What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[The Panda Nut]

For just the 2nd time in just over 10 years I'm having to go on https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax and actually hand some money over ........
(The first time was back in February when I just put 6 months on my newly acquired 595, I wanted to move tax time 6 months away from mot and insurance time)
(My previous for the past ten (at least) was a zero rated car.

It's a peculiar feeling , for the past ten years at least I've just had to visit https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax , enter my 16 digit number and just click a couple of buttons.... and that was it ......

Now I've got to put the number and actually pay £195!!

Dagnammit

Highway ROBBERY... Stand and deliver!!!

 

[HughJarsse]

Had a nearly reverse experience when I got the Toyota...

Having always had petrol cars so paid punitive taxes for them being "dirty" since 2005 odd then the flat rate tax on the C3.

It was a lovely moment to tax the Toyota and get a fiver change from 40 quid...not paid less than in the region of £200 since about 2009.

Same here. Sadly, our 2003 punto runabout has reached the end of the road, costing more than it's worth to keep on the road. (Had over £1200 spent over last 2 years, and now looks to need more again, as gearbox has problems, as well as another oil leak. ) So have aquired a Hyundai i10, 1.2 comfort as a cheap runabout to replace it. Same engine size, very slightly smaller, but, falls into the £35 a year tax bracket (Punto was £169) Got £200 for the punto, plus 5 months road tax refund, and paid £35 for the Hyundai, which is giving me 50mpg round town even with 4 passengers, compared to the Punto's 40ish. Win win there I think.. Hyundai also has a/c which is a definate bonus at the moment!! (punto didn't )

 

[StevenRB45]

Same here. Sadly, our 2003 punto runabout has reached the end of the road, costing more than it's worth to keep on the road. (Had over £1200 spent over last 2 years, and now looks to need more again, as gearbox has problems, as well as another oil leak. ) So have aquired a Hyundai i10, 1.2 comfort as a cheap runabout to replace it. Same engine size, very slightly smaller, but, falls into the £35 a year tax bracket (Punto was £169) Got £200 for the punto, plus 5 months road tax refund, and paid £35 for the Hyundai, which is giving me 50mpg round town even with 4 passengers, compared to the Punto's 40ish. Win win there I think.. Hyundai also has a/c which is a definate bonus at the moment!! (punto didn't )

That tax system was absolute nonsense to be fair...

Having looked up the Hyundai I have no doubt my car should not occupy the same tax bracket being a 1400kg 4.6m long estate car with petrol engine.

But officially...it's more efficient .

Obviously it's not actually usually managing 45mpg on a run and somewhere between 38 to 40 round the doors.

But I will happily pay 35 quid..given we've got a more efficient car that's on flat rate tax and is 195 a year...despite being lower emissions officially.

 

[HughJarsse]

That tax system was absolute nonsense to be fair...

Having looked up the Hyundai I have no doubt my car should not occupy the same tax bracket being a 1400kg 4.6m long estate car with petrol engine.

But officially...it's more efficient .

Obviously it's not actually usually managing 45mpg on a run and somewhere between 38 to 40 round the doors.

But I will happily pay 35 quid..given we've got a more efficient car that's on flat rate tax and is 195 a year...despite being lower emissions officially.

Stupid thing is, My i10 is 209 reg, and at 119g/kg emisions is rated at £35, yet, the same model produced after 2017, despite having the same engine, and emisions, is rated at £169 due to the registration! I could have got a 2016 one, and still paid £35, yet, 1 year newer model, same car, £169. Put me off buying a newer one, even though I could have got a '17 reg for a sensible price, and mileage, but an extra £130 a year for the same thing? No way.. Happy with this little one. nippy, parks easily, and more mpg than the punto. It's just a family runabout for doing the small stuff the multi is a bit cumbersome for really, so anything cheap, reliable and easy to park/drive is suitable.

 

[StevenRB45]

Same with mine, officially rated at 113g/km (try and figure that one out given the difference in size and weight!) but if registered 5 months after on flat rate tax.

Our C3 was officially 103g/km...so naturally costs more because it was registered after march 2017.

 

[HughJarsse]

Same with mine, officially rated at 113g/km (try and figure that one out given the difference in size and weight!) but if registered 5 months after on flat rate tax.

Our C3 was officially 103g/km...so naturally costs more because it was registered after march 2017.

When we were looking for a replacement for the punto, we went to see a Ford bmax, 1.5 turbo diesel, which was almost the same size physically, and were thinking of getting it, as suprisingly it was rated at 109g/kg, for a 1.5 TD, which is even less than the i10's 119g/kg for a 1.2 engine! so again, was a £35 a year jobbie and, being a 12 reg was below the 17 cut off.
(Didn't go for it, as found out when doing a full vehicle check on it, it was a cat's' writeoff!! (seller never said a word about it, just described it as 'having had a knock on front wing , which was basically 'cosmetic' (appears he'd replaced a headlight and 'patched up' the wing)) Left well alone!! Dodged a bullet there i think. The £9.99 for the check paid for itself!!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Stupid thing is, My i10 is 209 reg, and at 119g/kg emisions is rated at £35, yet, the same model produced after 2017, despite having the same engine, and emisions, is rated at £169 due to the registration! I could have got a 2016 one, and still paid £35, yet, 1 year newer model, same car, £169. Put me off buying a newer one, even though I could have got a '17 reg for a sensible price, and mileage, but an extra £130 a year for the same thing? No way.. Happy with this little one. nippy, parks easily, and more mpg than the punto. It's just a family runabout for doing the small stuff the multi is a bit cumbersome for really, so anything cheap, reliable and easy to park/drive is suitable.

Same for Panda TA. It makes me relaxed....