Hey - deep breath. I dont think at any stage the government suggested it will pay $2000 for every car surrendered that is over fifteen years old.

I think their idea is that they will rebate $2000 whenever a fifteen year old car is traded against a new car. Then once the promise is beiong implemented you will find that it willonly apply to certain types of eco-friendly cars.

Didn't they already say the commodore doesn't even qualify ???

Mike

Yes they did. But I've not seen a list of approved vehicles yet (probably doesn't exist, it's called politicking on the run).

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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.

I wonder if the cars on the list will have free insulation and free solar panels? (and maybe an $800,000 library or covered outdoor learning area to park it in)

so does this mean a reduction in future classic cars?

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one van, one mini s, one knitted cardigan

Magnas, Falcons, Commodores, Corollas, Lantras and Lanos?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

okay I'm happy to see those cars gone

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one van, one mini s, one knitted cardigan

The new car has to have a "Green Rating" of 6 or more. So yes, the Commodore (Australia's largest selling car) will not apply! Labour is so good at promising everything and delivering nothing. They will have already done the costing and worked it so the volume will be low and yes, our taxes paid will end up going to Hyundai rather than assisting our factories producing Commodores. Once again, our taxes paid are being used to assist the rich who can afford a new car. For the majority we will have to keep driving our 80's cars, now worth less or enter into further credit debt in a climate of increasing interest rates.

What we really need is a website to monitor petrol prices and another one to monitor grocery prices. We can call them "Fuel Watch" and "Grocery Watch"

The devil (as always) will be in the detail.
The UK scrappage scheme was a disgrace. All it has done in the UK is increase the prices of used cars. You might not miss some of the old cars, but ignorant people will trade in true classics for horrible boxes on wheels. The US scheme had exemptions aimed at saving classics - there was no such exemption in the UK. We had many roadworthy classics such as Rover P6s, Triumph Dolomites, Morris Minors and many many Minis scrapped by people. The most disturbing thing is that they didn't even save money! Car prices went up to compensate and dealers weren't allowed to discount cars - the £2000 rebate was only against screen price.

Another fine example of making it up as they go.

And sports850, I had the exact same idea a while back. Why shouldn't their pension/benefits be performance based, might be the only thing that would get their attention, they sure don't seem concerned about doing a good job while in office.
I'd especially like this applied to our current premier.

Madmorrie

Has anyone read "The dust to dust report" - it looks into the actual environmental cost of a car over its lifespan. - Very interesting, whats better for the environmemnt, a Hybrid or a V8 pickup....?

The point is, how much resource is applied to building a new car, with all the plastic goodies - oil based, rubber and steel. Will this environmental impact be greater than the reduction in impact on the environment caused by running a less efficent car for another 5, 10, 15 years?

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speed costs....how fast do you want to go...

just like the all the other "bonuses" and "rebates" that have been given out, its only going to increase the price of things to an overinflated price thats going to hurt your average joe later down the track.

I thought they said they'd allowed the $2k for only 200,000 vehicles.

I fail to see how a significant proportion of those who currently own vehicles more than 15 years old are going to be able to afford to go and buy a Prius. Even a Getz is likely out of budget - if you're driving a car worth $2k, where are you going to dig up the other $16k..? Odds are you've got bills and don't want to borrow all of that...


I believe Top Gear said a few years ago that the number was anywhere up to 150 years... I could be wrong on that. But it was a recent repeat of the show.

Gotta love the logic behind all this - even the Greens agree with it. But what it does it continue the cycle of consumption, rather than looking for sustainable industry. It's usually greener to repair something existing than to harvest raw materials and turn them into a completely new item. As Kevin McLeod pointed out when he was on Top Gear, Aston Martin is the most sustainable manufacturer of all. Why? Because so few of their cars have ended up in landfill...

We have a program at uni called SimaPro. It specialises in performing lifecycle assessments. Sometime, when I've got loads of time on my hands and have done my research on trhe types and quantities of materials and processes involved in bring the car to the customer, then for an average life span I could find out the environmental 'cost'.

I think it would be very interesting actually, and I think a car which has seen 20 owners in it's life and has been recycled and rebuilt (especially not an Aussie V8! But a 4 cylinder) many times overs would be quite efficient as there's no short term scraping of the whole car but only minor consumable parts.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

I rather have a sea of solar panels & solar hot water systems across suburbia, than new kia & golf diesels in the driveways.
The 1st home owners grant was suppose to make homes more affordable. It did the opposite and now 1 in 7 tax payers are landlords....

The car dealers & principals are the ones who are keen on this grant.

Once again, poor execution will see all the cash deliver no return.

<Don't want to takeover the thread but>
I want an electric car. To & from work, school, shopping, etc. Bring on the mini E.
Have a look at the blade technologies Getz. http://bev.com.au/
About $2 a charge for 100kms. If it just wasn't a Getz.....

Cheers