What daily ICE car actually makes sense any more?
Discussion
For balance, assuming you have to drive an average of 12,000 miles a year, have off street parking at home and another car or two for weekends, is there a petrol or diesel car that would tempt you to forego the benefits of driving an EV and instead choose ICE?
(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don’t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don’t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
Worth noting that 12k miles a year is nearly twice the UK average, these days.
To answer the question asked, for me it will depend entirely on the type of driving. I currently daily an Elise because 90% of my driving is on country lanes. I'd never buy an EV for that sort of driving, just as I'd never use an Elise for a motorway or city-centre commute.
To answer the question asked, for me it will depend entirely on the type of driving. I currently daily an Elise because 90% of my driving is on country lanes. I'd never buy an EV for that sort of driving, just as I'd never use an Elise for a motorway or city-centre commute.
Padron said:
For balance, assuming you have to drive an average of 12,000 miles a year, have off street parking at home and another car or two for weekends, is there a petrol or diesel car that would tempt you to forego the benefits of driving an EV and instead choose ICE?
(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
Any petrol with a decent amount of poke and reasonable comfort would likely be fine for me. Depends on budget and if it needs to be a new car.(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
But I'd also happily run an EV for that use case.
I'm weighing my next car option up now. For transparency I'm in a M3 currently so mpg isn't a priority.
However when I start looking at EVs, and the type I'd buy I struggle to make the maths work on the basis of 10k miles per annum in a way that makes it a no brainer.
Perhaps I'm doing the maths wrong, and I know I prefer the event of an ice over an EV which will likely bias any rounding up.
I do yearn for more mpg in my car, just cos I'd like to drive past more petrol stations but then that noise when I do have those moments to push on a bit does tend to be an acceptable compromise.
My commute would be ideal for a EV. 20 miles, a few days a week, on a roads and motorway, or some lovely b road I take on the way home for some fun. However where I'm still on the fence is when I think about my trips up to Scotland. And while I have to stop for petrol as often as people have to stop for electricity. My stops are shorter and there is no end of places I can stop and fill up.
I think it's all relative though. Take my wife who has never really cared for cars, they are just a vehicle. Then EVs do make more sense as she's not bothered about theatre or how a car looks or how it corners etc.
The other thing stopping me is the idea I'd have to clear the garage to get to the electricity point to get a charger installed and that seems like hard work and a good excuse to get another ICE
However when I start looking at EVs, and the type I'd buy I struggle to make the maths work on the basis of 10k miles per annum in a way that makes it a no brainer.
Perhaps I'm doing the maths wrong, and I know I prefer the event of an ice over an EV which will likely bias any rounding up.
I do yearn for more mpg in my car, just cos I'd like to drive past more petrol stations but then that noise when I do have those moments to push on a bit does tend to be an acceptable compromise.
My commute would be ideal for a EV. 20 miles, a few days a week, on a roads and motorway, or some lovely b road I take on the way home for some fun. However where I'm still on the fence is when I think about my trips up to Scotland. And while I have to stop for petrol as often as people have to stop for electricity. My stops are shorter and there is no end of places I can stop and fill up.
I think it's all relative though. Take my wife who has never really cared for cars, they are just a vehicle. Then EVs do make more sense as she's not bothered about theatre or how a car looks or how it corners etc.
The other thing stopping me is the idea I'd have to clear the garage to get to the electricity point to get a charger installed and that seems like hard work and a good excuse to get another ICE
I have an EV, it was cheap, top spec and large. It's a brilliant family car and costs peanuts to run- I got it on a stupidly cheap pre reg deal and it's PCP is £166 a month.
However, when my wife's car was due to go back on a PCP I jumped at the chance to get a proper petrol car. It costs me way more money to run and has all the pitfalls of a used high performance car, but it's so much 'better' to drive and be in.
FWIW I drive around 9k a year
However, when my wife's car was due to go back on a PCP I jumped at the chance to get a proper petrol car. It costs me way more money to run and has all the pitfalls of a used high performance car, but it's so much 'better' to drive and be in.
FWIW I drive around 9k a year
I forgot to add, the fact that we are at a time where we can choose is wonderful.
For many a car has always been about what is the most sensible option, it's been some thing that gets them from one place to another.
For others buying a car has rarely been about making sense. It's not been able to be rationalised by a spreadsheet, I've tried, but it's about a feeling. We used to chase 0-60 times but it turns out it's not that as EVs are there. It's the theatre and people hopefully can continue to scratch that itch for years to come.
Some like to spend their money on alcohol or cigarettes or miniature figures or watches or art or expensive irrational cars. No one need a 911 or a Ferrari, but plenty want them. I can't think of a single ev I want, so for now I can make sense of it even if it doesn't make sense
For many a car has always been about what is the most sensible option, it's been some thing that gets them from one place to another.
For others buying a car has rarely been about making sense. It's not been able to be rationalised by a spreadsheet, I've tried, but it's about a feeling. We used to chase 0-60 times but it turns out it's not that as EVs are there. It's the theatre and people hopefully can continue to scratch that itch for years to come.
Some like to spend their money on alcohol or cigarettes or miniature figures or watches or art or expensive irrational cars. No one need a 911 or a Ferrari, but plenty want them. I can't think of a single ev I want, so for now I can make sense of it even if it doesn't make sense
I did say assuming you had a petrol car for fun at the weekends btw.
For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
The question was, can you think of a petrol car that you would prefer for the daily duties over an EV?
