Test drive today

[jeferey]

I've had a quick 10 minutes drive in a PHEV and have booked a test drive for this evening on the way home and bringing it back tomorrow. I want to see if it will cope with my commute of 21 miles in busy Sheffield traffic and A and B roads and 23 miles in the morning of more free-flowing traffic with 5 miles on the M1. I also want to know if it will fit in my garage as it's longer than my current car.
I've found this forum to be very useful in helping me understand the advantages and disadvantages of a PHEV.
I have asked where I work if they will install a charge point for EV's and am waiting for a positive answer!
I'm keen on the GX4H but not sure if I can stretch to a new one and not sure if I can wait either if the charge point gets the go-ahead . Has anyone any opinions of nearly new as opposed to new?
I'm a hypermiler and get over 60mpg from my 2.2 diesel Honda (combined figure is 44.8). I'm guessing I will have to drive differently in the PHEV......
Thanks

 

[maby]

At this time of year, your journeys are pushing the upper limit of EV range. In the warmer weather, you should be able to manage them reasonably easily on a charge without burning petrol.

 

[jeferey]

Thanks Maby

 

[jeferey]

Loved the drive home. First time I didn't mind the queues! The flappy paddles are brilliant, hardly needed the brake pedal. I would have preferred the 4 but it was out on a 4 day loan so I had a 3. I started with 22 electric range and finished with 4 miles but definitely used some petrol mostly down to heating! Is it possible to just put a bit of fan to demist the windscreen without the engine coming on in a 3? What buttons do I need to press? I didn't have much of a lesson before driving off. Remembered to put Eco Mode on after about 8 miles!
Anyway managed to fit it in the garage just. Plenty of room on the width but the length was a bit tight.

 

[Grigou]

Loved the drive home. First time I didn't mind the queues! The flappy paddles are brilliant, hardly needed the brake pedal. I would have preferred the 4 but it was out on a 4 day loan so I had a 3. I started with 22 electric range and finished with 4 miles but definitely used some petrol mostly down to heating! Is it possible to just put a bit of fan to demist the windscreen without the engine coming on in a 3? What buttons do I need to press? I didn't have much of a lesson before driving off. Remembered to put Eco Mode on after about 8 miles!
Anyway managed to fit it in the garage just. Plenty of room on the width but the length was a bit tight.

Adjust the temperature to it's minimal value (15 °C in metric system), don't choose Auto mode, don't push the windscreen defrost button, adjust Mode on "windscreen + feet" position and adjust the fan's speed manually.

 

[user 258]

I started with 22 electric range and finished with 4 miles but definitely used some petrol mostly down to heating! Is it possible to just put a bit of fan to demist the windscreen without the engine coming on in a 3? What buttons do I need to press?

To avoid engine starts (3h and 4h, or to avoid using the electric heater on 4h):
Before turning off at night select window defrost, temperature set to 15C, and select the snowflake button (to turn off the cooling). This means that without touching anything in the morning the small airflow from just driving will go to the screen to help keep clear (not to the feet to make you cold). If you need more airflow then hit the fan up once or twice. This will again keep the airflow to the screen only. Using the screen defrost is the only way to get the airflow ONLY to the screen (that I know of).

Kind regards,
Mark

 

[user 258]

Please see my post that describes how to avoid having to have cold air blowing to the feet in order to clear the screen.

Kind regards,
Mark

 

[jeferey]

Thanks for the replies. I will give it a go when I set off in an hour

 

[greendwarf]

And don't have air recirculation on - bottom left button on centre console - otherwise your breath will steam up the screen eventually. You need fresh air coming into car.

 

[Grigou]

Please see my post that describes how to avoid having to have cold air blowing to the feet in order to clear the screen.

Kind regards,
Mark

Thank you Mark, that's a good trick and I will use it !

 

[jeferey]

Excellent, I managed 96% EV this morning. I put it on screen only, 15°C and snowflake and kept the fan on lowest setting. I actually turned it off for a bit and back on as it was a bit cold for the passengers!

Total 46.9 miles on 2 charges and a bit of petrol (tried out the combined mode ).

It's so easy to drive, I loved the flappy paddles even in busy stop/start traffic hardly need the brake pedal and it fitted in my garage - just.

 

[Kim]

Go for it.
But go for the one with all the extras, you will love the preheating.!

 

[maby]

Excellent, I managed 96% EV this morning. I put it on screen only, 15°C and snowflake and kept the fan on lowest setting. I actually turned it off for a bit and back on as it was a bit cold for the passengers!

Total 46.9 miles on 2 charges and a bit of petrol (tried out the combined mode ).

It's so easy to drive, I loved the flappy paddles even in busy stop/start traffic hardly need the brake pedal and it fitted in my garage - just.

Do be careful of too much paddle usage in start/stop traffic - they do not illuminate the brake lights and if someone runs into the back of you, it could go against you in the subsequent insurance claim.

 

[jaapv]

I seriously doubt that. The car is street-legal.

 

[Hypermiler]

Just to be clear, when turning the temp down to 15 deg, press the snowflake (i.e. aircon) button afterwards to take the snowflake off the display as it will automatically appear when you get to 15.
Sounds like you'll be putting in an order. I don't see why a nearly new would be a problem - there may be some demonstrators around with the new reg coming up - if you are flexible re colour. I would get the 4h for the preheating as it sounds like minimising petrol use is important for you (and many of us!).
Cheers
H

 

[jeferey]

Again, thanks for the replies. I'd pretty much decided the 4h will be the one and yes minimising petrol use is important. I think I will be nice to drive using less extreme measures to conserve fuel being a hypermiler. I have been known to push my car out of the garage to save a few thimblefuls :lol: and I currently coast to lights with the engine off so a PHEV suits my driving style as it will be a lot less effort.
Thanks for the advice re: nearly new. I will have to check out both options and see how the budget holds up. I bought my current car new nearly 9 years ago but only because a one-year old demonstrator lower spec model was only £750 less than a discounted new one so it was a "no-brainer" as they say.

 

[user 258]

There are a few nearly used on Autotrader that seem good value. I have also heard of good deals on new gx4h that almost gets them down to the list price of gx3h's.
Kind regards,
Mark

 

[linxbaijy]

Yep. Some dealers quote only £29500 for a new gx4h which I think it is a better value than used car.

 

[jeferey]

I've already had a look avensys and I even signed up to carwow a couple of weeks ago to see what they might offer. I got 5 offers from Mitsi dealer the best price for a GX4h in metallic is 29,470.
Best price for a nearly new is about 27,495 for a 14 reg or 27,995 for a 64 (with 3 years servicing and a tow bar) within 35 miles of where I live on Autotrader.
Doesn't seem much of a discount for nearly new but I'm guessing delivery of a new one might take a little while and it's pushing my budget.
Thoughts?

 

[maby]

You may find that the nearly-new market for PHEVs is distorted relative to other cars because of the exceptionally generous tax status it enjoys as a company car.