03-03-2024, 10:45 PM
(03-03-2024, 11:25 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:So I put down a deposit on a car yesterday.
I've gone conventional ICE.
will likely be the last one we buy, but I read the room. My 16 year old mondeo replaced for a vw arteon. Was one of about 3 cars I could find in that size, shape with that sort of liftback that I actually liked.
I'm told it's the last one that dealer will sell.
The alternatives were all SUV or a lot smaller or much more expensive or similar priced and EV. no solar at home made the choice easier as it meant charging on the grid or adding 20 grand to the cost of the car.
The mrs car is an SUV and we didn't want another. we'll probably know a lot more about cars and EVs vs hydrogen when it's time to replace her 2017 xtrail.
Hopefully that's minimum 7 years away and they can make newer cars better. At least we'll know if EV is the way to go by then (or we'll have minimal choice).
In this discussion I had a thought the other day. First ev I could think of was a prius. You would think Toyota would have been at the forefront of EV given that factor. Why did they elect to dump it? Only answer I can come up with is the numbers dont work.
Punters are sticking on the fence and buying hybrids...SUVs are just jacked up cars usually on the same platforms. They have the same engines, use more fuel and are 25-30% dearer than a normal car but are seen as safer being higher on the road and have been a marketing dream for car
companies who are cashing in.
Toyota have moved away from EVs because they can't compete with the Chinese who dominate in that area, hence the love for Hydrogen..got nothing to do with the environment, saving the planet etc but all to do with money and having market share.Had a ride in my relations Haval Jolion recently and was pleasantly surprised, I'm no fan of Chinese manufactured items but the car was comfortable, ran well and the dual clutch auto meshed well with hybrid setup.
Can see why people are buying them and why you see dealerships everywhere.
They will dominate the Aus motor scene and it will be interesting to see how Toyota responds with both pricing, supply and quality of new vehicles.