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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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08-10-2015, 11:19 AM | #1 | ||
BA XR6 Ute
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Victoria
Posts: 117
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Hi guys,
Got some custom plates for the ute so called Eastlink today to update my rego details and was told that it would now no longer be considered a car but a light commercial vehicle due to a new government ruling that came out that states all Utes made from 1999 onwards regardless of payload capacity are now commercial vehicles? Is this correct, it's always been classified a car for as long as I've had it? Its an xr6 with a styleside body and a hardlid so I have **** all in the back and never tow a trailer so it doesn't weigh anymore than a car, nor would ever carry more weight then a fully loaded sedan with the family and a caravan heading down the road on a holiday. Could mean a trip now costs 19.20 as opposed to 11.88 which adds up significantly over a week. Where is the logic in this. Has anyone else been hit with it yet? Cheers, |
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08-10-2015, 11:30 AM | #2 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORAN PARK
Posts: 92
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http://www.eastlink.com.au/class
In NSW we have CLASS A and CLASS B http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/sydney-mot...ll-charges.pdf |
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08-10-2015, 12:28 PM | #3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,303
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Geesus that sucks bigtime......wot a joke!
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08-10-2015, 12:58 PM | #4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 7,854
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Realistically that's what it is
I've never really understood this, do some people Buy utes because they prefer how they look?
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08-10-2015, 01:14 PM | #5 | ||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,234
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Ford classifies the ute as a commercial vehicle as does the VFACTS data.
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08-10-2015, 01:34 PM | #6 | ||
BA XR6 Ute
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Victoria
Posts: 117
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I see it more like a car with an external boot and less seats. For me I do a lot of downhill bike riding and in summer tow a JetSki so it's practical to have something that you can chuck a bunch of dirty gear in the back (bike, life jackets, sandy chairs and other crap you'd take with you on a trip) without having to dirty the inside of your car and without the need for a 5 seater.... Not everyone uses a ute for commercial work purposes. It's also handy for when you need to Lob something around....
And realistically it isn't that much heavier then most cars on the road. |
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08-10-2015, 01:35 PM | #7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 22,927
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Been this way in QLD for a long time..... My FPV Pursuit is a commercial vehicle.
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08-10-2015, 02:05 PM | #8 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Challenge the fact they retrospectively applied the rule. Fair enough if they said it's from 2015 onwards, but not something already built.
Talk your local MP about this. |
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08-10-2015, 02:52 PM | #9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,228
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Quote:
Separate cab and separate chassis? The Falcon from 1999 does not have a separate chassis. Screw them, I will then avoid the links for as much as I can as it is no longer cost effective.
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08-10-2015, 03:14 PM | #10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,395
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I realise it's a silly definitive 'fine line', but from XK to XH Falcon utes were utes or more correctly 'coupe utilities', but from AU onwards the tub was separate from the cab, so they did not conform to the original 1934 Lew Bandt design/definition of a utility, they're really a 'pick-up'.
I went thru this cr@p over 35 years ago on the Newcastle freeway where my Holden HZ One-Tonner was charged $1.00 toll because it was a commercial vehicle, while 'normal' utes were only 40c. (that'll tell you how long ago it was !!). Dr Terry |
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08-10-2015, 03:32 PM | #11 | ||
^^^^^^^^
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: online - duh
Posts: 9,642
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That's fine by me.
Commercial vehicles are allowed a more generous tolerance (+50mm) when fitting larger wheels and tyres, increasing track width etc. This ruling actually works in your favour if it's an RTV and you want bigger rubber Take the wins when you can .
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. Last edited by Raptor; 08-10-2015 at 04:35 PM. |
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08-10-2015, 04:15 PM | #12 | ||
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 7,940
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In Victoria, Eastlink / Citylink will charge you commercial toll fees, if your vehicle is registered and classified as commercial with Vicroads.
Makes no difference if you are using it for domestic applications only. A lot of companies buy their employees (reps) dual cab utes and 1 tonne utes rather than a sedan, as they then don't have to pay the annual Fringe Benefits Tax which can be quite high. But now what you save in doing this is offset somewhat by the higher toll fees. |
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08-10-2015, 05:04 PM | #13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Melb north
Posts: 12,025
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Any way they can liberate a few more dollars from your bank account into theirs is how the system works !
its Legalized theft. |
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08-10-2015, 06:24 PM | #14 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,496
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Hi. So does a coimmonwhore ute pay the same toll as a sedan because it doesn't have a separate cab/chassis and a datsun 1200 ute comes in under 1000kg and its a cab chassis construction. Time to bring back the criteria as "passenger car derivative". Cheers MD
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08-10-2015, 07:42 PM | #15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: The Nanny State
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If you have a "car" eTag you can get away with using it in a ute.They only take snaps of cars with no eTags or tags with no money on them and they have no way of knowing what car a tag is attached to without a pic.
