MPG, costs per month.

[philnewmerc]

Tesla style is odd (but is in the eye of the beholder). I think the Model S is really lovely - Jaguarishness.
All the other models look like white goods to me, designed for people reading bic rate tables. Can't imagine anyone looking at a Model Y and thinking hmmm, nice. But then people bought Allegros, Marinas and Princesses in droves....?!

 

[philnewmerc]

Rain and chargers: I never get wet filling up with petrol. Even if plugging in takes 20 seconds, if it's chucking it down you're going to get wet, then sit in your Zanussi Model Z with the heated seats on and heater off? Hmmmm, still not sure

 

[clk320x]

Rain and chargers: I never get wet filling up with petrol. Even if plugging in takes 20 seconds, if it's chucking it down you're going to get wet, then sit in your Zanussi Model Z with the heated seats on and heater off? Hmmmm, still not sure

Why?

I think you’re overthinking the heating thing, mines always on 22c auto, comfort over everything.

 

[clk320x]

Tesla style is odd (but is in the eye of the beholder). I think the Model S is really lovely - Jaguarishness.
All the other models look like white goods to me, designed for people reading bic rate tables. Can't imagine anyone looking at a Model Y and thinking hmmm, nice. But then people bought Allegros, Marinas and Princesses in droves....?!

Funny how you mention Jaguar, I had an XFR at the same time as my MS and the styling was similar from some angles!

 

[clk320x]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but deaign is margining more objective. I would say that the Model S will be considered a landmark car from a design and styling perspective in future.

It has aged well. It was launched more than 11 years ago and at the time of writing and very little changed over the years in items styling. There aren’t many cars on sale today that can claim the same.

Totally agree Rob. The early cars were truly revolutionary.

 

[JHS]

Indeed you would be. And for your use case the reality is that it would not even be a financial stretch. 2015/17 generation Nissan Leafs with decent batteries and real world all yr round 80 miles range are now about 5k, the next level up 3yr old low miles Hyundai Ioniq with 160 mile real world all yr range are about £13-14k or 3yr old Korean 64kwh models with 250 mile range at about £20k and with running costs (charging at home) that make an A class look expensive. One day you will make the change and wonder why you didn't check it out sooner instead of just saying they're not for me. Just for one of the cars, keep a petrol or diesel as well.

I am due to change cars very soon and have decided on a honda Civic 1.6 diesel.
I looked at an EV in the same price range around £20k max and was surprised at what was around with a decent 200 mile range.
I got quite excited so delved a bit deeper.
the insurance for the Civic is group 19E but for the EV 29D which translates into £120 more for the EV, an MG4 Long Range 64kWh.
On the face of it, a no brainer but I cannot get my man maths to lose the £6k difference between the proven Honda (2020. 11k miles) and the unknown MG(2023. 8kmiles), let alone getting it past Mrs JHS.

 

[clk320x]

I am due to change cars very soon and have decided on a honda Civic 1.6 diesel.
I looked at an EV in the same price range around £20k max and was surprised at what was around with a decent 200 mile range.
I got quite excited so delved a bit deeper.
the insurance for the Civic is group 19E but for the EV 29D which translates into £120 more for the EV, an MG4 Long Range 64kWh.
On the face of it, a no brainer but I cannot get my man maths to lose the £6k difference between the proven Honda (2020. 11k miles) and the unknown MG(2023. 8kmiles), let alone getting it past Mrs JHS.

The wrong decision IMO, but each to their own.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Agreed......even as a non EV fan.....!.......I think anyone buying a diesel in the current car hating, tree hugging times we live in is buying the wrong car.....they are only going to go one way in value.....and it ain't up!!. And its only a matter of time before more places ban them or charge a fortune to drive them. E6 derv emissions might be acceptable right now....but for how much longer???? Any saving you make on fuel will be more than lost in depreciation......and that from someone whos driven a diesel for the last five years!!.....my first....and last!
...........just my 2 pence worth of course.

 

[philnewmerc]

Why?

I think you’re overthinking the heating thing, mines always on 22c auto, comfort over everything.

