Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Mr Skrunts on 18 March 2025, 17:11:30
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After looking into business car insurance and looking at all things related, it would be as shame to start racking up up high mileage on the Omega Its only 58k on it and is hardly used, so to suddenly add 400/800 a week on it is a shame and at 22/34MPG is* rather expensive to run.
Googled the most Economical PHEV to see what came and was surprised to see the MG HS with a quoted 564.96 mpg 299BHP and 6.8 0 to 60 was there as an option with a Toyota Yaris.
Not as ugly as the early modern MG cars.
:-X
But might at least go have a test drive. ::)
With the high mileage I would prefer something more spacious like the old Senator or the Scorpio 2.9
Would happily go for comfort over MPG, but even returning half that MPG is over 10x the Omega
Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
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How economical a PHEV is in the real world has everything to do with the length of your journey. The 500+ mpg will be over a standard test route (50 miles maybe?) so if the car does most of it on pure EV that will skew the figures. Once the initial battery is depleted, I doubt the PHEV will do better than the average diesel euro box.
If your max length of journey allows it (150miles ish max) then an EV charged at home is cheap to run. Otherwise id be looking at a diesel exec saloon to put those kind of miles on.
If it were me I'd have an F10 BMW 520/530d.
Al will suggest an e class of some variety I'm sure ;)
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My eldest has a Nissan Joke hybrid, the range on the electric side is a joke. ::) , 1.5 to 2 mls. :o
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How economical a PHEV is in the real world has everything to do with the length of your journey. The 500+ mpg will be over a standard test route (50 miles maybe?) so if the car does most of it on pure EV that will skew the figures. Once the initial battery is depleted, I doubt the PHEV will do better than the average diesel euro box.
If your max length of journey allows it (150miles ish max) then an EV charged at home is cheap to run. Otherwise id be looking at a diesel exec saloon to put those kind of miles on.
If it were me I'd have an F10 BMW 520/530d.
Al will suggest an e class of some variety I'm sure ;)
Agreed. :y
The MG HS PHEV for example at 564.96mpg. If the MG did a journey of 100 miles and 60 (it’s limit on battery) of those miles were on battery, the remaining 40 miles (its average mpg on petrol) would be on petrol. They calculate that as 100mpg as only one gallon was used to complete the journey. Drive it on battery every day for round trips of less than 60 miles and charging it every day, the mpg could be infinite. It’s a load of 'dangle berries' really, but handy if you only do short runs. :y
…….
If it were me I'd have an F10 BMW 520/530d.
Good choice. :y
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Good choice. :y
My FIL.has one, an LCI 520d SE manual. Other than having the wrong gearbox (honestly it's like BMW punish you for choosing the manual in that car) it's a lovely thing. Even as a base spec it has DAB, cruise control and heated seats, which are the only three things I'd care about in a motorway cruiser and gets easily into the 50's mpg on a run.
It's the car I should have bought instead of the Chrysler, but that was an itch I just had to scratch ;D
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How economical a PHEV is in the real world has everything to do with the length of your journey. The 500+ mpg will be over a standard test route (50 miles maybe?) so if the car does most of it on pure EV that will skew the figures. Once the initial battery is depleted, I doubt the PHEV will do better than the average diesel euro box.
If your max length of journey allows it (150miles ish max) then an EV charged at home is cheap to run. Otherwise id be looking at a diesel exec saloon to put those kind of miles on.
If it were me I'd have an F10 BMW 520/530d.
Al will suggest an e class of some variety I'm sure ;)
Of course ;D
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I think my mates old PHEV was claimed to be about 150mpg. He worked 2.5 miles from home, and struggled in winter to do it there and back on electric (and we're not allowed to charge EV's at our company).
On the petrol engine, even with him being a hypermiler, he was looking at around 25-35 mpg, because it was a heavy car with heavy batteries and a tiny petrol engine.
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I have a mate who has the 360BHP Pug 5008SW (I think) and he averages 80 MPG he says, he is an advanced driver and relies on his licensee for his job so having the power under foot for him is a waste as he never uses it.
Other than him I dont know any other PHEV owners .
No way I want an EV
Never wanted a Diesel
I saw a few Audi A8 PHEV listed on Auto trader a while back, they tick a lot of boxes for me but just not the estate option but I can live with that. Plus the AWD adds to the tick list for all the snow we get in the UK ::)
If I do buy a PHEV it would only be after borrowing/renting for maybe 2 days to give it drive it a like I stole it test drive then a MPG test run.
