Goodbyeeeee

[Carnut]

I have decided that PHEV driving is NOT for me.
I am not so hard up that paying a bit of road tax and buying petrol twice a month compensates for all the faffing about charging and looking constantly at the screen, wondering if I can squeeze another 100 yards out of a charge.
Frankly, it has spoilt the pleasure of driving for me.
I am sure this will cause a flurry of gainsayers, But we are all different. So negative comments about my decision are not needed.
If anyone is interested I have got £21,500 P.X. for it at 5,600 miles 2 owners (Mitsu & Me) This is a loss of £4800 in 5 months! Not clever but there we go.
I wish you all well and thanks for the help and advise I have got from this brilliant forum.
Colin.

 

[jaapv]

Well, if one thing was clear from the beginning, driving a PHEV is not to everybodies taste, so wishing you well. What will the next one be? Let us know how you get on.

 

[maby]

I have some sympathy with you, but it is probably more correct to say that SUV ownership is not for you than PHEV ownership - on the assumption that you are not going to replace it with a Tesla or Leaf.

 

[Carnut]

I have bought a 3 month old, 65 reg 151 miles Yes that's right!
SUV ownership is most definitely for me. Bad back/high 'step in' position and dog room. Road holding like a sports car and better fuel consumption (compared to hybrid drive) Downside is £110 road tax and loss of 1 litre cost for 24 miles. But hey~ho everything will be at least £140 road tax from next April. Unless you buy pure EV.
Yeti 1.2 DSG SE L. whilst waiting patiently for the Kodiaq.

 

[maby]

Hmmm, in that case I'm surprised - OK, the PHEV is not a real 4WD, but it is a reasonable soft-roader. It does not live up to the claimed running costs, but I would have thought that no other SUV is going to compensate for the write-down you've had to accept.

On the other hand, I'm encouraged by the trade-in price you were offered - we'll be selling the PHEV (to ourselves) in the next 12 months and the greater the depreciation, the better - but perhaps better to keep quiet about that - don't want the papers splashing the story of our tax avoidance across the front pages!

 

[Phever]

soon to follow, but that's more to do with a business venture I need a van for. not sure i'd buy a hybrid again, as i reckon the resale market will get pretty poor with the rapid advances in EVs.

 

[Barnfather]

I can see the OP's point to a degree, however I think the 'workflow' you use with the PHEV can be tweaked to be either more or less immersive in the EV technology depending on taste.

Aside from the actual plugging in part, which can be made easier by using a tethered cable, you can pretty much drive it like a 'normal' car. Don't obsess about MPG, don't obsess about range or maximising the EV charge. Just drive it.

Personally I love it so far. Little can beat that near-silent (and quick) pull-off, and it has a significant road presence and driving position I enjoy.

That said, if I was buying my own car (as opposed to leasing a company car), I probably would consider the PHEV too expensive for what it is - certainly at higher trim levels, so would likely opt for something else. But I'd miss it.

 

[K9pvc]

Well sorry to see you go Colin but I wish you luck with the new car
Just to pick up on somthing you said in that last post about road tax being at least £140 for everybody from next April. Am I right in thinking its only for New vehicles purchased after April that the £140 fee is payable or will that also apply to my current GH4hs??

 

[maby]

Well sorry to see you go Colin but I wish you luck with the new car
Just to pick up on somthing you said in that last post about road tax being at least £140 for everybody from next April. Am I right in thinking its only for New vehicles purchased after April that the £140 fee is payable or will that also apply to my current GH4hs??

I'm pretty sure that the new tax rate only applies to new vehicles. We have a 4 litre gas-guzzling diesel Landcruiser that is close to 20 years old and pay very little tax on it. The government introduced vicious tax rates on vehicles of that category some years ago, but the old Landcruisers are still taxed the same as Escorts of a similar age.

 

[jthspace]

Well sorry to see you go Colin but I wish you luck with the new car
Just to pick up on somthing you said in that last post about road tax being at least £140 for everybody from next April. Am I right in thinking its only for New vehicles purchased after April that the £140 fee is payable or will that also apply to my current GH4hs??

