Nothing wrong with second-hand cars

AT a time when banks are struggling to find funds for legitimate business projects and house purchase it seems ludicrous for the Government to allow the advancement of finance for the procurement of new cars.

This country is awash with second-hand cars, most of them in excellent condition and well down in price. Modern cars can give reliable service for up to 20 years, if well cared for, and even when mileage goes high an engine can be replaced at far cheaper cost than replacing the entire vehicle.

As cars age they require more maintenance (like ourselves!) so the increase in employment for mechanics and the boost in demand for parts and tyres should yield enough tax to offset the reduction of revenue from new car sales.

This proposal should be tried for at least five years to rid the country of the glut in used cars, and if flagged well in advance I have no doubt the new cars already with the dealers would be quickly snapped up by the posers among us.

A certain “celebrity” motor dealer will scream and holler about this idea and claim that older cars cause more accidents. Not so. Accidents are caused by driver error, and in any case we have the National Car Test to ensure the maintenance of the necessary high standards.

Dan Murphy

Passage West

Co Cork