3 interesting test drives and car market has no direction
Discussion
I recently had three test drives of the new Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR86 and new Lotus Electra. After thinking about my test drives I am more convinced the car buyer and car manufactures do not know what direction to take.
First the Honda Civic Type R was amazing. Everything you read about it is accurate. The gearbox was lovely, styling is aggressive but not offensive, fast, gripped like a mountain goat but I do not think it is worth £50k. I recently went to a dealer to sit in the Type R again to try and convince myself it is worth the money but it just confirmed it is not. The Civic Type R represents the cost of new cars and the inflated prices because we do not know what the future holds. Will the Civic Type R be the genuine last ICE model and does this uncertainty justify the price?
Next was the Lotus Electra which was very very impressive. I think it looks amazing and made the Lamborghini look fussy and dated. The Interior was even better. The interior was modern, stylish and had a quality feel. Again made the the Cayanne interior look boring. The test drive was great too. I recently had a Jaguar F-pace curtesy car when the Family Range Rover was getting serviced. The ride quality is easily closer to the Range Rover. However I fear it will not be a success because it is only electric. With the Government delaying the ban if ICE vehicles, less people buying electric cars and the arse falling out the used electric car market. I do not think it is fair car companies have invested so much money and forced into a direction that might never happen. A lotus Electra with an economical petrol engine would fly out the showroom compared to X5 and Cayannes etc.
The final car was the Toyota GR86 which i think ironically my favourite. The GR86 was parked next to a GR Yaris. I could not test drive Yaris but I did sit in the car. I liked everything about the GR86 interior better than the GR Yaris. The driving position was lower, the steering wheel was straight in front of me, the steering wheel was thin, dials were attractive, had apple car play, gearbox felt a little light for me and the view out the windscreen looked a little like my FF because you could see the tops of the arches. What I loved most was when you lifted the bonnet because you could see the engine, filters, belts, manifolds and NO plastic covers. It felt like old skool meets modern. It is great value for £33K and again made the Civic look very expensive.
Out of the three cars I I would buy the GR86 but I feel sorry for the car manufactures and car buyers because the Government is making the choice of buying a new car now very difficult. I do not think the ICE engine will be banned in 2035, I do not think the Civic Type R will be the last model with only a ICE engine and I do not think the Electra will save lotus at no fault of their own.
I am going to continue to buy petrol powered cars with no Adblue and no electricity. Why are the car manufactures not more vocal?
First the Honda Civic Type R was amazing. Everything you read about it is accurate. The gearbox was lovely, styling is aggressive but not offensive, fast, gripped like a mountain goat but I do not think it is worth £50k. I recently went to a dealer to sit in the Type R again to try and convince myself it is worth the money but it just confirmed it is not. The Civic Type R represents the cost of new cars and the inflated prices because we do not know what the future holds. Will the Civic Type R be the genuine last ICE model and does this uncertainty justify the price?
Next was the Lotus Electra which was very very impressive. I think it looks amazing and made the Lamborghini look fussy and dated. The Interior was even better. The interior was modern, stylish and had a quality feel. Again made the the Cayanne interior look boring. The test drive was great too. I recently had a Jaguar F-pace curtesy car when the Family Range Rover was getting serviced. The ride quality is easily closer to the Range Rover. However I fear it will not be a success because it is only electric. With the Government delaying the ban if ICE vehicles, less people buying electric cars and the arse falling out the used electric car market. I do not think it is fair car companies have invested so much money and forced into a direction that might never happen. A lotus Electra with an economical petrol engine would fly out the showroom compared to X5 and Cayannes etc.
The final car was the Toyota GR86 which i think ironically my favourite. The GR86 was parked next to a GR Yaris. I could not test drive Yaris but I did sit in the car. I liked everything about the GR86 interior better than the GR Yaris. The driving position was lower, the steering wheel was straight in front of me, the steering wheel was thin, dials were attractive, had apple car play, gearbox felt a little light for me and the view out the windscreen looked a little like my FF because you could see the tops of the arches. What I loved most was when you lifted the bonnet because you could see the engine, filters, belts, manifolds and NO plastic covers. It felt like old skool meets modern. It is great value for £33K and again made the Civic look very expensive.
Out of the three cars I I would buy the GR86 but I feel sorry for the car manufactures and car buyers because the Government is making the choice of buying a new car now very difficult. I do not think the ICE engine will be banned in 2035, I do not think the Civic Type R will be the last model with only a ICE engine and I do not think the Electra will save lotus at no fault of their own.
I am going to continue to buy petrol powered cars with no Adblue and no electricity. Why are the car manufactures not more vocal?
The ICE is being banned on the same timescale as before, 2035 they just removed 5 years of PhEv to align with the EU. Plus they actually strengthened the drive with the ZEV mandate with big fines for OEMs not complying with an increasing minimum BEV % (or technically Fuel Cell).
The bottom fell out of the used market because all the OEMs gouged price to drive margin because they were supply limited. Anybody who bought during that time would’ve been daft not to expect a correction to both new and used prices.
The bottom fell out of the used market because all the OEMs gouged price to drive margin because they were supply limited. Anybody who bought during that time would’ve been daft not to expect a correction to both new and used prices.
GreatGranny said:
The ICE is not being banned in 2035.
Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
That’s what I meant. You will not be able to buy a new ICE car after 2025 hence why I mentioned the manufactures are being forced to invest in electric cars that I believe will not be the solution and also the ban on new ICE cars means that any interesting performance car is expensive because we are told everyday it will the last so buy it now before you regret it. Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
Jumpingjackflash said:
With the Government delaying the ban if ICE vehicles, less people buying electric cars and the arse falling out the used electric car market.
That has not happened in any way at all, Tesla model Y is the best selling car in all of Europe and I wish the 'bottom had fell out of the used market' Tesla model 3 prices have gone up if anything, I know I've been trying to nab a bargain for months...autumnsum said:
That has not happened in any way at all, Tesla model Y is the best selling car in all of Europe and I wish the 'bottom had fell out of the used market' Tesla model 3 prices have gone up if anything, I know I've been trying to nab a bargain for months...
According to CAP, the Model 3 has lost more than 30% of its value in the last 11 months, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a bargain. Model Y has similar loses.A neighbour who sells Lotus/Maseratti had the Electra in the drive the other day, we got chatting as I'd previously bought an Evora from the dealership. It is quite Urus-esque but it's not a Lambo and doesn't really feel like a lotus much like the Emira. I'm not sure where the market is for such a machine given it's the same price as the RRS PHEV I bought the week before.
Jumpingjackflash said:
GreatGranny said:
The ICE is not being banned in 2035.
Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
That’s what I meant. You will not be able to buy a new ICE car after 2025 hence why I mentioned the manufactures are being forced to invest in electric cars that I believe will not be the solution and also the ban on new ICE cars means that any interesting performance car is expensive because we are told everyday it will the last so buy it now before you regret it. Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-recommits-uk...
Jumpingjackflash said:
GreatGranny said:
The ICE is not being banned in 2035.
Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
That’s what I meant. You will not be able to buy a new ICE car after 2025 hence why I mentioned the manufactures are being forced to invest in electric cars that I believe will not be the solution and also the ban on new ICE cars means that any interesting performance car is expensive because we are told everyday it will the last so buy it now before you regret it. Sale of NEW ICE cars will be stopped. Big difference but some posters love to get all dramatic
The Type r isn't worth 50k?
I know where you're coming from, 50k is a lot of wedge. But what does it buy you in new car terms.
You could have this Kia Sorento
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023060882...
Or if you want something really special how about a BMW 320i?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090114...
How's this gorgeous Peugeot SUV for value?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051373...
I know where you're coming from, 50k is a lot of wedge. But what does it buy you in new car terms.
You could have this Kia Sorento
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023060882...
Or if you want something really special how about a BMW 320i?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090114...
How's this gorgeous Peugeot SUV for value?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051373...
The Rotrex Kid said:
‘Market has no direction’
Words from a man who looked at a £50k 5 door hot hatch, a £90k Lotus EV and £32k coupe.
Righto.
I was invited to test drive Lotus but I would not buy electric. I was initially was interested in the Civic but the price is apparently justified because it will be last ICE Type R because Government is forcing us to go electric. It was too expensive so I looked at the cheaper GR86 because of positive reviews. Words from a man who looked at a £50k 5 door hot hatch, a £90k Lotus EV and £32k coupe.
Righto.
I have lots of cars like from a 992 GT3 to 1985 Silver Spur but my everyday car is a 2007 S500 so whats your point?
I wanted a new daily to replace S500. Majority of cars are either SUV, turbo charged, electric or too expensive for what they are all because governments are forcing ridiculous emission laws and bans. I just find it amazing in my opinion the best car and cheapest car was a N/A manual coupe.
ChrisH72 said:
The Type r isn't worth 50k?
I know where you're coming from, 50k is a lot of wedge. But what does it buy you in new car terms.
You could have this Kia Sorento
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023060882...
Or if you want something really special how about a BMW 320i?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090114...
How's this gorgeous Peugeot SUV for value?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051373...
I honestly thought you were taking the p*** but then I clicked on the links. Shows just how out of touch I am, probably because I've never bought new. £50k for a 320i or a Pug SUV? I'll stick to the smoker barge thread 😥I know where you're coming from, 50k is a lot of wedge. But what does it buy you in new car terms.
You could have this Kia Sorento
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023060882...
Or if you want something really special how about a BMW 320i?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023090114...
How's this gorgeous Peugeot SUV for value?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051373...
I think maybe what is lost in the thread is the general confusion that exists now, which I think the OP is alluding to. We're in some strange twilight zone of fading ICE and the early days of EVs. And it's impossible to really judge value which means it's hard to hand over money for anything. I'm impressed that car sales are going as well as they are because my inclination is to sit this out for a while. There are no downsides with waiting anyhow. ICE is generally getting worse and EVs will only get better.
DMZ said:
There are no downsides with waiting anyhow. ICE is generally getting worse and EVs will only get better.
so true.my next main car may well be EV or a boring ICE. I'm agnostic for a daily, but both offerings look like they're in flux.
For fun, I think it's about an older, lighter, car with HPAS, a real throttle cable and then spend cash upgrading and maintaining. not cheap to do properly.
The Rotrex Kid said:
‘Market has no direction’
Words from a man who looked at a £50k 5 door hot hatch, a £90k Lotus EV and £32k coupe.
Righto.
Reminds me of the car salesman’s favourite question:Words from a man who looked at a £50k 5 door hot hatch, a £90k Lotus EV and £32k coupe.
Righto.
“How much do you want to spend?”
Some people buy cars on merit, and the budget is just an upper limit.
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