I'm pretty sure that the new tax rate only applies to new vehicles. We have a 4 litre gas-guzzling diesel Landcruiser that is close to 20 years old and pay very little tax on it. The government introduced vicious tax rates on vehicles of that category some years ago, but the old Landcruisers are still taxed the same as Escorts of a similar age.

Sorry to see you go

As to car tax . . .

Summer budget 2015

The chancellor announced significant changes to the VED system for new cars registered from 1 April 2017.

First year rates of VED will vary according to the official CO2 emissions of the vehicle.
There will be a flat standard rate of £140 for all cars except those emitting 0 grams CO2/km for which the standard rate will be £0.

Cars with a list price above £40,000 will attract a supplement of £310 per year for the first 5 years in which the standard rate is paid.

The new VED system will be reviewed as necessary to "ensure that it continues to incentivise the cleanest cars".

Cars first registered before 1 April 2017 will continue to pay VED under the current system - based on engine size if registered before 1 March 2001 and official CO2 emissions if first registered after 1 March 2001.

Current System (PHEV) CO2 is below 100 g/km so is £0 per year. This will remain for 2016/2017.

Jeff

 

[maby]

...

Sorry to see you go

...
Jeff

Neither K9pvc nor I am going anywhere - it's Carnut that is selling up!

 

[Carnut]

Well sorry to see you go Colin but I wish you luck with the new car
Just to pick up on somthing you said in that last post about road tax being at least £140 for everybody from next April. Am I right in thinking its only for New vehicles purchased after April that the £140 fee is payable or will that also apply to my current GH4hs??

Thanks K9,
Sorry, to confuse.
YES ONLY new cars registered AFTER 1st April 2017.
First year loading details below. So a new PHEV registered AFTER 1st April 2017 will be £450 p.a. for five years if I read it correctly.
check URL here>>>>http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/88361/tax-disc-changes-everything-you-need-to-know-about-uk-road-tax

 

[HHL]

Well sorry to see you go Colin but I wish you luck with the new car
Just to pick up on somthing you said in that last post about road tax being at least £140 for everybody from next April. Am I right in thinking its only for New vehicles purchased after April that the £140 fee is payable or will that also apply to my current GH4hs??

I'm pretty sure that the new tax rate only applies to new vehicles. We have a 4 litre gas-guzzling diesel Landcruiser that is close to 20 years old and pay very little tax on it. The government introduced vicious tax rates on vehicles of that category some years ago, but the old Landcruisers are still taxed the same as Escorts of a similar age.

It is interesting to observe that apparently very few owners/prospective purchasers seem to be concerned with the number one feature of this car, that is, it can be a nearly zero emissions vehicle.
All the talk is about tax benefits etc.. aren't the tax benefits there for only one reason, and that is to reduce pollution? That seems to be completely lost in many assessments of this vehicle.

As far as I am concerned, yes, it drives different to a conventional car, it is more expensive than the equivalent petrol engine version, but hey,
I can drive this thing most days from the output of my rooftop solar as most of my runs are fairly short.

And, if I need to go further afield, there is no problem.

 

[user 816]

Sorry to see you go too...

For a company car tax paying person like me the benefit is a 'no brainer' and beyond argument. The PHEV's suitability for private ownership is a very much more variable equation and I can't even imagine myself being in a position it would suit me then but of course for some it does..

Enjoy your Yeti, I had one for a 1 week demo and yes the road holding and handling is superb, far better than the Golf its based on. It wasn't for me as VW diesels are pretty gruff and loud and the controls vibrated. If I specified a spare wheel the boot left was like a glove box and I need plenty of space for work. Also the brand new (1500 miles) demo car they sent me had numerous dash rattles which was worrying. It was White and the wife refused to go in it saying it looked like a cross between Postman Pat's van and an Icecream van. But I am sure you will get a good un' .. if your passing my way I will have a 99 with Chocolate sauce please :lol:

 

[Carnut]

Thank you for those kind words Bob.
You should have tried the 1.2DSG. An absolutely superb engine with 170Nm torque (almost diesel sized torque).
Goes like the clappers, believe it or not. Same 0-62 as the PHEV and almost as quiet. When PHEV ICE running it is much noisier that the 1.2 Yeti.
I pondered long and hard about spare wheels for the last 3 Skodas I had and being a cautious soul wasted £80 a time. Now, when I had no choice about a spare in the PHEV, it started me thinking......when did I last have a puncture. Answer, 8 years ago and before that in 2000. Since my cars are always in warranty with breakdown. I should worry, apart from the inconvenience of waiting for recovery if I rip the sidewall.
I worked for Shell for 21 years covering, on average 30k miles a year and had not one puncture.

