Falling new car sales

As well as the squeeze on real incomes, the continuing uncertainty about the effects of Brexit mean that more people play safe and keep their cars, and houses, a bit longer.

Britain may end up no worse off economically, but no-one really has a clue whether we will or we won't. I was a reluctant remainer - more of a fan of the original Common Market than the bloated, bureaucratic EU, but I didn't think Brexit was worth the risk.

Even though it's Euro 6 compliant, my diesel V60 has lost half its value in two years. It could get even worse if the bottom drops out of the diesel market, and I think it'll have to go sooner rather than later. I wanted a petrol one in the first place, but they were difficult to find and the only petrol engine apart from the expensive hybrid was sluggish. Keeping it long-term would make more sense, but despite being nearly 70 I haven't grown up enough to appreciate its solid virtues that counter-balance its heavy, lifeless steering and stodgy handling. I shouldn't still enjoy driving, should I!

..I had a 2001 (Petrol) V70 as a company car. (Petrol as Volvo were changing their engine range at the time, and diesels were temporarily unavailable for order).

It was bought after an extended test-drive because the car impressed with the basic solidness, simplicity and understated good-looks, though the rear-seat space could have been better. (as it was generally used by two kids, that was less of a problem than it might have been).

It had some minor issues with front suspension/steering (I think the particular problem resulted in a manufacturer TSB, and then possibly a later recall), but not much else, and the vehicle is remembered with quite a bit of affection.

In fact, at last MOT (which incidentally, expired yesterday and does not appear to have been renewed), it had done 178K miles! (despite much of its later life appearing to be rather in a state of neglect).

I'd echo EspadaIII's comments.

I had a 2003 S60 with the 2-litre 5-cylinder turbo. Still miss it! Mind you, 34mpg at the time, which didn't seem too bad 12 years ago but would be more disconcerting by today's standards..!

I am getting a long term average of 32mpg from the Superb (brim to brim) so far but that includes a lot of local travel. In fact I've only done 3 return journeys that were further than 350 miles (return) each. So long motorway cruising trips about 50% of the mileage. Average cost per mile so far is about 16p. The A3 was 14p (petrol was cheaper too and that was over 3 years) and the previous Passat CC diesel was also 16p a mile.

The car thinks it's doing better. I've accidentally reset the long term data though.

I'm happy enough with the mpg.

Ours is somewhere in the mid-threes, but that includes quite a lot of pre-conditioning and some motorway speeds, at which an electric car really lays bare the relationship between speed and energy consumption. Its eagerness can be a factor too, if you don't rein it in; MrsB1 inadvertently booted it to 87 out of one sliproad last week. At that speed it's mechanically fine, but you do feel the effects of the short wheelbase and narrow tyres; it is no CLS on the motorway.

Still 4p a mile, though. And I drove ten miles home from Maidenhead yesterday without touching the brake pedal at all.

Yours will allow you 100, Lygo? Ours is limited to 93 (150 km/h) which may be to do with how much braking effort those skinny tyres can sustain. It felt steady enough when MrsB1 inadvertently booted it to 87 on joining the A404 last week. Didn't take long to get there either!

Careful! You'll set Sven off.