MSE News: Drivers of older cars in central London to pay £24-a-day fee

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  • NBLondon
    NBLondon Forumite Posts: 5,416
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    stator wrote: »
    Do think it's completely ridiculous that people living in the congestion zone get a 90% discount off all three charges. £3 per day is nothing to someone who can afford to live in London. There should be no discount at all unless someone has a special disability vehicle.
    Actually there are quite a lot of council estates in Inner London - it's not all bankers and foreign investors you know. Though I'd guess that most of those residents wouldn't be driving when the C Charge is active; the ones who will need to might well be running a small business with an older van...
    kmb500 wrote: »
    But to be honest in London I don't see why anyone would need to drive regularly, given the quality and efficiency of public transport there.
    Depends where you are and where you're headed... There's places south of the river where the Tube doesn't go and the trains are geared to taking you into the centre and out again - so if you want to go from SouthEast to SouthWest or across the river to Eastenders territory your options are limited to driving or taking multiple/round the houses buses.
    Wash your Knobs and Knockers... Keep the Postie safe!
  • Pincher
    Pincher Posts: 6,554 Forumite
    motorguy wrote: »
    More charging points perhaps?

    If they cant get to and from work on one charge, then they havent bought the right car....

    Just for the experience, I was charging up when out and about just to see what happens.

    IKEA puts the charging points right in front of the store, so non-electric cars just park there, because they can. Obviously there are signs.

    Even if they have not broken down, the contactless cards (to authorise charging) don't always work. Tesla charging points are incompatible with other brands, and there are more than one type of plug anyway. There are a lot of 3 pin plug set ups, so you can bring your own cable, but that is certainly not high speed charging. Five hours for a full charge!

    They are talking about booking charging points on a mobile app, but the whole concept of the previous driver conscientiously vacating the spot, and you being able to turn up promptly, sounds dubious to me.

    When I was buying my PHEV, there was a couple who ordered the same model, and they were talking about getting a charging pillar on the pavement. My neighbour, who extended a tiny house, so they can get lodgers, park in front of my house all the time. If I paid and got a pillar, I would never get to use it. Obviously I have my own drive, etc.

    The whole situation is heading for mayhem.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Forumite Posts: 22,350
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    Pincher wrote: »
    Just for the experience, I was charging up when out and about just to see what happens.

    IKEA puts the charging points right in front of the store, so non-electric cars just park there, because they can. Obviously there are signs.

    Even if they have not broken down, the contactless cards (to authorise charging) don't always work. Tesla charging points are incompatible with other brands, and there are more than one type of plug anyway. There are a lot of 3 pin plug set ups, so you can bring your own cable, but that is certainly not high speed charging. Five hours for a full charge!

    They are talking about booking charging points on a mobile app, but the whole concept of the previous driver conscientiously vacating the spot, and you being able to turn up promptly, sounds dubious to me.

    When I was buying my PHEV, there was a couple who ordered the same model, and they were talking about getting a charging pillar on the pavement. My neighbour, who extended a tiny house, so they can get lodgers, park in front of my house all the time. If I paid and got a pillar, I would never get to use it. Obviously I have my own drive, etc.

    The whole situation is heading for mayhem.

    Hybrids - like the one you have bought - are the way forward for the meantime, unless you've off road parking, your own charging point and can do your commute without a requirement for a charge.

    I wouldnt otherwise be bothered with the hassle - or fights....
  • Pincher
    Pincher Posts: 6,554 Forumite
    motorguy wrote: »
    Pincher doesnt seem to have much luck - when he tries to put petrol in his hybrid, theres fights, and when he tries to charge his hybrid theres fights too. :eek:

    What do you expect from an MSE? Even if there were no fights, that forecourt always had long queues. I could have gone somewhere else for a few pence more.

    People are not any better on Black Fridays.
  • phillw
    phillw Forumite Posts: 5,545
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    Probably worth selling a euro 2-5 and buying a real heap of a euro 1 & use the difference to pay the extra charge. Buying a euro 6 will never recover the money.
  • Richard53
    Richard53 Forumite Posts: 3,173
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    motorguy wrote: »
    Likewise if you need to travel in on occasions, ensure you have the "right" vehicle for doing so going forward.
    A bicycle.


    1. Costs buttons to run
    2. Gets you fit
    3. Journey times predictable to within 2-3 minutes
    4. Lycra optional.
    If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person.
  • redux
    redux Forumite Posts: 22,974
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    Can I ask MSE a direct question?

    Why have you photo shopped fake smoke on to the article's picture of an exhaust pipe ( or used a picture where someone had done this)?

    Yes, there may be cars which need rectification work, but pretending all of a certain category of cars might be this bad is a form of distortion or deception.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Forumite Posts: 22,350
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    Richard53 wrote: »
    A bicycle.


    1. Costs buttons to run
    2. Gets you fit
    3. Journey times predictable to within 2-3 minutes
    4. Lycra optional.

    A variation on this - theres now electric bikes which provide power assistance when you're riding. Could make for an easier commute over a longer distance than someone might otherwise want to do.

    I only stay in Manchester during the working week (fly in from NI) but some of the "locals" cycle in in reasonable weather, or use the trams / buses otherwise.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Forumite Posts: 22,350
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    redux wrote: »
    Can I ask MSE a direct question?

    Why have you photo shopped fake smoke on to the article's picture of an exhaust pipe ( or used a picture where someone had done this)?

    Yes, there may be cars which need rectification work, but pretending all of a certain category of cars might be this bad is a form of distortion or deception.

    Looks like the image has been "doing the rounds" for some years - found it on this site being used by people who should also know better...

    http://www.pollutionworld.com/category/pollution/air-pollution/
  • Richard53
    Richard53 Forumite Posts: 3,173
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    motorguy wrote: »
    A variation on this - theres now electric bikes which provide power assistance when you're riding. Could make for an easier commute over a longer distance than someone might otherwise want to do.
    I know this; I have one, and a brilliant bit of kit it is too.


    I posted what I said just to remind folk that the best vehicle for a purpose isn't always motorised.
    If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person.
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