Tbh I have a Focus now, albeit with a roof box.
Electric cars - talk to me
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Tbh I have a Focus now, albeit with a roof box.
Self-charging hybrid doesn't exist - as proved by the fact that the term is banned from being used by car companies in most countries. This is simply a hybrid, a fossil fuel burning car with the added complexity of a battery system.
Either go all-in on a proper EV, or go for a simple petrol which doesn't have the potential for big expensive problems.
Caporegime
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The Prius has been around for 20+ years now. Since 1997. It's rated as one of the most reliable cars that you can buy.
All the problems and complexities you speak of simply don't exist and are also the same for a simple petrol car. I'd argue it's more reliable than majority of simple petrol cars which these days have a large turbo attached to their tiny cc engines.
Unless you would like to tell me what these issues are that the Prius suffers from?
First gen models never came with a filter on the battery cooling system is the only one I can think of. That was many many years ago. The Prius is now on its fourth or fifth generation. So long as he buys one after I think 2008 he will be fine. Ours is a 2013 had it for 4 years or so and during that time it's been the most reliable car we have had since a brand new golf 1.9 TDI SE. Even our brand new mercedes was plagued with issues from the start and required a full rewire as the electronics were glitchy. Even then the LCD backlight on the stereo would be intermittent.
Sorry I didn't spot that.
You can always get a Toyota auris estate. Albeit it's not going to be anywhere near as good looking, fast or as nice to be in as the Lexus CT. But that's the price you pay for large boot.
If you want an estate type then Passat or Skoda estates tend to be the ones to go for. I'd just buy diesel if long mileage done every week otherwise normal petrol variants.
I could throw in some curve balls like a Toyota RAV4 hybrid which is more money. The smaller Lexus SUVs like the ux or nx range again more money. Then you could get an older Rx Lexus too for cheap these days. Between £5k to £10k.
The other Lexus models don't come with the 1.8 which is the only one that has the egr valve issue. Again this is the only weak point of the car which could cause a very expensive repair so needs to be cleaned every 100k properly. I'd recommend getting an indy to do it as a homer where you can help and learn but the real reason is you want to be the one spraying 6 cans of brake cleaner into it and using a brush to clean it properly back to as it was when new. The other engines don't have that so the other Lexus's are 100% bulletproof and won't need anything other than regular servicing and the odd small repair like brake calipers or heat shields.
I've had a good look. And I don't think it makes sense.
Main thing seems to be
Depreciation vs fuel saving.
I'd need to do many many more regular middle distance trips.
It's better for me to buy an old automatic.
Depreciation on electrics seem huge
Main thing seems to be
Depreciation vs fuel saving.
I'd need to do many many more regular middle distance trips.
It's better for me to buy an old automatic.
Depreciation on electrics seem huge
Depreciation on new cars is huge (less for EV’s than fossil cars)
So the decision is do you want a new car because a new car is nice (but expensive) or a used car because they are cheaper (and you’re not planning to use it much)
If you decide on a new car then go for the EV (maybe a pre-reg ID3 as mentioned above) as it will cost you less than a new fossil car over the time you have it and do your but to reduce climate change.
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Soldato
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EV technology I think is going to move fast over the coming years so they're only going to get better but if you can make one work for you now I'd still recommend it. I was sceptical/uncertain but bought one recently and so glad I did. Knew what I wanted so was a case of will it work for me and then how can I make it work for me. I've even sold both ICE cars now. No road tax to pay, little servicing, refuel at home. I thought i would miss an ICE sports car but I don't. Roads are so busy these days anyway you can hardly wring a 2litre NA engine out often.
I was even a bit anti-EV but now find myself laughing when a car with an aftermarket exhaust is near me, even going as far as saying "listen to that ****. Put put put put put put" recently
.
The quiet drive is rather soothing too.
I was even a bit anti-EV but now find myself laughing when a car with an aftermarket exhaust is near me, even going as far as saying "listen to that ****. Put put put put put put" recently
.The quiet drive is rather soothing too.
Soldato
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If you're thinking of going EV make sure you check out how much it will cost to add a proper charger. It will probably need a dedicated cable running back to you consumer unit. It's not impossible that you'll need to upgrade the CU or install an additional one.
Renault Zoe. I was looking at a decent second hand one last night for £7K until I saw the £59 a month battery lease.
I'm warming to EV but I still fail to see how they are cost and environmentally viable against a standard fuel car. Especially when EV are designed to be used for 3 years then disposed of before the battery is knackered, compared to running a banger into the ground.
I'm warming to EV but I still fail to see how they are cost and environmentally viable against a standard fuel car. Especially when EV are designed to be used for 3 years then disposed of before the battery is knackered, compared to running a banger into the ground.
Definitely avoid anything with a battery lease - they don't make financial sense. They were intially offered because people were worried about how long batteries would last. The 'knackered battery' point is not correct - batteries can last the life of the car (>250k miles) and modern ones last even longer (>million miles). This has made battery leases irrelevant.
Running a banger into the ground right now is cheaper, though terrible from an environmental perspective. In the UK using grid electricity, an EV is greener than a fossil fueled vehicle after around 20,000 miles, so by 100,000 miles it's 5 times "less bad" for the environment. Once it does reach end of life (e.g. once the bodywork is rusting away), the battery can be re-purposed (e.g. for home/industrial storage), then ultimately recycled and made into a new EV battery.
