| The start of 2008 brought great hilarity for those of us | | | | the difference can run to hundreds of pounds. Classic |
| who keep a keen eye on the motoring industry - and | | | | car insurance quotes can be very competitive. |
| especially those among us who sneer at anything less | | | | 3. Zero road tax. Yep, that's right. In the UK classic |
| than a supercar. First, the joy of the internet and email | | | | cars built before 1973 qualify for zero-rated road tax. |
| meant I received a picture of a garden shed on | | | | You have to display a tax disk, but it doesn't actually |
| wheels (yes, an actual shed) - with a clever fake | | | | cost anything. So there's £160 banked straight |
| press release heralding the launch of the new | | | | away. |
| Daewood car! Very funny. | | | | 4. Cheaper repair bills. Let's say you're in the middle of |
| Then, in India, Tata Motors launched the world's | | | | a country estate enjoying a picnic in your classic Morris |
| cheapest new car…the $2,500 Nano. Wizened | | | | Minor when you carelessly but gently bump into a |
| industry-watchers heralded the apparent "breathtaking | | | | great oak. You can find a new rear lamp for around |
| innovations in manufacturing technology in the global | | | | 20 quid. However, do the same in your new Kia and |
| automobile industry based on severe cost-cutting". | | | | the replacement rear light is likely to be at least two |
| Others were not so open-minded, with one United | | | | times that. |
| States media presenter describing the car as "a golf | | | | 5. You're more environmentally-friendly. People think old |
| cart crossed with a jelly bean." | | | | cars use more petrol per mile than new ones - and in |
| But both events got me thinking - why on earth would | | | | some cases they're right. But it is a well-documented |
| someone buy a horrible new 'Eurobox car' when the | | | | fact that around a third of the energy consumed by a |
| money could be better spent on a fantastic classic | | | | car in its entire life is used to make it in the first place. |
| car? This conundrum always baffles my colleagues at | | | | So buying and using a classic car is recycling |
| Sureterm Direct - the UK's leading specialist classic car | | | | par-excellence. Spare parts for older cars are |
| insurance company - so with their help here are my | | | | readily-accessible, so keeping your classic running is |
| top 7 reasons to buy a classic car instead of a | | | | again very environmentally sound - while many |
| faceless, cheap, under-powered, Euro-shed. | | | | components used in the build of new cars are sealed |
| 1. It makes financial sense. The moment you drive your | | | | in and only fit for the bin once they're no longer of use. |
| run-of-the-mill chunk of far Eastern plastic and metal | | | | 6. Social networking. Want to meet nice new friends in |
| car off the forecourt you lose 30% of its value straight | | | | great surroundings? Then join a classic car club. For |
| away in depreciation. You no longer own a new car - | | | | example, there are events for VW Beetle owners |
| you own a second-hand one! But if you invested in a | | | | almost every weekend. It's fun - and it's hard to |
| cracking little classic car in good condition - and kept it | | | | imagine the same feeling from a field full of Daihatsu |
| smart - the chances are it should at least hold its value | | | | Sirion owners. |
| (and in some cases it might even increase in price). | | | | 7. You look good. Swing down the street in a gleaming |
| 2. Better insurance deals. Take it from us, as the | | | | classic MGB and you'll turn heads. And it feels great to |
| country's leading specialist classic car insurer, the costs | | | | drive around in something that is instantly-recognisable |
| of insuring a classic MGB if you opt for special | | | | and draws knowing waves, nods and winks from |
| features like limited mileage options can be | | | | other motorists. Of course, your Far Eastern tin |
| considerably less than cover for a new hot hatch. And | | | | machine might draw hand signals too - but a single |
| we're not just talking about saving a £10 or so - | | | | finger doesn't constitute a wave I'm afraid. |