Why do they crush cars?

Why do they crush cars?

Author
Discussion

Carrot

Original Poster:

7,294 posts

201 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
When a car is taken by the police or local council for an infringement, and then eventually crushed - why do they do this?

Surely it would make more sense to auction the vehicle off (assuming it is not a complete stbucket), thereby keeping a vehicle on the road, not having to pay / arrange for its disposal and also making the money back from the unpaid fine and storage fees.

Even if the owner decided to buy it back at auction, the council or authority still make money...


thinfourth2

32,414 posts

203 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
As most of them are complete st buckets

They do sell the decent ones

Caruso

7,422 posts

255 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
As most of them are complete st buckets
yes And crushing them typically means 1 less uninsured car on the road.

Carrot

Original Poster:

7,294 posts

201 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Caruso said:
thinfourth2 said:
As most of them are complete st buckets
yes And crushing them typically means 1 less uninsured car on the road.
I agree, but there have been a few good ones which I have seen in the news, and one that I know of personally that was taken away which were very good cars, and crushed.

It just seems like a monumental waste. It would create jobs for the auction houses, and get some money back from those that have been driving illegally for so long.

Even a £500 car which is a good runner is still £500 that someone doesn't have to pay towards scrapping it?

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

203 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Caruso said:
thinfourth2 said:
As most of them are complete st buckets
yes And crushing them typically means 1 less uninsured car on the road.
Sadly we remove the driver before crushing which i think is a complete waste

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Carrot said:
Caruso said:
thinfourth2 said:
As most of them are complete st buckets
yes It would create jobs for the auction houses, and get some money back from those that have been driving illegally for so long.

Even a £500 car which is a good runner is still £500 that someone doesn't have to pay towards scrapping it?
Couldn't agree more there, I understand why they'd crush something thats beyond repair but they crush all sorts!

There is always someone who will buy 'that' car. A car for everyone, don't see why they waste them at all.

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

191 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Carrot said:
When a car is taken by the police or local council for an infringement, and then eventually crushed - why do they do this?

Surely it would make more sense to auction the vehicle off (assuming it is not a complete stbucket), thereby keeping a vehicle on the road, not having to pay / arrange for its disposal and also making the money back from the unpaid fine and storage fees.

Even if the owner decided to buy it back at auction, the council or authority still make money...
Potential Liability of selling a faulty car
Previous owner keeping a spare key and stealing their car back
Likley to get passed to another driver who won't insure it as it will be a heap in 95% of cases
Has a more dramatic effect when you think about your P&J being crushed
Quick and Easy Cash.

150bhp

904 posts

171 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Strathclyde Police took an Audi Q5 off a local hood under proceeds of crime and regularly roll it out for press and TV. Stickered up like a traffic car but don't think its used on the beat so to speak. On a side note, it always bothers me when Top Gear/5th Gear destroy/ruin a perfectly good car. Be it a shed or not it just doesn't seem right.

Silver Smudger

3,292 posts

166 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Sadly we remove the driver before crushing which i think is a complete waste
rofl

CampDavid

9,145 posts

197 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Unfortunately some councils are retarded enough to crush the wrong cars

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-2339211...

Spackers

Sour Kraut

45,899 posts

188 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Slight O/T: do we know for sure that all the cars traded in during the Scrappage scheme were definitely crushed? Or did some make their way to dismantlers for a more productive end of life?

Carrot

Original Poster:

7,294 posts

201 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
CampDavid said:
Unfortunately some councils are retarded enough to crush the wrong cars

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-2339211...

Spackers
Holy st!!!!

CampDavid

9,145 posts

197 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Sour Kraut said:
Slight O/T: do we know for sure that all the cars traded in during the Scrappage scheme were definitely crushed? Or did some make their way to dismantlers for a more productive end of life?
Some were dismantled but most just ended up being crushed.

SlimRick

2,258 posts

164 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
CampDavid said:
Sour Kraut said:
Slight O/T: do we know for sure that all the cars traded in during the Scrappage scheme were definitely crushed? Or did some make their way to dismantlers for a more productive end of life?
Some were dismantled but most just ended up being crushed.
Or parked in a field still awaiting their fate.

ETA - stored at RAF Thurleigh, Bedfordshire

Edited by SlimRick on Monday 10th January 14:52

Shuvi Tupya

24,460 posts

246 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Old cars are good because they are cheap to buy and you can work on them yourself , they do not have ABS issues and airbag issues and you can easily source used parts from the scrappy, thereby saving even more money. They are also cheaper to tax, for now.

None of this is good for the government as they don't constantly get VAT from all your high tech servicing requirements and electrical issues.

I suspect they like to scrap cars as they want as small a used car market as possible. There is much more money it for them if people are buying newer cars !





SlimRick

2,258 posts

164 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all


Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

191 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Carrot said:
CampDavid said:
Unfortunately some councils are retarded enough to crush the wrong cars

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-2339211...

Spackers
Holy st!!!!
eek

That is terrible!

cry

I thought they had to wait 14 days for the owner to come forward?

What if it had been in storage and stolen (with no tax), then they crush a stolen car!

Someone's head needs to roll there!!!! :angry:

Sicob

478 posts

227 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Caruso said:
thinfourth2 said:
As most of them are complete st buckets
yes And crushing them typically means 1 less uninsured car on the road.
Sadly we remove the driver before crushing which i think is a complete waste
This would be a pretty useful deterrent.

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

191 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
SlimRick said:

Demolition Derby, use proceeds to pay for UK financial deficit!

£1/minute, provide your own insurance....

Extra for 4x4's or bigger cars.

Seriously, they could scrap those for parts to keep other old cars going for those who cannot afford new cars, and use the money raised for paying off the deficit!

SlimRick

2,258 posts

164 months

Monday 10th January 2011
quotequote all
Heartbreaking!