I know most people who look in here are car enthusiasts of one form or another but one area I have not seen much comment on is the green car on the horizon.
Yes, people have passed comment regarding cars and fuels of the future but has anyone actually driven for example a Toyota Prius?
Are any of the resident co. car drivers in a position to consider a Nissan Leaf, Vauxhall Ampera or the new Plug-in Prius ?
The reason I ask is for some reason, since recently changing jobs back to a 20 mile per day commute, I find myself drawn to a Plug-in Prius which can still do the long haul three or four times a year when required. The batteries may be expensive to replace but having a petrol engine in there which can power the car separately not leaving you high and dry means when they die the car does not necessarily die with them.
The fact I still have access to a motorbike when I need to check I still have a pulse also helps when these mad thoughts enter my head.
Anyone else find themselves looking at these alternatives or have they already been reviewed and dismissed ?
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I've been looking at a Toyota Auris Hybrid - has the Prius drive-train in a more conventional body. Also our provincial government is giving a €2300 rebate on hybrids.
I do about 13k miles per year. However, checking the accounts, I "only" spent €1890 on fuel in the last year (our petrol is about 15% cheaper than UK). My current 2.0l auto is giving 38mpg - the Auris is quoted at 74mpg (my type of motoring means I can usually achieve the quoted combined figure). Therefore I would probably save €1000 in fuel, but taking into account cost of change, reduced road tax, etc., the overall economics don't add up - but every time I fill up the thought is there!
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Wrecks to Riches on sky had a program on yesterday with a Honda 1.0 litre engine with a motor and the test drive showed this little engined mid size car could perform well for a 1991 model!!
Only about 200 made it over here and looking at it you would think it came from space especially the back end.
It's the future points and condensors have gone petrol and diesel is way expensive battery power & wind turbine in your garden to power it is the future.!!
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>> wind turbine in your garden to power it is the future.!!
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Absolute rubbish, I checked th average annual windspeed for my area of Scotland and it would take 40 years to break even on a wind turbine in my garden. It would only be usefully generating for 2.5 months a year and probably when I don't need or can't use the power.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 15 Jan 11 at 11:36
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I have not got as far as the maths in detail yet lancara.
I have around a 20 mile commute, Toyota claim 12.5 miles on charge alone though how that works out in reallity in winter with the heating on and in summer with aircon I don't know.
I'm thinking about it as a long term plan, when my current diesel either dies or is legislated off the roads so I would have to buy a car one way or the other so negates the cost to change to an extent for me.
What really got me thinking about it was also the way the list prices of regular cars have shot up recently. I don't know of many people who have received pay rises of late but looking at something as simple as a 5 door Astra 1.3 diesel as an example, a list price of over £17k seems a bit expensive to me.
OK, nobody pays list for a Vauxhall but still, a published £17k for a 1.3 diesel 5 door is not something that's going to get me through the doors of the local dealership.
Last edited by: gmac on Sat 15 Jan 11 at 09:37
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I've driven the new Prius in Tspirit trim at the beginning of last year. It ticked the toys box, the parking aid is seriously cool technology.
They drive (a tiny bit) better than expected too.
They're just a really dull long term prospect though.
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>> They're just a really dull long term prospect though.
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That's what I've got the bike for :-)
These days my own car is a commute to work, A to B, piece of machinery, so really dull and reliable would do the job of the misery march to and from work.
I would use the bike more but I have to wear a suit and that just gets crumpled stuffed into a rucksac on a bike.
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The maths get more complex if you start with benefit in kind tax considerations, "congestion" charges, etc. Fortunately I've left that rat-race.
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I'd have a Prius, that reality that may come a little closer if SWM jumps one way, the carrying capacity will no longer be needed, and the 8x4x5 trailer we have could be pulled by the C2 without issue.
Planned large trailer won't be needed either.
I'm a fan of super smooth auto transmissions and the Prius doesn't disappoint, the silence of initial take up and the almost undetectable starting and assistance of the engine makes gentle driving a pleasure.
I doubt i'd attain the claimed figures, but the overall running cost savings should result in giving far less to the govt of the day which is my plan, the right Diesel probably as effective but i really like Prius...some of which in taxi use are reaching very high mileages without issue.
All bets are off when road pricing comes in, push bike time.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sat 15 Jan 11 at 11:48
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Hybrids and electric cars - lancara
