Are you getting rid of your GT-R?

Thank god I'm not the only one to have been overtaken by one ...my work van has a limiter fitted....so I didn't see it again....oooh the shame

The Ampera's fly too.

Seen loads of the test/press cars about over the last few months. They aren't sluggish!

Are you getting rid of your GT-R?

Yes, already sold.

Holding a decent deposit until the V5c comes back without the BossFox reg.

Mentioned it here: http://www.briskoda....s/page__st__330

(post 338 rather than send this off track)

What Car? have one on fleet.

Apparantly regularly topping up the pack during the day to make sure you can get home can shorten its life.

My vote is for the Ampera or Volt - much better looking too!

Glad you got home tonight Richard, Did you have the Climate Control on tonight?

Glad you got home tonight Richard, Did you have the Climate Control on tonight?

No, I had range anxiety.

The screen said turning it on would cost me 4 miles. I just couldn't bring myself to use it!

That's about 30 minutes extra charging...

You must have been warm then!

I assume the A/C works just like a normal cars with a compressor etc but it is driven by a motor? Or is it driven from the drivetrain and only works when moving?

Phil

Shoulldn"t think it gets much jiuce out of the solar roof panel -usual output is 1 Amp per square meter - unless it angles up like a motorcaravan roof, increasing the area. One for the aftermarket ?

http://www.ogormans.co.uk/freeplay_weza.htm

Carrying one of these instead of a foot pump might be the "Get-you-home-device" of choice.

Nick

Wouldn't work! The 12v battery is for the ancillaries only (stereo, lights etc etc). The main drive batteries are 400 volts and have a capacity of 24kWh!!!

The built in panel is to top up the 12v battery so as not to drain the main batteries so much when using the stereo and lights etc.

Phil

Alright then. Switchable reserve "Tank/battery". same as early VW Beetles.

Nick

Yes, already sold.

Holding a decent deposit until the V5c comes back without the BossFox reg.

Mentioned it here: http://www.briskoda....s/page__st__330

(post 338 rather than send this off track)

That's a shame. Finally drove one recently and I enjoyed it more than setting a Chinese fireworks factory alight!

Good luck with the new car. Can't think of 2 more extreme opposites. But if needs must...

Good luck with the new car. Can't think of 2 more extreme opposites. But if needs must...

It's not needs.

I am just bored with the GT-R after seven months. The LEAF is on a trial and I've got a week left in it.

I was offered the LEAF for free, so as I am interested in cars in general it seemed sensible to see if it really was viable as a daily car.

I would do that same if I was offered a 2 week trial!

They offer a 24 hour test drive in one but the nearest dealer to me is Hull otherwise I would go for it as really want a go in one.

I do really like the idea of one and I think it would work really well as a second car for us and then use the Cordy for the long journeys but we could get by with the leaf for most journeys even ones to see family and friends in Bridlington and Leeds etc.

Phil

It's not needs.

I am just bored with the GT-R after seven months. The LEAF is on a trial and I've got a week left in it.

I was offered the LEAF for free, so as I am interested in cars in general it seemed sensible to see if it really was viable as a daily car.

I see where you're coming from. Have you ever seen the Incredibles? Amazing superhero gets stuck in a normal situation, day after day, and can't use his true potential. Guessing it's a similar story with a GT-R... incredible car that, unless you own the Nurburgring and an oil refinery, you're highly unlikely to reveal the true potential of.

Good luck with future purchases.

I think electric is fine for limited town work, but for the majority of drivers you've need a hybrid electric like the Ampera to make it anywhere near viable.

I'd be interested to see real world running costs for one given you still need fuel to power the on board generator to get to the 350 max range.

I am hoping to blag a test of an Ampera so I can do a comparison.

But at this stage I don't know the chance of success...

I am hoping to blag a test of an Ampera so I can do a comparison.

But at this stage I don't know the chance of success...

Well from the number I see almost daily, I'd say they like having them seen - especially as they can fly!

You can tell the testers/GM staff as they have lead feet and loiter around public places driving slowly away so people get a good look

You could always try tapping Chevrolet for a Volt if Vauxhall don't want to let you have an Ampera, Chevrolet seem to be doing a fine job of re badging European cars and trying to sell them back to us as 'American' cars so you could try one of their American models that has been re badged as a Vauxhall

I'm confused by the Ampera. They keep quoting this 360 mile range as being something new and groundbreaking. The toyota Prius hybrid manages over 500 miles.

Is it that the Ampera achieves it's miles using less fuel?

Phil

The Ampera is an electric car with a Generator. You can charge it at a charging station and it will travel on electricity for some distance (25 to 50miles) at normal car speeds and uses the petrol generator to extend the range by charging the battery.

The Prius is a petrol driven car with an additional electric motor - the electric motor can be used on its on a low speeds for short distances (2-3miles) but at normal speeds the petrol engine is used and recharges the batteries. The electric motor helps the petrol engine when required (under hard acceleration for instance)

Although they both have a engine and electric motor they are completely different. The claimed mpg for the Ampera is 235.4mpg and 27g/co2 so its safe to assume that the Ampera uses less fuel.

Edited 29 May, 201214 yr by io1901

I think the Ampera is a more viable option as a real everyday car. What happens if you want to go further than the relatively small range on the Leaf? The Vauxhall will do your 50 mile commute on electric alone all week costing very little to charge, but then if you go on a longer trip at the weekend it`ll also do that too returning a huge amount of mpg as well.

I think the Ampera is a more viable option as a real everyday car. What happens if you want to go further than the relatively small range on the Leaf? The Vauxhall will do your 50 mile commute on electric alone all week costing very little to charge, but then if you go on a longer trip at the weekend it`ll also do that too returning a huge amount of mpg as well.

I agree, but it's noticably more expensive, a strict four seater and apparently not as good to drive.

Would be interesting to try it first hand.

The Leaf suits a two car family IMO.

Those who have a traditional car for longer weekend trips, when you go as a family but gets used (in our case) a few times a week when the Leaf is on the commute racking up the cheap miles.

For all through the week it makes more sense than I was expecting.

I'm not averse to the idea of an electric motor being a source of propulsion: good torque and a relazing experience behind the wheel. I am not talking about an enthusiast drive but for getting the job done day to day. I do think that the Chevy Volt/ Vauxhall Ampara with a petrol engine generator is a better option than the Leaf. It has had some good reviews from veteran car writers like Steve Cropley. I am afraid the Leaf is too restrictive.

As a follow up to this thread about my time with the Nissan LEAF, I have just borrowed a Vauxhall Ampera for four days.

Let's see if it's as good as it's supposed to be...

Seeing more and more Ampera's around now, they are growing on me.

Being interesting to hear your views on it BF - for us something like a LEAF would be more than viable.

I have the Superb (Company Car) and rack the miles on it, the OH has a Mini @ present but only does about 10-15 miles per day (kids to school then onto work, reverse in the afternoon). At weekends etc we all go out in the Superb.

I guess it's just the initial purchase outlay which looks unattractive but I'd have to do the maths on the entire life costs and see how it balances out.