VAT's enough

I am sure that everone on the planet who drives an oil-based fuel car would love to be able to replace it with a hybrid, like the Honda Civic.

This is only available in a saloon and is manufactured in the US. The price is a little high but probably a fair one when you consider the savings in fuel costs. However, if this car is to wet the taste buds of the UK market, it really should be available in a range of models and not look American.

The manufacturing costs will, I am sure, come down if the volume were to increase.

Perhaps a good solution to encouraging the purchase of these cars would be for the government to reduce or eliminate VAT on them until they are being produced in large enough quantities to reduce their price.

Jon Norton
by e-mail

April's prize winning letter came from Nicholas Long of South Wales for 'Burning Question' (10 April)

Make your point to The Engineer and take off with bmi

How to enter
Write a letter to The Engineer magazine and you could win a pair of tickets to one of bmi’s European destinations, courtesy of our friends at the airline.

Flexible and competitive
bmi asked 10,000 customers ‘what would make a great airline?’

The answer was clear: competitive fares, more choice and less time wasted at airports. So bmi acted, introducing a unique fare structure on domestic and European short-haul flights to and from London Heathrow. Thanks to three fare options — including premium economy, with benefits including lounge access and flexibility — you choose the services you want, depending on your business trip.

What’s more, bmi has streamlined the passenger process from the moment of buying the ticket, to your passage through the airport, to boarding the aircraft. You can book e-tickets online and then check in online at home, in your office, or even on the move.

Alternatively, there are self-check-in machines and priority check-in desks at the airport. You can even use bmi ‘web points’ to check in online at the airport, if that’s more convenient. All this means you can save valuable time from booking, right until your plane takes off.

The prize
Try the smart approach for yourself, courtesy of bmi. The winner of The Engineer’s Letter of the Month prize for April, as selected by the editor, will win a pair of tickets from London Heathrow to any destination on bmi’s European mainline network.

Click here for terms and conditions.

The Engineer
50 Poland Street
London
W1F 7AX