Your next car? Petrol/diesel or EV/plug-in hybrid?
Discussion
We seem to be at a bit of a crossover point right now between traditional petrol/diesel cars and EVs/plug-in hybrids, so I was just wondering what other PHers plans were for their next vehicle?
If we're being honest, EVs would probably work for 90% of people 90% of the time, so do you become an early adopter, enjoy something a bit new and different and reap the greatly reduced running costs over a traditional petrol/diesel car or wait until there is more choice and EVs become more affordable? This will no doubt happen but I also expect that when the majority adopt EVs, the cost of electricity will go up to counter lost revenue from petrol/diesel. A plug-in hybrid seems like a decent compromise for those who need to do longer journeys or need one car to cover 100% of their needs. You can drive it anywhere and most people will be able to commute on electric power alone but are also capable of doing longer journeys without needing to stop for an hour to charge. However, if you don't keep it charged up (and if you park it on the street, home charging may be an issue), you're going to be using more fuel than you would in a lighter conventional petrol/diesel car.
The alternate view is that you "fill your boots" and go out and get that V8 that you always promised yourself and enjoy it while you still can. Personally, I would be cautious about buying a new/nearly-new diesel but if you're a high mileage user, it still seems like the most practical and cost-effective option right now and if you're on a lower budget and can't afford a modern EV/plug-in hybrid or high efficiency petrol engine, a turbodiesel still seems like a very compelling option for its combination of performance, fuel economy and low running costs.
So, do you think you will "embrace" technology with your next vehicle purchase or sit it out and enjoy your petrol or diesel car for now?
If we're being honest, EVs would probably work for 90% of people 90% of the time, so do you become an early adopter, enjoy something a bit new and different and reap the greatly reduced running costs over a traditional petrol/diesel car or wait until there is more choice and EVs become more affordable? This will no doubt happen but I also expect that when the majority adopt EVs, the cost of electricity will go up to counter lost revenue from petrol/diesel. A plug-in hybrid seems like a decent compromise for those who need to do longer journeys or need one car to cover 100% of their needs. You can drive it anywhere and most people will be able to commute on electric power alone but are also capable of doing longer journeys without needing to stop for an hour to charge. However, if you don't keep it charged up (and if you park it on the street, home charging may be an issue), you're going to be using more fuel than you would in a lighter conventional petrol/diesel car.
The alternate view is that you "fill your boots" and go out and get that V8 that you always promised yourself and enjoy it while you still can. Personally, I would be cautious about buying a new/nearly-new diesel but if you're a high mileage user, it still seems like the most practical and cost-effective option right now and if you're on a lower budget and can't afford a modern EV/plug-in hybrid or high efficiency petrol engine, a turbodiesel still seems like a very compelling option for its combination of performance, fuel economy and low running costs.
So, do you think you will "embrace" technology with your next vehicle purchase or sit it out and enjoy your petrol or diesel car for now?
I have to something going into London 3 times a week I have a regular customer in Islington and I am not sure if it is one of the seven roads on the hyper zero zone !
I only run old vehicles I like to keep the cash in my bank but two new hybrids electric or something will be here next year reluctantly
I only run old vehicles I like to keep the cash in my bank but two new hybrids electric or something will be here next year reluctantly
For the next £5k city runabout it's a shortlist of a Fiat 500 1.4 or Twinair. Both petrols, obvs. I like the idea of the Twinair as it's about as clean as you can go with an internal combustion engine.
I would't mind a hybrid but the decent ones are substantially more. I'd have an EV except for the fact that I want to keep my E Class on the drive.
For my commute I'm about to get a new bike for (push bike that is).
EDIT; so the basic pattern hasn't changed for the last decade. Large V8 for distances and loads, small petrol for the urban stuff and bike/tube/train for the commute.
I would't mind a hybrid but the decent ones are substantially more. I'd have an EV except for the fact that I want to keep my E Class on the drive.
For my commute I'm about to get a new bike for (push bike that is).
EDIT; so the basic pattern hasn't changed for the last decade. Large V8 for distances and loads, small petrol for the urban stuff and bike/tube/train for the commute.
Edited by AC43 on Tuesday 2nd October 16:46
I've just changed my daily due to the lease scheme at my work being taken away.
Having been used to driving diesel Jukes and Qashqai for the last 5 years I decided to go petrol again.
Now drive a Volvo V40 R Design Pro with the new Volvo 2 litre manual Euro 6 engine in it.
Happy with my choice of car but its not as good on fuel as the Nissans as you would expect.
Next car will probably be a hybrid.
Having been used to driving diesel Jukes and Qashqai for the last 5 years I decided to go petrol again.
Now drive a Volvo V40 R Design Pro with the new Volvo 2 litre manual Euro 6 engine in it.
Happy with my choice of car but its not as good on fuel as the Nissans as you would expect.
Next car will probably be a hybrid.
Main work car always in petrol and changed to diesel in 2014. Pretty much on the fence now. Do about 30 miles a day in total. Would prefer a better noise but to be honest its not much different to a petrol
Love the performance, love the fuel efficiency. EV theoretically possible but three power cuts in the last year. Two of which lasted overnight and one lasted for two days. Not sure work would be happy with that as an excuse.
