3 hours ago, croquemonsieur said:

I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that cars are getting too big, certainly too wide. This link shows that some others may agree too.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/cars-becoming-so-large-that-household-garages-no-longer-fit-for-purpose/ar-AALU9F3?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

 

Even the Karoq which no one would regard as a large car these days, is virtually as wide as my Saab 9-5 of a few years ago & that was supposedly an Executive car.

My drive has a narrow point that all my previous cars have got through without issue. Eg Carlton, Mondeos, Peugeot 405, Audi coupe, Yetis, Superb mk1. However very tight with Karoq only an inch between drivers wing mirror and wall at narrowing to play with!

Interesting - the Peugeot e 2008 is near enough 3" narrower than the Karoq and maybe an inch narrower than the Yeti.  I think the original Golf+ was a little narrower still - I was interested years ago, but strangely for VWs found the seats unfomfortable, even on a 10 minute trial run.  The Nissan Note was no doubt yet narrower & has been a popular about-town run-about, but never got good reviews.  I'll not get into the original BMC Mini nor prewar Austin 7.

I've changed my mind already

 

Retired lecturer converts 1934 Austin Seven into electric runabout (msn.com)

 

 

With the Karoq being bit big (and wider than ideal for most parking spaces), came across a possible alternative today (at Bradford-On-Avon food festival which has Toyota as sponsor) and that is new Yaris Cross

 

Liked the size, (4172mm x 1765mm wide x 1595mm tall) very comfortable to sit in (although it was a top spec premiere edition 1.5 hybrid awd). However it was all rather black and dark inside (rather than being light and airy)

 

Great for a couple, or those with smaller children or grandchildren, but perhaps marginally small for 4 adults.

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, SurreyJohn said:

With the Karoq being bit big (and wider than ideal for most parking spaces), came across a possible alternative today (at Bradford-On-Avon food festival which has Toyota as sponsor) and that is new Yaris Cross

 

Liked the size, (4172mm x 1765mm wide x 1595mm tall) very comfortable to sit in (although it was a top spec premiere edition 1.5 hybrid awd). However it was all rather black and dark inside (rather than being light and airy)

 

Great for a couple, or those with smaller children or grandchildren, but perhaps marginally small for 4 adults.

 

 

 

 

Toyota seem to like their black and dark interiors - it all comes across as bit too dark for me, especially on a hot sunny day, that aside I like Toyota's..........we looked recently at the new Yaris range but like a 2014 Yaris of ours (staying with the dark theme) it lacks illuminated steering wheel controls.

 

Now I'm primed ready for the inevitable witty, angry and / or sarcastic 'call yourself a driver' retorts but, it's a big deal when you've got so many buttons on the wheel and you only drive it occasionally - neglecting a little bit of backlighting is penny pinching.

 

 I challenged Toyota about the problem and, like all manufacturers, 'you're the first to mention that sir'!

On 09/07/2021 at 19:42, e-Roottoot said:

@domhnallGood stuff from East Lothian Council.  There are Regional Councils in Scotland that need to get their act together like ones north of the Central Belt or of Perth.

 

The very different costs to charge around Scotland at Charge Place Scotland chargers has become ridiculous.  Highland Region being far from funny.

 

 

why would or should it be the same George? The councils will have to recover the cost of the power (and their deals do vary), as well as the maintenance of the chargers and of the grid connection charges, all of which will vary from one council to the next. The only things that will be common will be the transaction charges charged by CPS. 

 

 

 

@domhnall  Have you been going North of Perth much and charging your car?

 

Compare East Lothian with what the Highland Region has provided and is charging and there is no comparison.

Then around Edinburgh it is pathetic currently for chargers out of order. The cost set by Edinburgh Council seems way off as well. 

 

Along the Moray Coast like at Forres, Elgin or Buckie where the Council is regularly cutting services because of lack of money you can plug in and charge  and it costs £3.80 or some are £3.90.

Bargain.

A few miles west into Highland region and to get a charge on a vehicle with not a very big battery it is more than double, sometimes much more.

Nairn 30 pence a kWh.   Go East to Banff, Fraserburgh etc & it is  21 pence a kWh

 

Lots of people will be happy to pay a fair price for a fair, good and reliable service around Scotland and this is what will encourage in new EV drivers.

There are Councils have set the cost to plug in and charge and cost of a kW at prices that do not reflect what they actually providing as a service as far as maintenance goes.

SWARCO have a lot to do with that though, they really have been taking the pith.

 

There is a new regime in place and time will tell of SWARCO / Evolt get their act together and chargers are not out of commission for weeks or even months as there have been around many places in Scotland.

 

The truth of the matter was how few maintenance operatives there were covering Scotland up until very recently when there were new ones taken on.

 

Bottom is Angus Council minutes and them deciding what to set as cost to charge.  

Edited 2 August, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot