After the best part of 5 years it was time to say goodbye to my (now) trusty 500X Opening Edition. Once the early gremlins were sorted it really has to be one of my favourite cars. However, in their infinite wisdom, Fiat decided to discontinue the spec, so I had to find it elsewhere, so it's goodbye to those pesky 18" rims and hello to 19" rims. I shall miss this forum, it really has been useful.
General And it's goodbye from him
- Thread starter Alanw47
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General And it's goodbye from him
Nello
Established member
What have you moved on to Alan?
TrevC
Established member
Alan, like you my 500X was fault free once initial gremlins were sorted.
I'm sure you will find the Sportage great, a bit more space and that fantastic warranty. My daughter has a 4 year old diesel example, and she just had a small oil leak fixed under the warranty, no quibbles.
I'm sure you will find the Sportage great, a bit more space and that fantastic warranty. My daughter has a 4 year old diesel example, and she just had a small oil leak fixed under the warranty, no quibbles.
Alex4x4
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Also waved Goodbye to my Opening Edition 500 X yesterday after nearly 3 years!
It’s a change in circumstances -working from home and no longer doing a 40 mile commute each day!
So we are down to 1 car a Panda 4x4 Petrol- will wait n see what motoring brings and which direction it goes!
Hybrid or a EV maybe! Motoring is at a Cross Roads think!
I had mostly trouble free motoring, apart from parcel shelf and sump guard falling apart in week 1!
Then in the last month had issues with starter button that affected key free locks-resolved with new starter button!
Then stop start was unavailable! Solved this by tightening connection on the negative terminal.
Oh well these things happened!
It’s a change in circumstances -working from home and no longer doing a 40 mile commute each day!
So we are down to 1 car a Panda 4x4 Petrol- will wait n see what motoring brings and which direction it goes!
Hybrid or a EV maybe! Motoring is at a Cross Roads think!
I had mostly trouble free motoring, apart from parcel shelf and sump guard falling apart in week 1!
Then in the last month had issues with starter button that affected key free locks-resolved with new starter button!
Then stop start was unavailable! Solved this by tightening connection on the negative terminal.
Oh well these things happened!
Oh boy are you correct in the "motoring cross roads".
There are many aspsects to this many related to the "loo rolls sold out".
All EV is expensive
Hybrid is viable but more expensive than current all petrol/diesel
Time is running out for non hybrid
Time is running out for hybrid
So as I see it the longer you wait into the "running out" time frame:
1) I would expect new fossil fuel cars/quality 2nd hand fossil fuel cars to get cheaper BUT choice and availability will be a limiting factor. Then their is the worry of support lifetime. Fiat have never been very good at this compared to the likes of Ford.
2) Also expect Hybrid and all EV prices to drop
3) Charging at home is pretty crap in terms of full charge. Typical small cars have 60kW/H batteries. On a 13A circuit full charge time is around 18 to 20Hrs. A 7kwH/30Amp charge point will fix this back down to say 10Hrs (acceptable overnight charge cylce read for long trip to work in the morning)
4) Mind still boggles on Hybrid/EV.... dealer service/repair only as independents won't be equipped and/or possibly factory trained. Other ? ? items.
I'm hoping there is a "sweet spot" for all of us in our vehicle future. I'm more concerned as I tow a modest low drag 1000kg caravan to Italy every year and TOWING is going to be a real problem.
There are many aspsects to this many related to the "loo rolls sold out".
All EV is expensive
Hybrid is viable but more expensive than current all petrol/diesel
Time is running out for non hybrid
Time is running out for hybrid
So as I see it the longer you wait into the "running out" time frame:
1) I would expect new fossil fuel cars/quality 2nd hand fossil fuel cars to get cheaper BUT choice and availability will be a limiting factor. Then their is the worry of support lifetime. Fiat have never been very good at this compared to the likes of Ford.
2) Also expect Hybrid and all EV prices to drop
3) Charging at home is pretty crap in terms of full charge. Typical small cars have 60kW/H batteries. On a 13A circuit full charge time is around 18 to 20Hrs. A 7kwH/30Amp charge point will fix this back down to say 10Hrs (acceptable overnight charge cylce read for long trip to work in the morning)
4) Mind still boggles on Hybrid/EV.... dealer service/repair only as independents won't be equipped and/or possibly factory trained. Other ? ? items.
I'm hoping there is a "sweet spot" for all of us in our vehicle future. I'm more concerned as I tow a modest low drag 1000kg caravan to Italy every year and TOWING is going to be a real problem.
Alex4x4
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This article is also worth a read especially in current climate with recharging station network it isn’t there at the moment!
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/28/electric-cars-porsche-charging-network
Bojo /HMG has said new by Derv/Petrol by 2030!
Thats 9 years 1 month time which sounds a while to go but soon will come around.
I think new Hybrids will cease by 2035? ! But the dates have changed twice already.
Your point about Independent’s - i think most smaller ones will go as the kit is too expensive and therefor less choice prices will go up!!
TrevC
Established member
Everyone seems to quote the long charge time of an ev using a 13A socket. EV owners who can charge at home would never run their cars to empty, then recharge at 3kW. Average daily mileage is 20 miles, and since most evs achieve 3 miles/kWh, only about 7kWh needs to be put back in each day. This can be done in an hour using a 7kW charger that most ev owners have installed.
EVs are expensive at present, although you can buy a 500X sized one brand new for about £20k - that's the MG ZS if you search for deals on Autotrader. I'll be very interested to see what's around when the warranty on my Hyundai expires in 2023, there should be much more affordable choice. I just hope the public charging network is expanded with more reliable chargers that you don't need an app or rfid card to use.
EVs are expensive at present, although you can buy a 500X sized one brand new for about £20k - that's the MG ZS if you search for deals on Autotrader. I'll be very interested to see what's around when the warranty on my Hyundai expires in 2023, there should be much more affordable choice. I just hope the public charging network is expanded with more reliable chargers that you don't need an app or rfid card to use.
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The problem is not on short journeys but the long distance ones. I did just over 500 miles in my family diesel yesterday and still have a couple of gallons left. I'll fill up in less than 10 minutes when I go to Asda in the next few days
TrevC
Established member
Yeah, depends on usage. Most of my journeys are short these days, only a few long trips per year, so an ev would be perfect for me. Even when I was working it was a 50 mile round trip commute, so would have been fine then too.
500 miles in a day! Never done that in 47 years of driving!
500 miles in a day! Never done that in 47 years of driving!
When going to Italy every summer and towing then 500+ miles is a regular occurrence.
We try to get there in two overnight stops.
Southampton (early AM) to Dover for around midday
Calais down into Belgium - Tournai - 4pm ish. Overnight. And you lose an hour on the clock
Belgium to Germany - past Stutgart - 4pm/5pm. Overnight.
Germany to Italy - lakes or mountain areas - 4pm/5pm
Every stop on route, fuel, Vignette, break for lunch, adds time.
Roughly 1000 miles down but it is not a divided by 3 equation.
How one would do this in a all electric car I don't know.
Fuel stations on the main routes are always busy often with pump queues for a 5 minute fill and pay cycle. Hate to think what an EV charge cycle would entail.
On the other hand for my daily motoring needs (being retired) an all EV vehicle would not be a problem even on a 3kW/13A charge point.
I'm going to keep an eye on how Motor Homes fare in the UK EV & fossil fuel restrictions. If they are classed as commercial then what about caravan / heavy trailer drivers?
This could kill the caravan industry (which some would like) but then we will all just buy commercial vans which would be even more polluting longer term than a fuel efficient car that periodically tows.
All fun and games
TrevC
Established member
Interestingly Norway's new car sales this year is about 80% plug-ins, with about 60% pure ev. PHEV sales haven't gone up this year but pure EV sales have. They are aiming for 100% plug ins by 2025, all from taxation incentives. Don't know how many Norwegians tow caravans or drive motor homes though.
We rent holiday cottages in the UK for our breaks, so very long distance driving or towing aren't an issue. I can see properties with off-road parking and a wallbox charger commanding a premium in years to come!
We rent holiday cottages in the UK for our breaks, so very long distance driving or towing aren't an issue. I can see properties with off-road parking and a wallbox charger commanding a premium in years to come!
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I have a Norwegian friend who drives a motorhome. However, it is a 1964 Commer Highwayman!
