What is a 4x4? This mysterious vehicle could be anything, a Fiat Panda, a Subaru saloon, a sporty Audi, a broken down landrover essential as a farmer's workhorse, or, of course, the so-called Chelsea tractor which spawns such hatred amongst city dwellers. It is the latter, of course, which draws such a pointed response from the Government, causing such pain through taxation for those of us in the provinces for whom the four wheel drive vehicle is very appropriate and practical. The engines used in modern four wheel drive vehicles are as clean and green as any. If it's congestion that's the problem, taxing those who are urban road users through congestion, toll and parking charges is fairer. That's probably most of us at some point. And please can we stop using generic terms such as 4x4. After all, what is a 'people carrier' ? It must be every single vehicle designed to carry passengers.

Andy, Newcastle,

So much for the tax, but if we are truly focused on green transport initiatives, why the complete lack of encouragement either in the form of subsidies / rebates / nil VAT on "green" vehicles.

On review of VED Band B cars, most manufacturers have priced up these models (average premium +£3k) due to higher level of interest. Incentives are a more effective form to promote behavioural shifts, than penalties.

Stuart, East Grinstead, West Sussex

It's all a marketing exercise. We live in a time when a tax rise has to be sold as a tool to benefit the public in general. Complete nonsense of course. It's just a way of funding the black hole Mr. D has inherited from his boss. All we need is to cut the enormous waste in every area of public spending and taxes could be slashed.

Edwards, Norwich, Norfolk

As parents of 4 children we don't have a great choice of vechicles but our Discovery suits us perfectly as we spend about 10 weeks a year in a rugged part of
the country.The Discovery allows everyone to be seated safely and leaves enough space for luggage for 6 people. It is also a much "greener" car than a lot of others currently on the road.Why are we constantly having to defend ourselves in this tiresome "gas guzzling" debate. The politicians are victimising us in a bid to be popular.

Kit, Cheam,Surrey,

I am disappointed that the 2p a litre fuel increase has been postponed as the public needed a powerful incentive to use both their feet instead of one foot on the accelerator!

And of course the by-product of fewer car miles would have been a cleaner air environment.

So much for the hyped "Green Budget" !

John Howard Norfolk, Tiverton, Devon, UK

Wow! You folks just lay down and say -I'm yours, tax me! I live in Dallas Tx and the cost of gasoline is about 1.7 pounds per 4 liters. Before you think a nasty word, let me tell you, my father was born in the castle on the coast in Scarborough and was a captain in the British Merchant Marine.

shane murphy, dallas , USA/Texas

Darling & Co are guilty of small-mindedness, yet again. Road pricing is the only equitable way forward - pay per mile, eliminate road fund tax and reduce fuel duties. Foreign lorries cause unbelievable damage to our roads (especially A14 from Felixtowe through to M1/M6) and numerous accidents but contribute absolutely nothing - often they carry extra tanks to avoid refuelling in the UK , they do not pay road fund tax - contrast that with the road tolls in most of continental Europe.
Why is this Government so blind?
Road pricing would also ensure that proportionate contributions would be made towards CO2 emissions control and so-called "gas guzzling". Genuine 4x4 users (farmers etc) should not be penalised in any way but non-essential users could pay an additional annual tax based on engine size and vehicle weight.

Chris Jones, Woodbridge, Suffolk. UK

I say add any extra tax onto fuel - and quit picking on people because of the car they either choose or in many cases NEED to drive. Is it better to run a "gas guzzling" 4 x 4 (or people carrier), or to run 2 cars to accommodate the family, dogs, etc?Either of our 2 cars, by no stretch of the imagination gas guzzlers, will simply not accommodate us all, so one car will have to be sold in favour of a 6 seater with a large boot - so a 4 x 4 or people carrier looks like the only option. The alternative is to regularly run two smaller cars on every family trip - far less "green"! While we're at it, put the road fund license (tax disc) levy on fuel as well - it would be harder to evade and again reflect car useage rather than car style. And let's have MOT discs and insurance discs so we can catch those evaders too. OK - off soapbox and going to surf the web for a 4 x 4 or people carrier, or something else that will cope with a family of 6 + dogs.

Mike Gallie-James, Chelmsford, Essex

As usually the case it is the people with a real need for a 4x4 who will suffer. A way needs to be found to dissuade people from buying these vehicles for their 'image' or 'status'. Perhaps make them take a rigorous driving test to include an off road assessment of their driving abilities. Why not ? It is neccessary to pass tests to drive a minibus, PCV and LGV. I am sure the likes of farmers and those who have a real need would pass such a test, but would the vast majority of parents who use them for the school run or the Sainsbury's shopping trip? From watching them drive and park I suspect not.

