I'll chip in my ten peneth.
Before I've even started some of you will have me pegged as anti 4x4 and a Renaullt buff. (I thought I'd get the snipe's and condemnation settled myself first)
I agree with Clive (cumbernauld), the goverment fly's straight to the motorist when it needs a quick cash fix.
On the other hand though I do think that road tax and insurance should be charged through the fuel taxation system.
You see, how many times do you hear of people having accidents only to find out that the other party is not insured, and this is not the preserve of the not so well off either!
At least by having a "pay as you drive" system, those who want to was their cash by driving what people have quite rightly nick named "chelsea tractors" around the conjestion charging capital, then they would pay a proportionate amount of taxation. On the other hand the person driving the smart car would pay considerably less and hence be rewarded for their contribution to reduction of pollution.
As a by-product of this, all the un-taxed and insured transits would have to become road legal. Especially if the goverment abolished transportyard fuel storage tanks and made everyone purchase all fuel from the garage. The road haulage industry would not be affected as they currently enjoy bulk fuel discount via key fuels and other such fuel systems.
Finally onto trip hazards point.
Having owned both 4x4, cars and commercial vehicles, I hold the view that each one has a place in the wheel of motoring. As is often the case with most things in life, we have to make a compromise between what we would like and what makes either practical or finacial sense. Here's just my example.
I own a large twin axle caravan, but commute every day 60 miles to and from work, my good lady need's a car too as we live in the countryside.
Should I by a 4X4 just to tow the van once a month, or by a fuel efficient car to use everyday, oh of coarse then there's the question of what does her lady ship drive because she doesn't like big cars.
The compromise.
I buy two cars, one just big enough to tow the van and small enough for her in doors to drive, hence the Laguna estate (well the dogs do have to come too), and for me a cheap and cheerfull Renault 5 campus, because it does 55mpg all day what ever you do to it.
I'd probably be bankrupt by now if I'd bought a disco and left the missus to get a taxi to go shopping.
Then on the other hand, if I lived in the middle of the welsh hills a disco would be more practical.
The only thing that get's my goat is why when we have any discussion about all wheel drive vehicles, is that you inevitably get the defencive "I've got a 4x4 and I don't care" plonkers instead of those who genuinely want to debate the pro's and con's of vehicles.
Besides singing the praises of Renault (because I've had good experience with them) I can also give detailed evaluation of Diahatsu F70's (because I've driven them too).
All I'll say in closing is, a balanced, good spirited debate is a good debate and those who get all touchy about their hang ups need to, sit it out.
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