Dublin Airport car park 99% high spec motors UK/NI reg'd

Car99

As a frequent user of Dub Airport carparks the I'm a bit pissed off by the most glaring consequence of our VRT and road Tax is the difference between what calibre of car you can run in the uk v what you can run in Ireland for an equal ammount of money

Look at a desirable car from the side and I can nearly always tell what colour reg will be on the back by the spec of the car.

Anyways rant over , vrt is wrong.

VincePP

Road tax is not that different. Yes vrt would account for 14 - 25% (higher for very top end), but your assertion that 99% is the usual ott blubber of a rant.

Being originally from NI and having lived in Britain, both areas like to flaunt their wealth in terms of what car they own.

It goes on somewhat down here but nowhere near NI & Britain. Similarly check sales of car colours - bright show-off white is massive in UK for top end (esp 4x4) whilst it barely registers as a top colour here.

bear1

Interesting statistic... any figure to back up the 99%?

bear1

bear1 wrote: »

Interesting statistic... any figure to back up the 99%?

Well it's one less than 100%.

frozenfrozen

I agree, it just shows that the money which is spent on cars is inelastic, the extra tax just means people go for cheaper cars and less extras.

It would be different if VRT was 5% and goes up to a higher % for very high spec cars. Then you would see people actually speccing nicer cars, with the same budget. Then those cars would trickle down in the second hand market. Meaning that everyone on the road is better off.

I don't see any issue with people getting 'bright show-off white'. Otherwise known as 'white'. Sounds a bit like jealousy if you call it anything else

bear1

Deleted User wrote: »

Well it's one less than 100%.

Then that solves it, statistic verified.

bear1

frozenfrozen wrote: »

I agree, it just shows that the money which is spent on cars is inelastic, the extra tax just means people go for cheaper cars and less extras.

It would be different if VRT was 5% and goes up to a higher % for very high spec cars. Then you would see people actually speccing nicer cars, with the same budget. Then those cars would trickle down in the second hand market. Meaning that everyone on the road is better off.

I don't see any issue with people getting 'bright show-off white'. Otherwise known as 'white'. Sounds a bit like jealousy if you call it anything else

I don't think this would apply to the general population.
Most drivers are probably so used to getting the cheapest that money can buy that they may not even notice it if the VRT was removed.
VRT is a problem yes, but I've more of a problem with people spending thousands to change their pre-08 car to get the cheaper tax.

12Phase

Hmm, I was up there today and it's nowhere near 99%

If you're in Dublin most people who are fairly monied, don't leave the S Class in the long term car park if they can get a taxi.

Also if you head to Cork, if you're going long haul and the ticket price isn't an issue, you'd go Cork - LHR or AMS and connect on. Most business and higher end leisure travellers don't do a 3h (worse in traffic) drive to Dublin first.

Others will get train and taxi to avoid driving.

I'd say the NI cars actually reflect proximity to DUB but lack of family connections to park cars with and lack of strong transit connections / familiarity.

There's a lot more going on there than car tax.

cletus

Maybe the op just took a really small sample number, like 10, then extrapolated upwards from there.


Or maybe, like 76% of all statistics, it was made up on the spot to support a subjective argument.

Either way, I am intrigued by his ideas, and would like to subscribe to his magazine

VincePP

VincePP wrote: »

Similarly check sales of car colours - bright show-off white is massive in UK for top end (esp 4x4) whilst it barely registers as a top colour here.

Is that a thing?

Whilst I agree that white can look nice on certain cars, I always presumed it was the cheapest colour option. I associate white with work vans, and think most cars (not all, in fairness) don't look their best in white at all.

12Phase

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is that a thing?

Whilst I agree that white can look nice on certain cars, I always presumed it was the cheapest colour option. I associate white with work vans, and think most cars (not all, in fairness) don't look their best in white at all.

I think it looks kind of "cheap" tbh.

