worried about the future of keeping an oldtimer

[john 05141]

I love my DeLorean and I'm proud to have one.
But more and more I worry about how long they will still be allowed on the roads.

Environment people have been working hard here in Belgium and gave the government some great ideas to get some extra revenue.
A week ago cities like Antwerp will soon be no longer be accessible by cars that do not have a clean exhaust from the engine. I kind a live in a city and if they apply that rule here I will no longer be able to drive it home.
Then 2 days ago it is announced in a year or 2, cars will need to install a GPSdevice so we can be charged per KM driven, more expensive on peak hours and on highways.
Do I need to put that ungly thing on the dash of my Delorean, using the only socket I have? (and know exactely where you are too)

I need to replace my roofcage but I'm starting to have doubts now if it will still be worth it.....
Please let someone tell me oldtimers are not part of these actions.......

There are quite some pleople that spend their free time in oldimer cars, not to mention people and companies making a living from it.
I'm usually a positive guy, but this situation worries me. I do not want to give up my DeLorean dream but I fear it will simply be taken from me;


Jan

[DMCMW Dave]

It's probably too late, but your "car people" need to have an organization like SEMA in the US that educates the government(s) on the difference between well-maintained and seldom driven collector cars, and junk cars that should be off the road.

Yes, SEMA is a manufacturer/distributor association of companies looking out for their own business, but their interests generally align with those of car enthusiasts.

[David T]

It's probably too late, but your "car people" need to have an organization like SEMA in the US that educates the government(s) on the difference between well-maintained and seldom driven collector cars, and junk cars that should be off the road.

Yes, SEMA is a manufacturer/distributor association of companies looking out for their own business, but their interests generally align with those of car enthusiasts.

In the US exemptions are made for limited use vehicles, meaning if you don't drive an old car much they don't have to follow all of the rules. Depending on each State's rules some are more lenient than others. The ultimate goal of many is to get rid of ALL of the old cars. Along the way to that goal in many cases they will price some of them out of existence. No way can anyone tell you what the future holds in your country in particular.

[chris williams]

Unfortunately within Europe (unless it seems you live in certain parts that only follow certain rules) then they are becoming very anti-old car. in the UK we have the FBHVC that keep a lot of the Euro rubbish at bay and make sure that sensible exceptions are put into the rule book for us. Though even this has stopped some classic car shows within the M25 low emission zone, most of these new regulations seem to be another way of raising funds (taxes) funny how the two seem to go together:thumbdown:
Chris

[Ryan S.]

Time to convert to an electric. :thumbdown: Sounds like you have too many crazy green people in your town.

[pk2678]

Here in Germany we have since several years those "low emission zones" which must not be entered with cars that are not certified for this. The automobile industry sold a lot of new cars because of this. That the desired effect, to reduce the emissions in populated areas took not place, is not part of this.
But DeLorean owners are lucky for two reasons. At first, the catalytic converter that has been installed back in 1981/1982 certifies the DeLoreans to enter these "low emission zones". And second, cars which have a historic license plate (available for near-original, good maintained cars with age of 30 years and more) can also enter the "low emission zones". So up to now, driving a DeLorean in Germany has only one restriction: Where we're going, we need roads.

--Peter

[Bitsyncmaster]

Maryland has proposed to do that GPS thing and add another tax. We already tax drivers by taxing gasoline. So doing the GPS is just to add another tax so they can waste more money. The all electric cars do throw a wrench into the gas tax thinking but it's a very small percentage of loss.

[David T]

In NYC they want to charge you if you go downtown or over the East River bridges. Just another way to impose a new tax in the name of safety or clean environment. No one can be against that!

[lindbergh]

The U.S. is uncontrollably hemorrhaging cash. We took in more tax money last year in U.S. history and still have half a trillion deficit. Higher taxes on everything is our future. We feel your pain Europe we are all heading for the same boat.