Off Topic ! Seen the new Volvo ?

[Partridge9]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/first-drives/first-drive-review-volvo-v60-plug-hybrid

Just curious - I know some of you have hybrids - what do you make of this ?

[Ciderhead]

+ 155Mpg

-- Price that will be +60K before it gets here, for that sort of money you could get a high spec'd diesel A6, 5 series or E220 all 50mpg and much bigger vehicles

5 years time technology will be mainstream wealthy green early adopters with deep pockets in the meantime

[Partridge9]

I think its pricing in Ireland is around the 40k mark - but I take you point !

[Ciderhead]

its 47Stg across the water and you qualify for a 5K Govt rebate for an electric car over there, the current base model here is 36K Hybrid are not even listed or the fact that they might not even be sold here
Interesting article I read last year and the real cost of electric http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2012/1017/1224325325202.html

[Partridge9]

So if one was to invest in a hybrid - what would you go for ..

[johnrm]

My Dad had 2 x Lexus Hybrids and he reckoned that they cost as much to run as a Regular car gas wise.
He has gone back to a Diesel Merc.

[johnrm]

Sorry, that was a bit Troll-ish.
I will quiz him next time I'm chatting with him and back this up.

[johnrm]

My Dad is not one to sit and listen to the technical jargon, so he may well have picked up some tidbit about 'better for the environment' but missed out on how.
Oh well.

[Partridge9]

My Dad had 2 x Lexus Hybrids and he reckoned that they cost as much to run as a Regular car gas wise.
He has gone back to a Diesel Merc.

There are two reasons to for hybrids, one is performance (all the extra motors etc), and the other is economy.

Lexus Hybrids are not for built for economy. They're built to give you 4.0 litre performance from a 3.3 litre engine.

We have two petrol hybrids in the driveway, both of which do 60 mpg handy (75 if I'm driving ). Diesel fumes are seriously bad for the health so until full-electric cars are affordable we're sticking with petrol hybrids.

Just curious about your aversion to Diesels. The new ones have seriously low emissions -
but I did drive my dads old Audi 2.5tdi and it was a belcher - if someone was annoying me from behind - I could literally emit a huge black cloud by dropping an gear a flooring it - probably some oil in there as well - James Bond eat your heart out !

But the new diesels are super low no ??

As diesels have very good MPG or litres/100km
I would have thought ultimately a diesel hybrid was the way to go (once they have bedded down).

Also you mention that you like a 'plug in' car (the idea) as a second car - I agree - are there no plugin hybrids (3 years old) ?

[Paul]

Diesels are low in the emissions that the tax system measures: co2.

They are high in particle emissions so have a negative impact on air quality in built up areas. One of the reasons that diesels are virtually unheard if in the US is that they do not meet their stricter emission standards without adding filters that kill the performance.

[Ciderhead]

UK car tax system set to change in their budget and have more equilibrium and avoid incentives for driving low emission vehicles, and sure enough we will follow suit so the money grabbers can screw us further into the ground. In 12 months time I don't believe there will be a significant incentive to drive Diesel or any lower tax vehicles

[Ciderhead]

Diesels are low in the emissions that the tax system measures: co2.

They are high in particle emissions so have a negative impact on air quality in built up areas. One of the reasons that diesels are virtually unheard if in the US is that they do not meet their stricter emission standards without adding filters that kill the performance.

Nail on head Paul.

In addition as well as adversely affecting air quality, diesel fumes are recognised as being carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation.

@Ciderhead, diesel, like cigarettes, should be disincentivised. In the UK diesel company cars already incur an extra 3% BIK due to pollution.

From April 2016, the UK government will remove the 3% diesel supplement differential so that diesel cars will be subject to the same level of tax as petrol cars. This is likely to greatly advantage company diesel car users, and will further boost the UK market share of diesel vehicles. However, this will lead to an increase in overall NOx and particulate emissions, which as you say are higher for diesel cars as compared to petrol.

[Ciderhead]

"In order to limit pollution caused by road vehicles, the Euro 6 Standard will come into force on 1 September 2014 for the approval of vehicles and from 1 January 2015 for the registration and sale of new types of cars

All vehicles equipped with a diesel engine will be required to substantially reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides as soon as the Euro 6 Standard enters into force. For example, emissions from cars and other vehicles intended to be used for transport will be capped at 80 mg/km (an additional reduction of more than 50% compared to the Euro 5 Standard). Combined emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles will also be reduced. These will be capped at, for example, 170 mg/km for cars and other vehicles intended to be used for transport."

[Partridge9]

Interesting that John,

This article also mentions the higher standards on NOx in the US

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20130109-why-do-americans-not-buy-diesels


So basically in 2015/16 the emissions will be good - or comparable to a petrol.

[DEMPSEY]

My yoke has a 2.7 Litre engine and when NCT comes around each year, 1 Litre of Dipetane into the tank,immediately fill up your tank with fuel and drive until empty. Pass's so well you could breath the air straight from the exhaust pipe.