Mongfinder General

what accounts for a high spec motor nowadays?

bear1

Mongfinder General wrote: »

what accounts for a high spec motor nowadays?

4 elec window and central locking judging by some ads on DD.

frozenfrozen

bear1 wrote: »

I don't think this would apply to the general population.
Most drivers are probably so used to getting the cheapest that money can buy that they may not even notice it if the VRT was removed.
VRT is a problem yes, but I've more of a problem with people spending thousands to change their pre-08 car to get the cheaper tax.

You're right and that whole spending thousands to save 300 euro per year boggles my mind. But I think that if VRT was gone, on the whole, there would still be more high spec cars, rather than everyone just pocketing the saving. I'm not saying forged 22" wheels and night vision but things like leather and dual climate control, dimming mirrors, which are made quite expensive for what they are because of VRT, would be seen as much less of a luxury and more of a I can't believe that's not standard.

If all the cars on the road were already brand new mercs I'd say keep the VRT as high because it's not discouraging anybody. But these days it's all small diesels with plastic interiors, and we're going to be worse off for it in years to come in the used market.

The ads on donedeal say it all "every possible extra" listed on anything that has leather interior and 2 colour display

12Phase

bear1 wrote: »

4 elec window and central locking judging by some ads on DD.

Fabric seats (saw this mentioned as a feature on one ad)

bazz26

Nothing says high spec than front fog lights lads.

bear1

frozenfrozen wrote: »

You're right and that whole spending thousands to save 300 euro per year boggles my mind. But I think that if VRT was gone, on the whole, there would still be more high spec cars, rather than everyone just pocketing the saving. I'm not saying forged 22" wheels and night vision but things like leather and dual climate control, dimming mirrors, which are made quite expensive for what they are because of VRT, would be seen as much less of a luxury and more of a I can't believe that's not standard.

If all the cars on the road were already brand new mercs I'd say keep the VRT as high because it's not discouraging anybody. But these days it's all small diesels with plastic interiors, and we're going to be worse off for it in years to come in the used market.

The ads on donedeal say it all "every possible extra" listed on anything that has leather interior and 2 colour display

Yes. I prefer toys or high spec'd cars.
If I spent 5mins per day in the car then I probably wouldn't care but I do a fair amount of kms per month and so want something which I will enjoy being in.
Car in itself is boring-ish (diesel passat) but it has almost everything bar a sunroof.
My parents in 05 bought a 22k new Almera and it didn't even have AC. Couldn't dream of spending so much for the lowest spec possible.

bear1

bazz26 wrote: »

Nothing says high spec than front fog lights lads.

Which is why most people leave them turned on.

12Phase

bear1 wrote: »

Which is why most people leave them turned on.

They'd be the same people who take extra care of their indicators and the switch lever on the steering column by never using them..

They do however make plenty of use of the double parking lights - that we red button on the dash that makes them flash.

colm_mcm

Ref colours

The J Stands for Jay

That Ferrari and Maseratti I saw in the airport at the weekend were D reg.

Del2005

frozenfrozen wrote: »

You're right and that whole spending thousands to save 300 euro per year boggles my mind. But I think that if VRT was gone, on the whole, there would still be more high spec cars, rather than everyone just pocketing the saving. I'm not saying forged 22" wheels and night vision but things like leather and dual climate control, dimming mirrors, which are made quite expensive for what they are because of VRT, would be seen as much less of a luxury and more of a I can't believe that's not standard.

If all the cars on the road were already brand new mercs I'd say keep the VRT as high because it's not discouraging anybody. But these days it's all small diesels with plastic interiors, and we're going to be worse off for it in years to come in the used market.

The ads on donedeal say it all "every possible extra" listed on anything that has leather interior and 2 colour display

If people keep the car for more than a year or 2, to keep the latest plate, then they could spend more on toys. Instead people value the few square centimetres at the front and back which shows the year it was registered so are constantly fighting depreciation, extras don't ad value when trading so they don't bother with them.