Fair enough.
I haunt an EV forum and the following have caught my eye:
heating dropping range
using heated seats
arguing with the wife over heating
optimum speed being 40 mph and the dizzy heights of 65 sounding like they're doing 165
range being 2/3 of advertised (people who have researched)
range being 1/2 of advertised (usually newbies used to ice driving speeds)
chargers on the blink
running out of electickery
tax breaks
pennies per mile V their old habit (they do sound like ex smokers - no doubt I will be one day!)

Don't get me wrong, I can definitely see myself in a PHEV (Volvo) or EV (Tesla S/ big EQ Merc or Porsche) in a few years, but the aficionados tend to be hyper milers, the same people who by 1.6L diesels. Fine. I can actually see the challenge of hypermiling and enjoy saving money to spend on something more interesting than fuel, but for now the V8K floats my boat, with heating on high and the sunroof open .

 

[philnewmerc]

I am due to change cars very soon and have decided on a honda Civic 1.6 diesel.
I looked at an EV in the same price range around £20k max and was surprised at what was around with a decent 200 mile range.
I got quite excited so delved a bit deeper.
the insurance for the Civic is group 19E but for the EV 29D which translates into £120 more for the EV, an MG4 Long Range 64kWh.
On the face of it, a no brainer but I cannot get my man maths to lose the £6k difference between the proven Honda (2020. 11k miles) and the unknown MG(2023. 8kmiles), let alone getting it past Mrs JHS.

If you're going for a fairly vanilla car why not an EV, surely it is worth the saving? (Unless it is a private buy in which case I'd be annoyed I wasn't getting the massive tax payer hand job from the government that company car and business users are getting)

 

[SmartAmg]

Agreed......even as a non EV fan.....!......

You don't say!

 

[JHS]

The wrong decision IMO, but each to their own.

I was quite prepared to go down the EV route, but £6k represents a considerable chunk of income for us. The insurance is neither here nor there, cheaper running cost will soon claw that back,indeed the road tax will take care of it, but I don't have enough time to claw back £6k so would need to write it off, which we cannot afford to do.
Shame really as I would have liked to have been a part of the future.

 

[Mactech]

So, on Friday, I will go and collect my wife from Milton Keynes 100 miles away. It will be f-f-freezing and more than half the route will be dual carriageway.
Should I take the 600+ mile range Macan, or the 200 (max!) range i3? My choice may surprise you....

 

[ToeKnee]

My choice may surprise you....

Taxi??

 

[ALFAitalia]

....indeed the road tax will take care of it....

Only for the next 16 months then they pay road tax like everyone else (from 1st April 2025)....not before time IMO.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Fair enough.
I haunt an EV forum and the following have caught my eye:
heating dropping range
using heated seats
arguing with the wife over heating
optimum speed being 40 mph and the dizzy heights of 65 sounding like they're doing 165
range being 2/3 of advertised (people who have researched)
range being 1/2 of advertised (usually newbies used to ice driving speeds)
chargers on the blink
running out of electickery
tax breaks
pennies per mile V their old habit (they do sound like ex smokers - no doubt I will be one day!)

Don't get me wrong, I can definitely see myself in a PHEV (Volvo) or EV (Tesla S/ big EQ Merc or Porsche) in a few years, but the aficionados tend to be hyper milers, the same people who by 1.6L diesels. Fine. I can actually see the challenge of hypermiling and enjoy saving money to spend on something more interesting than fuel, but for now the V8K floats my boat, with heating on high and the sunroof open .

Car forums on the internet are a magnet for issues. If you judged the brand or car by the comments on the forums, then it would put you off just about any marque.

If you joined MBClub to find out whether buying a Mercedes would be a good idea, then you’d run a mile because the issues outweigh the positives by many multiples.

The other reason why someone might run a mile is thinking that Mercedes owners are often, narrow minded, fractious, dogmatic, biased and maybe even xenophobic.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

So, on Friday, I will go and collect my wife from Milton Keynes 100 miles away. It will be f-f-freezing and more than half the route will be dual carriageway.
Should I take the 600+ mile range Macan, or the 200 (max!) range i3? My choice may surprise you....

