slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Beating the CAZ slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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So help me out then. Birmingham have announced the rules of their 'clean air zone' (lets not get into the politics other than to say I would stab everyone one has anything to do with that Bullplop clean in the face if I could.)
However! Historic class is exempt!
This means I need to replace my daily with somthing historic. Pre 1980 at the moment. Yeh I probably don't need to drive into town and will be actively avoiding any mainstream buisnesses there out of principle but with the inevitable chaos on the ring road it would be good to have use of the rat routes and the A38 if needed!
I currently drive a Pug 806/Citroen Synergie ev1 with the 1.9 XUD and run it primarily on veg saving about 2k a year in fuel bills so my plan is to find an older vehicle and transplant an XUD into it so I can still take advantage of that.
So question is what do I get? I'm really looking at small panel vans I think. An estate car is possible but they are just not quite big enough! Same goes for an Escort sized van. The obvious thing would be a small mk1 transit but that's to obvious and expensive.. what's out there thats not too obvious? Sherpa?
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Beating the CAZ Deleted
@Deleted
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Sherpa was exactly my thinking before I got to the end of your post - they are much maligned by many - but I had 60,000 miles of use out of mine with next to no issues - they are very simple verging on agricultural in design - but easy fixes a plenty - they can rot but if you can find a half straight / decent base to work from you will be fine - mine was ex post office with the Perkins Prima diesel and underpowered but you appear to have all the right ideas on that front
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Beating the CAZ Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Mar 17, 2020 10:02:44 GMT
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The last version (LDV Pilot) even came with an XUD (or variant) in it anyway so should be an easy swap?
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Beating the CAZ slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Mar 17, 2020 10:35:37 GMT
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Yeh the pilot came with the xud but sadly they are too new as far as I know. Most Van's of that right age are petrol so I'm not ruling out finding somthing ready to go but it seems unlikely. A pilot gearbox might be of use although depending in axle I have a rx8 box here gathering dust that I'm sure could be adapted and 6 speeds would be great.
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Beating the CAZ Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Mar 17, 2020 10:38:49 GMT
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I was thinking more along the line of transplanting the Pilot engine and box into a 70’s Sherpa rather than using a Pilot complete..and given their joint running gear it should be a straight forward fit? Bit like fitting a Sierra lump into a Cortina..
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Mar 17, 2020 12:14:15 GMT
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Sherpa? Got to be the v8 then.....😈
Or is that classed as ldv?
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dan
Part of things
Posts: 589
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Mar 17, 2020 15:08:25 GMT
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This may beat the CAZ but it's only going to be a short reprieve. Birmingham City Council have stated their aim is to remove all through traffic from the city centre and direct everyone onto the ring road by 2030. The city centre will be chopped into sections which will only allow you to come in an out rather than cross zone to zone. Parking spaces are being removed from the city centre while parking restrictions are being brought in for vast swathes of the city too. It's set to decimate businesses in Digbeth, Jewellery & Gun Quarters but that's a rant for another day. The cynic in me speculates that this is a convenient way to clear the landlords and small businesses of prime land around Curzon Street so that rabbit hutch, apartments can be sold off plan for foreign investors. Birmingham City Council do like shiny new buildings they can't afford. www.transport-network.co.uk/No-through-trips-Birmingham-curtails-the-car-to-keep-city-moving/16387With the exception of historics every pre-Jan 2004 Euro 4 compliant petrol car and every pre-Sept 2015 Euro 6 compliant diesel will be subject to the charge if crossing the Queensway. I live on the edge of the CAZ and the Minor passes as Historic. My old 4 litre, straight six, 20 mpg jag would have been be fine, while I will have to pay £8 a day for my current 2001 T Reg 1.6 focus. Here's some 6R4 Metros as penance for my moan  |
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Last Edit: Mar 18, 2020 12:05:07 GMT by dan
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Beating the CAZ Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Mar 17, 2020 20:03:59 GMT
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So instead of a 20 mile journey from Walsall-ish (actually much further up the M6) to Cobridge via the A38 I’ll have the 40+ mile one round the outside on the M6 and M42? Perfect way to reduce fuel usage.
I guess it moves it out of their jurisdiction so that’s ok. Glad common sense is still alive and well in local government.
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dan
Part of things
Posts: 589
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Mar 17, 2020 22:17:12 GMT
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The CAZ covers the Birmingham city centre core only so going from Walsall to Cobridge, S-O-T you are going the opposite direction. Travelling Walsall to Longbridge however, is a different matter if you took the most direct route. On top of the CAZ they've also decided to get rid of the Perry Barr flyover for the Commonwealth Games so you can expect this junction to become Scott Arms 2
and in other local traffic news... lol |
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Beating the CAZ Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Mar 18, 2020 12:27:54 GMT
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Cotteridge, not Cobridge (brain fade)...Kings Norton Business Park.
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Mar 18, 2020 18:58:02 GMT
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Just reading through this thread, a couple of questions sprung to mind. I've not looked into this 'movement' or 'project' in much detail as i live in Nottingham, but i am aware other cities may follow and Nottingham is very anti-car anyway.
Anyhow, the main question that sprung to me was that although historic vehicles are exempt, is there any restriction on the frequency they are used? If not, then as an earlier poster high-lighted, people would have to pay a charge for a relatively modern 1.6 focus, yet pay nothing for a much older bigger engine'd Jag. If this is the case then it kinda doesn't make much sense....
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Mar 18, 2020 22:14:00 GMT
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It's government/council we're talking about here! It's not supposed to make sense!
Simplest solution, do what I did 30 odd years ago, live and work well away from any city!
Steve
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Beating the CAZ Phil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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It's government/council we're talking about here! It's not supposed to make sense! Steve Exactly. Mid 90's vehicle - No thankyou. 70's vehicle with the engine from said mid 90's vehicle - No problem. I believe it's called a "loophole". Those in control don't like them because it's either a) an error or omission on their part, or b) a sneaky back door for their own benefit that others take advantage of, which wasn't their original idea (see item a)  ) I won't include complete incompetence here. |
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Beating the CAZ slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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I wouldnt complain too much. Historic exemption is about the only silver lining.
The main thing I object to is the a38 being shut. Thats akin to shutting a major motorway. Clearly not going to help the emissions situation.
As for what vehicle, it looks like it will be whatever comes along that fits the bill as there certainly isnt a surplus of serviceable small commercials on the market right now 😕
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