fatalities on the roads, which is good, but then everybody will be kickin around in
binis and berlinas.

sorry yes Harley thats also true
im beginning to lose this argument within myself

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

From what I've heard talking to Insurance people, the incidence of crashes amongst true enthusiasts as opposed to the road racers etc is very very low compared to the average. The thinking is that if you spend 5 years of your life restoring something you tend to treat it more carefully etc.

The arguments to get older cars off the road have holes big enough to drive a truck through (prolly an old Commer Knocker! ).

Environment? We ain't the ones using up precious fossil fuels, limited manufactuiring capability and materials to produce new models every year or two!! Only BMW has the goal to make a competely recycleable car AFAIR.

Now that the dreaded Lead is gone (it was only there in very small quantities if the truth be known) we are on the same fuel as new cars and mostly using less of it!!

Go Figure!!

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"Show me the Mini!"

I think i know which company that was it is true though.

I think that idea would get shut down pretty quickly if
they tried to do that, look in just one state (eg motorfest on australia day)
at how many old cars are there and that only a few...the govt would never get it
past....well thats what i keep telling myself and hoping for.

btw it sucks being at work on a saturday [/code]

Gotta love the UK, once a car reaches a certain age, you don't have to pay tax. Thats the way it should be here, not the other way round!

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I was told last night that once a car reaches 30 years old that it may be calssified as a classic, in doing so the rego is only $100. Whether this is true or not i am not sure. But if it is in 3 years i will be able to save about 460 on my rego bill

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/skimini82

I agree with poeee. In the UK they do things the other way around....old cars are tax exempt!

I will be watching this TV current affairs story with great interest. I can't see how any government can implement this without some concessions....such as car club members and / or enthusiasts having some sort of exemption, or mountain of paperwork to fill out to be exempt. If the government were to do this, half the people with old cars would not bother and upgrade, and the other half might do the paperwork. That's my theory on it all.....

Well they can have my 1982 Commodore if they give me a new one to replace it! Isn't amazing these bloddy wankers saying what's good for us. They can get stuffed. I know lots of people who simply can't afford a 'new' car.

another case of 'taking from the poor and giving to the rich'....

I agree, they conveniently forget that we are voters.. remember the death duties we had in NSW- so everybody just moved up to Qld before they carked it!

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

It should be an interesting story if its not sensational bull. My sistr is a mini owner in the ACT and on Numerous occassions stated that in Canberra its getting harder and harder to register older cars as the government wants them of the road, safety issues and all the hog wash that goes with it. My sister said when friends have taken older cars over the pits as I believe is a requirement when cars change hands in the ACT they are given a harder and harder time.

One of the reasons why I initally joined a club was that the word around was this would be happening in the near future and that unless you had belonged to a club for a while it would become increasingly harder to register and insure your vehicle. As a member of a club and having a mini on full rego regardless of what it looks like or condition you are considered and enthusiast not just a kid with a S'box.

You can insure your car with shannons as a classic on full rego as they have different catagories for use.

I figured that if the goverment of the day decide to remove old bangers from our roads the only people who would be safe are those in organized official clubs.

Cost of membership to official clubs varies and is never more than $40 a year and you can choose your level of involvement.

There are brittish car clubs which have many minis in there membership, Austin car clubs that also have many minis amongst it ranks and of coarse mini car clubs.

I figure it's cheap insurance against ridiculous legislation like in Japan where cars only do 60 000km before their scrapped and you must be in a club to own an old car.

It may not happen or it could be just around the corner, better safe than sorry.

Steve

speaking of which, our membership renewal is due right? How do we do it? Send another form with payment??

Howdy Anton

Yep just fill in form in the mag tick renewal and send to Joan. Did you tell inlaw about the drive in Dorothy.

Steve