Alarm over car tax increases

The cost of fuel may have shot up to record levels, but many drivers still seem more concerned about the proposed rises in annual car tax, reports motoring editor Peter Carroll.

That was the conclusion following last night's Cost Of Motoring phone-in organised by the Express & Star.

I was joined by used car expert Matt Tumbridge and driving technique consultant Danny Kharbanda for the phone-in session.

The panel fielded questions covering a range of motoring matters - but all the early calls to the hotline were inquiries about tax rather than about smoother driving techniques or which is the most economical car to buy.

Among the callers were owners of 1.6 litre petrol Ford Focuses who face steep VED hikes.

Although the Government intended to penalise owners of 4x4 gas guzzlers and sports cars with its new tax rates, plenty of family cars are falling foul of the new legislation - which was sneakily backdated to cover cars registered after April 2001.

Typical of the early callers was 69-year-old Richard Dudley, of Bradley Lane, Bilston.

He was worried that the annual VED on his seven-year-old, one-litre Suzuki Swift was about to spiral.

As his car was registered before this cut-off point he will continue to pay VED at the standard rate. There were calls from drivers disappointed with the fuel consumption they were achieving.

Bernard Beddard, aged 61, of Dibdale Street, Milking Bank, Dudley, reckoned his nearly-new Skoda Fabia 80hp diesel should be returning better than the 37mpg he was averaging.

"The dealer told me to expect around 50mpg so I thought I would be getting more than this," he said. "Even on a run up to the Lake District it only did 49mpg."

The panel advised that his consumption should improve once his car is properly run in -Êit has covered only 1,200 miles to date.

Danny Kharbanda added: "Many people drive at 30mph in fourth gear when third would be more efficient. You should try to aim for around 2,000rpm and drive as smoothly as you can."

Matt Tumbridge spent some time with a caller who had traded in a low mileage Peugeot 206 1.4 petrol for a 10-month-old diesel Kia Cee'd - and was wondering if he had done the right thing now that diesel is anything up to 15p a litre more expensive than unleaded.

"He bought the Cee'd for the right money and will get better fuel consumption of nearly 50mpg, as well as the benefit of Kia's excellent seven-year warranty, so it was a good buy," said Mr Tumbridge, who edits usedcarexpert.com.