Advice please on having to replace 2 cars almost immediately
Discussion
OK, here's a weird one. I live mostly in the North of Italy and they've just introduced a new law today which says (in a nutshell) you can't drive a car less than Euro 4 between 8:30 to 18:30 Monday to Friday. This wasn't published before 26th September and we only found out today from my wife's parents how stringent this new law is (I'm not going to go into the injustice/violation of human rights etc). The first offence results in a fine of up to 660 euros, and any subsequent offence they take your license away. Other than my Clio V6 (in storage), my wife and I drive 2 sheds - 2004 model Skoda Octavia and BMW 530D - both perfectly serviceable for our daily needs, if a bit expensive (and polluting) to run. Both cars are now illegal under the new rules. So we need 2 new cars 'subito'. One long distance lugger for holidays and big shops, one city car for a daily 60km commute. I'm thinking Skoda Superb for the former and a city car (ideally electric - we have big solar panels) for the latter, but somewhat put off by the relatively huge up front costs of electric.
I would really appreciate any advice on how to approach this crazy situation. I know that immediate deals and costs might be different in Italy than the UK, but some principles for a good long term approach will overcome any short term financing issues.
So, please, .....HELP- I'm busy researching the market and reviews but any guidance from anyone with any hands-on experience of cars which might suit the above requirements would be very much appreciated.
And by the way don't come and live in Italy if you expect to receive fair and decent treatment from the law/government and a sympathetic ear to any complaints (MPs for example are useless and mostly corrupt and any legal challenge would take longer than the 0-200 time of a Austin Allegro). End of whinge - my decision my problem, but I know your advice would cut down my urgent research efforts enormously. Thanks in advance.
I would really appreciate any advice on how to approach this crazy situation. I know that immediate deals and costs might be different in Italy than the UK, but some principles for a good long term approach will overcome any short term financing issues.
So, please, .....HELP- I'm busy researching the market and reviews but any guidance from anyone with any hands-on experience of cars which might suit the above requirements would be very much appreciated.
And by the way don't come and live in Italy if you expect to receive fair and decent treatment from the law/government and a sympathetic ear to any complaints (MPs for example are useless and mostly corrupt and any legal challenge would take longer than the 0-200 time of a Austin Allegro). End of whinge - my decision my problem, but I know your advice would cut down my urgent research efforts enormously. Thanks in advance.
Doesn't seem to be anything on the internet about this, although northern Italy do appear to have a fair bit of history history for temporary restrictions on vehicles - including Euro 4 - during periods of high pollution so not exactly a new thing.
https://www.thelocal.it/20171227/car-ban-in-place-...
https://dreamofitaly.com/2010/02/25/northern-itali...
https://www.thelocal.it/20171227/car-ban-in-place-...
https://dreamofitaly.com/2010/02/25/northern-itali...
https://www.comune.verona.it/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=61...
Barely publicised - none of our friends knew of this either - in any other country there'd be a revolution but the Italians are just so used to government corruption and manipulation they just get another white flag out.
Barely publicised - none of our friends knew of this either - in any other country there'd be a revolution but the Italians are just so used to government corruption and manipulation they just get another white flag out.
Pericoloso said:
tumble dryer said:
Look back 5 posts.
That just covers Verona....and if you run that through Google translate...
It's just the "municipal territory", except for the ring road, motorways, and routes in to the main car parks.
For petrol, it's just pre-Euro (pre-92) and Euro1 (92-97). For diesel, it's everything before Euro4 (pre-05).
So the OP's Clio's still good... If the Skoda and 530 are Euro4, or the Skoda's petrol, they'll be good.
Yes the Clio's still OK but my Italian wife would have some difficulty manipulating "the beast" with the gear stick on the "wrong side" down to her school teacher's job every day, and I'm not sure I want my appreciating classic (or my wife's safety) to be compromised in the day to day drama which is driving in Italy purely out of necessity due to a covert political injunction. And the example web site was indeed just illustrating the effect in Verona (which is where we live) but the impact is equivalent in all the other communities I listed. Beware - this kind of repression could be headed your way.
TooMany2cvs said:
Pericoloso said:
tumble dryer said:
Look back 5 posts.
That just covers Verona....and if you run that through Google translate...
It's just the "municipal territory", except for the ring road, motorways, and routes in to the main car parks.
For petrol, it's just pre-Euro (pre-92) and Euro1 (92-97). For diesel, it's everything before Euro4 (pre-05).
So the OP's Clio's still good... If the Skoda and 530 are Euro4, or the Skoda's petrol, they'll be good.
I was having trouble with the connection on the mobile and had to switch to laptop to try and do the translation properly.
I think the OP has over reacted somewhat.
From what I remember of the city from June, the buses were really, really frequent and cheap - and loads of people cycling around.
Lovely place - we were there for a week, staying in an AirBnB right on Porta Borsari, and barely left the centro storico all week - it's a great place for a citybreak.
Lovely place - we were there for a week, staying in an AirBnB right on Porta Borsari, and barely left the centro storico all week - it's a great place for a citybreak.
Yes the Clio's still OK but my Italian wife would have some difficulty manipulating "the beast" with the gear stick on the "wrong side" down to her school teacher's job every day, and I'm not sure I want my appreciating classic (or my wife's safety) to be compromised in the day to day drama which is driving in Italy purely out of necessity due to a covert political injunction. And the example web site was indeed just illustrating the effect in Verona (which is where we live) but the impact is equivalent in all the other communities I listed. Beware - this kind of repression could be headed your way.
TooMany2cvs said:
From what I remember of the city from June, the buses were really, really frequent and cheap - and loads of people cycling around.
Lovely place - we were there for a week, staying in an AirBnB right on Porta Borsari, and barely left the centro storico all week - it's a great place for a citybreak.
Yes, Verona city is a truly lovely place, but please consider the complete absence of bus or other transport options between, for example, Castagne (14km to the North east) and Verona centrale. Not everyone lives in the city centre......Lovely place - we were there for a week, staying in an AirBnB right on Porta Borsari, and barely left the centro storico all week - it's a great place for a citybreak.
Pericoloso said:
Thanks for that.
I was having trouble with the connection on the mobile and had to switch to laptop to try and do the translation properly.
I think the OP has over reacted somewhat.
I'd be grateful for your view on what your own non-"overreaction" would look like if you learned you can no longer legally use your everyday car(s) from tomorrow.I was having trouble with the connection on the mobile and had to switch to laptop to try and do the translation properly.
I think the OP has over reacted somewhat.
dlight69 said:
Yes, Verona city is a truly lovely place, but please consider the complete absence of bus or other transport options between, for example, Castagne (14km to the North east) and Verona centrale. Not everyone lives in the city centre......
Does the municipal territory stretch that far?You can, of course, drive to the main town car parks, then get the bus in from there.
TooMany2cvs said:
Does the municipal territory stretch that far?
You can, of course, drive to the main town car parks, then get the bus in from there.
Thanks for responding but my main objective was to harness the impressive collective knowledge of Piston Heads car experiences and general advice about car acquisition, not to get into a debate about the extent of Verona commune or the appropriateness of bus services in the remote parts of this area. My wife's and children's schools are nowhere near Verona City centre and the ban extends well into their areas of operation. Nuff said? Thanks anyway but I won't be furthering this aspect of your questioning.You can, of course, drive to the main town car parks, then get the bus in from there.
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