I was looking at RX8's in the UK the other day. The VRT basically equated to the purchase price of the vehicle FFS
Now I hate VRT as much as the next person, however I do acccept it as a necessary evil, but the price in question was just too high, and the OMSP on which it was based was also too high.
As with the income levy and the VAT rate, the government have no concept of lower the rate => increase the volume =>increase the income.
The attitude is increase the rate and joe public (fool that he is) will just keep paying it
Unluckily for them and us it just doesn't work that way.