Car people - Buying a used car in 2023, it's a nightmare!

[patloz]

You cant deny the localised benefits of driving EV vehicles, for example if they stop all ICE traffic entering a town centre then that town centre air quality will increase considerably and if you live and work in the locality you are undoubtedly breathing a better quality air- difficult to ignore such a benefit when offered.

The fact the production of said vehicles and the electricity to charge them may not be as ecologically beneficial as the end product is to use makes no odds to most buyers, same way as most people eat the burger but don't want to know how the cow is killed.

EV drivers in the main don't care about third world countries destroying the environment digging up lithium as its not on our doorstep to worry about.

 

[big10p]

You cant deny the localised benefits of driving EV vehicles, for example if they stop all ICE traffic entering a town centre then that town centre air quality will increase considerably and if you live and work in the locality you are undoubtedly breathing a better quality air- difficult to ignore such a benefit when offered.

The fact the production of said vehicles and the electricity to charge them may not be as ecologically beneficial as the end product is to use makes no odds to most buyers, same way as most people eat the burger but don't want to know how the cow is killed.

EV drivers in the main don't care about third world countries destroying the environment digging up lithium as its not on our doorstep to worry about.

Exactly. The problem has simply been brushed under the carpet. Out of sight; out of mind.

 

[Chihiro]

My sister in law has a Audi E tron on company lease for only £380 a month which is great for local use up in Castleford where she lives but when they need to visit us (Near London) or her parents in Stroud its a big problem & they spent most of the weekend charging on the way down & on the way back arriving late to family get togethers all the time telling us how amazing it all is.

They are also Vegan, don't drink ect so I have them saved on my satnav as "The Pioneers"

 

[kingtreelo]

My sister in law has a Audi E tron on company lease for only £380 a month which is great for local use up in Castleford where she lives but when they need to visit us (Near London) or her parents in Stroud its a big problem & they spent most of the weekend charging on the way down & on the way back arriving late to family get togethers all the time telling us how amazing it all is.

They are also Vegan, don't drink ect so I have them saved on my satnav as "The Pioneers"

they sound like an absolute blast

i hope im dead before i get like that

 

[patloz]

My sister in law has a Audi E tron on company lease for only £380 a month which is great for local use up in Castleford where she lives but when they need to visit us (Near London) or her parents in Stroud its a big problem & they spent most of the weekend charging on the way down & on the way back arriving late to family get togethers all the time telling us how amazing it all is.

They are also Vegan, don't drink ect so I have them saved on my satnav as "The Pioneers"

Some of the Early E Trons had shocking range something like 100 miles.

Majority of EV will now do 300 miles plus on a charge so will easily do that journey in one hit with plenty to spare.

 

[Chihiro]

It's 21 plate.

 

[patloz]

It's 21 plate.

Sorry should have been more specific, I am referring to the 2020 model year, don't think they came out much before that.

 

[jimmerd]

Everybody I know with an EV also has a regular car for long journeys which tells me something ( although not sure what!), the exception seems to be friends with Teslas.

I'd like to get some experience with a modern EV on a long trip. I really don't trust anything I read online until I have experienced it myself. Either side will have there own bias and both technologies have there pros and cons. Hydrogen fuel cells seems an interesting technology on the horizon.

I see a lot of EV doing about 55 on motorways - maybe chilling on cruise control or do people just not plan the journey and get low battery in the same way people run out of fuel?

 

[big10p]

Hydrogen seems like the most obvious fuel of the future to me. It's the most abundant element in the universe. If only we could find a way to harvest it cleanly. I can't help but think we're going down a dead end road with battery powered cars, so to speak.

 

[Vorbis]

The BMW i3 rex was almost the perfect vehicle and a real shame they stopped making it. About 150 miles of battery range and a small petrol generator to extend range in emergencies. I had one for years and barely ever used the petrol engine, but great knowing it was there when needed.

 

[Chihiro]

Tyres on e tron are massive too like 21 or 22" 275 sister in law got a puncture away from home one time & nobody had the tyres so she had to get a fuel hire car back home & then wait a week as no spare wheel.

I'm not a SUV person myself although I've been taken out in it & its fast like my friends Tesla but both are so sterile as the power is instant without sound still its the future I guess.

 

[patloz]

Hardly anything has a spare wheel now, they all get a pump up kit and some goo which is great as its safer and much quicker to do at the side of the road but its no good if you rip the sidewall out of the tyre.

Tesla don't even come with the pump up kit, you get sod all.

 

[Vorbis]

Spare wheel is an option on the Q8 etron, but one does fit under the floor in the boot. Instant power is what I like, so much easier pulling out into traffic when you know there won't be a pause.

 

[Chihiro]

Maybe a whole new generation of idiot drivers pulling out at the last second cus they can is a pone us?

 

[John Bennett]

Yeah, goo and no jack with the SMAX and 508. I’ve never had a bad enough puncture to use the goo, I just pump it up and limp it around. I’ve got a spare temporary cheapo tyre for the SMAX as it can take a week to get the original tyres for it 😐

I went with a hybrid (508) as you get the instant response of electric motors and a screamer of a turbo petrol engine once it’s on-boost. Not as quick as a dual motor Tesla, partially as it has to change gears for the front engine/motor, but more than enough for me. I have to say I really do like the electric side of it all - you can avoid hammering an engine with short journeys, the response is lovely and it is about half the price of petrol per mile. Plus I could do the entire 7 mile commute on electric, and blag free charging at work (not bothered to do that yet 🙄).

A hybrid that isn’t plug-in is much less appealing though as you get chuff all regen energy from braking, so you’re dragging on the petrol engine to charge it up most of the time, burning up fuel.

 

[jimmerd]

I have run flats on my car ,which were standard issue and they have been extremely useful. Sounds improbable, but I had puncture on the way to a job interview and was able to get there. Another time it avoided the need to stop on the motorway which would not be fun at all.
Downside is that they do take a couple of days to order replacements. I don't do massive of miles, so tend to go for the 'premium' specification tyres which still handle well.

 

[Vamino]

You cant deny the localised benefits of driving EV vehicles, for example if they stop all ICE traffic entering a town centre then that town centre air quality will increase considerably and if you live and work in the locality you are undoubtedly breathing a better quality air- difficult to ignore such a benefit when offered.

The fact the production of said vehicles and the electricity to charge them may not be as ecologically beneficial as the end product is to use makes no odds to most buyers, same way as most people eat the burger but don't want to know how the cow is killed.

EV drivers in the main don't care about third world countries destroying the environment digging up lithium as its not on our doorstep to worry about.

Imagine if we had to dig our own cobalt for our EV vehicles and phone batteries.

 

[Chihiro]

I was given a hybrid for a day when my car was in for a recall it was ok around town but the wheels were spinning a bit as it was fwd something I had not driven for over 10 years.

And I can't help feeling that suv type vehicles are for hairdressers.

 

[funk]

Even better get your company to join a salary sacrifice ev scheme, that way depending on your tax rate you can get HMRC to go halfsies on the costs including servicing and insurance 😄

I actually have this available to me, initially the figures looked massive though compared to what we were looking at. Wondering if it may be an option at this point, but we've always owned and we don't swap cars every five minutes, we've had our current two 15 odd years which is why this probably hurts more than most 😬

 

[patloz]

I actually have this available to me, initially the figures looked massive though compared to what we were looking at. Wondering if it may be an option at this point, but we've always owned and we don't swap cars every five minutes, we've had our current two 15 odd years which is why this probably hurts more than most 😬

Only really works as a serious cost saving if you are or would be paying a chunk of BIK company car tax.

If you have a personal car currently the savings will be more modest if at all.