Joining the electric car club

[MrCoop]

My daily journey is a 30 mile round trip into the office with the odd occasional visit to a client and as my daily, I think the move into an EV made absolute sense. Most of my mileage will cost me 3p p/m in electric costs and the plan is to accompany the EV with something V6 for the weekend.

 

[doodlebug]

During lockdown I've been driving into London once a month in the Coupe which is eligible for both the congestion charge and ULEZ.
Frankly, I don't give a toss. I like driving too much and it's a small price to pay.

 

[Ewan]

Would you have bought an EV Ewan if the tax incentives were substantially less or zero?

No I would not have. Not at the time that I did. At that time (only 3 months ago), I bought it, mainly, for tax reasons.
However, now I have it, I have to say it’s a fantastic car. Though that said, so it should be, at approximately £80k.
As a rule, if I leave the house by car to do a mundane journey such as to school, work or supermarket, and given the free reign of lots of different cars, I generally take the E-Tron.

 

[Ewan]

Just remembered. When I took my youngest to school on Sat morning, the chap in the next space in the car park had a new DBS Superleggaro. At that particular moment in time, the E-Tron didn’t seem quite so nice! What a very beautiful car that Aston is.

 

[safrane]

My hybrid has woeful battery only range, less than 25 miles. But since getting it I have only made one journey where the gas engine has had to be used and that was to Cardiff and back, which is 102 miles return... Still did just less than 1/2 in DC mode and averaged 62mpg in a 2.5tn SUV.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Just remembered. When I took my youngest to school on Sat morning, the chap in the next space in the car park had a new DBS Superleggaro. At that particular moment in time, the E-Tron didn’t seem quite so nice! What a very beautiful car that Aston is.

Didn't a mate / business partner / someone you know buy a DBSS, Ewan? If so, how's (s)he getting on with it?

 

[Ewan]

Yes. He collected it on March 1st so he got it on the new reg number. I’ve not spoken to him since then, so have no report yet. But to be honest, he’s not really a driver and doesn’t have much of an interest in cars in general. He just likes to have a new Aston every two/three years.

 

[Ebenezer]

Just remembered. When I took my youngest to school on Sat morning, the chap in the next space in the car park had a new DBS Superleggaro. At that particular moment in time, the E-Tron didn’t seem quite so nice! What a very beautiful car that Aston is.

The shame!

I used to enjoy rocking up in my mark 1 Ford Mondeo estate, complete with moss and faded red paint and parking next to the nicest Dads weekend cars on a Saturday when dropping off! So it was a bit of a surprise to all when I bought the QP!
Eb

 

[mjheathcote]

My hybrid has woeful battery only range, less than 25 miles. But since getting it I have only made one journey where the gas engine has had to be used and that was to Cardiff and back, which is 102 miles return... Still did just less than 1/2 in DC mode and averaged 62mpg in a 2.5tn SUV.

A hybrid with say a 25 mile range would really work for me.
That would nicely cover all the family running around locally quite easily. My business usage can frequently be 300+ miles and a full EV would struggle without topping up.
I have naughty thoughts changing the M140i for a pre'17 BMW i8 as they are affordable, economical, and zero road tax too.

 

[Ewan]

Didn't a mate / business partner / someone you know buy a DBSS, Ewan? If so, how's (s)he getting on with it?

I just sent him a message and got this reply:
"I love it - a step up from the DB11. Ridiculous really and completely unnecessary. But brilliant."

 

[Felonious Crud]

I just sent him a message and got this reply:
"I love it - a step up from the DB11. Ridiculous really and completely unnecessary. But brilliant."

That's a 5-star review if ever I saw one! A DBSS cab is probably the only thing that would tempt me in the current Aston line-up.

 

[Felonious Crud]

That's a 5-star review if ever I saw one! A DBSS cab is probably the only thing that would tempt me in the current Aston line-up.

... but I'm still not sure I could part with mine, John. It'd need to be parked alongside it.

 

[MrCoop]

... but I'm still not sure I could part with mine, John. It'd need to be parked alongside it.

This summer will be the summer I pull my finger out and get a Vantage. I've only been looking at the V12's but a nice N430 has caught my eye. I need to drive both to see what the real world difference is between the 5.0 and 4.7.

What are your thoughts on yours?

 

[Felonious Crud]

This summer will be the summer I pull my finger out and get a Vantage. I've only been looking at the V12's but a nice N430 has caught my eye. I need to drive both to see what the real world difference is between the 5.0 and 4.7.

What are your thoughts on yours?

A deep and enduring love. The handling is tremendous, turn-in is sharp, the carbon brakes will pull your face off and the cabin quality is great.

Whilst I'm sure there are far more capable cars out there, mine feels alive, skittish and - when I want it to be - very refined.

The cabin is quite cramped, but it's a small car so to be expected. It's needed some paintwork (warranty) where the paint was bubbling, and a few other minor bits. Indie service network is good and I look forward to getting across to Bamford Rose for some work later in the summer. The front is very vulnerable to chips but ppf is excellent and well worth it.

 

[Ewan]

This summer will be the summer I pull my finger out and get a Vantage. I've only been looking at the V12's but a nice N430 has caught my eye. I need to drive both to see what the real world difference is between the 5.0 and 4.7.

What are your thoughts on yours?

I think I’m erring towards the N430. But overall it would be the colour, spec and condition of the individual car that would sway me one way or the other, rather than the model. Clearly there is no “wrong” choice between those two options.

 

[Ewan]

Running cost update.
We’ve now had the E-Tron three months, and over that time have averaged a bit less than 30 kWh of charge per 60 miles. Which equates to a fuel cost of 2.5p per mile (as I pay 5p per kWH for electricity for charging overnight using the Octopus Go tariff).

This compares to about 30p per mile for fuel for the Strad or GS, or 20p per mile for the Rangie.
So, on average, my spend on fuel has reduced by 90%. Which is a saving worth having.

 

[alfatwo]

Running cost update.
We’ve now had the E-Tron three months, and over that time have averaged a bit less than 30 kWh of charge per 60 miles. Which equates to a fuel cost of 2.5p per mile (as I pay 5p per kWH for electricity for charging overnight using the Octopus Go tariff).

This compares to about 30p per mile for fuel for the Strad or GS, or 20p per mile for the Rangie.
So, on average, my spend on fuel has reduced by 90%. Which is a saving worth having.

Got a feeling you lecy drivers are going to get stitched tax wise fairly soon, as HMRC aren't collecting any money out of you!

Dave

 

[mjheathcote]

Got a feeling you lecy drivers are going to get stitched tax wise fairly soon, as HMRC aren't collecting any money out of you!

Dave

They have caught up with the road tax, the electricity you use is a little more tricky to tax..

 

[alfatwo]

Pay per mile plus vat! that'll quite them down, easily done with card payments or on duel charging on you mains supply!

Dave

 

[lifes2short]

cant help but think that someone will be screwing the government here with the funding, phasing out petrol and diesel cars in 9 years really

Over £30 million government investment to boost batteries and hydrogen vehicles

Pioneering research into battery technology, the electric vehicle supply chain and hydrogen vehicles is to be backed by over £30 million of government funding.

www.gov.uk