It's similar to washing and services. Generally in the UK the car is washed weekly and service record maintained, in Ireland services are optional and it'll be cleaned when the rain falls on it.

maddness

My car is just plain old white. If I'd know of the colour Bright Showoff White I would have ordered that one instead. I feel like I'm missing out now.

Car99

bear1 wrote: »

Interesting statistic... any figure to back up the 99%?

It's a rant not a factual researched piece of info for discussion.

Anyways I counted 99 high spec ni reg and then took one 00 D reg Almera and arrived a 99%

newacc2015

IMO the difference between NI cars and ROI cars is due the income inequality. There are parts of Belfast, that make Sheriff St in Dublin look well off. When I visit NI, I think there is a far greater amount of income equality than the south. This should be obviously since OP said 99% of cars were high spec. Assuming that not all cars are high spec in the NI, people who cant afford a BMW in NI must not be able to go on holidays. Which would match the stats that NI is one of the poorest regions of the UK. It has the lowest weekly earnings and a third of NI are token employees of the states.

bear1

Car99 wrote: »

It's a rant not a factual researched piece of info for discussion.

Anyways I counted 99 high spec ni reg and then took one 00 D reg Almera and arrived a 99%

Must have a lot of time on your hands to wander around an airport car park counting foreign registered cars.
Btw, apt username.

ironclaw

I travel a good deal on business but I'm based in Dublin. No one based in Dublin, or within an hour of it, would drive. Especially if the taxi can be expensed to the company. Anyone with that type of cash and not on business, won't be driving either. If I was living in NI, and needed to fly somewhere direct that only Dublin could offer and avoid a wait in London (e.g. Direct Middle East / US), then I'd drive down and leave the car in the airport.

What your seeing is those that have decent motor and wanted to drive/fly out of Dublin. For balance, walk around the major multinationals or IFC on any given week day. Its nothing to do with VRT. You'd also want to take note that NI has some extremely wealthy people, and some great business acumen. Derry airport for example sees a huge amount of private jet traffic and Belfast has one or two permanent private jet hubs.

Polo_Mint

bear1 wrote: »

Must have a lot of time on your hands to wander around an airport car park counting foreign registered cars.
Btw, apt username.

Ive been to Dublin Airport alot

I agree with the OP

When you see the High end cars, Chances are they are not on IRL plates.

Some yes but that would be a minority

VincePP

maddness wrote: »

My car is just plain old white. If I'd know of the colour Bright Showoff White I would have ordered that one instead. I feel like I'm missing out now.

It was said in the context of the op - and there's quite a difference between normal white on normal cars and the bright show-off white of the high spec cars.

maddness

VincePP wrote: »

It was said in the context of the op - and there's quite a difference between normal white on normal cars and the bright show-off white of the high spec cars.

Tongue firmly in cheek!

savagethegoat

so, the tax regimes on two countries are different...so what? You really wouldn't want to be paying Council Tax of the amount they do in the UK! We're in the UK, you're free to live over there and get cheaper motoring/ better spec if you want

bear1

Curious, how much is council tax? Never really understood its purpose.

R.O.R

savagethegoat wrote: »

so, the tax regimes on two countries are different...so what? You really wouldn't want to be paying Council Tax of the amount they do in the UK! We're in the UK, you're free to live over there and get cheaper motoring/ better spec if you want

And, you must wash the car every Sunday to keep up with the Joneses.

colm_mcm

Yeah but they don't have to go to mass

R.O.R

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yeah but they don't have to go to mass

Amen to that.

Or something along those lines.

colm_mcm

Amen.

Autosport

colm_mcm wrote: »

Yeah but they don't have to go to mass

10 Hail Marys for you :P

goochy

Stupid tread. Anyone can cop you are not going to see loads of Nissan micras driving down from Belfast to dublin airport but business people will who have flash cars. 15 years ago this thread would have been true but there's no shortage of high end cars in this country and not just dublin. Visit charles hursts ferrari and Bentley service dept. In Belfast you will see mostly southern reg cars.
Their roads are no better and might now be inferior . They don't have as good as social life as we do so have always tended to be more into material things .

gooch2k9

I come from Donegal but been working outside Belfast for the last 2.5 years.

