EV/Hybrid/Petrol options
Discussion
Long time lurker, first time poster.
We live in a first floor flat with shared (but not designated) off-street parking. There is no power or street lighting to the car park and it wouldn't be possible to run a cable from the flat to the shared car park to charge an EV as it's too far and would trail over someone's garden!. The only possible charging option is just outside the flat where there are a couple of Source London charge points where the cost is c50p/kWh for a borough resident.
We are looking into whether, setting aside environmental and other factors, what would make the most sense to replace our existing car (2010 Skoda Octavia diesel estate) with - an EV, a hybrid or a petrol car.
Our current car usage comprises several local short journeys per week + 2-4 longer (50 - 200 round trip miles) + the occasional monthly 200-500 mile round trip. We also use the car to go camping in Europe once a year which can be 1,000-3,000 mile round trip.
Our £5-10k budget clearly means second hand, whatever option we go for. With that in mind, what are people's thoughts, experiences and suggestions re which cars and power types might be worth considering and what factors beyond those I've outlined need to be explored and thought about? We're completely open to all options including ones we haven't already thought of!
All views, advice and suggestions gratefully received.
We live in a first floor flat with shared (but not designated) off-street parking. There is no power or street lighting to the car park and it wouldn't be possible to run a cable from the flat to the shared car park to charge an EV as it's too far and would trail over someone's garden!. The only possible charging option is just outside the flat where there are a couple of Source London charge points where the cost is c50p/kWh for a borough resident.
We are looking into whether, setting aside environmental and other factors, what would make the most sense to replace our existing car (2010 Skoda Octavia diesel estate) with - an EV, a hybrid or a petrol car.
Our current car usage comprises several local short journeys per week + 2-4 longer (50 - 200 round trip miles) + the occasional monthly 200-500 mile round trip. We also use the car to go camping in Europe once a year which can be 1,000-3,000 mile round trip.
Our £5-10k budget clearly means second hand, whatever option we go for. With that in mind, what are people's thoughts, experiences and suggestions re which cars and power types might be worth considering and what factors beyond those I've outlined need to be explored and thought about? We're completely open to all options including ones we haven't already thought of!
All views, advice and suggestions gratefully received.
You're not getting anything for that budget that will comfortably do the longer journeys without being a significant headache.
I wouldn't suggest a PHEV in your position, because you'll largely be running on petrol and will see worse economy.
For that budget and a reasonably sized car you're looking at higher mileage Auris Hybrid estates.
I wouldn't suggest a PHEV in your position, because you'll largely be running on petrol and will see worse economy.
For that budget and a reasonably sized car you're looking at higher mileage Auris Hybrid estates.
Thanks very much for the replies so far - they're much appreciated.
As @dmsims has said, living in a London borough with a diesel is not really an option any longer. Also, not sure our current annual mileage makes a diesel economically the best option.
I also hear what others have said about our budget pretty much ruling out EVs as it would restrict us to older, less efficient EVs with higher use costs and limited ranges.
Which seems to leave older hybrids and secondhand petrol cars as the most viable options?
As @dmsims has said, living in a London borough with a diesel is not really an option any longer. Also, not sure our current annual mileage makes a diesel economically the best option.
I also hear what others have said about our budget pretty much ruling out EVs as it would restrict us to older, less efficient EVs with higher use costs and limited ranges.
Which seems to leave older hybrids and secondhand petrol cars as the most viable options?
The older Toyota hybrids are great cars, except for the fact that on many of them the catalytic converter is sticking out the bottom so easy to steal.
I had a first generation Yaris hybrid, one of the few models where the cat is in the engine bay. Good car, particularly so below 50mph but very slow above that.
You get most benefits of a hybrid in city driving.
I had a first generation Yaris hybrid, one of the few models where the cat is in the engine bay. Good car, particularly so below 50mph but very slow above that.
You get most benefits of a hybrid in city driving.
largeruk said:
Thanks very much for the replies so far - they're much appreciated.
As @dmsims has said, living in a London borough with a diesel is not really an option any longer. Also, not sure our current annual mileage makes a diesel economically the best option.
I also hear what others have said about our budget pretty much ruling out EVs as it would restrict us to older, less efficient EVs with higher use costs and limited ranges.
Which seems to leave older hybrids and secondhand petrol cars as the most viable options?
What sort of mileage do you actually do a year? There is a price difference between petrol/plug in hybrid/EV but also a fairly significant running cost difference to balance. Did you say you can charge at home?As @dmsims has said, living in a London borough with a diesel is not really an option any longer. Also, not sure our current annual mileage makes a diesel economically the best option.
I also hear what others have said about our budget pretty much ruling out EVs as it would restrict us to older, less efficient EVs with higher use costs and limited ranges.
Which seems to leave older hybrids and secondhand petrol cars as the most viable options?
TheDeuce said:
What sort of mileage do you actually do a year? There is a price difference between petrol/plug in hybrid/EV but also a fairly significant running cost difference to balance. Did you say you can charge at home?
We currently do 5-8,000 miles a year. We can't charge at home but do have access to local commercial charging point which currently charge c45p/kWh. Any info/assessment of relative running costs is clearly crucial in deciding bets course of action.Either straight petrol or a Toyota hybrid - probably the Auris estate mentioned already for that budget.
More economical than a diesel for local journeys and probably about equal on a run, fuel is significantly cheaper, the maintenance is pretty much as low as it's possible to get with an ICE involved.
No belts to change, no clutch to wear out and they just go on and on. Someone I know ran one to 200k as a taxi and the only thing he ever changed were tyres and 2 sets of brake pads. 10 year/100k mile warranty too.
Any EV with that budget will be near useless apart from as a local runabout.
More economical than a diesel for local journeys and probably about equal on a run, fuel is significantly cheaper, the maintenance is pretty much as low as it's possible to get with an ICE involved.
No belts to change, no clutch to wear out and they just go on and on. Someone I know ran one to 200k as a taxi and the only thing he ever changed were tyres and 2 sets of brake pads. 10 year/100k mile warranty too.
Any EV with that budget will be near useless apart from as a local runabout.
Snow and Rocks said:
Either straight petrol or a Toyota hybrid - probably the Auris estate mentioned already for that budget.
More economical than a diesel for local journeys and probably about equal on a run, fuel is significantly cheaper, the maintenance is pretty much as low as it's possible to get with an ICE involved.
No belts to change, no clutch to wear out and they just go on and on. Someone I know ran one to 200k as a taxi and the only thing he ever changed were tyres and 2 sets of brake pads. 10 year/100k mile warranty too.
Any EV with that budget will be near useless apart from as a local runabout.
I agree with this ^^More economical than a diesel for local journeys and probably about equal on a run, fuel is significantly cheaper, the maintenance is pretty much as low as it's possible to get with an ICE involved.
No belts to change, no clutch to wear out and they just go on and on. Someone I know ran one to 200k as a taxi and the only thing he ever changed were tyres and 2 sets of brake pads. 10 year/100k mile warranty too.
Any EV with that budget will be near useless apart from as a local runabout.
If you can't home charge then there is no real saving in terms of running costs so little point right now to pay the extra for any car with a sizeable battery, be it full EV or plug in hybrid. Straight petrol or Toyota hybrid as above makes sense.
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