Should I really get a PHEV?
Discussion
Morning, I've posted on here a few times, mostly asking silly questions, but now I have to make my mind up.
I need to replace my Volvo V60 D4 company car in January, so have been looking at the options for a while. I can't quite get a BRZ to fit the company requirements.....
I do between 25 and 30k a year, mostly on business as I tend to use my WRX on weekends.
The Volvo has been great but I need something bigger - we go camping quite regularly and with 2 kids, tent, camping gear, bikes etc we are struggling.
I have driven a PHEV and was pleasantly surprised, but the main attraction for me is the cost, £64 / month versus £155 / month for the volvo or £200 a month for a 320d.
Now I am aware that the diesel version is recommended for bigger mileages, but then I would lose out on the BiK rates.... However my daily journeys are between 60 and 200 miles with various stop offs / meetings between, so perhaps not too bad.
The only alternatives that I can see for a bigger car other then the PHEV are a VW Passat (I've always had an unreasonable hatred of them), Mondeo (don't mind, but around £190 / month) or Skoda Superb (huge but still £150 / month) - and E Class would be out of the question.
As you can tell, I am rambling a bit as I am trying to justify asking for a PHEV - any help would be good!!
Thanks
I need to replace my Volvo V60 D4 company car in January, so have been looking at the options for a while. I can't quite get a BRZ to fit the company requirements.....
I do between 25 and 30k a year, mostly on business as I tend to use my WRX on weekends.
The Volvo has been great but I need something bigger - we go camping quite regularly and with 2 kids, tent, camping gear, bikes etc we are struggling.
I have driven a PHEV and was pleasantly surprised, but the main attraction for me is the cost, £64 / month versus £155 / month for the volvo or £200 a month for a 320d.
Now I am aware that the diesel version is recommended for bigger mileages, but then I would lose out on the BiK rates.... However my daily journeys are between 60 and 200 miles with various stop offs / meetings between, so perhaps not too bad.
The only alternatives that I can see for a bigger car other then the PHEV are a VW Passat (I've always had an unreasonable hatred of them), Mondeo (don't mind, but around £190 / month) or Skoda Superb (huge but still £150 / month) - and E Class would be out of the question.
As you can tell, I am rambling a bit as I am trying to justify asking for a PHEV - any help would be good!!
Thanks
Chopped in my 520d for an outlander phev, same as you really...dog/family/tax meant it was a no brainer. I couldn't man math my way into anything else 
I commute 20 miles each way a day and can charge at work so run it full electric most of the time with the odd trip to Scotland or Surrey (from Leeds) and since buying it, I'm at 69.5mpg including three of those long runs, got 2300 miles on it now.
I miss the acceleration but am working up a weekend fund to fix that from the tax savings.
If you don't fancy the mitsy. Volvo do a phev v60 but it's list price is 50k so it depends on your budget and you lose a bit of floor space in the boot too.
The Volvo has the advantage of being able to manually combine the elec and engine in 'power' mode so you get about 280bhp iirc. Volvo were also due to launch an xc90 phev too.
I commute 20 miles each way a day and can charge at work so run it full electric most of the time with the odd trip to Scotland or Surrey (from Leeds) and since buying it, I'm at 69.5mpg including three of those long runs, got 2300 miles on it now.
I miss the acceleration but am working up a weekend fund to fix that from the tax savings.
If you don't fancy the mitsy. Volvo do a phev v60 but it's list price is 50k so it depends on your budget and you lose a bit of floor space in the boot too.
The Volvo has the advantage of being able to manually combine the elec and engine in 'power' mode so you get about 280bhp iirc. Volvo were also due to launch an xc90 phev too.
Also to add, if you get a free charging card from ecotricity, the charge points at most services are free and will give you another 20 miles of leccy in 20 minutes. If you've got kids, having a spot right by the services is handy and by the time you've got a coffee and changed the baby you're topped up.