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I am considering a RRS Phev as my next company hack
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I am considering a RRS Phev as my next company hack
Only because you won't have to pay for the battery modules that fail on them at a cost of £17k ;D
I think there has been a recall on MHEV JLR's with a similar issue as well, the modules on top of the 48V battery, but they're much cheaper (less than £2k for part and fitting).
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I am considering a RRS Phev as my next company hack
Only because you won't have to pay for the battery modules that fail on them at a cost of £17k ;D
I think there has been a recall on MHEV JLR's with a similar issue as well, the modules on top of the 48V battery, but they're much cheaper (less than £2k for part and fitting).
DC-DC converter..........its a design I am reviewing as I type
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I am considering a RRS Phev as my next company hack
Only because you won't have to pay for the battery modules that fail on them at a cost of £17k ;D
I think there has been a recall on MHEV JLR's with a similar issue as well, the modules on top of the 48V battery, but they're much cheaper (less than £2k for part and fitting).
DC-DC converter..........its a design I am reviewing as I type
Ah, so now I know who to blame when I buy one in about 15yrs time ;D
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But I will know how to fix it.....(I already do as it happens) :y
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But I will know how to fix it.....(I already do as it happens) :y
And conveniently, I know where you live for when I break it, which I'm sure I will.
I'll let Mrs DTM to get the choccie biccies in ;D
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Just been looking at the Skoda Superbs
Fuel type Petrol Plug-in Hybrid
Range80 miles
Body type Estate
Engine1.5L
Gearbox Automatic
Average 681.30 mpg##
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412187379441?sort=mileage&searchId=7a695370-925b-406a-8348-0ae34ff48d99&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&body-type=Saloon&colour=Blue&colour=Grey&colour=Silver&fuel-consumption=OVER_60&fuel-type=Petrol%20Plug-in%20Hybrid&make=Skoda&model=Superb&postcode=S66%207LF&year-from=2022&fromsra (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412187379441?sort=mileage&searchId=7a695370-925b-406a-8348-0ae34ff48d99&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&body-type=Saloon&colour=Blue&colour=Grey&colour=Silver&fuel-consumption=OVER_60&fuel-type=Petrol%20Plug-in%20Hybrid&make=Skoda&model=Superb&postcode=S66%207LF&year-from=2022&fromsra)
Might go have a test drive :y
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It’s a big car, built on the same platform as the Audi A6 Avant I believe, but then stretched a little. Being a Skoda it will have more toys in than an Audi A6 as Audi are so tight with gadgets so they can charge you for everything as an option. ::)
I actually looked at a Sport Line before buying my Audi Avant.
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I wonder when car companies will start building screens into the dash rather than sticking them on with duck tape and super glue? ::)
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I wonder when car companies will start building screens into the dash rather than sticking them on with duck tape and super glue? ::)
Is it because if you buy them in another market (china/India for example) you get a smaller/no screen :-\. Lazy design either way.
Perhaps our JLR technology correspondent can offer some insight...
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Its the sheer size, we always had integrated screens which sat within the IP shape, since they have headed past the 200mm mark it becomes pretty much impossible to keep them within the IP shape without compromising the likes of the HVAC (which is what takes most of the behind IP space up).
Screen size is being driven very much by the move to reduce physical switches (something I, and many others, don't like......but designers are weird and all powerful it would seem) so the real estate is being driven by the need to create large touch areas as well as supporting more complex info panels, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) is very much not helping here.
It may shrink a bit as the laser projection HUDs (Head Up Display) arrive and project across larger areas of the windscreen.
You really don't want to know how many display outputs I am being asked for for the 2030+ architecture!
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Its the sheer size, we always had integrated screens which sat within the IP shape, since they have headed past the 200mm mark it becomes pretty much impossible to keep them within the IP shape without compromising the likes of the HVAC (which is what takes most of the behind IP space up).
Screen size is being driven very much by the move to reduce physical switches (something I, and many others, don't like......but designers are weird and all powerful it would seem) so the real estate is being driven by the need to create large touch areas as well as supporting more complex info panels, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) is very much not helping here.
It may shrink a bit as the laser projection HUDs (Head Up Display) arrive and project across larger areas of the windscreen.
You really don't want to know how many display outputs I am being asked for for the 2030+ architecture!
I believe NCAP are in the process of downgrading scores for vehicles where most functions are controlled by a touch screen. It is ridiculous to expect a driver to adjust the most basic functions by taking their eyes off the road to fiddle with a central screen. Lazy design.
