Ampera, talk to me.
Discussion
Hi,
We're seriously looking into the Vauxhall Ampera as our next family car.
It'll be within the used market, so I'd like to hear of any problems people have encountered with them, has anyone racked up a large mileage and what are if any the points to look for on a 3 year old car.
Many thanks
We're seriously looking into the Vauxhall Ampera as our next family car.
It'll be within the used market, so I'd like to hear of any problems people have encountered with them, has anyone racked up a large mileage and what are if any the points to look for on a 3 year old car.
Many thanks
MergeBeats said:
Hi,
We're seriously looking into the Vauxhall Ampera as our next family car.
It'll be within the used market, so I'd like to hear of any problems people have encountered with them, has anyone racked up a large mileage and what are if any the points to look for on a 3 year old car.
Many thanks
First point worth noting. It only has four seats.We're seriously looking into the Vauxhall Ampera as our next family car.
It'll be within the used market, so I'd like to hear of any problems people have encountered with them, has anyone racked up a large mileage and what are if any the points to look for on a 3 year old car.
Many thanks
The boot is relatively small, compared to other vehicles with similar exterior dimensions.
According to Vauxhaul you are not allowed to use a roof rack (it was a condition of my buying one, they said no, I didn't buy one.) That said you can see pics of people who put roof racks on them, and plenty of places seem to sell the bits needed to make it work.
Drivetrain is fun though.
According to Vauxhaul you are not allowed to use a roof rack (it was a condition of my buying one, they said no, I didn't buy one.) That said you can see pics of people who put roof racks on them, and plenty of places seem to sell the bits needed to make it work.
Drivetrain is fun though.
Had mine for 3 years and covered circa 30k miles in it. Average mpg sitting at 100. If your regular daily commute is less than say 35 miles then they make sense, but as said below, the mpg in ICE mode is not fantastic, circa 40.
My main concern with second hand would be warranty cover and dealer support. Not every Vauxall dealer will service one and you may have to wait several weeks for a servicing 'slot'. Ours (we've currently got 3) have been relatively reliable though so unplanned visits to the dealer have been few and far between.
My main concern with second hand would be warranty cover and dealer support. Not every Vauxall dealer will service one and you may have to wait several weeks for a servicing 'slot'. Ours (we've currently got 3) have been relatively reliable though so unplanned visits to the dealer have been few and far between.
Daily trips will be under 3 miles, town within 10 miles once a week, and then 3 larger towns within 25 miles maybe twice a month. This is really the furthest we travel (family all nearby), apart from the odd summer away to Cornwall etc. So range wise I'm happy.
The real worry would be the battery and electric motor failure, I'd imagine that could potentially write some of these off, as the prices of them are low considering their initial cost.
The yanks appear to see 100K off easily with no problems.
Feels like a no brainer but I'm worried about dealer back up on a model they've already dropped.......
The real worry would be the battery and electric motor failure, I'd imagine that could potentially write some of these off, as the prices of them are low considering their initial cost.
The yanks appear to see 100K off easily with no problems.
Feels like a no brainer but I'm worried about dealer back up on a model they've already dropped.......
Cheers for all the replies.
Sat in an Ampera yesterday, and was rather impressed.
The only down part is the touch button switching in the centre (looks horrid and had some marking on it)
Why oh why don't these dealers have this things charged and ready to test drive!!! Most of the adverts showing photos of the dash, show the battery as empty! "Would you like a test drive?" Yes but as a full battery version please
Just got to get the wife on board before I commit to a test drive.
The pre conditioning will be a big plus as you can get the cabin warmed up prior to getting in it.
The Prius just isn't going to cut it for looks, and I'm not keen on fully electric and the range anxiety that could ensue........
The dealer says that Vauxhall cover the battery for 10 years, which appeals.
Sat in an Ampera yesterday, and was rather impressed.
The only down part is the touch button switching in the centre (looks horrid and had some marking on it)
Why oh why don't these dealers have this things charged and ready to test drive!!! Most of the adverts showing photos of the dash, show the battery as empty! "Would you like a test drive?" Yes but as a full battery version please
Just got to get the wife on board before I commit to a test drive.
The pre conditioning will be a big plus as you can get the cabin warmed up prior to getting in it.
The Prius just isn't going to cut it for looks, and I'm not keen on fully electric and the range anxiety that could ensue........
The dealer says that Vauxhall cover the battery for 10 years, which appeals.
MergeBeats said:
I'm not keen on fully electric and the range anxiety that could ensue........
I suggested the Leaf as an option because everything here...MergeBeats said:
Daily trips will be under 3 miles, town within 10 miles once a week, and then 3 larger towns within 25 miles maybe twice a month. This is really the furthest we travel (family all nearby), apart from the odd summer away to Cornwall etc. So range wise I'm happy.
...said that other than the holiday trips to Cornwall etc. the furthest you're going to drive is a 50 mile trip. That's well within the range of an EV like a Leaf, winter weather included. Fine if its not your thing, but I just wasn't sure where the range anxiety would come from on the short trips.I've come to this late, but I will sling my two penn'orth into the pot for what it's worth.
