Luckypants

Indeed and as an owner of a 66 plate (MY2016) Monte Carlo (the same car as the OP) I can confirm there is no clutch interlock switch on this model of Citigo.

Nope! Our 66 plate Citigo Monte Carlo is exactly the same, it starts without the clutch down and in gear. Always has done.

I'm assuming here this is similar to the WeCharge app on my VW ID.4 - it allows you to search for chargers via Google software? What I found is after software update to V3.7 a newer version of the app was required and upgrades to apps are done via the shop. When an update is required, the existing installed version is lost.

All done? Similar update on my ID.4 was without problem.

I do / have done additional items. Pollen filter changed annually instead of bi-annually (DIY £25) Front brake calipers cleaned/lubed annually - not specified in VW service checklist. MEB platform car's brakes get a bit sticky/grabby over time, I suspect liable to seize after a few years. Done as part of MOT visit to local garage.

Here's a link to a post on LinkedIn from Be.EV which has a video showing how their new 'Charging Oasis' in Manchester will look. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/be-ev_frompetroltopower-manchester-activity-7298023451150200833-jiGQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA0PdpEB9IFf1D4eVfpZ4HpASKA2Dhai22Q

My Citigo needed new front discs and pads earlier this year due to rust. The car is 8 years old with 21K miles, so often parked up for days. The discs were delaminating on the inside face so not picked up be me, but my mechanic had been warning they were getting poor until he called time on them this year. He said the OEM VAG discs were prone to rusting and the lack of use made it worse. He expects the new discs to last better as they are not VW. In fairness though, this is the first expense for mechanical issues in 8 years. The tyres were also replaced last year at around 18-19K miles due to age cracking at 7 years old.

I've just had my VW ID.4 in for some warranty work (the ubiquitous VAG electronic door handles failing) and got sent the visual health check video. The brake pads are still at 80% after 50K miles. This is slightly higher than the mileage I would be expecting to replace pads on my ICE cars. The second service is next week which is the usual visual checks, suspension checks, new pollen filter and replace brake fluid. It will be done at my local (EV qualified) independant garage for a lot less than VW want (£360) with an MOT. Servicing is every two years with no mileage limit. Proof that in my experience EVs are cheaper to service.

Be. EV are still going great guns, announcing a new partnership and a new hub yesterday. 8 x 150kW bays at North Valley Retail Park, Colne (top of M65). Be.EV opened a similar hub last week at Hulme Retail Park, Manchester.

A new Tesla Supercharger site open to all has opened in York with 16 stalls. That makes 100 Supercharger sites open to all on UK mainland and one in NI (Dungannon)

We found the Megane to be claustrophobic when we tried one, due to the high waistline, stupidly small rear window and acres of black plastic. I think the dark seats and roof lining didn't help. The interior felt cheap for such an expensive car. The boot was not a very good shape for a dog, getting a lot of its volume from height rather than length. I can imagine lifting heavy stuff out of the boot could be a challenge.

I'm rather disappointed by the look of it. It looks like any other Audi estate, whereas the prototype looked amazing. The front and rear are much less swoopy. I've never been a fan of the current Audi grille, so it looks old fashioned and fugly to me. Not that it matters at that price, I won't be able to afford one! 🤣

Gridserve have added 3 new chargers at Killington Lake services. 6x290kW plugs. The old units are retained to cater for Chademo charging. Good place to stop to walk the dog and a lot less busy than Tebay.

Found a useful list of Gridserve charger installs & upgrades last year (link below) Here is the list for the last quarter Moto Stafford North (M6) – 6 High Power charging bays Moto Wetherby (A1(M)) – 12 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Rugby (M6) – 24 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Lancaster North (M6) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Burton-in-Kendal (M6) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Roadchef Rownhams West (M27) – 6 High Power charging bays Moto Donington Park (M1) – 4 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Lancaster South (M6) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Cherwell Valley (M40) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Blyth (A1(M)) – 8 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Exeter (M5) – 12 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Reading West (M4) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Reading East (M4) – 6 new High Power charging bays added to existing site Moto Knutsford South (M6) – 12 High Power charging bays https://www.gridserve.com/new-electric-vehicle-charging-sites-open-on-the-gridserve-electric-highway/

Beta products seem common in the electricity supply industry. Hope it gets sorted for you.

The V11ZW VED reminder turned up in the post this morning. Its £0 until next renewal.

I am relaxed, my car gets taxed at the end of February for 12 months. I expect it will £0 and I'll pay the new rate in Feb 2026. But I'll let you know if it is pro-rata. The timing is purely based on when the car was registered.

But this change is retrospective. My VED on the ID.4 was set at £0 when registered and has been for the past three years, from April 2025 I'll now be charged £195. Our little Citigo VED was £20 from the get go and has not been changed when new VED rates come in. Which makes this VED change retrospective in that it affects vehicles built before the change was introduced. As to @lol-lol's question, I believe it will be from the renewal date, as we purchase 6 or 12 months VED in advance. I'll let you know when I renew at the end of the month!

Nope. I can chose them to come on at whatever temp VW set or not at all, so in summer that option is off. The behaviour has changed with the latest software update (V3.7 for my car) but I haven't worked it out yet. The seats seem to come on automatically less than before. (much to SWMBO's disgust) EDIT: This is how it works on V3.x software cars which I believe Stonekeeper's is. The 2024-on cars running V4.x or V5.x software may operate differently.

Its actually quite intelligent and will heat the cabin based on outside temperature. The other day it was 8C and the car pre-warmed for 17 minutes to have the cabin at 21C. If the temp is below 11C then heated seats and wheel are turned on if set to come on during pre-heating.

PoGo Charge I don't hear much about, but here are 4 recently opened hubs 2x150kW Raynor Parade, Wolverhampton 8x200kW Mid-Kent Shopping Centre 12x200kW Lichfield 4x150kW Victoria Shopping Park, Cannock and coming 'soon' 20x200kW Holiday Inn, Rochester

Eon plan 6 new hubs in Scotland https://www.eonhttps://www.eon-uk.news/news/eon-accelerates-scotlands-ev-future-with-ultra-rapid-charging-expansion

Just a note that there are now 98 (out of 175) Tesla hubs open to all EVs. Also there are now over 800 charging HUBS in the UK, in addition to all the 1/2/3 rapid charger sites around the country.

I doubt we will see such a long range car. Most people don't need that kind of range so there is no market, unless he manufacturers get into a range war. Such a car will need 120-150kWh batteries that will be too large, too heavy and too expensive. The challenge now is to improve efficiency to real world 4+ miles/kWh which would give a 60kWh battery 250 mile range - plenty for most at 4-5 hours of driving. Improved efficiency allows for smaller (easier to package), lighter (more efficient) and cheaper batteries to make EV more accessible. One thing having an EV has shown me, I don't need more than 250-ish mile range.

I watched some of that, gave up as I was shouting at the screen what a doylum he was being. 🙄