Hyundai reports 4,000 scrap car trades in UK, reveals some surprises
Governments all over the world have introduced Cash-For-Clunkers-style programs that are nothing if not controversial. While the stated intent of each of these schemes is to increase new car sales and remove older, dirtier and less fuel efficient vehicles from the road, some powerful organizations have voiced concerns that untold numbers of classic machinery may be lost forever for no good reason. Could it be that both sides are right? New car buyers in the UK are reportedly flocking to Hyundai dealers in droves with a bevy of older vehicles in tow. According to Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai UK's managing director:
For many [the scrappage scheme] is an opportunity to buy their first ever new car, and is enormously exciting. Some people look a little embarrassed when they turn up at a showroom with an old car which is literally falling to pieces but we're happy to take anything as long as it meets the government's criteria. Other buyers have taken the decision to wave goodbye to cars which have been in the family for a generation, but their sadness soon disappears when they get into their new Hyundai.So, just what kinds of cars are being traded in? The Korean automaker reports that both a Jaguar XJ-S and XJ6 have both been scrapped, as have 34 BMWs, 22 Audis and 32 vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. Six Mazda MX-5's, seven MGFs, a 1966 Austin 1100 and a 1968 Morris Minor were also sent to the great scrapheap in the sky along with at least one Citroen that lost a wheel on the way to the dealership.
[Source: The Green Car Website | Photo: Matt and Kim Rudge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
downtoearth 3:43PM (5/27/2009)
For some these are priceless classic machinery. For others these are useless crappy wrecks that need to be recycled as soon as possible.
As far as scrappage is concerned, the only good thing I can find in this communist robbery of some taxpayers to fund something to others is dampening the violent sales decline so that it's prolonged over time and thus less devastating on car makers. So that they have more time and resources to accomodate and restructure (= shrink). Cause cars bought todays in the scrappage scope will not be bought tomorrow.
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Jon 4:37PM (5/27/2009)
Communist robbery? Newsflash: your taxes have always been benefiting other people, and their taxes have been benefiting you. This is nothing new - it's what taxes are for.
required 4:16PM (5/27/2009)
Most of these would be awesome electric conversions. I would much prefer a e-Morris Minor to a Hyundai. If only I had the money/time/talent of Neil Young.
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Nikki Bloomfield 5:57PM (5/27/2009)
I nearly did make a Morris Minor conversion to electric, but sadly the vehicle I owned was too rusty to work on. However, I do plan to convert one at some point in the future. I fail to see how crushing is better than converting, as do Calcars.
It's just a way of helping the auto industry out so they don't crumble completely....
Nikki
www.aminorjourney.com
Baskingshark 8:47PM (5/27/2009)
If you read the full article, they do specify that the Minor and 1100 were both rusted out beyond salvage, which is likely the case with all the interesting cars listed. They also say that the most commonly-traded-in cars were the Nissan Micra and Rovers (Rover 25s or 400s, I presume) with blown head gaskets.
I also don't approve of this socialist rubbish, especially when it's as poorly-thought-out as the scheme in the UK, but I doubt we'll be seeing thousands of pristine (or even recoverable) classics getting scrapped. Most of the cars getting turned in will be nondescript junk like the abovementioned Micras, Corsas etc. if only because its mostly old people as nobody else can afford car payments and they tend to have money put away to buy outright, and 90's Micras are the sort of car they drive (usually with no second gear left due to over-use...)
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ISLAND DON 11:10PM (5/27/2009)
The cost of "saving" one of these supposed classics is probably the cost of several new Hyundais and you've still got an old car. Rarely does refurbishing something less than an XK120 or E-Type Jag is going to bring you anything more than considerable praise, pride, a sense of accomplishment and an empty pocket book. Not everyone is driven by the same purist automotive ideals. I know I'm not.
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dg 12:04AM (5/29/2009)
Personally, I'm not against the whole idea. I actually like it. I also don't have any sort of passion for classic cars (but I can appreciate those that do). What I don't like is all the gizmos and gadgets in new cars. I'm a huge tech-geek, but I just hate GPS, 6-disk changers, lane-change assist, and all that crap. Are we really getting that unintelligent that we need the car to help us change lanes?! We've been doing it all by our human-selves for like a hundred years! Anyway, I don't care that people want that, I just want an option for NONE of it. That's why I like classic cars, because I get in my car to drive, not to watch a movie, or play Where's Waldo with a, what seems like, 42" touch screen navigation system. I don't even like digital gauges. I don't understand what was wrong with the analog ones. In my opinion they are easier to find and read the information you're looking for; which should max out somewhere around SPEED, RPM, GAS, and a CLOCK.
I guess my attitude is, if it ain't broke, why fix it? And again, if people want all this stuff, that's fine. I just want a Toyota Prius for 14,000. I know they could do it if they took out all the crap I don't care about. Haha.
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