UK vs Europe for car enthusiasts
Discussion
I realize this may sound a little alarmist, but we've all seen news articles about the things that city councils are doing that are making driving a car a little more problematic. Things charging for parking based on CO2 (as if the charge for DRIVING the car isn't already based on CO2), eliminating parking spaces, "banning" big cars that are "too long" from parking (cars that have been on the market for a decade!), closing some roads off from private transport. Then ULEZ expanded in London with a short notice (something like 10-11 months which I consider too short for affected residents of the area). Now ULEZ counterparts are popping up all over the UK.
Are things like this happening across Europe or is the UK seriously in the lead on this front?
Are things like this happening across Europe or is the UK seriously in the lead on this front?
Crappy state of our roads besides i think the U.K. is probably one of the better European countries to own and run a car.
Tax is reasonable when compared, insurance the same. An absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to maintenance with specialised garages up and down the land. Easy to modify vehicles and stay compliant with the law. MOT not that onerous. Even our speeding fines are not that draconian and you’re not frogmarched to a cash point to pay either.
No, on balance I think the U.K. is a haven for the petrolhead and where there are restrictions like ULEZ and whatnot, you can simply pay a fee and continue to enjoy your car. We don’t tend to ban stuff in this country - just charge you for the pleasure.
Tax is reasonable when compared, insurance the same. An absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to maintenance with specialised garages up and down the land. Easy to modify vehicles and stay compliant with the law. MOT not that onerous. Even our speeding fines are not that draconian and you’re not frogmarched to a cash point to pay either.
No, on balance I think the U.K. is a haven for the petrolhead and where there are restrictions like ULEZ and whatnot, you can simply pay a fee and continue to enjoy your car. We don’t tend to ban stuff in this country - just charge you for the pleasure.
Cars in the UK are pretty good value relative to other European countries. For example in Portugal new cars are taxed as 'luxury items', hence are relative to displacement sizes and if theres is hybridisation etc. A 992 Porsche 911 Turbo S starts at EUR 302 000 before you even dive into PTS and adaptive cruise. Ouch.
We also have a very liquid used car market and a good deal of indy specialists as well as a strong petrolhead community here in the UK, making ownership pretty stress free and fun compared to other countries.
That being said the UK roads aren't exactly set up for the ownership potential. They are very busy, highly policed and poor quality in some areas. I guess that is why we all spend so long planning continental trips to enjoy the cars. I would say the grass isn't always greener, we have it pretty good in the UK and probably one of the strongest owners communities.
We also have a very liquid used car market and a good deal of indy specialists as well as a strong petrolhead community here in the UK, making ownership pretty stress free and fun compared to other countries.
That being said the UK roads aren't exactly set up for the ownership potential. They are very busy, highly policed and poor quality in some areas. I guess that is why we all spend so long planning continental trips to enjoy the cars. I would say the grass isn't always greener, we have it pretty good in the UK and probably one of the strongest owners communities.
U.K. has so much motorsport, loads of tracks, trackdays, clubs, meets, specialist cars, some great roads (although not so much on the south east owing to congestion).
There aren’t that many speed traps and penalties are not as bad as some countries in Europe
So not perfect but better than some places (I currently live in Scandinavia and it is pants here - so much so I don’t own a car or motorbike here).
There aren’t that many speed traps and penalties are not as bad as some countries in Europe
So not perfect but better than some places (I currently live in Scandinavia and it is pants here - so much so I don’t own a car or motorbike here).
Germany might be the only country that seems 'better' than the UK judging by the number of interesting cars in general use. The TuV inspections needed for modifications seems to make such cars more acceptable on the open market as you know the history. Plus a range of scenery.
Scandinavia and the Low Countries have harsh taxes.
The Italians tax 'big' cars, plus densely populated in the affluent north.
The French and Spaniards don't seem to go for 'nice' cars for whatever reason, perhaps there isn't the money away from the big urban areas (and in the urban areas someone will set your car on fire to celebrate New Year or something )
Ireland always had worse roads than us, not sure what it is like these days.
Scandinavia and the Low Countries have harsh taxes.
The Italians tax 'big' cars, plus densely populated in the affluent north.
The French and Spaniards don't seem to go for 'nice' cars for whatever reason, perhaps there isn't the money away from the big urban areas (and in the urban areas someone will set your car on fire to celebrate New Year or something )
Ireland always had worse roads than us, not sure what it is like these days.
It's six of one half a dozen of the other, from my travels.
We (UK) aren't taxed as highly as some other European countries.
Our circumstances (UK) aren't the worst, nor is our insurance, compared to other European countries.
We're somewhat in the middle of cost/penalisation for infractions.
I've spoken to enough Nordic folk that made me walk away and think to myself we haven't got it that bad over here
We (UK) aren't taxed as highly as some other European countries.
Our circumstances (UK) aren't the worst, nor is our insurance, compared to other European countries.
We're somewhat in the middle of cost/penalisation for infractions.
I've spoken to enough Nordic folk that made me walk away and think to myself we haven't got it that bad over here
turboLP said:
JAMSXR said:
It costs circa €60,000 to tax a new GR Yaris in France….
Wow, what??? Based on its 1.5 engine displacement? Or on its 3-cylinder size? Or its miniscule dimensions or weight?Didn't it actually cost cheaper to buy new here in the UK?
Ireland the car is €58k new vs £35k in the UK. I believe I’m right in saying the UK has some of the cheapest new car prices in Europe.
turboLP said:
JAMSXR said:
It costs circa €60,000 to tax a new GR Yaris in France….
Wow, what??? Based on its 1.5 engine displacement? Or on its 3-cylinder size? Or its miniscule dimensions or weight?Didn't it actually cost cheaper to buy new here in the UK?
So a GR Yaris (261hp, 197 g/km and 1,280kg) costs near-as-dammit the same as a Maserati Grecale Modena (330hp, 199 g/km and 1,895kg) because the Maserati's mild hybrid system keeps a lid on the emissions.
delta0 said:
Doofus said:
Care to elaborate?
Crit’air is taking over every city and it’s pretty strict. Can’t pay to enter. It’s a straight fine and is expected to be treated as a traffic offence soon so will go up a lot. It’s already fairly extensive and will be increasing a lot. ULEZ in the UK is also expanding, fine-based and will cost increasingly more in the future.
Doofus said:
delta0 said:
Doofus said:
Care to elaborate?
Crit’air is taking over every city and it’s pretty strict. Can’t pay to enter. It’s a straight fine and is expected to be treated as a traffic offence soon so will go up a lot. It’s already fairly extensive and will be increasing a lot. ULEZ in the UK is also expanding, fine-based and will cost increasingly more in the future.
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