Vauxhall Ampera
Discussion
This thread will probably sink with out trace as they aren't the most popular or prolific cars, but I've recently bought an Ampera.
Plug in charge, does about 35 miles on battery and has a 1.5 Corsa petrol engine for beyond that.
So far so good! Did a 350 mile trip at the weekend mostly on petrol, with the button pushed to hold battery charge so I could use it for in towns, 49.8 MPG. Lifetime for 85000 is about 100MPG
Unless the battery is absolutely flat, it flips to battery in traffic, uses regen charging as long as you don't brake very hard and flips to ICE when the battery runs out.
For local journeys it's full battery.
I looked at full electric, but I have journeys now and then (twice in the 4 weeks I've owned it) that are out of battery range unless I buy a Tesla (and I don't spend that amount of money on cars!).
I know people who run full electric and then hire for holidays, but my trips include going up to London on a Sunday or a weekday evening and the hassle of hiring for such a short time really isn't worth it.
Anyone else on here got one?
Plug in charge, does about 35 miles on battery and has a 1.5 Corsa petrol engine for beyond that.
So far so good! Did a 350 mile trip at the weekend mostly on petrol, with the button pushed to hold battery charge so I could use it for in towns, 49.8 MPG. Lifetime for 85000 is about 100MPG
Unless the battery is absolutely flat, it flips to battery in traffic, uses regen charging as long as you don't brake very hard and flips to ICE when the battery runs out.
For local journeys it's full battery.
I looked at full electric, but I have journeys now and then (twice in the 4 weeks I've owned it) that are out of battery range unless I buy a Tesla (and I don't spend that amount of money on cars!).
I know people who run full electric and then hire for holidays, but my trips include going up to London on a Sunday or a weekday evening and the hassle of hiring for such a short time really isn't worth it.
Anyone else on here got one?
My daughters boyfriend has one (well its a volt but the same car) they are clever cars and seemingly very reliable, I did consider buying one but I'm not a huge fan of the dash or minor controls and they are very cramped in the back, also the front spoiler is ridiculously low and catches on every speed hump, he is fanatical about squeezing every last mile out of the batteries and it doesn't make for a smooth drive with the aggressive regen and constant stirring of the gear selector, but that is just his driving style.
The lack of dealers and people who can fix them also puts me off but they are different and look pretty good and most folk don't have a clue what it is.
The lack of dealers and people who can fix them also puts me off but they are different and look pretty good and most folk don't have a clue what it is.
I can't believe they weren't more successful, considering how long ago they were designed I consider them remarkably efficient. After some research and Googling, I was on the cusp of buying one until I was told the (apparently true) story of the entire UK consignment sitting in a muddy field up to their axles with weeping rear window seals for six months, then being plagued by electrical gremlins for months afterwards.
I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
FeelingLucky said:
I can't believe they weren't more successful, considering how long ago they were designed I consider them remarkably efficient. After some research and Googling, I was on the cusp of buying one until I was told the (apparently true) story of the entire UK consignment sitting in a muddy field up to their axles with weeping rear window seals for six months, then being plagued by electrical gremlins for months afterwards.
I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
A quick Google hasn't backed up that story. Where did you hear it?I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
https://www.speakev.com/threads/should-i-buy-an-am...
Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Edited by FeelingLucky on Tuesday 19th October 14:36
FeelingLucky said:
I can't believe they weren't more successful, considering how long ago they were designed I consider them remarkably efficient. After some research and Googling, I was on the cusp of buying one until I was told the (apparently true) story of the entire UK consignment sitting in a muddy field up to their axles with weeping rear window seals for six months, then being plagued by electrical gremlins for months afterwards.
I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
Not aware of any owners reporting water ingress issues or problems associated with storage.I assume all issues have long since been cured, but it gave me pause.
The reason they didn't sell is simple. Too expensive. They were £34k back in 2012, even after the government grant. Same as the top spec fully loaded (non-VXR) Insignia at the time.
FeelingLucky said:
https://www.speakev.com/threads/should-i-buy-an-am...
Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Yes of course I looked. "Discredit" you? What credit do you have? You're a faceless forum entity, just like me.Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Edited by FeelingLucky on Tuesday 19th October 14:36
Do manufacturers regularly store new vehicles in fields? On airfields (concrete) perhaps. Your link is just a post on a forum. Still a lot of hearsay and nothing in any press reviews, which I find odd.
Pothole said:
FeelingLucky said:
https://www.speakev.com/threads/should-i-buy-an-am...
Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Yes of course I looked. "Discredit" you? What credit do you have? You're a faceless forum entity, just like me.Found it within 10 seconds, did you really look, or merely trying to discredit me?
Also heard it from BIL, anecdotal from a friend who (at the time) was @Vauxhall.
Edited by FeelingLucky on Tuesday 19th October 14:36
Do manufacturers regularly store new vehicles in fields? On airfields (concrete) perhaps. Your link is just a post on a forum. Still a lot of hearsay and nothing in any press reviews, which I find odd.
I always thought that these things were really interesting and ahead of the times. Never sold in the numbers that GM wanted and if you trace their history back, basically the US government partially funded its development and pushed for its creation. Ended up with a load of them at dealers that no one bought. Weird, because I do think it fitted a requirement at the time! I guess it was just too weird looking, too forward leaning and people just didnt understand them.
I know of at least three owners who really rate them. Ok, so its not the most fun car on the road, but all of the owners I know have had them for years and have racked up pretty big mileage. My new boss's wife has an early second gen - well over 150k miles and refuses to get rid of it. Too reliable, consistent on MPG and there isnt anything wrong with it! History is littered with cars that were good, but just didnt sell.
I know of at least three owners who really rate them. Ok, so its not the most fun car on the road, but all of the owners I know have had them for years and have racked up pretty big mileage. My new boss's wife has an early second gen - well over 150k miles and refuses to get rid of it. Too reliable, consistent on MPG and there isnt anything wrong with it! History is littered with cars that were good, but just didnt sell.
If they were stored in fields, there don't seem to be any complaints coming up on Speak EV or the owners FB page now about them rotting.
They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
john2443 said:
If they were stored in fields, there don't seem to be any complaints coming up on Speak EV or the owners FB page now about them rotting.
They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
Yep, there are loads of 2014 reg cars but 2014 build cars are very rare. They have a different entertainment unit.They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
Dav72D said:
I've had a 64 plate for nearly 4 years and done about 50,000 miles. The battery has a usable 10.7 KW and mine has only lost 0.4 KW over 85,000 miles.
Vauxhall really over engineered them at the time.
The only Vauxhall engineering was the exterior styling Vauxhall really over engineered them at the time.
Engineered by General Motors Detroit and assembled on what was a Cadillac production line.
john2443 said:
If they were stored in fields, there don't seem to be any complaints coming up on Speak EV or the owners FB page now about them rotting.
They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
There are numerous airfields around the country used for car storage. None of them on grass (in fields) that I know of. Hence my scepticism of the hearsay above, which appears to be backed up by the lack of evidence or consequences reported so far.They were stored somewhere though, I had a look at a 64 plate a while ago that the VIN showed was MY12 and although there are 14, 64 and maybe even 15 plate ones around, they weren't made much beyond 2013.
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