Diesel & petrol alternatives? Your thoughts please

KellyHenderson replied on 14/09/2017 14:26

KellyHenderson

Posted on 14/09/2017 14:26

Good Afternoon,

Hopefully you have now received your September Club Magazine and read the Ask Your Club article (see attached photo) regarding the future of caravanning post 2040.

Have you already changed your vehicle from diesel to petrol?

Is anyone already towing with a hybrid? Maybe a Tesla Model X?

Has the news affected your plans for your next towcar?

It will also be interesting to see how motorhomes evolve into hybrids and/or electric models, which alternative to diesel would you prefer to buy; Hybrid or electric?

Are you concerned about so few alternatives to diesel at the moment? Would you choose petrol instead if they were more widely available? There is now a VW T6 camper with a petrol engine available.

Has this news made you think about switching to a car and caravan? Equally would caravanners consider trading in their car and caravan to purchase a hybrid or electric motorhome?

From the questions above, we would love to have your feedback.

One thing is for sure, there will be some interesting times ahead.

Gallery

2 people like this

593 replies

Tigi replied on 10/10/2017 19:32

Member

Tigi

Posted on 10/10/2017 19:32

Daily mail quotes a 40% increase in insurance costs for an electric car due to cost of car initially and costs of repairs, presumably hybrids will also have an uplift.

brue replied on 10/10/2017 19:40

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 10/10/2017 19:40

Oh dear, ditch the DM and hear the truth..the insurance is much the same as your average car insurance and usage.

2 people like this

EmilysDad replied on 19/10/2017 21:30

Member

EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 19/10/2017 21:30

This is very interesting .... How toxic is your car

Testing & the figures they give us are a farce.

Merve replied on 25/10/2017 20:30

Member

Merve

Caravanner from Leicestershire

Posted on 25/10/2017 20:30

I read that Mazda have a ‘ground breaking’ engine’ called the ‘Skyactiv-X - a spark injection enginewhich will be launched Tokyo motor show. It’s not electric but petrol and combines all that is good about petrol and Diesel engines. 30% more torque and 20-30% more efficient. Far less polluting too. They even suggest that it could save the petrol engine.

replied on 25/10/2017 20:52

Posted on 25/10/2017 20:52

Post 2040? I doubt that I shall live long enough and still be touring to consider it a problem beyond that date.

lornalou1 replied on 25/10/2017 21:33

lornalou1

Caravanner from Lancashire

Posted on 25/10/2017 20:52 by

Post 2040? I doubt that I shall live long enough and still be touring to consider it a problem beyond that date.

Posted on 25/10/2017 21:33

SNAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LeTouriste replied on 06/11/2017 16:16

Member

LeTouriste

Caravanner

Posted on 16/09/2017 07:08 by Alex Cassells

Hi, we have an Outlander PHEV and our experience is similar to Lutz. Day to day solo, we do not use any petrol. When towing it does the job well being heavy enough and very stable. But the battery life is negligible when towing and the engine is noisy when worked hard.

When our old Touareg kept having expensive problems, we chose to buy our first ever new car, to try to avoid future expensive repair bills. The fuel savings we made by choosing the PHEV allowed us to buy (PCP) new.

Whilst it's a far from ideal towcar, it suits us as an all rounder one car family. It also swung the pendulum from a 3ltr high consumption all the time user to an, only when towing high consumption user. And whilst it wasn't our first consideration it has had the secondary benefit of lowering our families emissions.

We are very happy with it. Cheers, Alex.

Posted on 06/11/2017 16:16

I have been looking at an Outlander PHEV, and on first considerations it sounded like an ideal successor to our present 2009 VW Touran 1.9 TDI. Although the Touran has not yet reached the 5,000 miles mark, I have been thinking about changing based on possibilities that the government might impose eye-watering penalties for diesels, to "move us along" in getting them off the roads.

Although my Touran pulls at near to its maximum trailer weight of 1500kg without any hassle, a motoring correspondent on one website did a road test on the Outlander PHEV (15-plate) and, whilst everything sounded rosy during the test (solo), he ended by saying that, if it was to be used as a tow car, it would be better to go for the diesel alternative. So now I am back to square one regarding what would be suitable. I am totally alien towards a petrol-only car to replace diesel as owners of such cars who I have spoken to all indicate a comparatively horrendous increase in fuel consumption - both for towing and solo.

The current position is that it may be more economical to stay with my diesel Touran, whatever supplements in emission tax the government might inflict upon the likes of me.

EmilysDad replied on 06/11/2017 18:55

Member

EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 06/11/2017 16:16 by LeTouriste

I have been looking at an Outlander PHEV, and on first considerations it sounded like an ideal successor to our present 2009 VW Touran 1.9 TDI. Although the Touran has not yet reached the 5,000 miles mark, I have been thinking about changing based on possibilities that the government might impose eye-watering penalties for diesels, to "move us along" in getting them off the roads.

Although my Touran pulls at near to its maximum trailer weight of 1500kg without any hassle, a motoring correspondent on one website did a road test on the Outlander PHEV (15-plate) and, whilst everything sounded rosy during the test (solo), he ended by saying that, if it was to be used as a tow car, it would be better to go for the diesel alternative. So now I am back to square one regarding what would be suitable. I am totally alien towards a petrol-only car to replace diesel as owners of such cars who I have spoken to all indicate a comparatively horrendous increase in fuel consumption - both for towing and solo.

The current position is that it may be more economical to stay with my diesel Touran, whatever supplements in emission tax the government might inflict upon the likes of me.

Posted on 06/11/2017 18:55

An 8 year old car with just 5000 miles on the clock? 😲 I wouldn't consider replacing it. 😉

1 person likes this