Should I trade in my EV and go back to petrol?
Discussion
I do like my EV. It’s a Cupra born. I have a home charger and it works well.
For 90% of my needs it’s fine. It has put us off as a family going further afield due to the range aspect but I’ll admit that is only for the remaining 10% of the time.
I just miss a petrol car. That psychological idea that you can drive into the sunset, wherever you please and you’ll always be able to fill up. A bit of noise too is good. It’s strange, I can’t quite explain it, I know I don’t need to get rid but I’d like to… getting old maybe and missing what I what used to?
For 90% of my needs it’s fine. It has put us off as a family going further afield due to the range aspect but I’ll admit that is only for the remaining 10% of the time.
I just miss a petrol car. That psychological idea that you can drive into the sunset, wherever you please and you’ll always be able to fill up. A bit of noise too is good. It’s strange, I can’t quite explain it, I know I don’t need to get rid but I’d like to… getting old maybe and missing what I what used to?
Didn’t you make this thread about how running an ice car was becoming unaffordable?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You have options - you can buy another petrol car if you are missing one - doesn’t have to be an expensive one if just for occasional use. Or you can hire a car for those occasional long journeys. Finally the cheapest option out of the three is just use the public charging network at service stations, etc - with the tiniest amount of planning it can be easily done.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You have options - you can buy another petrol car if you are missing one - doesn’t have to be an expensive one if just for occasional use. Or you can hire a car for those occasional long journeys. Finally the cheapest option out of the three is just use the public charging network at service stations, etc - with the tiniest amount of planning it can be easily done.
sat1983 said:
For 90% of my needs it’s fine
I'd keep it then and as above, plan a little more to use the ever expanding network of public chargers. Given that you yourself started a thread about the cost of running a petrol car earlier in the year and prices have gone up since then, I'm not sure why you'd move back?You still have over 8 years to get into a new ICE car. And fuel will still be available post 2030/2035, albeit at a higher cost and with more cities locked down to ULEZ.
The British are very kneejerk. When we had diesels being slated a few years ago there was a rush to dispose of them. My sister sold her diesel X1 for a petrol Q5. I didn't see the point in chopping so early. When the petrol ICE ban of 2030 was in place, again the lemmings rushed out for EVs.
I bought our diesel Passat in 2020 specifically for family/university/long trips duties as a 10 year planned car. I'll keep an eye on production and buy another one before they stop producing a diesel verson. It's the huge range. 600-800 miles is the norm. 800+ miles driving Miss daisy during the fuel shortages this summer. We have caving trips each year to Northern France/Germany where everything is packed into 4 days. That means leaving at 3:30am and being at our first cave/mine late morning. We simply won't be able to do that in any current EV.
Despite my doom and gloom, I'll get an EV for local runs.
The British are very kneejerk. When we had diesels being slated a few years ago there was a rush to dispose of them. My sister sold her diesel X1 for a petrol Q5. I didn't see the point in chopping so early. When the petrol ICE ban of 2030 was in place, again the lemmings rushed out for EVs.
I bought our diesel Passat in 2020 specifically for family/university/long trips duties as a 10 year planned car. I'll keep an eye on production and buy another one before they stop producing a diesel verson. It's the huge range. 600-800 miles is the norm. 800+ miles driving Miss daisy during the fuel shortages this summer. We have caving trips each year to Northern France/Germany where everything is packed into 4 days. That means leaving at 3:30am and being at our first cave/mine late morning. We simply won't be able to do that in any current EV.
Despite my doom and gloom, I'll get an EV for local runs.
I've got an EV on order (Polestar 2). Previously had a Golf GTI that was on it's last legs so I'm currently running a MK1 TT as a cheap runaround to get ICE out of my system - it's a car I've always wanted but I'm struggling to bond with it. Having driven a few EVs I have to say I'm looking forward to it, maybe I'll miss internal combustion, only time will tell
I found myself in a similar boat to you earlier this year.
I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
M.F.D said:
It sounds like you are just missing the fun that an ICE car offers. I would consider a cheap hot hatch or similar that could do longer trips and the odd blast when you take the notion. Something like a Mk V Golf GTI would be perfect for this.
As above suggests - both have their place.My daily is an EV (Company car) so huge BIK savings - I feel I am doing my bit and that justifies my weekend summer car - BMW Z4 and winter diesel Land Rover Defender.
I consider the EV just a mode of transport A>B but for pure driving satisfaction even though my EV is much quicker it has to be the 6cyl petrol. Even the slow Land Rover is more satisfying to drive.
KamSandhu44 said:
I found myself in a similar boat to you earlier this year.