I am a one-time Vauxhall Dealer and tuning specialist - so I'm a bit Vauxhall-centric, but I was scarcely aware of the existance of the Ampera. When nudged I just about recalled there was a full page colour ad I saw just once in a magazine somewhere. This car must be one of the best kept secrets since Area 52: if a long-standing Vauxhall aficionado such as me was unaware of the existance of the Ampera is it any wonder they didn't sell?
Yet this car was universally acclaimed in Vauxhall or Chevrolet guise as one of - if not THE - best hybrid on the road anywhere! I think Vauxhall must have wilfully let it fail due to some "political" spat with GM's HQ in Detroit or something. Whatever the reason, Vauxhall should be thoroughly ASHAMED.
I bought a 2012 Ampera with 13k on the clock last September and it is simply brilliant! The worst range we've ever seen on batteries was 26 miles but we have seen 43. The low figure included a lot of cabin heat (a very cold day) and i was looning about enjoying ripping off the lights, leaving the hotshoes in their turbo whizz-wagons standing! The high figure was obtained by taking the economy thing seriously and driving in a circumspect manner but not being a rolling roadblock.
Regarding petrol economy, I am puzzled. We consistently get over 50 mpg when on petrol and driving sensibly and have managed 56 in favourable conditions.
Talking of "looning about", anybody who knows Milton Keynes will recognise the proponderence of roundabouts there. Well, without breaking speed limits or other traffic laws, a lot of fun can be had whizzing round the roundabouts which come up regularly. The Ampera is a hoot at this! It has prodigious grip and corners at extraordinary speeds whilst remaining dead flat and is very accurately pointable, and if you put it into "Sport" mode the acceleration out of the exits is totally addictive! What is fun, too, is the expression on the faces of the drivers of the quick things that the Ampera gave a run for their money when they realise that 1/ It's a Vauxhall and 2/ it's ELECTRIC!
I am sorry if I've drifted off topic but I would say that if you've half a mind to get one then let me supply the other half and urge you to go and get it NOW! You'll get a car which is amazingly highly equipped, very comfortable, very stylish and very rare car. This is the first car (out of many dozens) that my wife and I squabble over who has the greater justification to be taking the Ampera today!
I'm afraid I've given the impression that I'm a hooligan behind the wheel! I do normally drive quite moderately and in accordance with my age - but sometimes I'll let my hair down just a little!
I am a one-time Vauxhall Dealer and tuning specialist - so I'm a bit Vauxhall-centric, but I was scarcely aware of the existance of the Ampera. When nudged I just about recalled there was a full page colour ad I saw just once in a magazine somewhere. This car must be one of the best kept secrets since Area 52: if a long-standing Vauxhall aficionado such as me was unaware of the existance of the Ampera is it any wonder they didn't sell?
Yet this car was universally acclaimed in Vauxhall or Chevrolet guise as one of - if not THE - best hybrid on the road anywhere! I think Vauxhall must have wilfully let it fail due to some "political" spat with GM's HQ in Detroit or something. Whatever the reason, Vauxhall should be thoroughly ASHAMED.
I bought a 2012 Ampera with 13k on the clock last September and it is simply brilliant! The worst range we've ever seen on batteries was 26 miles but we have seen 43. The low figure included a lot of cabin heat (a very cold day) and i was looning about enjoying ripping off the lights, leaving the hotshoes in their turbo whizz-wagons standing! The high figure was obtained by taking the economy thing seriously and driving in a circumspect manner but not being a rolling roadblock.
Regarding petrol economy, I am puzzled. We consistently get over 50 mpg when on petrol and driving sensibly and have managed 56 in favourable conditions.
Talking of "looning about", anybody who knows Milton Keynes will recognise the proponderence of roundabouts there. Well, without breaking speed limits or other traffic laws, a lot of fun can be had whizzing round the roundabouts which come up regularly. The Ampera is a hoot at this! It has prodigious grip and corners at extraordinary speeds whilst remaining dead flat and is very accurately pointable, and if you put it into "Sport" mode the acceleration out of the exits is totally addictive! What is fun, too, is the expression on the faces of the drivers of the quick things that the Ampera gave a run for their money when they realise that 1/ It's a Vauxhall and 2/ it's ELECTRIC!
I am sorry if I've drifted off topic but I would say that if you've half a mind to get one then let me supply the other half and urge you to go and get it NOW! You'll get a car which is amazingly highly equipped, very comfortable, very stylish and very rare car. This is the first car (out of many dozens) that my wife and I squabble over who has the greater justification to be taking the Ampera today!
I'm afraid I've given the impression that I'm a hooligan behind the wheel! I do normally drive quite moderately and in accordance with my age - but sometimes I'll let my hair down just a little!
audi321 said:
I'm going for a test drive tomorrow.......has anyone any pointers in what to look out for? I bet it's not charged up!
Out of interest how did the test drive go?I looked into the Ampera a while ago. I liked it a lot, and IMHO it's the best looking Vauxhall in years. Looked really good in white. But for me the deal breakers were:
- I wanted to run it as a hybrid without plugging it in, but it isn't really designed for that use case.
- MPG in petrol mode wasn't very good. I seem to recall I got about 40mpg, which for a 4 seat car wasn't very good IMHO.
- Didn't like the centre console trim and the membrane buttons.
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