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09-10-2015, 12:02 AM | #16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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09-10-2015, 12:29 AM | #17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Quote:
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09-10-2015, 12:38 AM | #18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
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Quote:
Prior to the AU, Falcon Utes were simply sedans, coupes, or wagons, with a different body. In our XC, you opened a panel in the tray, and the petrol tank actually sat in what would have been the rear passenger area. From the AU onwards, there is a separate chassis on to which is mounted either a tub, tray, or whatever custom body you like.
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09-10-2015, 07:25 AM | #19 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Quote:
On the post 1999 Ford utes it is not a separate chassis but unitary construction where the cab is an integral with the frame. The devil is in the detail. Bill.
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AUII XR6 VCT ute 20 years and still going strong! |
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09-10-2015, 07:52 AM | #20 | ||
Shenanigans..............
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Footscrazy
Posts: 12,585
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Highway Robbery!
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09-10-2015, 07:58 AM | #21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Quote:
As an aside, bloody hell cant believe tolls are this much. Move out of these horrible cities, some rural areas are crying out for people who have skills developed in the city. Living in the best country on the planet but deciding to then live in the city s such a waste. It's like flying all the way to Paris then deciding to eat at mcdonalds. Just having a dig |
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09-10-2015, 08:25 AM | #22 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: Melb north
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Quote:
Even if it costs me more not to use a tollway, I wont use them on principle, they are to damned expensive. |
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09-10-2015, 08:51 AM | #23 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,799
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Quote:
But Eastlink is a rip off.
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09-10-2015, 10:05 AM | #24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 7,854
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Quote:
They also have leaf spring rear ends for carrying the extra weight. To me a light commercial vehicle is a fitting description. and the majority of them are used for work purposes. I do feel for the OP though as that's not what it was classified when he purchased it. I'm not sure if you had the cost correct either. according to the Eastlink website Each trip pass costs $5.94 for a car & $9.50 for a light commercial vehicle.
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09-10-2015, 10:46 AM | #25 | |||
BA XR6 Ute
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Victoria
Posts: 117
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I should have clarified the price I noted was for a return trip not one way which is what I do when I use the road. And on weekends/public holidays a return trip for a car is $9.50 as opposed to $19 for a commercial vehicle (cars get a 20% discount).
I'm going to give them another call and see what they say about the chassis being seperate rather than a unibody cab ect... If all else fails I'll just avoid the toll road and save the $20, it won't cost me that in time and fuel combined. Quote:
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09-10-2015, 01:12 PM | #26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Quote:
That is specific and so is my observation. A unitary cab chassis is still not a separate chassis. I suspect the generalisation "the majority of them are used for work purposes." wouldn't hold much under scrutiny. The basis for increased charges should be commercial/business registration only. Given the spread commercially based 4x4s for private domestic use I think this entirely reasonable.
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AUII XR6 VCT ute 20 years and still going strong! |
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09-10-2015, 01:24 PM | #27 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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its still a rip off , some trucks do short shuttles all day long , for a lot of them theres no way it saves 7.50 ago , imagine doing 6/ 8 /10 shuttles a day 5/6 days a week, it works out to a bloody lot of money , and the end we the consumers pay with higher prices ..... for everything..
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09-10-2015, 01:26 PM | #28 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 7,854
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I would try writing a formal letter, if it wasn't for you changing your plates you would probably still be on the same category.
if anything you may be able to delay things. But it sounds like every ute driver will be getting a letter soon
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______________________________ 2015 Territory Titanium RWD Diesel - SOLD 2016 BMW X5 xdrive 30D Msport Seadoo Challenger 210SE 310HP |
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09-10-2015, 01:33 PM | #29 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,799
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Quote:
Speaking of which its apparently backed up cause of an accident. Hope people get their money back today.
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09-10-2015, 01:54 PM | #30 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
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Quote:
As I explained, prior to the AU, underneath a Ute was basically a station wagon. If you removed the body, the whole thing would fall in a heap. That's why there were no Falcon tray-backs.
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