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Post by dixinormus on Jun 19, 2023 9:24:59 GMT
Opel have recently relaunched in these parts (not for the first time). New Astra petrol (1.2T) looks good but priced at £25k.
OTOH you can buy a 3-year old old (petrol) model for £9k, which seems like a bargain to me - even if it is badged as a Holden. I’d be tempted if I needed cheap wheels in a hurry.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 19, 2023 10:24:32 GMT
The rapid price rises in the new car market make it hard to see the value case for a new fossil car, especially when not-much older ones — to take Norm’s example — are essentially the same in terms of capability and environmental performance for less than half as much. You’d have to be very keen on warranties and dealers’ coffee to pay the difference.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 19, 2023 13:45:54 GMT
Nowhere near family sized, but saw my first Citroen Ami on the road today. And I know it's not technically classed as a car.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jun 20, 2023 9:21:59 GMT
Yes - I have seen two. Very clever and very suitable for someone like Humph's father-in-law who wants to retain vehicular independence, to go to the shops, doctors etc, but doesn't really need a car as such.
We were tempted to get one but decided it was not necessary, although I can imagine that if my daughter remained at home for university, it would be a good replacement for her aging Punto.
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Post by Humph on Jun 20, 2023 9:32:36 GMT
It would indeed, in theory at least, be an ideal car for my in-laws. Perfect in many ways you’d think.
I suspect the main objection would be the two pedal set up. Neither of them have ever driven an automatic and while we all know how easy it is to use, they are both in their 80s and neither could be accused of being natural drivers. Funny thing really, even my sister in law who is in her 50s and a decent enough driver, simply won’t contemplate driving her husband’s automatic car.
We and he keep telling her that she’ll need to get over that fear sooner rather than later as all vehicles will soon have two pedals.
The oldies though might be better to stay with what they know.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jun 20, 2023 9:40:16 GMT
I am glad that soon all cars will be two-pedal (or in some cases we can go further to one-pedal). The Americans in reality were right.
Around town, manual cars are a pain in the left ankle, thigh and knee. Yes there is an economy disadvantage, but all cars have woeful fuel economy around town. On the motorway, especially with modern autoboxes, the difference is less marked.
The problem now is not the gearboxes but when you get into different rental cars, the sophisticated electronics make you wonder if you have accidentally joined the crew of the Starship Enterprise.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2023 9:56:18 GMT
It would indeed, in theory at least, be an ideal car for my in-laws. Perfect in many ways you’d think. I suspect the main objection would be the two pedal set up. Neither of them have ever driven an automatic and while we all know how easy it is to use, they are both in their 80s and neither could be accused of being natural drivers. Funny thing really, even my sister in law who is in her 50s and a decent enough driver, simply won’t contemplate driving her husband’s automatic car. We and he keep telling her that she’ll need to get over that fear sooner rather than later as all vehicles will soon have two pedals. The oldies though might be better to stay with what they know. I've been having this discussion with my sister, regarding our Mum. When it was on the cards that she might need to replace her Renegade FIAT 500L, my sis thought she should get an automatic. I was of the opinion that she'd be better to stick with what she knows as she gets older, as even a moment can make all the difference in an emergency if she goes for the wrong pedal/control. I really think you're right here and older folks should stick with that with which they are most familiar. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 20, 2023 9:58:53 GMT
…but all cars have woeful fuel economy around town. All combustion cars have woeful fuel economy around town. EVs are at their blissfully efficient best. |
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Post by Humph on Jun 20, 2023 10:27:58 GMT
I’m not really hung up on gearbox types. I’m probably more in favour of automatics now but it’s not a deal breaker for me either way.
I agree that a manual can get a bit boring in heavy traffic.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jun 20, 2023 10:55:56 GMT
…but all cars have woeful fuel economy around town. All combustion cars have woeful fuel economy around town. EVs are at their blissfully efficient best.  How could I forget! It really is so obvious that EVs are at their most efficient in the suburban environment. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2023 8:12:35 GMT
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Post by Humph on Jun 21, 2023 8:18:34 GMT
Erm, no thanks. Good of you to ask though.
😉
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2023 8:41:03 GMT
Well, I are shocked. I thought you'd be the one thundering down the motorway waving your cheque book oot the windae.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jun 21, 2023 9:40:37 GMT
I was out with friends last night, whose brother in an author.
He lives in Birmingham and went to Leeds one evening to give a reading and drove up proudly in his new MG4. He tried to charge up before he arrived at the venue but thought that the charger he plugged into wasn't working. So when he left at 10:30pmpm he went to another charger and that didn't work either. So he called the AA, who eventually arrived and told him that the car was at fault and needed to be taken to the dealer... Took him 12 hours to get home.
Moral of the story is to try a fast charge close to home before setting out on your first long journey in an EV.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jun 21, 2023 12:44:59 GMT
All combustion cars have woeful fuel economy around town. EVs are at their blissfully efficient best. How could I forget! It really is so obvious that EVs are at their most efficient in the suburban environment. Aircon, with heat pump, batters EV efficiency in warm weather. We did a test drive over 30kms, 26°C, urban driving mixture of 30, 50 & 70 kph limits. Using aircon 13.9kWh/100kms, Aircon off windows open 11.3kWh/100kms. 23% hit. We are told driving with the windows open is very inefficient with ICE, looks the opposite with EV. |
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How could I forget! It really is so obvious that EVs are at their most efficient in the suburban environment.