I can’t and I’ve tried plenty in my motoring history from BMW V8’s to Porsche flat 6s. None come close to the overall abilities of an EV for daily duties for me.
For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
The question was, can you think of a petrol car that you would prefer for the daily duties over an EV?
I can’t and I’ve tried plenty in my motoring history from BMW V8’s to Porsche flat 6s. None come close to the overall abilities of an EV for daily duties for me.
Edited by Padron on Sunday 12th October 21:38
Padron said:
I did say assuming you had a petrol car for fun at the weekends btw.
For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
I'd like a weekend petrol and then a decent hybrid - a little sports car and a SUV perhaps. For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
Maybe the answer is M5.... That is an EV for about 40 miles right.....
a_dreamer said:
Padron said:
I did say assuming you had a petrol car for fun at the weekends btw.
For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
I'd like a weekend petrol and then a decent hybrid - a little sports car and a SUV perhaps. For me daily driving an EV and petrol at weekends is the best of both worlds
Maybe the answer is M5.... That is an EV for about 40 miles right.....
But if you have a backup petrol car for the odd long journey or emergency then I see no reason to get a hybrid over a full EV for the daily car to be honest.
Now I’ve never actually resorted to using the weekend car for that purpose but I suppose it’s an option.
Padron said:
The question was, can you think of a petrol car that you would prefer for the daily duties over an EV?
Yes. Most of them. It s a preference.My second car isn’t for emergencies, it does mid teens to the gallon and is for no other logic than fun/smiles/social.
If you really want to push the electrification aspect.. I’ll take a hybrid (and have done in the past). Best of both worlds.
I’m not anti EV, I’ve already said, in the right scenario, that I would have one. But why do the ev heads always talk of “hateful” petrol stations? I’m there once maybe twice a month and it takes minutes.
Edited by WelshPetrolhead on Sunday 12th October 22:01
I have an ev (Tesla 3) and a reasonably high performance petrol estate.
I do around 25k a year across both of them, mostly in the Tesla- around 15-20k
Family with 2 small kids so the estate is useful for holidays, I travel in Europe usually once a year and, although fully aware that an ev would be fine, I prefer the ease of ICE, plus the extra loading capacity. I’ve also done plenty of long distance trips in the Tesla and it’s been straightforward, although have had to stop to charge a few times when I would normally have ploughed on.
I could replace the estate with a large ev, but tbh i bought it as an indulgence, so therefore i will keep it.
Intending to do a track day or two in it as well.
I do around 25k a year across both of them, mostly in the Tesla- around 15-20k
Family with 2 small kids so the estate is useful for holidays, I travel in Europe usually once a year and, although fully aware that an ev would be fine, I prefer the ease of ICE, plus the extra loading capacity. I’ve also done plenty of long distance trips in the Tesla and it’s been straightforward, although have had to stop to charge a few times when I would normally have ploughed on.
I could replace the estate with a large ev, but tbh i bought it as an indulgence, so therefore i will keep it.
Intending to do a track day or two in it as well.
Padron said:
For balance, assuming you have to drive an average of 12,000 miles a year, have off street parking at home and another car or two for weekends, is there a petrol or diesel car that would tempt you to forego the benefits of driving an EV and instead choose ICE?
(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
Bentley.(Those benefits being, cheaper running costs, low maintenance, always warmed up/ defrosted in winter, quiet so you don t disturb the family leaving early for work, smooth, fast, never have to stop at hateful petrol stations to fill up.)
I mean my daily is a 535D touring
Costs me bugger all to run in the grand scheme of things, can load up the boot for camping trips/my usual trips to south of the border and the air suspension takes up any sag. With a remap it has enough power to put a smile on my face should the need arise and still return decent running costs...and for the 5 minutes I spend in a petrol station on my way home from work it's worth the hassle. I also fit the 'would be ideal for an EV' profile with off street parking and the disposable income to throw at a PCP/lease/rent deal for something 'upmarket', but I have too many other things I'd rather spend the monthly payment on so I can enjoy myself.
I have three other cars that aren't daily drivers and have recently taken up bikes so, yes an EV would probably make sense for me as a daily, but there's nothing that matches up....unless there's an EV out there that costs £4000 outright, has 700nm of torque, has similar or larger boot space and doesn't have a large touchscreen for all the controls I'll be sticking with the knackered old BMW
I'm not anti EV, I'm all for them because they work great for others and will no doubt make huge technological advances and hopefully clear up air in towns etc. They just don't work for me.
Costs me bugger all to run in the grand scheme of things, can load up the boot for camping trips/my usual trips to south of the border and the air suspension takes up any sag. With a remap it has enough power to put a smile on my face should the need arise and still return decent running costs...and for the 5 minutes I spend in a petrol station on my way home from work it's worth the hassle. I also fit the 'would be ideal for an EV' profile with off street parking and the disposable income to throw at a PCP/lease/rent deal for something 'upmarket', but I have too many other things I'd rather spend the monthly payment on so I can enjoy myself.
I have three other cars that aren't daily drivers and have recently taken up bikes so, yes an EV would probably make sense for me as a daily, but there's nothing that matches up....unless there's an EV out there that costs £4000 outright, has 700nm of torque, has similar or larger boot space and doesn't have a large touchscreen for all the controls I'll be sticking with the knackered old BMW
I'm not anti EV, I'm all for them because they work great for others and will no doubt make huge technological advances and hopefully clear up air in towns etc. They just don't work for me.
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