[Technology] Buying a new car

[peterward]

Or more specifically, two new cars. I’m due to change both my wife’s car and my own early next year, but for the first time I’m really scratching my head as to what to go for.

Currently, I have a 3.0 diesel Jaguar F-Pace and my wife has a petrol Corsa. When I bought my last car, I swore I wouldn’t have another diesel but the deal was so attractive I couldn’t resist. However, if 2020 has taught me anything it’s that the world is a better place when it’s not completely fúcked and so concern for the environment has probably reached a turning point in my mind.

The trouble is, petrol cars appear to be seen as just about as evil as diesel now, and electric cars are expensive as hell with nascent technology and limited infrastructure to support their use.

So, what to do? I can probably do without an SUV now the kids have outgrown their pushchairs, but beyond downsizing I’m not sure where to go.

Economically and morally speaking, what should I buy?

Toyota Corolla hybrid?

I've got a Tiguan R Line diesel and with adblue the modern engines are not that bad.

If you want to really save a packet and be green go for a petrol and get LPG kit. I had it done on old car, 50p a litre (local Asda) and will run on petrol if no LPG in tank. Downside is you lose bootspace or spare wheel

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

London is mess now Park Lane used to be three lanes now we have a full lane for cyclists, a bus lane and one for traffic. Once the world gets back to normal London will grind to a halt just to accommodate non road tax paying cyclists

And the traffic to the east of Park Lane, at the bottom of Regents Street, is horrendous; it’s like Piccadilly Circus.

 

[schmunk]

Correct pronunciation. English people say it wrong, it's 100% Poo and not Per.

Eh, that's complete bollocks? It's perhaps more Puh than Per, but definitely not Poo.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyP_CuwIvZ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGrSYkO2jAg

 

[nwgull]

London is mess now Park Lane used to be three lanes now we have a full lane for cyclists, a bus lane and one for traffic. Once the world gets back to normal London will grind to a halt just to accommodate non road tax paying cyclists

Get yourself an electric car or plug-in hybrid and you won't have to pay road tax either!

 

[Bold Seagull]

Go with what you fancy! Bit late to go all green now when you've already had at least two children, which is the single worst thing you can do if you care about the environment.

Bit of a shame no one latched onto this. It was decent effort that deserved more than this solitary reply. Maybe try it on another thread and you'll get some bites.

 

[nicko31]

Building new cars uses massive amounts of resources, and is hardly good for the environment. Buy a decent second hand one - maybe one that's been let go by one of those environmentally unaware pr@ts that thinks they need a brand new car every two or three years.

Never see the point of new cars, virtually everything loses 50% in the first 3 years and cars are so well made these days everything will do 100k+.

Buy decent quality used in my book and get a warranty thrown in if you want peace of mind

 

[Bold Seagull]

London is mess now Park Lane used to be three lanes now we have a full lane for cyclists, a bus lane and one for traffic. Once the world gets back to normal London will grind to a halt just to accommodate non road tax paying cyclists

It won't though, because London is looking at other European cities and seeing that the greater the workforce that gets about on a bicycle, the less stress there is on public transport, the better people get around, the healthier they are and feel ergo more productive etc.

Once London gets back to normal = vehicle congestion and gridlock. It was hardly a wonderful working model before lockdown was it.

 

[Jack Straw]

A Tesla technician told me that they wanted to put a Tesla supercharging station in Brighton, and had identified a suitable location, but Brighton council wouldn't allow them to due to the contract that they have with their chosen provider (electric blue).

I used to have a contract with Electric Blue. They didn't know. I just used to rent one of their videos each week.

 

[peterward]

Never see the point of new cars, virtually everything loses 50% in the first 3 years and cars are so well made these days everything will do 100k+.

Buy decent quality used in my book and get a warranty thrown in if you want peace of mind

If you do the miles with work (i do about 20k pa) and reliability is the first prerogative, it makes sense. I see it as £x per month on PCP to always drive a new car.

really cant take the risk of midlife stuff breaking, time off the road or the associated bills - Always Japanese or German for me. Turn the key and always works until I hand it back - just add fuel and service.

 

[swindonseagull]

If you do the miles with work (i do about 20k pa) and reliability is the first prerogative, it makes sense. I see it as £x per month on PCP to always drive a new car.

really cant take the risk of midlife stuff breaking, time off the road or the associated bills - Always Japanese or German for me. Turn the key and always works until I hand it back - just add fuel and service.

