$26 Fee for P-Platers to drive Cruze Turbo!!!!

[csv8]

P-platers see red over fees
Toby Hagon
March 26, 2011
P-PLATERS who drive smaller and economical cars are being charged a fee that does not apply to high-powered performance vehicles, including a new electric sports car that is faster than some Ferraris.

The Roads and Traffic Authority will impose a $26 fee on P-platers who seek an exemption to their licence conditions to drive the least powerful version of the new Holden Cruze.

At the same time the RTA and other road authorities allow the diminutive Tesla Roadster into the hands of inexperienced drivers.


The all-electric Tesla can accelerate to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds, keeping pace with the $900,000-odd, V12-powered flagship Ferrari FF that will arrive in Australia early next year.

Electric vehicles are automatically approved for P-platers, including vehicles such as the Tesla - described as "the world's only electric supercar" and which "accelerates faster than most sports cars".

P-platers in NSW are banned from driving petrol engines with eight or more cylinders, turbocharged or supercharged cars and various high-performance six-cylinder models.

But the regulations have been criticised for failing to keep pace with vehicle design and new technology. They also unfairly penalise P-platers by forcing them to apply for the $26 exemption on some turbocharged but low-powered vehicles.

The Cruze is the latest car to be caught in the controversial novice-driver bans introduced by the RTA without consultation with the automotive industry.

The least powerful model of the Cruze has a 1.4-litre turbo and only 103kW of power, less than many competitors that P-platers are allowed to drive. It is the first locally made small car in more than 10 years and received a $149 million federal government grant.

The RTA did not address questions from The Sun-Herald about whether it was fair to require the exemption for less powerful models.

It did say, however, that ''provisional drivers are required to carry and produce an exemption letter for certain high-powered vehicles that have not been given an across-the-board exemption''.

The Sun-Herald reported last year that the RTA allows P-platers to drive all diesel cars, including cars that have significantly more power than most V8s, with an exemption letter.

The then roads minister, David Campbell, said that the government would be "monitoring" high-powered diesels and hybrids. But the RTA's policy stands.

Austroads, the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities, is now working with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries to recommend changes to the policy in the next few months.

This could involve a return to the power-to-weight ratio method of calculating the vehicles considered inappropriate for novice drivers.

''The RTA will give strong consideration to any recommendations made by Austroads relating to this review and will also give consideration to the requirement to pay a fee and an exemption identifier for lower powered turbocharged vehicles," the RTA said.

The chamber's chief executive, Andrew McKellar, welcomed any change to the scheme, which he describes as a "relic".

"It was a dumb idea when it was first invented," he said.

[TheInterceptor]

Yay the joke's thread is back

[nstg8a]

i dont think a $26 fee for a p plater to drive a car that as the rules stand, wouldnt be able to drive is excessive.

as for the tesla, what p plater would ever get the chance to drive one?

[Kryton]

Motorcyclists have to pay a $50 'road safety' fee annually, along with rego which is almost the same as a vehicle, so i dont see the big deal.
Putting against a Tesla is just the usual crappy media beat up - no one on P's is going to drive a Tesla.
Really, should consider it lucky that they can be exempted from driving the Cruze.

[flappist]

Well there is a new sheriff in town. Now is the time to sort out the horsepoop.....

[DJM83]

I 'd

[jamesson1980]

Originally Posted by flappist

Well there is a new sheriff in town. Now is the time to sort out the horsepoop.....

[MexicanBatman]

Originally Posted by davway

Motorcyclists have to pay a $50 'road safety' fee annually, along with rego which is almost the same as a vehicle, so i dont see the big deal.
Putting against a Tesla is just the usual crappy media beat up - no one on P's is going to drive a Tesla.
Really, should consider it lucky that they can be exempted from driving the Cruze.

Ya reckon, I've seen p platers driving a boxster a 911t a Ferrari f355, and a couple of genuine 9 second cars, this was quite a few years ago before the current restrictions but still under the 120kw ton rule..

I couldnt care less to be honest

But serious lol'z at stuff like the 600cc 3 cyl hondas being on the list cos their turbo yet the s2k or nsx are ok LOL

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by csv8

This could involve a return to the power-to-weight ratio method of calculating the vehicles considered inappropriate for novice drivers.

Yes, restore a system that actually achieved what the current rules fail to do - keep p-platers out of higher performance cars.

Originally Posted by csv8

The chamber's chief executive, Andrew McKellar, welcomed any change to the scheme, which he describes as a "relic".

"It was a dumb idea when it was first invented," he said.

Pity the RTA haven't demonstrated enough intelligence to indicate they were capable of tying their own shoelaces. They dumbed it down banning turbos and V8s so their own department could keep track of what cars were legal and what weren't, but now there's exemptions and inconsistencies. The people who clean the offices at the RTA could come up with a better policy.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

Yes, restore a system that actually achieved what the current rules fail to do - keep p-platers out of higher performance cars.

WHAT? You want to put ALL P platers in old commodores..........

[Franco Cozzo]

Lol, my Focus is only 3kw less and probably 130nm more and i dont need an exemption.

[Polyal]

Ha...pretty sure in another thread I mentioned the rule would change to suit them....is there nothing the beloved Australian icon can't buy?

This money grab is even more blatant than the speed camera scams...unreal.

So it's now safe to drive a turbo along as you pay $26....

[Full Noise]

I’m sure that the importer of these have had hundreds of P platers knocking their door down ready to pay the $206,188 not including “on road cost” just so they can hang out at the local Maccas in it.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/110358/2...-in-australia/

[Ben73]

There are lots of P platers who have rich parents who would by them a Tesla.


The $26 fee for the cruze is just another way to make money.


"Hmm this car is slow, but turbo, I guess we should let people drive it"

"Well we can charge them a fee to drive it?"

"Good work bob, you just earned a promotion"

Each day the RTA proves they know nothing about cars and are just trying to make as much money as possible.

I hope not a single P plater buys a cruze. Tell them they can shove there stupid fee.
There are better cars in the cruzes class anyway.

[mmhmm]

... the public seem so defenceless in this havoc wrecked law instituted by the rta ... we cant do nething can we?
mite as well have a dictator running the country...

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by mmhmm

Might as well have a dictator running the country...

We already have.

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by Ben73

There are lots of P platers who have rich parents who would by them a Tesla.

Name 1 person who would seriously buy their P-plate child a Tesla.
Not "they could if they wanted to" either, but 1 actual person that is seriously looking at buying their P-plate child a Tesla.
I wont hold my breath...........