Are we being forced to go electric?

[cougie uk]

Just looked at the specs for the MG5 - major problem is the boot space - the Passat is almost 25% bigger, and I regularly use it all. So guess EV's not for me until they bring out something a bit more spacious.

Seondary issue is the 250 mile range - I'm off to Orkney next month - can easily get there (from Suffolk) on a single tank of fuel, that's about 700 miles, and will still have spare. B&B's and cottage we're staying at all DON'T have EV charge points, so would have to find charging locations.

Guy who sourced my EV for me lives on Orkney. He often buys EVs in the mainland and drives them back home with no drama.

According to the ferry company Orkney charging is among the best in the country. Seems plentiful from the map.

 

[chris-suffolk]

Oh they have - just not looking like the MG5. My ID4 is 543L expanding to 1575L. Passat Estate is still 650L to 1780L though. Of course the Tesla Y has 971L expanding to 2158L (or 854L expanding to 2041L depending on which website you look at)

I specifically said an estate not an SUV. From what I can see the ID4 is an SUV and the Tesla Y isn't an estate, but I stand to be corrected.

 

[icowden]

I specifically said an estate not an SUV. From what I can see the ID4 is an SUV and the Tesla Y isn't an estate, but I stand to be corrected.

Yes, but what is an estate? You said you wanted boot space. Estates are not in fashion now. There are EV estates but as you pointed out the boot space is much smaller than the Passat Estate. If you want more boot space than the Passat then the Tesla Y beats it easily. It just isn't estate shaped.

 

[chris-suffolk]

Yes, but what is an estate? You said you wanted boot space. Estates are not in fashion now. There are EV estates but as you pointed out the boot space is much smaller than the Passat Estate. If you want more boot space than the Passat then the Tesla Y beats it easily. It just isn't estate shaped.

An estate, in my mind, is low (i.e. car NOT SUV) with a squared off back (i.e. NOT boot or hatchback) . The 'definition' of an estate hasn't changed much in 40-50 years +. Whether they are in fashion or not is another matter, doesn't mean I have to suddenly like SUV's or hatchbacks.

The Tesla Y isn't estate shaped, it has a sloping rear tail gate (hatchback I guess), rather than a squared off back. It may have more space, but not (for me at least) the right shaped space. There seem to be a few estates being launched later this year, and into next, so might have to wait a few years more until they start hitting the secondhand market at something like a reasonable price.

 

[vickster]

I specifically said an estate not an SUV. From what I can see the ID4 is an SUV and the Tesla Y isn't an estate, but I stand to be corrected.

VW is also still going to cost at least 30k, the Tesla 40k minimum looking at Autotrader if not CAT whatever/astronomical miles (and even then).

What's the cost to change of those vs your Passat (presuming you have to pay and not a company car).

It's possible the Superb estate will go electric or a Volvo estate might come along. VW seem to have no interest given the current EVs

 

[chris-suffolk]

VW is also still going to cost at least 30k, the Tesla 40k minimum looking at Autotrader if not CAT whatever/astronomical miles (and even then).

What's the cost to change of those vs your Passat (presuming you have to pay and not a company car).

It's possible the Superb estate will go electric or a Volvo estate might come along. VW seem to have no interest given the current EVs

Fo me, it's the car that's most important - i.e. having an estate. The fuel type is secondary as I don't due huge miles each year, and thus the reduction in cost for EV charging, vs fillng with diesel is kind of irrelevant. Paying a massive premium for an EV; I will never recoup the cost vs staying with diesel and paying (well) less than half the cost of the vehicle but higher fuel costs.

When (if) secondhand prices of cars I might want become resonable, then time to look again.

 

[icowden]

Fo me, it's the car that's most important - i.e. having an estate.

But then you said the EV Estate isn't suitable because it doesn't have as much space as your Passat. This kind of suggests that space is more important than shape.

We demonstrated that you can get the space and the distance if you want to.

 

[chris-suffolk]

But then you said the EV Estate isn't suitable because it doesn't have as much space as your Passat. This kind of suggests that space is more important than shape.

We demonstrated that you can get the space and the distance if you want to.

I want a low vehicle, as loading canoes onto an SUV is a pain due to the height (and yes I go canoeing). Also, therefore, need a long roof - canoe is 16' long, and needs tying down at the ends. Estate vehicle as need square ends giving a cuboid interior rather than having a sloping end - irrespective of absolute space. So, adequate space, being the right shape is what's needed. Not something bigger and the wrong shape.

Over to you.

As an aside, does anybody know the hit that an EV takes with a big load, like a canoe, on the roof? In the passat my normal 65+mpg drops to about 58 (so a shade over 10%). Is an EV better, worse, the same?

 

[Alex321]

Yes, but what is an estate? You said you wanted boot space. Estates are not in fashion now. There are EV estates but as you pointed out the boot space is much smaller than the Passat Estate. If you want more boot space than the Passat then the Tesla Y beats it easily. It just isn't estate shaped.

And estate should have a more or less box-shaped rear interior, and only be the same height as a regular saloon/hatchback. If the tailgate slopes significantly, it is a hatchback. If it is much higher than a normal car, it is an SUV.

Our main car has always been an estate, although TBH that is gradually becoming less necessary, as the current house needs much les DIY than anywhere we have lived previously.

 

[Alex321]

I want a low vehicle, as loading canoes onto an SUV is a pain due to the height (and yes I go canoeing). Also, therefore, need a long roof - canoe is 16' long, and needs tying down at the ends. Estate vehicle as need square ends giving a cuboid interior rather than having a sloping end - irrespective of absolute space. So, adequate space, being the right shape is what's needed. Not something bigger and the wrong shape.

Over to you.

As an aside, does anybody know the hit that an EV takes with a big load, like a canoe, on the roof? In the passat my normal 65+mpg drops to about 58 (so a shade over 10%). Is an EV better, worse, the same?

There is no particular reason why it would be much different, as the hit there is due to wind resistance, rather than weight (as with towing a caravan).

 

[vickster]

As an aside, does anybody know the hit that an EV takes with a big load, like a canoe, on the roof? In the passat my normal 65+mpg drops to about 58 (so a shade over 10%). Is an EV better, worse, the same?

Just don't turn the heating or AC on in your EV

 

[Alex321]

Just don't turn the heating or AC on in your EV

AIUI, AC costs about 5% on economy for a typical ICE vehicle.

 

[chris-suffolk]

AIUI, AC costs about 5% on economy for a typical ICE vehicle.

Well, I can live with that, as I get about 70mpg on a run - 73 the other day!!

 

[icowden]

As an aside, does anybody know the hit that an EV takes with a big load, like a canoe, on the roof? In the passat my normal 65+mpg drops to about 58 (so a shade over 10%). Is an EV better, worse, the same?

Probably worse. EVs are designed for aero, so a canoe on the roof is likely to affect that a lot I'd have thought. With a roof box the hit is about 30% range at motorway speeds according to various tests. So if you are taking your canoe to the Orkneys, you probably need an extra stop. Although a Tesla Y Long range would probably still be your best option at the moment.

There are a number of new estate cars coming out though:-

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/heres-every-electric-estate-available-now-or-near-future

 

[icowden]

Just don't turn the heating or AC on in your EV

Why? It has almost no effect on range.