IT WAS a good huzzah for the Labour party conference week – an extension to the scrappage scheme unveiled by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The cash for scrap scheme means you can exchange your 10-year-old or more set of wheels for some shiny new metal for a £2000 incentive.
Despite the political feel-good factor the scheme must be revenue neutral for the government. It’s putting up half the money; car makers the other half. But take into account the VAT plus a dose of road tax and it’s unlikely to be a drain on the government coffers, however threadbare they may be at the moment.
Nevertheless it remains a good opportunity if your car is getting a bit doubtful on maintenance. I don’t know whether you intend to take advantage of the scrappage scheme but it’s certainly worth investigating if you run your car privately and reclaim the mileage at 40p per mile under AMAPs.
In fact, why don’t you tell me what you think of the scrappage scheme? We have a new community section for the website. It’s for you – to discuss what you find important. I hope you’ll join in. You can start by voting on the car scrappage scheme: good, bad, waste of time; waste of money. Just vote here. And if you have the time, take a look around.
In the meantime, here’s a story about the one that got away. Just. A lovely old 1958 Morris Minor was traded in for a new Hyundai Coupe under the scrappage scheme. Nothing wrong with that – except the Morris Minor was of museum quality apparently. Quite why the salesman didn’t offer to buy it personally I don’t know. But once into the scrappage system it’s hard to get them out. Fortunately, the Minor has been saved. It can’t go on the road – but can be used as a static display, possibly in a museum.
Hyundai want your best suggestions for it. So email them – [email protected] – before the end of October. And make sure a Minor classic gets saved properly. It’s a significant part of our national motoring heritage.
…And a Minor escape from the crusher
