First experience of 'range anxiety'!
Discussion
Mike_C said:
ORD said:
I am always surprised at the delays that people will put up with. When someone says "20 min charge here" and "30 min charge there", I stop reading. I would never tolerate that kind of delay in a journey.
Depends on the journey! I drove from the Midlands to Glasgow last weekend, left at 8am and was at Glasgow airport by 3pm; that's 7 hours to cover 330 miles, an average speed of just shy of 50mph, including 3 short charging stops. OK, you could do it in 5.5 hours non-stop in an ICE vehicle perhaps, but personally I like to stop for lunch and could do with a piss every 3 hours anyway. And how often do you do a 300+ mile journey anyway?In day to day use, the car is no different to driving an ICE for me, other than it's not spewing out toxic fumes, it's largely free miles, and I wake up with a full 'tank' every morning. Oh, and it's faster than pretty much every other ICE vehicle this side of a supercar...
Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
ORD said:
Uber barges are astonishingly dull to drive, so speed is neither here nor there (even were it usable, which it isnt, given the effect on range). If you made the Tesla as fast as a 320d, nobody would notice the difference unless in the first few weeks of ownership, because everyone drives like a granny to save juice.
Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
Not true, I drive my P85+ like as much of a tAdding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
t as I did any of my previous 'performance' cars; Cayman S, S2000, various BMW's etc.! My concern for range is usually non-existent, as I rarely travel more than 150 miles between charges, therefore can hoon around as much as like inbetween!TooMany2cvs said:
It can't have been for the looks.
ORD said:
Or the handling or the performance or the engine note or the...um...anything except fashion.
What a right pair. I've had more cars than the pair of you put together, probably. That's owning and driving them not dreaming about them. Still driving an old 997? Shame on you!K2MDL said:
TooMany2cvs said:
It can't have been for the looks.
ORD said:
Or the handling or the performance or the engine note or the...um...anything except fashion.
What a right pair. I've had more cars than the pair of you put together, probably. That's owning and driving them not dreaming about them. Still driving an old 997? Shame on you!
ORD said:
Uber barges are astonishingly dull to drive, so speed is neither here nor there (even were it usable, which it isnt, given the effect on range). If you made the Tesla as fast as a 320d, nobody would notice the difference unless in the first few weeks of ownership, because everyone drives like a granny to save juice.
Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
Agreed about wasting time at service stations. That's why I charge at home! Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
modeller said:
ORD said:
Uber barges are astonishingly dull to drive, so speed is neither here nor there (even were it usable, which it isnt, given the effect on range). If you made the Tesla as fast as a 320d, nobody would notice the difference unless in the first few weeks of ownership, because everyone drives like a granny to save juice.
Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
Agreed about wasting time at service stations. That's why I charge at home! Adding 1.5 hours to a long journey is an absolute non-starter for me. But people all value their leisure time differently. I dont want to spend more time than I have to at motorway services or sitting by a charger.
That's fine if you don't go any distance.
K2MDL said:
TooMany2cvs said:
It can't have been for the looks.
ORD said:
Or the handling or the performance or the engine note or the...um...anything except fashion.
What a right pair. I've had more cars than the pair of you put together, probably. That's owning and driving them not dreaming about them. Still driving an old 997? Shame on you!Mike_C said:
Not true, I drive my P85+ like as much of a tt as I did any of my previous 'performance' cars; Cayman S, S2000, various BMW's etc.! My concern for range is usually non-existent, as I rarely travel more than 150 miles between charges, therefore can hoon around as much as like inbetween!
Good on ya! t as I did any of my previous 'performance' cars; Cayman S, S2000, various BMW's etc.! My concern for range is usually non-existent, as I rarely travel more than 150 miles between charges, therefore can hoon around as much as like inbetween!The range is actually impressive enough that I can see that making sense, so I stand corrected.
Mike_C said:
Blaster72 said:
I'm only ribbing you about the lights. I've somehow managed to delete my post on this thread as well so it's clealy me that's the numpty.
Is the Supercharger network free in the UK too?
