Budget and diesel fuel

[SAC1]

Audi expands e-diesel research
Audi has announced that it is expanding its research into synthetic diesel fuel with a new pilot facility in Switzerland. The automaker has been engaged in synthetic diesel research for four years. The company announced the expansion of this project earlier this month.

[ScotMac]

My glass is half full in my tiny mind I think, well some people will always want quality diesel cars, so the “lower tax” diesels (pre tax increase) should be more desirable

That's my theory too. If you want a nice big car and do a lot of miles a diesel is still the obvious choice.

Don't think the hybrids etc. are quite there yet.

[andreas]

For a brand new Macan from April 2017 it has been £450 p.a.

Errr, no. For a brand new Macan S, the current first year's road tax is £1200.

[Col Lamb]

Whatever you put in the tank wether its petrol or diesel or even charging a full EV it is polluting the atmosphere.

We will just continue to pay and enjoy the ride.

[Custard]

An extra few hundred quid on the new price of a Macan is neither here nor there. I'd rather it stayed in my pocket rather than the chancellor's, but at the end of the day it's not a deal breaker.

What would be a deal breaker though, for me at least, is if anti-diesel sentiment starts to restrict access to city centres or starts to be penalised with surcharges for parking or on top of a congestion charge. I'd previously assumed that the Euro 6 rating that the Macan enjoys (at least prior to the Porsche/VAG manipulation scandal) would remove that risk for several years to come. Which is why it's concerning that a new classification for diesel emissions, one that I'd never heard of before and have no idea how the Macan performs against, has now entered the picture during the budget.

[Tall Phil]

I thought the same, that EURO 6 would be good and clean (enough to avoid charges). Perhaps not

[andreas]

What would be a deal breaker though, for me at least, is if anti-diesel sentiment starts to restrict access to city centres or starts to be penalised with surcharges for parking or on top of a congestion charge.

It's already happening in London. Westminster's parking charges are 50% higher for pre-2015 diesel cars. Islington will charge £2 an hour extra for all diesel cars, regardless of age. Hounslow is charging residents £50 a year more for a permit for a diesel car. The TfL T-charge is £10 a day extra for diesels which don't meet at least Euro 4 level.

[SAC1]

For a brand new Macan from April 2017 it has been £450 p.a.

Errr, no. For a brand new Macan S, the current first year's road tax is £1200.

Uhh, no. Just checked:

GOV.UK

Home Driving and transport Vehicle tax, MOT and insurance
Vehicle tax rates
Vehicles with a list price of more than £40,000
You have to pay an extra £310 a year if you have a car or motorhome with a ‘list price’ (the published price before any discounts) of more than £40,000.

You only have to pay this rate for 5 years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed).

Check the list price with your dealer so you know how much vehicle tax you’ll have to pay.
Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel £450 £450 £472.50 £247.50 £236.25
Electric £310 £310 £325.50 £170.50 £162.75
Alternative £440 £440 £462 £242 £231

[andreas]

Uhh, no. Just checked:

You need to check more carefully! See here - https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables

The first year tax for a Macan S (212-204 g/km) is £1200. Plus of course the £55 first registration fee!

[Wing Commander]

Macan S (petrol) 207-212g = £1,200 on that table.

Macan SD (diesel) 159-164g = £500 on that same table for Year 1 road tax.