Leaving Mrs M there? That would be cruel.

My money is on the i3.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I think the Model S is really lovely - Jaguarishness.
All the other models look like white goods to me,

That’s interesting because I would say that Tesla have been one of the best examples of successfully extending the same deaign language across all models in the range.

From a styling perspective Model X is a tall Mode S with fancy doors. The Model 3 is a short Model S. The Model Y is a tall Model 3. Not even Bangle managed that.

Can't imagine anyone looking at a Model Y and thinking hmmm, nice. But then people bought Allegros, Marinas and Princesses in droves....?!

How many people buy a car because they think it’s a looker?

I’d say that’s the small minority. Most people can’t afford it, can’t justify it, can’t make it work (practically) or don’t care about driving a good looking car.

Some Tesla Model X/3/Y drivers might look at a Mercedes - especially ones with style over function and unnecessarily large ICE engine - with similar disdain.

I’d bet most wouldn’t have the time for disdain or comment on the car choices of others.

 

[philnewmerc]

Car forums on the internet are a magnet for issues. If you judged the brand or car by the comments on the forums, then it would put you off just about any marque.

If you joined MBClub to find out whether buying a Mercedes would be a good idea, then you’d run a mile because the issues outweigh the positives by many multiples.

Yes they are, and if a new member was to browse this forum they'd probably think Mercedes were unreliable and rust prone; and they are lol.

The other reason why someone might run a mile is thinking that Mercedes owners are often, narrow minded, fractious, dogmatic, biased and maybe even xenophobic.

I've been on here a while and I've not noticed this. Just a bit of friendly arguing or teasing I would say but I suppose we should remember some people are rather sensitive. I will self edit more carefully in future. Where's the xenophobia though?

That’s interesting because I would say that Tesla have been one of the best examples of successfully extending the same deaign language across all models in the range.

From a styling perspective Model X is a tall Mode S with fancy doors. The Model 3 is a short Model S. The Model Y is a tall Model 3. Not even Bangle managed that.

It's only my opinion, I think the model S is very pretty, a design classic. But all the other models are either dull or ugly or both. [Oh dear, self editing not going well]. Some people think the CLS55 looks like an upside down banana, or just plain old hat, and it is from the unreliable rust prone era, drinks fuel so heavily only a fool would put up with it, and a modern mid range EV will out accelerate it from the lights. I couldn't care less, I agree in fact, and I like it anyway. I can't imagine my opinion would have any impact on them whatsoever. I don't think people are really that sensitive. Surely?

How many people buy a car because they think it’s a looker?

I’d say that’s the small minority. Most people can’t afford it, can’t justify it, can’t make it work (practically) or don’t care about driving a good looking car.

Some Tesla Model X/3/Y drivers might look at a Mercedes - especially ones with style over function and unnecessarily large ICE engine - with similar disdain.

I’d bet most wouldn’t have the time for disdain or comment on the car choices of others.

It's true most car buyers don't like cars and don't join forums because they have a love for cars or a particular make. I would guess most Mercedes buyers buy them because they can afford it and think it's the correct choice to project something about themselves, just like BMW and Audi drivers. Sad but very true. But I don't think we're like that are we?

With respect I think you confuse disdain with robust discussion or daft banter. I've no idea why EV drivers are so sensitive, but they do seem to be. However, EV drivers have said (quite correctly) that a large engined ice car is idiotic, outdated, inefficient, costly to run, and outperformed, especially a 20 year old smoker luxo barge Merc, and that's fine by me because they are 100% correct: I still enjoy it though, because I love all things mechanical*. I certainly wouldn't take my ball in over it.

*Including EVs but I don't need or want one at the moment, I hope that is ok

 

[renault12ts]

did 200 miles on 40 litres with a heavy foot and a v8. That £60, fek electric
yes thats 40mpg

40 litres is 8.8 gallons of fuel...now do the sums again...