I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
I take my hat off to you sir, nice to see someone driving a cool car daily and just enjoying it.I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
NS66 said:
As above suggests - both have their place.
My daily is an EV (Company car) so huge BIK savings - I feel I am doing my bit and that justifies my weekend summer car - BMW Z4 and winter diesel Land Rover Defender.
I consider the EV just a mode of transport A>B but for pure driving satisfaction even though my EV is much quicker it has to be the 6cyl petrol. Even the slow Land Rover is more satisfying to drive.
Pretty similar to myself. Have had a Model 3 through our work lease scheme since March 2020 and also have BMW Z4 3.0.My daily is an EV (Company car) so huge BIK savings - I feel I am doing my bit and that justifies my weekend summer car - BMW Z4 and winter diesel Land Rover Defender.
I consider the EV just a mode of transport A>B but for pure driving satisfaction even though my EV is much quicker it has to be the 6cyl petrol. Even the slow Land Rover is more satisfying to drive.
M.F.D said:
KamSandhu44 said:
I found myself in a similar boat to you earlier this year.
I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
I take my hat off to you sir, nice to see someone driving a cool car daily and just enjoying it.I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
Buy a performance classic £10K or less - with EV's certainly costing £35K plus that £25K is alot of petrol!!! :-)
M.F.D said:
It sounds like you are just missing the fun that an ICE car offers. I would consider a cheap hot hatch or similar that could do longer trips and the odd blast when you take the notion. Something like a Mk V Golf GTI would be perfect for this.
I was going to suggest the same. Buy an ICE that's a bit of fun and long term likely to hold if not increase in value - especially if you're only putting miles on it 10% of the time.I would love to have an EV for daily wafting around for work and shopping trips, but not as a replacement for my ICE car. They are both different tools for different jobs in my mind.
I am currently running a 2010 diesel Ceed estate as a daily, its quite a nice place to be and this will eventually be replaced by an EV of some sort if things go to plan. I will not be replacing my weekend ICE car though.
I am a firm believer that there is a place for both, sure enough, the cost of running an ICE car will probably rocket as the greens try to force them all off the road, but surely a low use ICE car along side a high use EV is the way to go, for both enjoyment and the environment.
I am currently running a 2010 diesel Ceed estate as a daily, its quite a nice place to be and this will eventually be replaced by an EV of some sort if things go to plan. I will not be replacing my weekend ICE car though.
I am a firm believer that there is a place for both, sure enough, the cost of running an ICE car will probably rocket as the greens try to force them all off the road, but surely a low use ICE car along side a high use EV is the way to go, for both enjoyment and the environment.
sat1983 said:
Yes I did start that thread.
My only defence on this one is that a mind can be changed haha! I would still remain concerned about petrol costs I guess….
In that thread it was questioned if prices would drop back down after the initial peak. Well they did.. but still above the level you were worried about paying back in march, and they're now creeping up again. Next year fuel duty is set to increase which will almost certainly see petrol/diesel end up around £1.80/£2 respectively.My only defence on this one is that a mind can be changed haha! I would still remain concerned about petrol costs I guess….
And are you actually less wealthy in relative terms than you were back then too? The price of virtually all other expenses in life has or is set to rise in varying degrees.
You should buy whatever you can afford to run that makes you happiest of course - but in this instance so far as I can see the situation you complained about back in March has gotten all round worse.
Edited by TheDeuce on Thursday 24th November 11:59
i do sympathise. As an EV owner i am smug 95% of the time.
However in next 4 weeks i have two journeys of about 170 miles on way, charge overnight, then drive back. so no aircon, find a car on the motorway i can draft behind...fingers crossed. Then a longer Cov to St Ives where ideally i can get to Exeter both ways and just charge once...if there are no issues with the chargers... no major head wind, not too cold, etc etc
It's these journeys that unduly stress me and with ICE you just get in and go.
Stick with the EV OP makes sense 90% of your time. We just steal the son's fiesta if we need to go longer and leave him without a car.
However in next 4 weeks i have two journeys of about 170 miles on way, charge overnight, then drive back. so no aircon, find a car on the motorway i can draft behind...fingers crossed. Then a longer Cov to St Ives where ideally i can get to Exeter both ways and just charge once...if there are no issues with the chargers... no major head wind, not too cold, etc etc
It's these journeys that unduly stress me and with ICE you just get in and go.
Stick with the EV OP makes sense 90% of your time. We just steal the son's fiesta if we need to go longer and leave him without a car.
TLDR: you should have got a Tesla. To quote the above post I’m smug 100% of the time. 
I’ve had a Tesla Model 3 performance for just over 3 years and nearly 50k miles.
