Stuff this up your green jumper

[Forumadmin]

I have always maintained a classic car is the greenest form of transport (O.K. apart from a bike). Why? because the low 'carbon' cost of maintaining it on the road completely offsets any loss in fuel economy as compared to the manufacturing and maintenance cost of new cars that need to be replaced every few years. This article further 'fuels' the argument as it maintains that electric cars have a larger 'carbon footprint' than petrol cars.

The argument based on 100000 miles life of the target transport might be relevant as classics are now not the primary form of transport; but if they were? Since Jen's Javelin has done well over 500000miles it has a lot of 'carbon dollars' banked.

[Jack]

Makes you wonder why classic cars made since 1971 are paying the same level of tax as a brand new fuel-guzzling car.

I wouldn't mind, but they are cutting deals for low emissions cars, many are zero tax because they don't create much pollution. Most of our cars do so few miles that the emissions are probably 1/10th of what they produce even with their diddy little diesel engines doing 10K miles a year and will be scrapped within a decade.

It also entertains me that electric cars are perceived to be great for the environment. Where do people think the electricity comes from? In this country - coal, oil, and a bit of nuclear. Great for the environment. I'd feel better about it if they had solar panels for a roof and bonnet, and panels across the roof of their garage to charge them up, but most of the people I see with diddy electric cars live in the centre of London and just want to avoid the congestion charge. I also fail to see how an electric car creates less congestion than a petrol or diesel one!

Oh well, the tax has got to come from somewhere I guess to pay for all these second homes and £200K a year council bosses...

Jack.

[Keith Andrews]

My 40 yr old technoloy carb gas gussling polutution spilling 5.7 L 3400 lb steel camaro has an equiveirnt petrol milage on open road of 34 mpg, around town, traffic, 2 mile start stop, 31 mpg
A quick change of diff ratio /torque converter and pulls 13.8 sec 1/4 @ 98 mph.. in drive inder 4900 rpms.
Add to that the Sulphur is next to non existant as is the NoX levels...without a catylitic converter.

My wifes 1600 toyota corrolla does 38 mpg open road....
the 1988 carbed subaru omega does 46 mph
I really do have great doubts as to the propagada sry marketing...put out about hybrids , modern technology over old technoloy.
Also I dont have electic windows...so thw smelling and making of the copper wire energy was not used when making the camaro...and theelecrtic adjustable seats....just to name on of the many features of modern cars.