Peter, Preston, Lancs,

It's morally indefensible to keep attacking all 4x4 owners. As a former farmer, now living on a smallholding in rural Aberdeenshire my 4x4 is a necessity. Like many in rural areas even though fuel is often dearer, a car is essential as public transport is non-existent or expensive if available. However to do my bit for the enviroment I've cut my mileage down by half to under 6000 miles a year. Why then should I be highly taxed for just owning a vehicle that for days on end goes nowhere and therefore doesn't produce any CO2.
Surely if the idea is to reduce CO2 then it is the mileage covered whatever the vehicle that matters. Why is it that a small car covering 30 - 40000 miles guzzling far morer fuel and producing far more CO2 than I do is deemed acceptable and rewarded. With all its problems, the only fair system to alter behaviour is to pay for mileage. I'm sick to death of being perceived to be anti-enviroment and a viewed as an easy 'tax cow' just because I own a 4x4.

Trevor Roots, Cairnie, Aberdeenshire

with the government pushing for a greener uk i hope that they start to lead by example and get rid of the gas guzzlers that they drive about in everyday . OR IS THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IT OUT OF OUR TAXES

roly, canterbury,

Bankrupt of new ideas this government has latched on to the fashionable " carbon footprint argument " to disguise the necessity to raise taxes to balance the books.
If any government is serious about preserving the environment it must impose targets to require all manufactureres reduce harmful emissions however caused, set energy efficiency requirements on domestic and industrial users and ensure they are rigorously enforced.
Increasing taxation on GAS GUZZLING VEHICLES increases revenue for the government to be provided by people already able to pay. It does not and will not reduce carbon emissions.

Colin Molloy, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Green policies!!! Just a very convenient excuse to raise yet more taxes from the motorist to pay for the mismanagement of the economy by this government.
I am retired and I drive a Jeep Cherokee which is a vehicle I always yearned to own. My annual mileage is 5/6K .
Freedom of choice is something a socialist government does not comprehend!!!

Colin George, Bodmin, Cornwall

"Hitting the gas guzzlers" is too simplistic. I have a 4wd and use it to take caravan holidays in this country. I probably emit a lot less CO2 than people with tiny cars who fly overseas regularly on holiday. We need to look at the whole picture if we are to adequately affect CO2 emissions.

Ted, Birkenhead,

How can the treasury say that people will be no worse off! If you have a family of 3 children and live outside London you need a larger car. I also do 20,000 miles a year for business, which means I am paying more for the choice of car through the petrol pump anyway. This has got nothing to do with green issues and everything to do with TAX. The trains are already full at rush hour, if everybody got out of their car and onto the train it would not cope. Labour need to go to a general election now as they have not got a clue, how to run this country. People can’t afford to live already and all they do is make it worse.

Tim Gower, Bournemouth,

As if farmers (with Land Rovers) haven't got enough problems making ends meet? Pre 73 vehicles are exempt, so perhaps a whole new industry of rebuilds will surface. Of course the folks in the Highlands can make do with a Micra in future, what would they ever need a 4x4 for? A big lump of Voters just lost, methinks? Me for one.

George Smith, Orpington, UK

what is this cryptic g/km carbon dioxide? i have never seen any figures for this. miles per gallon, kilometers per litre all seem reasonable, but i have no way of working out what the carbon dioxide thing is. I guess as i drive an old car it must be less than a new one, as if i bought a new car i'd need a load of CO2 to power the factory making it. by using my old car i'm recycling, reducing CO2. Where is my tax break?

ian, blackburn, lancs

HIT THE GAS GUZZERS what a load of old rubbish "Darling" is jumping on the band wagon. I own a Discovery I use it for the scout group,i tow a caravan during the better weather and I cover on the top side 4000 miles a year. why should I be penalised by this goverment for helping young people and enjoying some liesure pursuit? If there was to be any justice he would abandon the motor tax fee and put it on at source on the fuel. (as if he asn't started already)

michael Hoyle, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Most people buying a new car will negotiate to get to an "on the road price" that is acceptable to them. Thay are trying to save £'000 from the initial cost of their vehicle and not £'00 from the cost as related to the road tax.

The only people to benefit from this will be the motor industry, who will absorb the cost savings by offering to "pay the tax for you" when in reality the tax being paid is zero.

Bob, Reading,