Yes, Supercharger network is free of charge, currently the Ecotricity network is too, although the charge rate is slower of course.Is the Supercharger network free in the UK too?
erics said:
This is when i read such threads that i am convinced the i8 remains a great package for the foreseeable future.
Providing you do not need 4 seats.
Great post and real life experience.
Thanks for sharing.
Hmm, not sure it is; the real world MPG of the i8 is not great, when I was chatting to owners they were getting similar MPG figures to what I was getting from my BMW 335D, prior to me getting the Tesla.Providing you do not need 4 seats.
Great post and real life experience.
Thanks for sharing.
The i8 is very desirable, don't get me wrong, and if I can get the missus on board I'd be tempted to get an i8 too now that used values have plummeted, but I'd still be using the Model S for the majority of journeys, and if the i8 was to just be an occasional vehicle I'd rather a used V8 or V12 Vantage
I feel way happier with the i8.
I had 911 turbo, turbo S, gt3s, rs's, the aston v12v and many other cars. The i8 is the best car i ever owned.
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
erics said:
I swapped my Aston v12v for the i8. Performance is broadly similar but way more accessible in the i8. And you don't fear for your life when temperatures drop below 10 celsius (the corsa tyres) or when it rains massively (aquaplanning at 60mph anyone?). The i8 is lighter, nimbler, rides much better, way more comfortable. The car feels at least as special as an ownership proposition: feels v bespoke. Fuel consumption is about 6x less. Running costs are inexistant. The Aston used to cost me 5-6k a year.
I feel way happier with the i8.
I had 911 turbo, turbo S, gt3s, rs's, the aston v12v and many other cars. The i8 is the best car i ever owned.
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
If you bought a new v12v you'd get fixed price servicing which is £700 a year or so. I imagine your running costs are based on a used one.I feel way happier with the i8.
I had 911 turbo, turbo S, gt3s, rs's, the aston v12v and many other cars. The i8 is the best car i ever owned.
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
There is about 100kg in Wright difference
The tyres on the Aston are summer sports tyres so in the cold they would of course be awful
Real world economy in the Aston in a spirited drive is 18mpg, the i8 what..30? Never 6x
And if you'd kept a v12v manual, it's probably worth more than you sold it for.
I actually didn't really enjoy owning my Aston because of the dealers and quality of the paint as much as anything but it came with 3 services included and in two years depreciation was 25k (I owned a v8s which is similar npmoney to an i8, and the i8 is about to drop below 70k so 30k dep in less than 2 years) otherwise it cost me 2 rear tyres and I averaged 22mpg. The 6GC I ran at the same time cost me more although I did many more miles.
This thread is becoming a pi55ing contest. Tesla are now criticised for not doing a sporty 2 seater (ironic as that was their first car). Well if we want to make that kind of irrelevant argument, the I8 is dreadful because it's not a 5 door hatch and it has a petrol tank. If it's not for you, fine, but don't knock it for people who it does work for.
erics said:
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
You mean a sporty two seater like the Tesla Roadster?! 
In all seriousness though, rumour has it now Model X is online, and once Model 3 and the Gigafactory is up and running, the next release will be some form of Sports car or possible even a Supercar; Elon has already said they can get quicker 0-60 and 0-100 times than even the P90D (2.8s, officially, around 2.5s in tests) so imagine a Model S GT coupe that could do 0-60 in 2.0s and a genuine 300 mile range? Yes please..!
JonV8V said:
erics said:
I swapped my Aston v12v for the i8. Performance is broadly similar but way more accessible in the i8. And you don't fear for your life when temperatures drop below 10 celsius (the corsa tyres) or when it rains massively (aquaplanning at 60mph anyone?). The i8 is lighter, nimbler, rides much better, way more comfortable. The car feels at least as special as an ownership proposition: feels v bespoke. Fuel consumption is about 6x less. Running costs are inexistant. The Aston used to cost me 5-6k a year.
I feel way happier with the i8.
I had 911 turbo, turbo S, gt3s, rs's, the aston v12v and many other cars. The i8 is the best car i ever owned.
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
If you bought a new v12v you'd get fixed price servicing which is £700 a year or so. I imagine your running costs are based on a used one.I feel way happier with the i8.