Test drove a 2011 S3 at the weekend, got the insurance quotes online(~£600), happy enough. Out of curiosity checked what tax, VRT and insurance would be to bring it back home if I ever needed to. £265 v €1200, ~€7k VRT, and couldn't even get an online quote for insurance (25, Full NCB). Couldn't afford that!

I'd considered looking for work in ROI around christmas, but it just seems that everything is taxed to the hilt, so think I'll abandon that plan.

savagethegoat

bear1 wrote: »

Curious, how much is council tax? Never really understood its purpose.

to pay for COuncil services presumably. Runs into thousands in a lot of cases

millington

Can't speak for Dublin airport really but there is a noticable difference in car choice when you cross the border.

Every 316d SE you see here, is a 320d Msport in the North. Golf 1.6 TDi Bluemotions here but you'll see plenty of GTi & GTDs in the North.

Maybe it's a price thing, or maybe they just buy nicer specced cars It's definitely noticable for sure.

bear1

savagethegoat wrote: »

to pay for COuncil services presumably. Runs into thousands in a lot of cases

Just did a check and the average cost is just over 1k sterling per year :eek:

bear1

millington wrote: »

Can't speak for Dublin airport really but there is a noticable difference in car choice when you cross the border.

Every 316d SE you see here, is a 320d Msport in the North. Golf 1.6 TDi Bluemotions here but you'll see plenty of GTi & GTDs in the North.

Maybe it's a price thing, or maybe they just buy nicer specced cars It's definitely noticable for sure.

If you gave us the same tax rates the UK has you would probably start to see them here too.
Only issue is that everyone seems fine to have a 0.7l TDI car cause the tax is fierce chape.
Maybe I'm being unfair though as we aren't the most expensive in the EU

goochy

as said people are more into material things up north as social / pub life isn't as good up there. have u seen the pubs ?
also they were into cars long before us up there ,

millington

bear1 wrote: »

If you gave us the same tax rates the UK has you would probably start to see them here too.
Only issue is that everyone seems fine to have a 0.7l TDI car cause the tax is fierce chape.
Maybe I'm being unfair though as we aren't the most expensive in the EU

In terms of road tax I don't think it's really relevant on modern diesels and some petrols as they ar fairly cheap to tax both sides of the border but the VRT on initial purchase makes a difference.

gooch2k9

millington wrote: »

In terms of road tax I don't think it's really relevant on modern diesels and some petrols as they ar fairly cheap to tax both sides of the border but the VRT on initial purchase makes a difference.

Diesels probably not but definitely the tax on petrols makes a difference, specifically any kind of performance petrol. Top tax here is £505 or so, in ROI the same car could be €2350, quite a chunk of change.

Grimreaper666

It's a waste of time and money buying a decent car in Ireland anyway to take it onto dirt tracked roads littered with potholes!! It seems you're allowed buy a Focus diesel or some other mundane ****box but if you want something decent you're penalised.

pcardin

12Phase wrote: »

Fabric seats (saw this mentioned as a feature on one ad)

it was pure silk maybe, or cashmere.

pcardin

millington wrote: »

Every 316d SE you see here, is a 320d Msport in the North.

Hey, it's the same here. Locals love to badge their BMW's with those adhesive M stickers from eBay. :P

maddness

Cars are cheaper, insurance is cheaper and tax is cheaper in the north.
Is it really any surprise to see nicer/better spec cars?

Theanswers

I live near Northern Ireland, and do be in the North quite abit.

There cars are much nicer. They have much better understanding of how to spec a car. Cars in the south are so bland. Top spec is a 520d with leather, no upgraded leather, sound system, adaptive xenons and proper engine such as the 530d or above.

I agree with the poster.