At ten years old, our cars’ plastic headlights were badly crazed. as I tweeted: A PoliCraft alloy, brass and copper polishing kit from @Halfords_uk worked a treat on tired plastic headlights pic.twitter.com/PEWOeUvvPQ — Steve Baker MP (@SteveBakerMP) February 1, 2015 Available here. I strongly suggest you keep the polishing head […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "Cars"
The Government’s plan to “decarbonise the transport fleet”
Following a Transport Committee oral evidence session on Low Carbon Vehicles, I have received a letter from the Minister, Norman Baker MP (no relation). It’s not necessary to reproduce the lot, but I do wonder if car enthusiasts, or indeed drivers generally, realise that: … the Carbon Plan 2011 showed […]
Read MoreCrony capitalism is so entrenched, we scarcely even spot it
The Transport Committee met today for an evidence session on low carbon vehicles. It illustrated that crony capitalism is now not merely entrenched and passed over, but borne out of the good intentions of a global regulatory elite. In the first session, we learned that “consumer demand is lagging policy”, […]
Read MoreArbitrary and capricious power anyone?
Successive governments have incentivised people to buy ‘greener’ cars which use less fuel. Apart from outrageously high fuel duty with 20% VAT on top, the other tool has been Vehicle Excise Duty graded to promote low CO2 cars. Having herded people down this road, apparently the Government now finds it […]
Read MoreCoping with heavy snow (or why I am a winter tyre bore)
The Royal Air Force used to send me to Bardufoss in Arctic Norway, in winter. I learned there that, if you want to drive on snow, use winter tyres and, if you want to drive on ice, have studs in them. The point was hammered home when we went to Ørland […]
Read MoreCar tax
Having just paid £245 car tax for the year, I am reminded of my prior advocacy of the abolition of car tax. Needless to say, it has not encouraged me to buy a slower car: I’ll be running this one for at least another two years, whatever. In the meantime, I […]
Read MoreThe Mazda 3 diesel – surprisingly satisfactory
The Saab is in for a service and Hughes, being also a Mazda dealer, loaned me this diesel Mazda 3. It’s really quite good. Mazda 3 courtesy car in the snow, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker. The 1.6 litre engine is astonishing. Matched to a six-speed gearbox, it can pull fourth […]
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