RE: Green Fingers Pinch Pennies
Wednesday 5th November 2008
The future of green motoring?New research carried out by BMW has confirmed what many of the cynics among us had assumed - namely, that the recent shift in new car sales toward greener, more fuel-efficient models is being driven by consumers' desire to save money, not to save the planet.
Green Fingers Pinch Pennies
Survey shows green motorists have alterior motives
The future of green motoring?
BMW quizzed 2,068 motorists, and found that 59% of their respondants cited cost-cutting as their major motivation for buying a more environmentally-friendly car, whereas just 13% considered the environment itself their main reason.
These results offer some support for the government's strategy of using the taxation system to encourage people to buy more efficient and environmentally-friendly cars. However, with new car sales down everywhere and most consumers tightening their belts, it'll take some time for these new cars to circulate into the used market and become more affordable to many people.
BMW also reported that respondants were not prepared to sacrifice much in the way of performance for the sake of going green, even despite the potential financial savings from doing so. The survey cites BMW's own EfficientDynamics program as the answer to this dilemma, however similar sub-brands from comptetitors such as Ford's Econetic, Volkswagen's Bluemotion, Peugeot's Blue Lion and Seat's Econetic are striving for the same new sector of the market.
Discussion
Hmm, no surprise there then! The thing that is really bugging me about all these 'green taxes' is the retrospective increase in VED. I've owned my car for four years now. Last year I paid £165 for VED. Next year I'll have to pay £440. If I was buying a new car then I could make an informed decision about what emissions level I found acceptable for my car, but I'm being hammered for a decision I made four years ago when there was no penalty for inceased emissions - I simply paid more tax for driving a less efficient car by having to purchase more fuel! The effect the increase in VED is having on the used car market - and therefore a much wider economy - is catastrophic and seems to be largely overlooked by the media. I was offered £6500 in part exchange for my wife's 2 year old (£18,500 when we bought it) Mazda MX-5 because (its got a big petrol engine). That'll be the 2.0 then....
Then again, I'm genuinely impressed with the economy that the 330d can achieve for its performance, I thought it was fanstatic to drive and yet averaged 49.3mpg on a long run. BMW simply seem head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to 'efficient dynamics'. And in the end I did p/ex the Mazda. Wifey will be getting a new Mini Cooper Clubman diesel at month end. The fact that it cost over £22,000 is for another rant...
Then again, I'm genuinely impressed with the economy that the 330d can achieve for its performance, I thought it was fanstatic to drive and yet averaged 49.3mpg on a long run. BMW simply seem head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to 'efficient dynamics'. And in the end I did p/ex the Mazda. Wifey will be getting a new Mini Cooper Clubman diesel at month end. The fact that it cost over £22,000 is for another rant...
Well at least BMW are saving the planet by not fitting indicators.
Seriously though, do these reports ever tell us anything we dont know? Does the extra tax get spent on the roads? Does the extra tax get spent on new technology for a greener future? Does it f
k!! Until it does its the same old story and I guarantee this will be the case long after were all dead.
Seriously though, do these reports ever tell us anything we dont know? Does the extra tax get spent on the roads? Does the extra tax get spent on new technology for a greener future? Does it f
k!! Until it does its the same old story and I guarantee this will be the case long after were all dead.Bencolem said:
Then again, I'm genuinely impressed with the economy that the 330d can achieve for its performance, I thought it was fanstatic to drive and yet averaged 49.3mpg on a long run. BMW simply seem head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to 'efficient dynamics'. And in the end I did p/ex the Mazda. Wifey will be getting a new Mini Cooper Clubman diesel at month end. The fact that it cost over £22,000 is for another rant...
i agree there, BMW are doing very well at this thing indeed. a few years ago my dad used to have a 330d (which was the 204bhp model) and it was pretty quick, not fast fast by any means; but enough to show most cars it's rear end, and yet the economy was outstanding. i believe the new 330d is faster as well as more economical....amazing. doing 70 my dad used to get over 50mpg no worries.he can barely get 30mpg doing that in his current car... hehe
Bencolem said:
Hmm, no surprise there then! The thing that is really bugging me about all these 'green taxes' is the retrospective increase in VED. I've owned my car for four years now. Last year I paid £165 for VED. Next year I'll have to pay £440. If I was buying a new car then I could make an informed decision about what emissions level I found acceptable for my car, but I'm being hammered for a decision I made four years ago when there was no penalty for inceased emissions - I simply paid more tax for driving a less efficient car by having to purchase more fuel! The effect the increase in VED is having on the used car market - and therefore a much wider economy - is catastrophic and seems to be largely overlooked by the media. I was offered £6500 in part exchange for my wife's 2 year old (£18,500 when we bought it) Mazda MX-5 because (its got a big petrol engine). That'll be the 2.0 then....
Then again, I'm genuinely impressed with the economy that the 330d can achieve for its performance, I thought it was fanstatic to drive and yet averaged 49.3mpg on a long run. BMW simply seem head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to 'efficient dynamics'. And in the end I did p/ex the Mazda. Wifey will be getting a new Mini Cooper Clubman diesel at month end. The fact that it cost over £22,000 is for another rant...
I often wondered who actually bought Mini Clubmans - now I know...Then again, I'm genuinely impressed with the economy that the 330d can achieve for its performance, I thought it was fanstatic to drive and yet averaged 49.3mpg on a long run. BMW simply seem head-and-shoulders above the rest when it comes to 'efficient dynamics'. And in the end I did p/ex the Mazda. Wifey will be getting a new Mini Cooper Clubman diesel at month end. The fact that it cost over £22,000 is for another rant...
I guess someone had to buy one eventually
Edited by morgrp on Thursday 6th November 10:30
I fall into the category of buying for financial reasons - I bought a 320d because my other half lives 280 miles away.
The 320d does nearly double the mpg to that of an equivalently priced 320i or 325i and in gear it's quicker than the 320, on par with the 325. I'm not for one second suggesting that it's as fun or as nice sounding on when out for a play, but on the motorway it's doing 2400rpm and 60mpg so that helps soften the blow.
The fact I pay 135 per year ved helps, also.
Went for the BM because it's far more fun to drive, more efficient and faster than any of the other diesels in the price range I was looking at.
The 320d does nearly double the mpg to that of an equivalently priced 320i or 325i and in gear it's quicker than the 320, on par with the 325. I'm not for one second suggesting that it's as fun or as nice sounding on when out for a play, but on the motorway it's doing 2400rpm and 60mpg so that helps soften the blow.
The fact I pay 135 per year ved helps, also.
Went for the BM because it's far more fun to drive, more efficient and faster than any of the other diesels in the price range I was looking at.
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