 

[maby]

...

It is interesting to observe that apparently very few owners/prospective purchasers seem to be concerned with the number one feature of this car, that is, it can be a nearly zero emissions vehicle.
All the talk is about tax benefits etc.. aren't the tax benefits there for only one reason, and that is to reduce pollution? That seems to be completely lost in many assessments of this vehicle.

As far as I am concerned, yes, it drives different to a conventional car, it is more expensive than the equivalent petrol engine version, but hey,
I can drive this thing most days from the output of my rooftop solar as most of my runs are fairly short.

And, if I need to go further afield, there is no problem.

As I see it, with the current EV range which is usually little more than 20 miles, the environmental credentials of the PHEV are small at best. Yes, I can do most of my short journeys on EV, but they add up to probably less than half a gallon per week. It's the long journeys that hit the environment and they are still done on petrol.

 

[Carnut]

Precisely! That is presumably why the tax will be horrendous for a new one after next April 1st. ASX 1.6litre petrol manual produces 132g/Km
The only 2.0L petrol engine I could find was the Shogun Pinin (admittedly an old engine) with 227g/Km So I would reckon that the PHEV ICE will be less than that as a modern derivative. But it is obviously around 150-175 I would think.
2010 Lancer 1.8 automatic petrol engine ....
Quote "However, the 1.8-litre petrol engine is only available with an automatic gearbox and chucks out 191g/km of CO2", OUCH!

Yeti 1.2DSG
Urban mpg 43.5 mpg (yes I know, it's all b****x and it will probably do about 40real time mpg<<<<<<<3.5 better than (my) PHEV running in hybrid with flat battery.
Extra Urban mpg 56.5 mpg
Average mpg 51.4 mpg<<<<<<<<
CO2 emissions 128 g/km
Annual Tax £110
Performance
Engine power 108 bhp
Engine size 1197 cc
Brochure Engine size 1.2 litres
Acceleration (0-60mph) 11.0 seconds<<<<<<<
Top speed 110 mph
No brainer (for me) unless you are 90% short EV journeys. Which I am not. So hopefully you can understand why I am changing......... and I do away with all the charging 'faff'.

 

[jaapv]

If you have a Yeti - take care about the following attention points : The cables above the accelerator can chafe resulting in erratic throttle response and warnings on the dashboard. Isolating and a firmware reset are the therapy.
The dashboard fuse is too light and can burn through. The car can run on three cylinders at higher revs. The cause is the spark plug cable insulation being on the thin side causing a spark leak to nearby metal. If the 1.2 lacks power the Turbo wastegate is stuck. A tap with a hammer will help. The water temperature sensor can burn out. Minor niggles but worth knowing. Nice car for the price though.

 

[user 816]

My company which is not usually forward thinking on cars has decided to allow its drivers to have petrol cars now in recognition that some are as clean and nearly as frugal as diesels, combined with a lower purchase price makes then 'viable' again for high mileage users. The only caveat is a 130g/km limit on your choice.

Not too helpful if you like SUV's yet but I think by the time I change cars the choice will be there. Honda's next Civic despite being bigger its said will have a 1.5L petrol with 174 BHP and less than 100g/km. If they can stick that in the CRV and scrape it below 130 (should be possible) I would want one.

 

[anko]

Urban mpg 43.5 mpg (yes I know, it's all b****x and it will probably do about 40real time mpg<<<<<<<3.5 better than (my) PHEV running in hybrid with flat battery.

I can understand your frustration, but this is a silly comparison. If you bought the PHEV with the intention to drive around with a flat battery, you clearly bought the wrong car to begin with.