Here Are Some Of The Cool Cars The UK Could Lose Thanks To Scrappage Deals

The UK’s emissions-related ‘scrappage’ scheme could see a whole load of interesting old diesels crushed, on top of the hundreds of lingering (and excellent) modern classics we told you about last year.

What’s happening right now isn’t an official government-backed incentive plan; it’s simply manufacturers offering thousands off new cars in exchange for older, more polluting trade-ins. It’s basically a ploy to boost sales, and while we’re in no real position to say whether that’s a good or bad thing in the long term, in the here and now it means we could lose a load more cars worth saving.

There’s no value ceiling on the trade-ins for the manufacturers offering one of these schemes, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a banger to qualify for a four-figure additional discount. It’s that that worries us. If people have a nice old diesel car knocking about, the likelihood is that they’ll throw it into the bargain to net themselves a very tidy chunk extra off the price of a brand new motor. It makes more financial sense than selling privately.

At the time of writing, the following car makers are getting involved with some kind of scrappage-style incentives in the UK for cars up to the Euro IV emissions standard, and have confirmed that traded-in cars will definitely be scrapped.

Volkswagen
Audi
Seat
Skoda
Ford
Renault
Kia
Hyundai – only up to Euro III scrapped; Euro IV cars will be re-sold
BMW – case by case basis
Mini – case by case basis

There’s a lot of variation in the discounts and in the exact terms and conditions between manufacturers. Some will even accept older petrol cars. The next six companies haven’t confirmed whether or not the cars they take in will be punted off to the car park in the sky, so it’s likely that they’ll do the same as BMW and Mini and judge by the condition of each car.

Mercedes-Benz
Jeep
Fiat
Alfa Romeo
Vauxhall
Toyota

But that still means that cool cars in a condition beyond what any average Joe would realistically spend on fixes will meet their ends. Only Nissan has said that cars it takes in won’t be scrapped; they’ll be traded to help finance the fact that it’s the only company offering discounts on used cars as well as new.

We’ve compiled a short list of actually rather good diesel cars that we could realistically soon see shunted onto the saddest of car parks like those classics in Bedfordshire, robbing enthusiasts the chance to keep them alive and to enjoy them.

BMW 530d (E39)

Mercedes-Benz CLS 350d

Land Rover Defender TDI

Volkswagen Phaeton TDI

Jaguar XJ TDV6

There are plenty more Euro IV cars that could make the cut and be consigned to the scrap heap, all in the name of huge discounts off something similar, but new. We can’t help but feel a bit sad.