Just try not to stand near the car as you get a lot of curious coach trip types asking you about how it works and how far it goes, etc
Just try not to stand near the car as you get a lot of curious coach trip types asking you about how it works and how far it goes, etc
stewjohnst said:
Just try not to stand near the car as you get a lot of curious coach trip types asking you about how it works and how far it goes, etc
Ha, I'll bear that in mind!The V60 is too small unfortunately and the leccy version is just too much money. I like the idea of the Merc c350 hybrid too, but that's way out of budget. Any idea what the waiting time is for a Phev and which option to choose? I'm thinking of the gx4.
Cheers
I got a gx4hs because I wanted more toys but to be honest the first thing I do when I get in is turn off the lane departure warning because on the country lanes near me it goes off all the time.
The only other differences between the gx4h and gx4hs are the collision mitigation that tells you off all the time when someone in front slows down (I have a brake pedal for that) and the adaptive cruise control which in principle was a good idea but whenever someone nips into the gap between me and the car in front, the car brakes as it thinks I've teleported too close...
I don't think the GX3 has the auxiliary heater so I'd go for a GX4 as you can preheat/cool the car so on a morning you get in and it's already at temperature without wasting battery charge when you're driving.
The only other differences between the gx4h and gx4hs are the collision mitigation that tells you off all the time when someone in front slows down (I have a brake pedal for that) and the adaptive cruise control which in principle was a good idea but whenever someone nips into the gap between me and the car in front, the car brakes as it thinks I've teleported too close...
I don't think the GX3 has the auxiliary heater so I'd go for a GX4 as you can preheat/cool the car so on a morning you get in and it's already at temperature without wasting battery charge when you're driving.
Im in the same boat, 520d due for change March next year and Im drawn by the circa £3K saving per annum in tax.
It works out to have a company fuel card too, as this is taxed at a very low rate. Then the mileage is not a concern.
I have been informed that the order time is circa 5 months for the new 2016 model - better sound insulation and interior finish plus new external look.
I'm ordering mine next month for March 1st delivery.
dj
It works out to have a company fuel card too, as this is taxed at a very low rate. Then the mileage is not a concern.
I have been informed that the order time is circa 5 months for the new 2016 model - better sound insulation and interior finish plus new external look.
I'm ordering mine next month for March 1st delivery.
dj
The PHEV will save you around £100 per month compared to the Superb but on 20k miles per year you will be doing a lot of miles on petrol. On a motorway journey, once the battery has discharged, you will only get around 35mpg.
If you got the Superb you would achieve much better mpg on motorway journeys so the extra £100 per month may be quickly recovered in fuel savings.
I had a similar decision last year and chose the PHEV as my company car, but I do a lot of urban journeys on battery and infrequent motorway journeys, hence the maths works for me. Some of my colleagues who have also taken PHEV are not so pleased as they do longer distances.
If you got the Superb you would achieve much better mpg on motorway journeys so the extra £100 per month may be quickly recovered in fuel savings.
I had a similar decision last year and chose the PHEV as my company car, but I do a lot of urban journeys on battery and infrequent motorway journeys, hence the maths works for me. Some of my colleagues who have also taken PHEV are not so pleased as they do longer distances.
I've got a 2016 GX3+ Outlander PHEV on order & due in Oct. I do about 9000 miles a year mainly local & the P11d savings are a no brainer coming off an Insignia VXLine Red diesl at 117 CO2, but I do have an MX5 weekend toy. If you're getting a PHEV the 4 or 3+ give you the electric heater & app that avoids running the petrol engine to warm or cool the car from start when you have a full charge. I liked the look of the C350e estate but that had too lwo a boot for our boxer & the Passat GTE estate, nwither of which are available in time for me ( both next year). The Golf GTE was an excellent drive but too small ( Arthur Prince in Loughborough had a demo Golf GTE - I don't know if they still have )
Thanks for the replies.