Running a banger into the ground right now is cheaper, though terrible from an environmental perspective. In the UK using grid electricity, an EV is greener than a fossil fueled vehicle after around 20,000 miles, so by 100,000 miles it's 5 times "less bad" for the environment. Once it does reach end of life (e.g. once the bodywork is rusting away), the battery can be re-purposed (e.g. for home/industrial storage), then ultimately recycled and made into a new EV battery.
Caporegime
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EV technology I think is going to move fast over the coming years so they're only going to get better but if you can make one work for you now I'd still recommend it. I was sceptical/uncertain but bought one recently and so glad I did. Knew what I wanted so was a case of will it work for me and then how can I make it work for me. I've even sold both ICE cars now. No road tax to pay, little servicing, refuel at home. I thought i would miss an ICE sports car but I don't. Roads are so busy these days anyway you can hardly wring a 2litre NA engine out often.
I was even a bit anti-EV but now find myself laughing when a car with an aftermarket exhaust is near me, even going as far as saying "listen to that ****. Put put put put put put" recently
The quiet drive is rather soothing too.
What electric car do you have?
3 years?
Last I heard they should last 10 years and that timeframe is improving all the time and you can after 10 years buy second hand reconditioned ones from cars that had to be scrapped for other reasons to replace yours.
For example in America a reconditioned Prius battery is £500-£700 with 30k miles on it. You can fit them easily yourself it goes under the boot after removing a few screws or it's at best a £200 job for a mechanic likley less if he's honest.
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kona electric
/thread
/thread
Soldato
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2020 BMW i3 (non S). Was originally looking for one with the petrol generator for the occasional long journey, as a first step, but decided what the heck and went full EV.
Caporegime
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The range extender is a waste of time and highly inefficient when I looked into them. It adds a lot of weight on.
It's based on electric generators of old where the petrol is being burned to create electricity to drive the electric motor.
So it's not a "hybrid" type situation but an electric car with a petrol generator added on. It doesn't even extend the range that much either not for a genuinely long trip.
I think the i3 will be too small for me and I think I need the Hyundai SUV or stick with what we have until newer cheaper Tesla models come around.
I like how everything in the i3 is made from recycled materials where possible it gives it a unique character. The new nissan crossover looks interesting too as does the next gen ioniq.
The tech is moving too fast for me and I reckon it will be a hybrid SUV for another while yet before I go fully electric.
I have been eyeing up a cheap i3 possibly and I just can't make my mind up.
Soldato
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I've had my EV since September and would never buy petrol or diesel now. In fact, I actually bought a second EV for the mrs/emergency use.....it's THE most pointless car in the world but I bloody love it. It's great fun.
anyway, my EVs are the Audi etron (only got it as it was cheap through work), and the other one...well, I wouldn't recommend it, but it's a smart car lol
anyway, out of the current generation I would look at the Kona. If I had to change the etron, I'd probably get that. That said, were still in the transition period where I think over the next 12/24 months is going to see the next generation of EVs. The ones built from the ground up as an EV. Obviously we already have the Tesla (which you don't want)....and the first new breed in the ID3 and ID4.
Nissan has the Airya due out at the end of the year. That looks good, if you want something that size.
What will probably make you think twice, is if you are buying it as a regular customer (ie, not through work) you'll find it's more expensive over petrol. EVs are expensive at the minute, but they reckon within the next 5 years they will come down in price. Have you asked work if they do a salary sacrifice scheme? If they do, I'd get your excel going and do the sums....plus, look out for deals.
anyway, my EVs are the Audi etron (only got it as it was cheap through work), and the other one...well, I wouldn't recommend it, but it's a smart car lol
anyway, out of the current generation I would look at the Kona. If I had to change the etron, I'd probably get that. That said, were still in the transition period where I think over the next 12/24 months is going to see the next generation of EVs. The ones built from the ground up as an EV. Obviously we already have the Tesla (which you don't want)....and the first new breed in the ID3 and ID4.
Nissan has the Airya due out at the end of the year. That looks good, if you want something that size.
What will probably make you think twice, is if you are buying it as a regular customer (ie, not through work) you'll find it's more expensive over petrol. EVs are expensive at the minute, but they reckon within the next 5 years they will come down in price. Have you asked work if they do a salary sacrifice scheme? If they do, I'd get your excel going and do the sums....plus, look out for deals.
Caporegime
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There's just so much happening. It's a bit like the wild west.
If buying now probably best getting something cheap and dipping toes into the water and get the charging set up sorted. Then wait for all these latest models to hit and see what happens.
Tesla says they will have a car available for £30k brand new in 2 years time according to Elon. That will be the one to get if that's true.
If buying now probably best getting something cheap and dipping toes into the water and get the charging set up sorted. Then wait for all these latest models to hit and see what happens.
Tesla says they will have a car available for £30k brand new in 2 years time according to Elon. That will be the one to get if that's true.
To be fair the older Leafs have done most of their depreciation, I don't think you could go wrong with one of them.
The MGs are great, it ultimately depends on your budget, from £25k, I'd probably get one of those for two years then jump into something new.
There's a reason I've only leased my P*2 for 2 Years.
The MGs are great, it ultimately depends on your budget, from £25k, I'd probably get one of those for two years then jump into something new.
There's a reason I've only leased my P*2 for 2 Years.