Future of Motoring

Siliconslave

Siliconslave

Siliconslave

Man of Honour
Joined
11 Dec 2002
Posts
10,928
Location
Darkest Norfolk
Its looking pretty damn grim out there for us petrol heads, increased road taxing, oil prices and taxes on the up, proposed "polution" fine for driving to hethrow, "conjestion" charge, road pricing etc etc.

A few motoring companies (honda, toyota, lexus) are trying the hybrid route, more going down the reduced emission petrol and pretty much everyone and their dog jumping on the oil burners like its the metaphorical wagon. Hell theres even a couple of eletric cars filtering down from the "blue sky" companys like tesla...

But what do people thing is the future for people like us? those that like to drive, like the engine roar (and i don't mean like the recorded playback touted on the Fisker Karma)

Maybe we'll all be strapping Derv engines onto lightweight 7 style chassis, or trying to beg borrow or steal enough cash to run our v6s round private indoor tracks as the government won't let us on the roads and the locals think were "too noisy" or maybe we'll just naff off to China and rag it around on cheap driving holidays (just mind the bikes!!!)

The future looks bleak out there people, whats your plans for surviving??
 
Siliconslave said:
Its looking pretty damn grim out there for us petrol heads, increased road taxing, oil prices and taxes on the up, proposed "polution" fine for driving to hethrow, "conjestion" charge, road pricing etc etc.
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But motoring today is cheaper than it has ever been!
 
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Not the train thats for sure...I got the train the other day and was absolutely shocked that it cost me about 3 times as much in a week than it would to use the car.
 
1st class return open return to London on the train costs about £295 last time i got a ticket, total joke, you can get it cheaper if you book miles in advance but thats besides the point, i can start up my car and drive it to any location at any time.
 
pendulum666 said:
Not the train thats for sure...I got the train the other day and was absolutely shocked that it cost me about 3 times as much in a week than it would to use the car.
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And it's not going to improve are budget keeps getting cut so less maintenance. Also the Train operating companies. Don't wont to add more carriages as that means they can say overcrowding and increase prices. It's a shambles and a disgrace.
 
pendulum666 said:
Not the train thats for sure...I got the train the other day and was absolutely shocked that it cost me about 3 times as much in a week than it would to use the car.
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too true, i've been taking the train for the last couple of months for ease, but its actually cheaper, quicker and way more convenient to drive.

All the increased road taxing etc is going to do is change quite how much cheaper it is to drive, the fact will remain that driving is a good 45min quicker a day! (thats assuming the train prices don't keep going up at the same rate they have been recently)
 
The thing is I dont MIND getting the train if it cost the same as a car. I could just about live with the train if it cost the same or a little bit less. But when it costs 3 times more and you factor in the extra time in a day and lack of convenience its just not good.
 
To be honest, I don't mind getting the train. All it really means is an extra 45 mins each way on top of my 45 min journey, and only costs ~30% more than driving. Plus if I miss one by a couple of mins, I only have to wait another hour for the next one to turn up. The train station has benches outside of the platform, so I can even sit and chat to the hobo's while I wait.

:|
 
The future does look pretty bleak with taxation set to increase every year for the foreseeable future. I will enjoy it while it lasts and probably consider downsizing when the time comes to change my current batmobile. :(
 
simulatorman said:
and probably consider downsizing when the time comes to change my current batmobile. :(
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People who think like you make the government win. Why? Have you not bothered to look at the sort of cars which escape this taxation? You have a 530i M Sport Touring - since 2006 this particular model of car has very low c02 emissions and as a result, comparatively low taxation! It's also about as fuel efficient as a Focus from 10 years ago, why would you downsize?
 
The gap between petrol and diesel prices is inconsistent at least in Swansea and Bridgend anyway.

Sainsburys Bridgend = 106.9 & 111.9
Shell Bridgend = 106.9 & 113.9
Shell Swansea = 107.9 & 117.9 (!!!)
Texaco Swansea = 105.9 116.9
 
[TW]Fox;11313634 said:
Yes, it is. You think TOC's deliberately encouraging overcrowding by holding back spare capacity in order to justify fare increases?
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Yes I do. FGW is a prime example of incompetence.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Yes I do. FGW is a prime example of incompetence.
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Incompetence, perhaps. Deliberate? Of course not. FGW don't have spare capacity just kicking around they could easily use.

If you think you are so much better why not make the move from shovelling ballast to operations management?
 
To be honest, I think in a couple of years time I can see myself running something light with a small(in comparison) engine as a weekend and track car. And just have something functional to commute in.
 
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