I had 911 turbo, turbo S, gt3s, rs's, the aston v12v and many other cars. The i8 is the best car i ever owned.
To be frank, it is not the range anxiety that gets me with the tesla, it's the fact that they do not make a sporty two seater version. A gt car type thing that would be great looking. Am sure it is an amazing machine. It just does not trigger that 'want' factor in me.
There is about 100kg in Wright difference
The tyres on the Aston are summer sports tyres so in the cold they would of course be awful
Real world economy in the Aston in a spirited drive is 18mpg, the i8 what..30? Never 6x
And if you'd kept a v12v manual, it's probably worth more than you sold it for.
I actually didn't really enjoy owning my Aston because of the dealers and quality of the paint as much as anything but it came with 3 services included and in two years depreciation was 25k (I owned a v8s which is similar npmoney to an i8, and the i8 is about to drop below 70k so 30k dep in less than 2 years) otherwise it cost me 2 rear tyres and I averaged 22mpg. The 6GC I ran at the same time cost me more although I did many more miles.
This thread is becoming a pi55ing contest. Tesla are now criticised for not doing a sporty 2 seater (ironic as that was their first car). Well if we want to make that kind of irrelevant argument, the I8 is dreadful because it's not a 5 door hatch and it has a petrol tank. If it's not for you, fine, but don't knock it for people who it does work for.
Per my first post, i thanked the op for sharing the experience.
The v12v average consumption in the normal driving world was 15 mpg. When i drove it around London and got stuck in the occasional traffic jam, the tank would last about 100-120 miles. I think that is not far off 10mpg.
I drive with mechanical sympathy and like to open up in safe conditions on the open road.
The i8 would litterally burn zero fuel around London. So fuel cost is 6x less for me.
I mean this is my own experience, no Clarkson or short drive Journos experience.
Don't get me wrong, i loved my v12v, a car full of character and a special thing. I just much prefer my i8 and use it a lot more often.
I sold the v12v for the same price i bought having added 5k miles to it over 2 years. Ditto my first i8. This one i will loose money but then i did not too badly owning a manual 993 c2s over 5 years. Some gain, some lose, it's part of the game but i try to judge cars based on their own merits.
I used to service the aston at Works Services and David Webb used to look after me very well. Yes i bought used because the cars were 130-140 new and i bought mine with 2.5k miles for 80k. So each year, i had 1.2-1.5k service, benefitting from a discount, then about 2.5k warranty renewal (you'd be mad not to). Then 1k of various small bits to do.
A v12v on all season tyres is only marginally better than on corsas. It is still something to handle with a great deal of care.
I had 2 i8s so far and they cost me litteraly zero.
We could argue endlessly, i am just stating my experience.
The only other car i considered was a 991 turbo S. A slightly used one. I just wanted to live with a car able to drive in total utter silence for a while. Also had 10x 911 in various guises and fancied a change. The one thing that the i8 has irrespective of economy and performance is the best chassis i have ever experienced in a car: sporty, precise, light footed, super comfortable and relaxing when you want to (more so than the bentley conti gt speed i once considered). It has none of the hugely annoying rolling noise porsche 996-997 suffer from at cruising speed.
I am not trying to convince anyone. Just sharing an experience as someone who loves cars and could have potentially considered a Tesla.
I hope they do make an appealling coupe and i can easily see how they could make something look like a maserati grand turismo. 2+2 type thing. Then i would seriously consider one.
Apologies to the OP for the thread hijack but i just want to say how much i enjoy real life experience from owners and share my own ones. I think it may be beneficial to potential owners.
Edited by erics on Friday 4th March 09:05
Edited by erics on Friday 4th March 09:09
A great post EricS.
Subjective views on the cars appearance are to be expected everybody has an opinion and Clarkson'esque facts re-quoted are to be expected on a car forum.
The single most pleasant surprise when I was loaned an i8 for a test was the fact the way it drove, it has a remarkably low centre of gravity and despite its weight in KG's on paper feels properly nimble and an absolute delight to drive.
