WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 11, 2023 7:10:06 GMT
Quite a few Enyaqs on the roads here, although they don’t really stand out as they look so similar to the petrol mummywagons that Škoda sells in vast numbers. I’m seeing a lot of their VW cousins, especially the ID4, which is distinctive to look at but otherwise rather less desirable, to me at least.
Prices are in flux in all sorts of markets, not just EVs — although in that one, Tesla has probably done more price gymnastics than anybody.
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 11, 2023 22:51:42 GMT
The government is paying a GBP 4000 rebate on all new EVs that cost under GBP£40k here. Amazing how that market intervention suddenly sees most manufacturers lowering prices and offering an EV for £39,995…
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jun 12, 2023 5:40:36 GMT
They’re all trying to be premium, but nobody is buying them whilst Tesla and the Chinese are so much cheaper! Not seeing much evidence to back up the latter claim, Geely are currently pricing their non-Volvo badged offerings in the mid to high 40s which is KIA/Hyundai money but with a shorter guarantee. Only MG are really going at the price cuts but they have to as they did with the ICE products before. I don't think manufacturers are trying to be premium rather getting out of the low margin, stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap market. The whole model of selling cars has changed, the vehicles will get more expensive because manufacturers will not build as many. Possibly not in NZ, the sales model is in transition here in Europe. You can still test drive the cars but you no longer need to suffer the sales patter from slick Willie at the local glass palace. Or, have them talk to you while it is your wife who is ordering the car. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 12, 2023 7:30:31 GMT
You’d think with higher purchase prices we might see a trend towards keeping cars for longer, especially now that early concerns about EV battery durability have proved mostly groundless. The depreciation on a £50,000 car is still fierce, as it was ten years ago when my CLS was one. That cost its first keeper £30,000 in four years, £625 a month. It was an exceptional amount to pay for a car then but it isn’t today.
Not sure it’s happening, though, and that’s probably to do with the structure of PCPs, in which the only easy option for most customers is to roll over into a new contract after three or four years. Paying the final amount and keeping the car for another four would work for most people — but they’d have to find the cash. There may be opportunities here for enterprising finance houses to smooth that transition.
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Post by Humph on Jun 12, 2023 8:29:37 GMT
It would be interesting to know the actual stats, but in a straw poll of one I just seem to notice far more EVs in the south of the country than the north.
Economic divide at work again maybe.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2023 9:52:35 GMT
Resistance to change and bloody mindedness divide?
The only stat which would tell us is the percentage of new car sales being EV in the north vs the south. No idea if such a stat exists.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jun 12, 2023 10:13:38 GMT
Buying an existing car on extended finance from year 3 to years 5,6 or 7 at market rates would increase the monthlies and leave people in an 'older' car without or with a reduced warranty safety net. Probably unattractive.
This period of time is typically when the maintenance costs start rolling in, the first three year services are usual tyre kicks unless you're doing big mileage. Admittedly this should not be the case in terms of wear and tear on brake components for example with an EV, corrosion and pad separation may become something, we don't know.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 12, 2023 10:28:36 GMT
Resistance to change and bloody mindedness divide? The only stat which would tell us is the percentage of new car sales being EV in the north vs the south. No idea if such a stat exists. Some information here from the New Statesman group suggests there may be an uneven distribution, but points out that the predominance of leasing and the concentrating effect of leasing providers - Arval in Swindon, for example - make it difficult to assess how the end users are distributed. citymonitor.ai/transport/e-mobility/electric-vehicles-uk-most-popular-charging-stationsI'm sure bpg is right that people are afraid to run a car outside its warranty. We know, of course, that those warranty years come at an enormous price that could easily cover the cost of a few non-routine items in years 4 to 8 - which have, in my experience, been minimal anyway. But it can all be reduced to a financial product to someone with the right actuarial skills. The bigger problem may be that there are no votes in reducing new car production. |
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jun 12, 2023 12:34:04 GMT
It'll take some actuarial skills to beat the manufacturers in-house bank at 0 - 2% when the high street is running double digits for borrowing.
We've both run relatively old cars and been very surprised at how cheap it can be given the right starting product. I'm not kidding myself my Focus estate with petrol power is going to be as maintenance lite as my S60 saloon with boat engine. I suspect this year, the S60 approaching its thirteenth birthday, will require some suspension bushes, front brake discs/pads and aircon work. Nothing major amortised over the eleven years I've had the car, bit of a sting in a single hit. The shocks and springs could probably do with a refresh after that time and six digit mileage coming up.
Wonder if the car will go all moody when it turns thirteen.
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Post by Humph on Jun 12, 2023 20:54:59 GMT
Resistance to change and bloody mindedness divide? Maybe, if not probably true Al. Northerners can be, well, a bit northern. But, there may also be an element of some people feeling more economically secure in some locations than others. For example, by the very limited local standards, where I live would probably be considered to be middle to upmarket-ish. However, I have yet to see a BEV parked on any driveway on my street or the surrounding ones. A few phevs and hybrids here and there and a good crop of premium ICE cars punctuated by the usual bland but functional stuff. Not proffering any opinions here, merely observations. |
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Post by EspadaIII on Jun 13, 2023 9:10:09 GMT
Must be a different demographic near me, probably due to many business owners and hospital consultants (who get amazing NHS leasing deals) but a high proportion of EVs near me. No I5s other than mine, but several EV6s, loads of Teslas and not a few other EVs including Mercs, Audis and BMWs. Also see the odd MG and BYD are now selling through the new Stockport Merc dealer.
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Post by Humph on Jun 13, 2023 9:37:48 GMT
Lots of Bentley “scheme” cars around here. Not Bentleys obviously, but various VAG models.
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Post by dixinormus on Jun 17, 2023 0:31:10 GMT
Opel offering the Mokka-e in these parts for GBP36k, less the £4k government rebate on new EVs and less a further £4k contribution from Opel. Total £28k - seems a cheap price for a new EV? Haven’t seen any of them on the roads though…
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2023 8:24:45 GMT
Plenty on the roads here, dixi. It's OKish looking on the road, for a Crossover. I think I might even consider one were it cheap enough second hand. Thinking of its sister models, I don't think the Corsa-e or 208-e would be roomy enough for us, but an e-C4 would be. I'm just a bit bummed that they're only 50kwh, were they mid-60s I'd be happier to consider then as a proper upgrade to my Leaf. In reality it probably wouldn't make a real world difference to me, but still, one can't help one's feelings.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 19, 2023 8:56:14 GMT
I think the styling of current Vauxhall's is good - better than they had been. The current Mokka is good. When I was choosing between a Volvo XC40 and BMW 3 series (both plugins) I didn't even look at the Vauxhalls. Horrible looking to me.
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