How long before your car is dearer to run with the current rate of tax?

[enuff_zed]

I still think we need to reserve judsgement on EVs until the batteries start to wear out, then see what issues people have.
Not everyone will be able to just buy new every couple of years and there are soon going to be a lot of older ones out there, owned by people who cannot afford to change the battery.............. assuming they are daft enough to buy one with that age risk in the first place.
Where are all these old batteries planned to go anyway?

 

[Rockhopper]

If you follow HubNut on YouTube he's tested several EV's that have done well over 100k miles and are still going strong. Plus now that EV's are becoming more common there are companies now that can rebuild the batteries for way less than fitting a new one from the original manufacturer.

 

[enuff_zed]

If you follow HubNut on YouTube he's tested several EV's that have done well over 100k miles and are still going strong. Plus now that EV's are becoming more common there are companies now that can rebuild the batteries for way less than fitting a new one from the original manufacturer.

Oh that's a shame. Was hoping they'd all die

 

[Rolls1392]

I am also in the position of considering a soulless lump as a daily driver. My wife's speedy Panda has reached an age when parts are no longer available. The Zed is kept for trips and local blasts around Cornwall but hibernates s in winter.
Regarding an EV. I don't know where to start looking. Nothing inspires

 

[Rockhopper]

Parts availability will be an issue on the older cars, handbrakes especially on the E85. I’ve not used mine for two years (genuinely).

 

[RyanZ4M]

I am also in the position of considering a soulless lump as a daily driver. My wife's speedy Panda has reached an age when parts are no longer available. The Zed is kept for trips and local blasts around Cornwall but hibernates s in winter.
Regarding an EV. I don't know where to start looking. Nothing inspires

If you can live with a small short range, I love love the Renault 5 EV for sub £30k

The top spec model is insane but comes in at £130k+ 1450kg and 555bhp

 

[Pondy]

On another BMW car forum (where the demographic is a little bit younger than the average on here), there are constant 'discussions' (read..arguments) regarding EVs against ICE.
It's funny, as there are three distinctive camps:
One that hates any EV, no matter what
One that embraces the EV and talk endlessly about the low cost of running their £100k+ luxury EVs.
The third drive an EV for mundane duties and commuting, but have another ICE for weekends and long journeys.

The vast majority of the EV drivers have company cars, though, so the exposure to depreciation is not a factor. There is constant discussion regarding offsetting tax, salary sacrifice, etc. These things I don't understand as I haven't had a 'proper' job since 1992.

Just for info; I am firmly in the first camp. I hate the idea of an EV. For more than one reason.

 

[RyanZ4M]

On another BMW car forum (where the demographic is a little bit younger than the average on here), there are constant 'discussions' (read..arguments) regarding EVs against ICE.
It's funny, as there are three distinctive camps:
One that hates any EV, no matter what
One that embraces the EV and talk endlessly about the low cost of running their £100k+ luxury EVs.
The third drive an EV for mundane duties and commuting, but have another ICE for weekends and long journeys.

The vast majority of the EV drivers have company cars, though, so the exposure to depreciation is not a factor. There is constant discussion regarding offsetting tax, salary sacrifice, etc. These things I don't understand as I haven't had a 'proper' job since 1992.

Just for info; I am firmly in the first camp. I hate the idea of an EV. For more than one reason.

I was going to debate on this. Then I saw your signature. And then your profile pic, and I took a closer look. Now all I want to say is your Z3 is a beaut! Looks really well finished too! Do you have a thread dedicated to it anywhere?

 

[smorris_12]

Nooooo..... Don't ask him that... Pretend you asked something else.... Otherwise.... Otherwise, he'll tell you all about it... At length!



(There's a million page thread somewhere about)

 

[Mr Tidy]

If Pondy is thinking of the same forum that I am LeeZ4MR from here is also on there, and he's definitely anti-EV too!

I think the users on company car schemes benefit hugely on the BIK tax rates for having an EV which makes choosing one a bit of a no-brainer, especially if you can charge at work as well as at home.

And as most new cars are leased these days depreciation isn't a factor, although I'm sure it is built into the monthlies.

Even with massive depreciation I'd still need to spend thousands more to buy one than my old 330i is worth, I could only realistically charge at home on a 13A socket and I only do 3/4K miles a year so even with charging costing less than petrol it would take ages for me to see an overall cost benefit. And I'd miss having a straight 6 soundtrack.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

On another BMW car forum (where the demographic is a little bit younger than the average on here), there are constant 'discussions' (read..arguments) regarding EVs against ICE.
It's funny, as there are three distinctive camps:
One that hates any EV, no matter what
One that embraces the EV and talk endlessly about the low cost of running their £100k+ luxury EVs.
The third drive an EV for mundane duties and commuting, but have another ICE for weekends and long journeys.

The vast majority of the EV drivers have company cars, though, so the exposure to depreciation is not a factor. There is constant discussion regarding offsetting tax, salary sacrifice, etc. These things I don't understand as I haven't had a 'proper' job since 1992.

Just for info; I am firmly in the first camp. I hate the idea of an EV. For more than one reason.

