If the EU banned MX-5's

General Discussion Forums Car Talk
2

DON’T PANIC !

They haven’t banned them… YET ! (Though everything else thats fun seems to get stupid legislation outlawing it. {#emotions_dlg.indif})

Anyway, I’ve just thought up a theoretical question to ask you all.

Imagen that the EU forced in a new batch of car safety laws to be enforced in 18 months. These laws are worded in such a way that they not only affect future car design but also effect all cars currently on the road.

Gorden Brown was going to make a stand on the subject, But unfortunately the debate coincided with one of his holidays so he couldn’t be bothered.

By some quirk of fate, The only cars that are unable to comply with the new laws are all the different models of MX-5…!!!

On closer inspection of the legislation, It appearers that somehow all MX-5’s that have ever been in the European community are effected by the ban, Even ones that have since emigrated to warmer places… (Like Australia for instance Stick Tongue Out).

When Gorden returned from his holiday he finds that MX-5 owners can be quite an aggressive bunch when someone try’s to take there toys away. After the third near miss on pedestrian crossings he decides that some sort of compensation scheme might be a good idea.

After nearly getting disembowelled by two more MK1’s (“Why were there headlight UP? It wasn’t even dark?”) he decides to go public with his compensation plan…

“All MX-5 owners will be given the value of there cars (Plus £2000 for the inconvenience) to go out and buy a replacement car. The replacement doesn’t have to be a new car, But it has to be a car (No bikes or vans), If you own more than one MX-5, You can chose to ether get a replacement for each or roll all the cash into one replacement. Any money you don’t use on your replacement gets taken back by the government, But feel free to add up to £1000 of your own cash if you wish…”

So, There you are, Big wad of cash in your pocket and 12 months to find a replacement.

What do you scour the Autotrader/EBay/free adds papers for?

Scotty B.

(PS, I think it might be useful if people noted roughly what they think their cars worth in the replies, Just so we know what sort of budget your playing with… And NO, You can’t just go out and buy 20 scrap '5’s then trade them all in for a Ferrari. Shock [:O])

3

Well, according to webuyanycar.com a couple of months ago, my lil 5 is worth £4,300, so that plus the £2,000 that gives me £6,300.

Would probably get a nice ‘fuel-efficient, pedestrian-friendly’ Mitsi Evo or something (giggle).

4

 Can’t answer you question Scott at the moment but as you seem to still have lots of time on your hands I think you should help a fellow owner & keep Ofstead busy next week with lots more of your questions so they stay away from our school. {#emotions_dlg.thinking}

5

Good luck with your OFPIS. We are waiting for the phone call at my school

 

Regarding the new car. They can shove their money up their harris and I’d rather walk.

6

Hah, interesting situation.

Fairly easy for me to pick an answer, actually. I reckon I could get £1500 for my car, so with the government £2k and an extra grand of my own I’d have £4500 to play with. That’d be enough for me to get a rather nice Smart Roadster Light…

Sure, it’d probably leak more than the Mazda and obviously not as quick, but it’d essentially cover the fun bases fairly well, looks good and would cost peanuts to run.

7

 

 

Hi Halli

Thanks for your good wishes, will let you know how it goes. We were due after Christmas & aren’t the first in our area to be done ‘out of turn’ are they trying to catch us out we wonder!! Still think everything is in place {#emotions_dlg.thumb}

Regarding the car think I might diguise mine maybe as a daffodil

8

I tell you what Mr R, I have to make sure I’ve been to the loo prior to reading your posts, every time I nearly wet myself laughing…where do you think these things up from???

Simple answer mate, keep the car, remove the cat, stick it on a trailer, buy a stinking great dirty gas gussler and tow my pride and joy to every track day I can with a great big two fingers up to all the tree hugging, small minded pro-euro gits.

9

Nice !

I think I’d look out for a cheap Mazda RX7 FD, Just because it’s Wankel rotary engine’s classed as a 1.3L… So I think it falls into the lower of the 2 road tax bracket for car’s of that age (unless anyone knows different) !

10

Ford Pinto and a box of matches, because life would be so grim.

11

Almost certainly a 944 - the only thing I’d consider replacing the mx5 with just now - but since it would be less than my cars worth + £2K, Gordon wouldn’t get his money back without paying a bit of insurance as well - I’d fiddle the numbers if I had to!

12

I think what I would do is search the classic car adverts for
something where deprecation is no longer an issue, and that will use
up all the compensation. This car would bes put into storage, until
sufficient time has passed and I can sell it to get my hands on the
cash.

Meanwhile spend the permitted £1k on some other second hand car so I can still get around.
Does not really matter what, because as soon as Mazda have got the
MK4 to comply with the legislation I will be getting one of those.

13

 

thats what I was going to say, trailer and track…

14

I’d do this:

Or maybe an E36 M3, unless the rules let me pay for someone to finish my FC RX7 V8.

Although an AE86 Toyota Corola would be in budget and they are pretty close to being a coupe version of the MX5, if you can cope with the rust.

I’d consider a 944, but I was so disappointed with the 968 I drove I suspect it’s not for me.

15

The situation would never arise and, if it did, I’d politely invite all of the EU polititians to go and f*ck themselves.

But what would I buy for £4k? Probably a nice Honda Accord Type-R, in Pirate Black or import white. Nom.


(I’ve wanted one of those longer than I’ve wanted a '5, so it makes sense to get one. And they’re supposed to be rather quite good at going around corners).

16

 …i would move to another country that had not!!!.and say g’day mate to geoff ,and with the roof down all the time ,plenty of sun block and no need for the hard top,i’d stick a big V up to the EU.I hate winters anyway,and they can keep there bloody rock salt (car eater)as well.

regards

17

Wayne, you are welcome here anytime! I don’t think Scotty was refering to me, in Australia we would tell people who made stupid rules like that to P off—

18

This is what I like about Australia. They very much have the attitude of “fit in or f*ck off” which, sadly, is what Britain is lacking. Mrs Fish is wanting to emigrate to Oz in 2-3 years once she’s qualified as an accountant. I’ll be coming with her if we’re still together. Cool

 

19

By then the whole internet might have been banned though, which is one thing the Aussies seem to be struggling with…

20

That’s been doing the rounds for a while now, I doubt it will ever get through the house—