Wednesday, 23. July 2014
I’ve just found another little snippet of information. If you are planning a trip to Germany in the future you may have to pay a toll to use their roads from 2016 if proposals announced by the German Government go ahead. Foreign drivers would have to purchase a permit costing 10 euros (£7.90) for 10 days or 100 euros for a year long permit, depending on your car’s emissions.
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Germany’s transport minister said Germans would also have to pay but would be offset by a tax cut elsewhere. They estimate that the toll will raise 2.5 billion euros over 4 years. Germany is one of the few European mainland countries that doesn’t charge cars.
Next door neighbours France and Austria have tolls but don’t distinguish between nationals and foreigners. According to the report I read it is still unsure whether Germany will be allowed to carry out its plan because of its discrimination against foreigners.
Toll Booths, Hong Kong (Photo credit: Ian Muttoo)
But re-reading the report it says that they will also be charging German drivers but giving tax cuts elsewhere to offset the cost. Maybe I misunderstood! Is it me? Anyway, watch this space. By Graham Hill
Sunday, 13. November 2011
I’m forever making up excuses for cars such as Skoda, Seat and Chevrolet. All three makes are extremely good considering their roots and the long held view that in their previous existences they were, well frankly – crap! Take the Skoda, the butt of many a comedian’s joke, but now, under VW ownership with VW parts and German build control the Read more »
Tuesday, 30. November 2010
Nissan ad execs must have been chuckling to themselves when they came up with the theme for their sports cars, the 370Z and the GT-R. They decided to take on the Germans, poking fun at their acceleration speeds, pointing out that the Z was faster than Audi, BMW and Porsche rivals. The posters read ‘Deutschland Deutschland Uber Rated’ while a blurred Read more »
Thursday, 26. November 2009
A couple of weeks ago I told you which manufacturers and which cars were the most reliable. This week it’s the turn of the dealerships. The survey was carried out amongst 34 of the UK’s top leasing companies with 27 voting for the dealers in the top slot. Whilst Lexus often takes top honours amongst retail voters only 2 lessors put Lexus in the top 5 dropping them just off the top 10 dealers. The Germans seemed to Read more »
Friday, 27. June 2008
Deliveries are becoming a nightmare, I have today been given a further delay on a VW Golf with the new 1.4 engine that was ordered on the 1st February 2008 with an estimated lead time of 12 weeks. Delivery is currently expected to be end of August to the dealer. Whilst this situation is exceptional, explained by VW as being the result of amazing International demand for the smaller engine that can be tuned to produce 170 BHP, long lead times are not uncommon. However, most funders will Read more »