Ministers abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota

IsrAmeriPrius · 05-31-2005, 05:27 PM

Ministers abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota (click here for the complete article)

By Marie Woolf, Chief Political Correspondent
31 May 2005

Excerpts:

It is the vehicle of choice for Hollywood A-listers such as Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz and now cabinet ministers are being issued with the hi-tech, environmentally friendly car that can cut pollution and beat the congestion charge.

Eight ministers in the Labour government have so far taken delivery of the £17,000, five-door hatchbacks since the Government Car Service began offering them as an alternative to traditional marques.

The Environment minister Elliot Morley is an enthusiastic convert to the Prius.

"It's excellent," he said. "When you accelerate, the petrol engine kicks in with the electric battery so you get good acceleration.

"It's also really quiet. The downside is when you are driving, people can't hear it coming. I almost ran over someone in the House of Lords who didn't know I was there."

Ministers say that the cars will symbolically be driven at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July when climate change will be high on the agenda. And the green technology means that the Prius is exempt from the London congestion charge.

So far, 1,000 models have been sold in the UK this year, and Toyota expects to sell 3,000 by 2006. Such is their popularity that the waiting list for delivery of the latest model is two months.

However, some ministers may take a little more convincing about the benefits of a Prius. The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, otherwise known as "Two Jags" because of his favoured vehicle, is still in possession of a Jaguar limousine.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 05-31-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

"I almost ran over someone in the House of Lords who didn't know I was there."

But Mr. Prescott got out of the way. :twisted:

DaveinOlyWA · 05-31-2005, 11:00 PM

well i guess its a start. and seems to me someone told me there was a HUGE daily entrance fee into London which seems to be exempt for a Prius that you would save along with the cost of gas

**Tideland Prius** · 06-01-2005, 12:56 AM

Kinda funny how the Minister of Transport, Aliston Darling has appointed a new Minister of Road Safety who's name is Ladyman.

UK's Transport Department is run by Darling and Ladyman

Bill Merchant · 06-01-2005, 02:54 AM

[font=Comic Sans MS:f8c0855f77]Perhaps driving in the House of Lords will replace fox hunting.[/font:f8c0855f77]

IsrAmeriPrius · 06-01-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

well i guess its a start. and seems to me someone told me there was a HUGE daily entrance fee into London which seems to be exempt for a Prius that you would save along with the cost of gas

The daily access fee of £5 applies only to central London.

More in Wikipedia - London Congestion Charge.

05-31-2005, 05:27 PM	#1
IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,338 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ministers abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota Ministers abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota (click here for the complete article) By Marie Woolf, Chief Political Correspondent 31 May 2005 Excerpts: It is the vehicle of choice for Hollywood A-listers such as Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz and now cabinet ministers are being issued with the hi-tech, environmentally friendly car that can cut pollution and beat the congestion charge. Eight ministers in the Labour government have so far taken delivery of the £17,000, five-door hatchbacks since the Government Car Service began offering them as an alternative to traditional marques. The Environment minister Elliot Morley is an enthusiastic convert to the Prius. "It's excellent," he said. "When you accelerate, the petrol engine kicks in with the electric battery so you get good acceleration. "It's also really quiet. The downside is when you are driving, people can't hear it coming. I almost ran over someone in the House of Lords who didn't know I was there." Ministers say that the cars will symbolically be driven at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July when climate change will be high on the agenda. And the green technology means that the Prius is exempt from the London congestion charge. So far, 1,000 models have been sold in the UK this year, and Toyota expects to sell 3,000 by 2006. Such is their popularity that the waiting list for delivery of the latest model is two months. However, some ministers may take a little more convincing about the benefits of a Prius. The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, otherwise known as "Two Jags" because of his favoured vehicle, is still in possession of a Jaguar limousine. __________________ Justice, justice you shall pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

06-01-2005, 02:54 AM	#5
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,096 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 19 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Friends: 62	Re: Ministers abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota [font=Comic Sans MS:f8c0855f77]Perhaps driving in the House of Lords will replace fox hunting.[/font:f8c0855f77]

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05-31-2005, 11:00 PM	#3
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,830 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 40 Thanked 189 Times in 162 Posts Friends: 12	well i guess its a start. and seems to me someone told me there was a HUGE daily entrance fee into London which seems to be exempt for a Prius that you would save along with the cost of gas

06-01-2005, 12:56 AM	#4
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 21,192 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 370 Thanked 529 Times in 356 Posts Friends: 26	Kinda funny how the Minister of Transport, Aliston Darling has appointed a new Minister of Road Safety who's name is Ladyman. UK's Transport Department is run by Darling and Ladyman