Hi syebba,

G8 thread,i stumbled across by accident.

A lot of rotary owners are unhappy with the road tax penalty on these engines & the DVLA'S refusal to budge on this issue,i've posted a link to this on mazda rotary club.

It seems some rotary owners are only paying cheap road tax,whilst others are being stung for a higher amount,it's totally inconsistent & unjust.

Hi

If you mark it VG it'll reach me - and then I'll do the reply straight away.

Thanks

Hi

I'm not insulted, there's been much worse, but will do my best to help.

I'll look out for your letter and hope it works.

Hi aatekkie,

Apologies if I insulted you but so far the RAC/AA have been totally useless with helping me. Most of them don't know what a Rotary engine is, let alone be prepared to put anything in writing and refer me back to the DVLA or manufacturer.

At the AA we've received lots of similar enquiries

So how have you dealt with these? The DVLA seems to think multiplying the actual rating is acceptable. I'd love to know who actually came up with this forumla because to the best of my knowledge Mazda have never published anything but the 'lower' ratings.

I have the last of the 1st generation RX-7 (series 3) but as you correctly say they went to 13B after that. The clue for the DVLA really is in the name, 10A = 1000 12A = 1200, 13B = 1300, 20B = 2000 ;-)

I will write to you and ask if you can help with the matter. I have already supplied the DVLA with Mazda brochures, specification manuals, specs off their global website, etc, etc, yet they won't budge. I think collective court action is the only way as this will retrospectively get every owners records corrected. Hopefully you will have some advice on how to do this?

Thanks again!

Hi

"Like the RAC/AA are going to know better than the manufacturer?!!?!! I suspect they are wanting this because the RAC/AA won't have a clue and will simply check the DVLA database and agree!"

Thanks for that vote of confidence. At the AA we've received lots of similar enquiries and we don't use the DVLA database - we use manufacturers' information - they build them so they are the experts. The problem with the rotary engine is that there are two methods of measuring engine capacity, but the manufacturers' original brochure quotes the lower capacity.

1985 was a change over from the 12A of 1146cc to the 13B, with a capacity of 1308 cc - but both are well below the cut off for lower tax at 1549cc. I'll gladly write the letter you need if you send the details to AA Public Affairs at the Fanum House, Basingstoke address.

this may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Wankel_engine

"For Japanese tax purposes, the displacement of Wankel (rotary) engines is defined as the equivalent of 1.5 times the nominal displacement. So the 1.3 L 13B engines count as just under 2.0 L for these purposes."

Probably DVLA also class them the same way.

Hi all, been reading these forums for a while but finally need some advice myself.

On my V5C my cc rating is recorded as 2300 whereas Mazda Japan (website / owners manual, etc) state 1146cc. Now I know that this has something to do with the fact that my car has a Rotary engine but how can they justify recording it incorrectly in order to get more road tax from me?

I went through the DVLA process supplying all the evidence they requested (specs from Mazda workshop manual) in order to get it corrected, and it was corrected and a letter received confirming this. But..... a few months later they wrote again and said he had changed their minds and I now needed a letter from the RAC/AA. Like the RAC/AA are going to know better than the manufacturer?!!?!! I suspect they are wanting this because the RAC/AA won't have a clue and will simply check the DVLA database and agree!

Now I realise Rotary engines make a lot of power for their size but why should I pay more tax because of this design efficiency? A 1600cc diesel makes less power than a 1600cc petrol but the cc ratings would both be the same on the owners V5C forms!

Basically, to sum up I want some advice on where to turn to next - can I sue or something? or petition the GOVT?. The DVLA seem to not want to listen. A friend with the same car has enquired and the DVLA can't provide any proof as to how they come up with the inflated rating! It sounds like rip off Britian to me. Any advice appreciated!!!!!!!

Thanks people!