Perhaps some of the naysayers should just drive an i8? I very much doubt they would be disappointed.
That is all I did, it is a remarkable machine and if this is the future of electric/hybrid cars all of us Petrolheads should be excited as to what the future will bring.
It is gut-wrenching for me to say but when I start a cars engine, even something as sublime as an Aston V12, I do wonder what is all that about...
Once you have had the 'leccy' experience it is very addictive and everything else just seems a bit 'backward'
I suppose I will get lynched for saying that - but it is a surprising bi-product of owning an i3 and driving an i8...
Subjective views on the cars appearance are to be expected everybody has an opinion and Clarkson'esque facts re-quoted are to be expected on a car forum.
The single most pleasant surprise when I was loaned an i8 for a test was the fact the way it drove, it has a remarkably low centre of gravity and despite its weight in KG's on paper feels properly nimble and an absolute delight to drive.
Perhaps some of the naysayers should just drive an i8? I very much doubt they would be disappointed.
That is all I did, it is a remarkable machine and if this is the future of electric/hybrid cars all of us Petrolheads should be excited as to what the future will bring.
It is gut-wrenching for me to say but when I start a cars engine, even something as sublime as an Aston V12, I do wonder what is all that about...
Once you have had the 'leccy' experience it is very addictive and everything else just seems a bit 'backward'
I suppose I will get lynched for saying that - but it is a surprising bi-product of owning an i3 and driving an i8...
Funnily enough I went with the Tesla for the very reason it isn't a 2 seater coupe as I needed the space. It's my everyday car and as such needs to occasionally carry friends out to pub, dog out for walks and ferry belongings between houses, university runs etc.
For coupe thrills I still have my DB9 for my petrol fix, but now I've got the Tesla I'm seriously considering selling it. Average service costs are £3,000 to £4,000 a year including tyres, tax is high and mpg isn't great as you all know. However, none of those are the reason for thinking about selling it. Now that I drive the Tesla it's just that the Aston feels so last century to drive. As an avid petrolhead I never thought I'd feel like that, but these EV's really are that amazing.
As for range anxiety - well, yes! It's a factor, but I do think it's just a matter of looking ahead to any round trip journey which is going to be over 150 miles and planning a brief stop at a supercharger. My closest call was getting home with only 12 miles range showing on the display and a warning message that I had insufficient charge to reach my destination, but I made it OK and kept heating, lights, wipers and radio on.
Overall I love the immediacy of the Tesla. Already defrosted and warm in the morning with radio on as I get into the car, instant and silent power, 4 wheel drive means I no longer worry about wet roundabouts like I do/did in DB9 and it's free to fill up on long journeys.
Only problem I can see is when there are more on the roads and the Superchargers get too busy resulting in queues to charge, so I'd better finish this by saying that the lack of range and having to plug it in every night is a real chore so suggest everyone stays with ICE cars for foreseeable future :-) !
For coupe thrills I still have my DB9 for my petrol fix, but now I've got the Tesla I'm seriously considering selling it. Average service costs are £3,000 to £4,000 a year including tyres, tax is high and mpg isn't great as you all know. However, none of those are the reason for thinking about selling it. Now that I drive the Tesla it's just that the Aston feels so last century to drive. As an avid petrolhead I never thought I'd feel like that, but these EV's really are that amazing.
As for range anxiety - well, yes! It's a factor, but I do think it's just a matter of looking ahead to any round trip journey which is going to be over 150 miles and planning a brief stop at a supercharger. My closest call was getting home with only 12 miles range showing on the display and a warning message that I had insufficient charge to reach my destination, but I made it OK and kept heating, lights, wipers and radio on.
Overall I love the immediacy of the Tesla. Already defrosted and warm in the morning with radio on as I get into the car, instant and silent power, 4 wheel drive means I no longer worry about wet roundabouts like I do/did in DB9 and it's free to fill up on long journeys.
Only problem I can see is when there are more on the roads and the Superchargers get too busy resulting in queues to charge, so I'd better finish this by saying that the lack of range and having to plug it in every night is a real chore so suggest everyone stays with ICE cars for foreseeable future :-) !
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