I'm aware that the car isn't perfect in terms of economy over long distances, but I'm hoping that I would be able to stop somewhere with a charging point once a day, so getting around 50 miles 'free' each day.
I don't pay for my work fuel, they pay the full price of my fuel receipts each month then recharge me for any private miles done. This will get very complicated as I will be paying the electricity bill and might not even use any fuel for private miles - if the journeys are short.
I think I'll ask the boss to look into it as I'll need to place an order asap.
Otherwise, it seems to be Superb v Mondeo.....
I'm aware that the car isn't perfect in terms of economy over long distances, but I'm hoping that I would be able to stop somewhere with a charging point once a day, so getting around 50 miles 'free' each day.
I don't pay for my work fuel, they pay the full price of my fuel receipts each month then recharge me for any private miles done. This will get very complicated as I will be paying the electricity bill and might not even use any fuel for private miles - if the journeys are short.
I think I'll ask the boss to look into it as I'll need to place an order asap.
Otherwise, it seems to be Superb v Mondeo.....
See if they will let you switch to claiming pence per mile instead.
As a hybrid, my company (large blue chip) let me claim at the petrol rate as it's technically a petrol car.
I do so many short trips though I have to put the expenses in quite a bit apart as I never have any petrol receipts.
Last claim was for about 400 miles with a receipt for £12 of unleaded
As a hybrid, my company (large blue chip) let me claim at the petrol rate as it's technically a petrol car.
I do so many short trips though I have to put the expenses in quite a bit apart as I never have any petrol receipts.
Last claim was for about 400 miles with a receipt for £12 of unleaded
stewjohnst said:
See if they will let you switch to claiming pence per mile instead.
As a hybrid, my company (large blue chip) let me claim at the petrol rate as it's technically a petrol car.
I do so many short trips though I have to put the expenses in quite a bit apart as I never have any petrol receipts.
Last claim was for about 400 miles with a receipt for £12 of unleaded
Doesn't it cost you money to charge it at home every night? I saw one estimate of £30 a month, which quickly mounts up.As a hybrid, my company (large blue chip) let me claim at the petrol rate as it's technically a petrol car.
I do so many short trips though I have to put the expenses in quite a bit apart as I never have any petrol receipts.
Last claim was for about 400 miles with a receipt for £12 of unleaded
The potential fuel cost to the company is the main sticking point, I'm sure I would prefer something else for driving fun, but there aren't many (any?) cars that meet my needs and are fun to drive.
I drive an Outlander as a work wagon (in "Commercial" trim i.e. base model, no toys and the rear seats/boot area all divided/racked out) and all things considered, it's really rather good. Be prepared for a LOT of questions: seems here's a genuine interest and enthusiasm for cars of this ilk, especially when they glide past in absolute silence.
callahan said:
Doesn't it cost you money to charge it at home every night? I saw one estimate of £30 a month, which quickly mounts up.
The potential fuel cost to the company is the main sticking point, I'm sure I would prefer something else for driving fun, but there aren't many (any?) cars that meet my needs and are fun to drive.
£1.20-£1.70/night according to Mitsubishi, depending upon your 'leccy tariff.The potential fuel cost to the company is the main sticking point, I'm sure I would prefer something else for driving fun, but there aren't many (any?) cars that meet my needs and are fun to drive.
The PHEV is an excellent car! Our guys here liked it a lot. Loads of space, cheap to run and not even that loud either
Although I would definitely recommend taking it out for a test run but try to take it for a long run. We weren’t sure if this is one of this car’s strengths.
Hope this helps!
Although I would definitely recommend taking it out for a test run but try to take it for a long run. We weren’t sure if this is one of this car’s strengths.
Hope this helps!
shep1001 said:
We have several on the fleet. The car tax is low but that's about all they have going for them. All those that chased the low car tax are wishing they hadn't and just stuck to the std 520d rep wagon that was the default offering before these milk float things came along
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