C3 Co2 Emissions

[raveydavey]

I've got a 2003(03) C3 1.4HDi 8v Desire. On the logbook it lists the CO2 emissions as 110g/km.

However the current model C3 1.4HDi 8v is listed as having emissions of 115g/km.

 

Now, aside from a few relatively minor cosmetic changes, there is no real difference between my car and the later model, so what have Citroen done to make the emissions worse and more importantly, why?

 

At the moment it makes no great difference as both examples fall into Band B for road tax at £35 a year, but from next year it is proposed that band B will change from 100-120g/km to 100-110g/km.

This will mean my car gets cheaper tax at £20 a year, but the owner of a later model will then fall into Band C and have to pay more at £30 a year. Full details of tax bands here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7293011.stm

 

Now that alone isn't a massive difference, but Band B cars will also be exempt from the London congestion charge (subject to a rip off registration fee * ), whereas Band C cars won't.

 

* - Transport for London have stated that "exempt" cars will have to register annually with them for exempt status, or they will still be charged (including penalties if the congestion charge is not paid). Not a massive problem if you don't go to London, but as congestion charges expand (Manchester is next, apparently) will you have to register there as well?

This really gets my goat as I can look up free of charge ANY UK registered car on the DVLA website ( http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/ - click on vehicle enquiry) where it also lists the vehicles CO2 emissions - if that information is freely available from the registration mark, why are TFL charging people to obtain exempt status?

 

On a side note, how many people have forked out for a car with emissions towards the upper end of the current Band B (new C3 HDi, C4 1.6 HDi EGS, Focus Eco-netic, etc - there are loads of them) in good faith in preparation for this change but will suddenly find from next year that their car isn't exempt after all as it will have moved up into Band C?

[wozza]

Different specs can change the ratings. I know that the C4 went up on a couple models due to adding more kit as standard thus making the car heavier and increasing emissions.

 

The £30 a year versus nil I don't think anyone will really care that much. If you live in London it means paying the congestion charge...which they do already. If you live elsewhere I really don't think £30 extra a year to run a generally larger and more powerful car is really that hard to come by.

 

It is the poor buggers who have automatics that you have to feel for who are going to get stung in the upper bands driving normal cars. A 2.0 Auto Mondeo falls in the highest band.

 

These taxes are rubbish though I mean we pay this extra money out but what does that actually go towards? And these cars that come in the highest band that only drive 3000 miles a year surely put out less emissions than a car that is driven everyday and clocks up 30,000 miles a year but in a lower emissions band.

 

It is a bad way to measure something like this. And I thought the whole idea of the road tax was that it was suppose to keep our roads in good condition...Don't know about you but I would say they are rather pot hole ridden at the moment.