I'll probably stay diesel for now because its the most fun of the three for me.
Love the performance, love the fuel efficiency. EV theoretically possible but three power cuts in the last year. Two of which lasted overnight and one lasted for two days. Not sure work would be happy with that as an excuse.
I'll probably stay diesel for now because its the most fun of the three for me.
For me a pure electric car makes sense as the next daily.
No massive journeys and can make hay until the taxman starts taking an interest.
I recon there’s a maximum of a decade before there are enough EVs for the Chancelor to start taking an interest.
Until then they are in a golden age where they are to be encouraged.
No massive journeys and can make hay until the taxman starts taking an interest.
I recon there’s a maximum of a decade before there are enough EVs for the Chancelor to start taking an interest.
Until then they are in a golden age where they are to be encouraged.
Not electric or hybrid. The purchase prices are still too high to justify, unless driving loads of city miles. Also, I tend to drive across the continent once or twice a year, and a full electric car would make this impossible. Screw being an early adopter, I'll wait until the technology is mature, reliable, not more expensive and better than ICE, which at the moment it isn't.
I think the next one for me will either be an oldskool turbo petrol for some B-road thrills, or a turbo diesel family wagon with a big boot and a huge range. Or both.
I think the next one for me will either be an oldskool turbo petrol for some B-road thrills, or a turbo diesel family wagon with a big boot and a huge range. Or both.
For 90% of my personal use an EV would make perfect sense. For 100% of my business use a diesel would make sense.
I have a 2.5l turbo petrol.
In a perfect world I'd probably have 5+ cars but don't do enough short/suitable journeys to justify an EV, equally I don't do enough miles to justify a hybrid (and they are utterly dull with the exception of things like the NSX/P1 which, ignoring I can't afford them are hardly suitable for picking up the kids from school etc) and life is too short to drive a diesel.
So next is large petrol again, thinking maybe S4 Avant or 335i Touring and hopefully I can put up with the small boot.
I have a 2.5l turbo petrol.
In a perfect world I'd probably have 5+ cars but don't do enough short/suitable journeys to justify an EV, equally I don't do enough miles to justify a hybrid (and they are utterly dull with the exception of things like the NSX/P1 which, ignoring I can't afford them are hardly suitable for picking up the kids from school etc) and life is too short to drive a diesel.
So next is large petrol again, thinking maybe S4 Avant or 335i Touring and hopefully I can put up with the small boot.
Short commute in the week and usually a big motorway trip somewhere once a month.
Currently have a 3.0 straight six petrol daily/motorway barge and a 5.0 V8 weekender.
Really like the idea of a PHEV, it would be perfect for an all electric commute during the week, and still have a long distance occasional motorway cruiser on the weekend. Something like a 330e with the six pot BMW did for a bit or the Panamera hybrid would be lovely.
Still, that's too expensive for me for now.
So if I need another daily, it will probably be a V8 barge like a CLS500 or XF V8.
Like you say, get them whilst you still can.
Currently have a 3.0 straight six petrol daily/motorway barge and a 5.0 V8 weekender.
Really like the idea of a PHEV, it would be perfect for an all electric commute during the week, and still have a long distance occasional motorway cruiser on the weekend. Something like a 330e with the six pot BMW did for a bit or the Panamera hybrid would be lovely.
Still, that's too expensive for me for now.
So if I need another daily, it will probably be a V8 barge like a CLS500 or XF V8.
Like you say, get them whilst you still can.
I would love it to be a total EV. But there is nothing in the segment of replacing my 640D that excites me.
I almost in a way want to just stick with the 640D as it does everything I want well, and nothing on the market beyond something with a turbo V6 or NA V8 (looking at you lexus) appeals...which won't help in anyway towards me being green.
I cannot make the thought of a Tesla working either as the most local Tesla dealer is hugely out of the way from me, where as my BMW dealer is 10 minutes down the road....
Mentally I am onboard with an EV, there is just not the product to fit the requirements/thoughts I have to replace my 640 at the moment.
I almost in a way want to just stick with the 640D as it does everything I want well, and nothing on the market beyond something with a turbo V6 or NA V8 (looking at you lexus) appeals...which won't help in anyway towards me being green.
I cannot make the thought of a Tesla working either as the most local Tesla dealer is hugely out of the way from me, where as my BMW dealer is 10 minutes down the road....
Mentally I am onboard with an EV, there is just not the product to fit the requirements/thoughts I have to replace my 640 at the moment.
I have just ordered a C200 with EQ Boost (Mild Hybrid) to replace my A45.
I would have had an electric car if they represented better value as it is I think the cheaper ones look rubbish/not my cup of tea and the more expensive ones are well, expensive...
Personally I am planning on keeping this mild hybrid for the foreseeable future and then when they release something like the Honda Urban EV concept at a reasonable price go for that.
I definitely don't do the miles so could easily have an EV if I liked any of them with a price I could stomach.
I would have had an electric car if they represented better value as it is I think the cheaper ones look rubbish/not my cup of tea and the more expensive ones are well, expensive...
Personally I am planning on keeping this mild hybrid for the foreseeable future and then when they release something like the Honda Urban EV concept at a reasonable price go for that.
I definitely don't do the miles so could easily have an EV if I liked any of them with a price I could stomach.
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