This for me ... my Seat Ateca is brilliant and economic 50plus to a gallon on a motorway trip.

The OP asked about buying a new car many of the replies are from Green Party members and others from people saying but second hand!!!

OP if you can afford and want a new car go for it you only live once !!
But look at a lease you don’t take any risk of owning the car.

 

[nwgull]

Never see the point of new cars, virtually everything loses 50% in the first 3 years and cars are so well made these days everything will do 100k+.

Buy decent quality used in my book and get a warranty thrown in if you want peace of mind

They smell so nice.

Seriously, it's nice to be able to get the exact spec of car you want. Obviously it's cheaper to buy a second hand car, but if you've got the money it's a nice luxury to spend it on.

 

[Stat Brother]

It won't though, because London is looking at other European cities and seeing that the greater the workforce that gets about on a bicycle, the less stress there is on public transport, the better people get around, the healthier they are and feel ergo more productive etc.

Once London gets back to normal = vehicle congestion and gridlock. It was hardly a wonderful working model before lockdown was it.

Just so long as we can maintain our average of 7 deaths a day, on our roads.
I think you'll find those killed are hero's and every man woman and child are proud to have died for such a noble cause as personal transportation.


It's not like we can just wave a magic wand and not kill people...





...oh

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/how-helsinki-and-oslo-cut-pedestrian-deaths-to-zero

 

[GOM]

I have a Tesla Model 3 and it’s fantastic. I’ve never driven a car with performance like it and costs next to nothing to run.

Nice, but, I just don't get removing the instrumentation binnacle and gluing a tablet in the middle of the dash. Weird. Have to take your eyes off the road to see anything.

 

[Bladders]

Something with a V8


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Driver8]

Nice, but, I just don't get removing the instrumentation binnacle and gluing a tablet in the middle of the dash. Weird. Have to take your eyes off the road to see anything.

No more than looking down to see your speedo in a normal car. You don’t really have to touch the screen when driving as everything is automatic or controlled by the buttons on the steering wheel.

It can of course drive itself too.

 

[Half Time Pies]

I have a Tesla Model 3 and it’s fantastic. I’ve never driven a car with performance like it and costs next to nothing to run.

My other car is a model 3 and its by far the best car that I have ever owned. Each day my wife and I argue over who is going to drive it!

 

[Half Time Pies]

Nice, but, I just don't get removing the instrumentation binnacle and gluing a tablet in the middle of the dash. Weird. Have to take your eyes off the road to see anything.

Have you actually driven one? The tablet really doesn't distract you from the road.

 

[dazzer6666]

They smell so nice.

Seriously, it's nice to be able to get the exact spec of car you want. Obviously it's cheaper to buy a second hand car, but if you've got the money it's a nice luxury to spend it on.

I do love the smell of a new car, and you're right re the spec. I got mine new on a 4 year PCP which is up in a few months. Really don't know what to do - make the balloon payment and keep it, hand it back and start again (I'll have a chunky excess mileage charge as well as circumstances dictated I did a lot more miles than expected but there will no doubt be bargaining room with the dealer if I stick with them) or hand it back, pay the charge and get a different make................

We were looking at getting an electric to replace the Mrs' runaround, but the cost of the cars are eyewatering - for in our case something that would be doing 2-3000 miles a year (maybe a few more if I make some use of it). It'd never come close to being paying for itself for us.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I do love the smell of a new car, and you're right re the spec. I got mine new on a 4 year PCP which is up in a few months. Really don't know what to do - make the balloon payment and keep it, hand it back and start again (I'll have a chunky excess mileage charge as well as circumstances dictated I did a lot more miles than expected but there will no doubt be bargaining room with the dealer if I stick with them) or hand it back, pay the charge and get a different make................

Plenty of dealers won't even bother with the excess mileage if you agree to buy a new one off them. I'm assuming it's not fitfteen thousand over or anything...

 

[dazzer6666]

Plenty of dealers won't even bother with the excess mileage if you agree to buy a new one off them. I'm assuming it's not fitfteen thousand over or anything...

That's what I'm hoping/expecting..................it'll be 5-6k over by the time the contracts up probably so £600ish (not a big amount in the context of negotiating a new deal)