Have you driven an EV? You describe your Audi as boring, and I’m sure I would agree with you if I drove it. Most FWD / FWD-biased AWD, four-cylinder turbocharged grot boxes are exactly that, boring appliances that are as exciting as a new ‘fridge. Buying one just to “keeping driving ICE” doesn’t provide any of the attributes of a great ICE car, only the downsides.

An EV wouldn’t replace the engine that’s sadly lacking in your Audi, but it would give you instant torque, a lower CoG, RWD / RWD-biased AWD, silent wafting, lower motoring costs, and the ability to charge at home (never visiting petrol stations and having a charged vehicle every morning is a luxury not to be underestimated). You could buy/lease…ahem… a “pretty” Audi Avant EV if you’re wedded to the appearance of your current white goods.

Of course, you could buy an RS4 Avant instead and enjoy six or eight cylinders, less rapid performance and vastly higher fuel costs.

 

[brillomaster]

Unlikely to get me out of my fun car any time soon, though... I am smart about what fun cars I'll buy - it won't be anything thats £800 a year to tax, unless its really special and unavoidable. So z4m and 370zs are both out.

My next daily will be very specific to play the system. Very likely a 2015 2 litre diesel, so its £35 a year to tax, but still has 220bhp. Only thing im not sure of is whether to go 120d, 320d or 420d.

Buuut, the current 330d keeps plodding along nicely, so no urgent need to change. If tax on that gets to, say, £600 a year that'll probably force a change.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

If Pondy is thinking of the same forum that I am LeeZ4MR from here is also on there, and he's definitely anti-EV too!

He might come around once he can no longer buy a six-cylinder diesel.

 

[Mr Tidy]

A pre 23 March 2006 350Z isn't in that Tax bracket.

I bought a 123d in 2008 that had 201bhp and while I liked it at the time I much prefer my 330i with 258bhp for the high revving smoothness. I don't do the mileage for a DPF regen now anyway.

If I ever upgraded a manual M140i would be very tempting!

 

[Pondy]

and the ability to charge at home

I can't do that.
If I could I would have the wife (who does a 35 mile commute every day) in a 'shitbox' (term from another forum) by now.
Even though I have a double garage (I know posh aren't I?) and a double driveway, I can't charge an EV. I could if I dug up my rear lawn and installed a bigger power supply to my garage (which is 16 amp at present and nowhere near big enough). I would rather put in a bigger power supply to get a proper car ramp. But it's too expensive and too much disruption for either.

The configuration of my house, and the lack of outdoor power, is just not conducive to having an EV.

The irony is that our last house (which I built) has a 40 amp supply to the garage. More than enough. But I don't live there anymore!

 

[Pondy]

I was going to debate on this. Then I saw your signature. And then your profile pic, and I took a closer look. Now all I want to say is your Z3 is a beaut! Looks really well finished too! Do you have a thread dedicated to it anywhere?

Funny you should ask....................

 

[Pondy]

Nooooo..... Don't ask him that... Pretend you asked something else.... Otherwise.... Otherwise, he'll tell you all about it... At length!



(There's a million page thread somewhere about)

That made me laugh out loud!
Am I really that bad? If so, sod it, I don't care.
I love my Fauxrrari (even though the wheels keep coming loose which is not great).

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I can't do that.
If I could I would have the wife (who does a 35 mile commute every day) in a 'shitbox' (term from another forum) by now.
Even though I have a double garage (I know posh aren't I?) and a double driveway, I can't charge an EV. I could if I dug up my rear lawn and installed a bigger power supply to my garage (which is 16 amp at present and nowhere near big enough). I would rather put in a bigger power supply to get a proper car ramp. But it's too expensive and too much disruption for either.

The configuration of my house, and the lack of outdoor power, is just not conducive to having an EV.

The irony is that our last house (which I built) has a 40 amp supply to the garage. More than enough. But I don't live there anymore!

Sounds like an excuse to me!
We had 20 metres of heavy duty cabling installed when we installed an EV charger, can’t you bury it?

 

[Pondy]

Sounds like an excuse to me!
We had 20 metres of heavy duty cabling installed when we installed an EV charger, can’t you bury it?

Yes it could done. But it's not easy. And it would be costly. I could do it myself but it's too much disruption for something I am not bothered by.
I want to move, so anything I do is a waste of effort and money IMO.

I don't like EVs enough to even think about it.

 

[buzyg]

Loved my i4 M50. Hate my 2026 A6 Avant E-Tron. And my wife's BYD is proper fun to drive as you always feel like you're going to die in the corners

That being said EVs are great daily drivers, cheap to run, smooth and comfortable. But it's the Z4M that is a keeper for me. The EVs are replaced every two years on rotation. They're workhorses. Not a car for driving through the gorge and enjoying the summer weather.

Any car I buy needs to be fun to drive. EV or Not. I enjoy small lightweight cars for that reason. There will be an EV out there for me. I just haven't looked for it. Too many fun involving petrol cars. Heck I have never owned a diesel or an automatic yet. EV's are way off the bottom of the to do list.