I’ve driven it from home all over the UK (including the Outer hebrides!) and for an intercontinental trip and I have never run out of range. There is always a supercharger. There’s always a space and they always work. At least that’s my experience in well over 200 supercharges all over Britain (and that trip across Europe). I have only ever used third party chargers out of curiosity and my experience has been universally awful (blocked, broken, slow). I would not but a better built EV (e.g. Taycan) on this point alone- those third party chargers are a total deal breaker. I don’t know how people don’t explode with anxiety!
Maybe I’m getting older, but I don’t feel the need to to 300+ Miles in one hit any more. I like to enjoy the journey and occasionally stretch my legs while the car supercharges. Typically I use the superchargers as intended- only for road trips and typically stop for about 15 minutes- which is good enough until the next break.
I’m no Walter Rohrl, but I love driving- and where conditions permit- driving hard: I don’t know anyone on any forum that has a higher kwh/mi value. I’ve had a lot of fun in it and it’s the first car I’ve ever done a donut in!
Full disclosure: I was an Elon fan boy until very recently. Not any more. I still love the car though!
I’ve had a Tesla Model 3 performance for just over 3 years and nearly 50k miles.
I’ve driven it from home all over the UK (including the Outer hebrides!) and for an intercontinental trip and I have never run out of range. There is always a supercharger. There’s always a space and they always work. At least that’s my experience in well over 200 supercharges all over Britain (and that trip across Europe). I have only ever used third party chargers out of curiosity and my experience has been universally awful (blocked, broken, slow). I would not but a better built EV (e.g. Taycan) on this point alone- those third party chargers are a total deal breaker. I don’t know how people don’t explode with anxiety!
Maybe I’m getting older, but I don’t feel the need to to 300+ Miles in one hit any more. I like to enjoy the journey and occasionally stretch my legs while the car supercharges. Typically I use the superchargers as intended- only for road trips and typically stop for about 15 minutes- which is good enough until the next break.
I’m no Walter Rohrl, but I love driving- and where conditions permit- driving hard: I don’t know anyone on any forum that has a higher kwh/mi value. I’ve had a lot of fun in it and it’s the first car I’ve ever done a donut in!
Full disclosure: I was an Elon fan boy until very recently. Not any more. I still love the car though!
Edited by bongo96 on Thursday 24th November 15:00
KamSandhu44 said:
I found myself in a similar boat to you earlier this year.
I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
That is exactly how I see EVs too. I couldn't ever imagine waking up on a nice and sunny Sunday morning...and looking forward to going for a drive in something that was electric just for the sake of it. I used to own a Tesla Model 3, when I first got it, I thought it was great. The years rolled on and I hated it more and more. It was the most soulless car I ever owned, I never looked forward to driving it and the experience was more ruined by their software updates.
In my experience, public charging is hit and miss. Tesla charge points are great, they always work. The others, not so much.
Eventually, I cancelled my lease early and now daily an Evo 9. Sure it costs more to run, but I smile every time I get in.
They seem to be the complete opposite of fun to me(no noise/manual gearbox/emotion etc), however there does seem to be quite a few who absolutely love them though, and they wouldn't ever consider going back to a car with an ICE. I guess that it would be very boring if we were all the same though.
sat1983 said:
I do like my EV. It’s a Cupra born. I have a home charger and it works well.
For 90% of my needs it’s fine. It has put us off as a family going further afield due to the range aspect but I’ll admit that is only for the remaining 10% of the time.
I just miss a petrol car. That psychological idea that you can drive into the sunset, wherever you please and you’ll always be able to fill up. A bit of noise too is good. It’s strange, I can’t quite explain it, I know I don’t need to get rid but I’d like to… getting old maybe and missing what I what used to?
Do you want to swap for a Mk 7.5 Golf For 90% of my needs it’s fine. It has put us off as a family going further afield due to the range aspect but I’ll admit that is only for the remaining 10% of the time.
I just miss a petrol car. That psychological idea that you can drive into the sunset, wherever you please and you’ll always be able to fill up. A bit of noise too is good. It’s strange, I can’t quite explain it, I know I don’t need to get rid but I’d like to… getting old maybe and missing what I what used to?
1.5Tsi R-Line manual I'm desperate to get an EV car back as I find them so much nicer to drive as a daily (for me it's just a more elegant propulsion system than ICE from an engineering perspective and having gotten used to one just don't like driving ICE any more).
My wife has a Born on order but it's been delayed 3 months so now not due till Feb
She bought the above Golf to replace her e-golf when her commuting requirements changed meaning the range wasn't quite going to be enough in the winter with the e-Golf. We're now stuck waiting having taken a horrible backwards step in car.Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff