Originally Posted by
Saracen
Now for those options.
If the object is to preserve a "classic" car, none of those do much to achieve it. Most of them also do nothing to raise any cash for the owner, like the scrappage scheme does, with the possible exception of breaking it for parts. BUT .... if the only is of a more advanced age, or lacks skills, or lacks tools or facilities, the only way to break it for parts may be to pay someone to do it and that, depending on car, may cost much of or more than the parts are worth.
In my view, it's simple.
First, someone owns a car.
Second, government wants older more-polluting cars off the road.
Third, the car that person owns qualifies.
Fourth, it is up to THAT PERSON if they want to trade it in, crash it TG-style, or plant rhodadendrums in it.
If someone else objects to it being scrapped because it's classic, by all means buy it at the scrappage price. Otherwise, it's none of their business, which is why I'm not signing tne petition.
I would slso point out, as others have been giving scenarios ....
Person A .... inherits a car, in running condition, with MOT. It's "historic", but not of particular value or merit. Just old. Now, it may be running and MOT'd now, but there are signs that some major components are reaching life-end. It may get tghrough another MOT. It nay also not need an MOT at all, but may be reaching the point where keeping it roadworthy becomes too expensive. So, scrapping it while you can may be the best option.
Person B has a historic car, but parts are getting impossible to get, and finding them, and/or fitting them are getting to be too much hassle. Or, the level of maintenance wirk is getting beyond B's ability to keep paying for it.
In either case, the best option, financially, may well be scrappage, and indeed that might be the only way A or B can afford a new car.
The car may not be worth anything as a classic, and not worth much as a car, just because it's old, but the time, effort and hassle can, I can assure you, go through the roof, as it were.
Why should scrappage be denied thdm because someone else thinks it's worth preserving, especially if they're not willing to dig into their own pocket, snd/or take in the time and hassle of keeping it going?