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Its the sheer size, we always had integrated screens which sat within the IP shape, since they have headed past the 200mm mark it becomes pretty much impossible to keep them within the IP shape without compromising the likes of the HVAC (which is what takes most of the behind IP space up).
Screen size is being driven very much by the move to reduce physical switches (something I, and many others, don't like......but designers are weird and all powerful it would seem) so the real estate is being driven by the need to create large touch areas as well as supporting more complex info panels, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) is very much not helping here.
It may shrink a bit as the laser projection HUDs (Head Up Display) arrive and project across larger areas of the windscreen.
You really don't want to know how many display outputs I am being asked for for the 2030+ architecture!
I believe NCAP are in the process of downgrading scores for vehicles where most functions are controlled by a touch screen. It is ridiculous to expect a driver to adjust the most basic functions by taking their eyes off the road to fiddle with a central screen. Lazy design.
Don't get to excited though, its only primary functions like indicators, wipers, hazards, horn etc (applies to new vehicle tests as of 2026), the other useful things like climate control etc does not apply
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I dread to think what you'd find down the back of one of those screens when you get your new to you car home. Dirty knickers..... Used condom.... ;D
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I dread to think what you'd find down the back of one of those screens when you get your new to you car home. Dirty knickers..... Used condom.... ;D
4, different stockings under the back seat of one of my Capris....
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so rang the Skoda dealer to see what a realistic MPG would be, he suggested 120mpg and on the motorway maybe 140mpg.
So probably what was expected.
I think maybe the way figures are tested need be re-thought and same with Auto trader, to give more MPG range
Also asked regards battery warranty - Don't suppose 8 years is too shabby. I anticipate approx 20,000 P.A. and if all goes to plan change the car maybe every 4 or 5 years.
Still looking at other options. :y
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Don't forget the extra road tax for vehicles costing more than £40,000
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
Well I'm surprised and disappointed that Al hasn't come up with a string of of old jalopies for Skrunties consideration for his new business venture. ::)
He's not only let us down, he's let himself down! :( ;D
I'll have a go instead. Here you go Skruntie, how about this? (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170245642?sort=price-asc&searchId=207fb7c6-e986-4c8e-adfb-fe932049ee41&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=E%20Class&postcode=DT7%203NB&transmission=Automatic&fromsra) :)
I think Al will wholeheartedly approve! :y
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
Well I'm surprised and disappointed that Al hasn't come up with a string of of old jalopies for Skrunties consideration for his new business venture. ::)
He's not only let us down, he's let himself down! :( ;D
I'll have a go instead. Here you go Skruntie, how about this? (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170245642?sort=price-asc&searchId=207fb7c6-e986-4c8e-adfb-fe932049ee41&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=E%20Class&postcode=DT7%203NB&transmission=Automatic&fromsra) :)
I think Al will wholeheartedly approve! :y
Interesting MOT history. Can mileages actually go backwards? ;D
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Don't forget the extra road tax for vehicles costing more than £40,000
Not that much ::)
The interesting thing was they had 3 cars at different show rooms of theirs, all the same colour and model but £8k+ variation in prices. :-X
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
Well I'm surprised and disappointed that Al hasn't come up with a string of of old jalopies for Skrunties consideration for his new business venture. ::)
He's not only let us down, he's let himself down! :( ;D
I'll have a go instead. Here you go Skruntie, how about this? (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170245642?sort=price-asc&searchId=207fb7c6-e986-4c8e-adfb-fe932049ee41&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=E%20Class&postcode=DT7%203NB&transmission=Automatic&fromsra) :)
I think Al will wholeheartedly approve! :y
Interesting, Had a look at the E class Merks but the pricing has gone silly.
Also looked at maybe 5 Series estates, or might look at what X7 are on offer.
Not making a decision till maybe late April or May time. Still got too much to work out, one of them being commercial Insurance and wondering if I can put some of the Omega's on it. ::)
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
Well I'm surprised and disappointed that Al hasn't come up with a string of of old jalopies for Skrunties consideration for his new business venture. ::)
He's not only let us down, he's let himself down! :( ;D
I'll have a go instead. Here you go Skruntie, how about this? (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170245642?sort=price-asc&searchId=207fb7c6-e986-4c8e-adfb-fe932049ee41&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=E%20Class&postcode=DT7%203NB&transmission=Automatic&fromsra) :)
I think Al will wholeheartedly approve! :y
Interesting MOT history. Can mileages actually go backwards? ;D
Ha ha well spotted. ;D
I don't think a 3500 mile discrepancy on the clock is too much to worry about on a 23 year old car though, and look on the bright side it's had plenty of things fixed to get it through the MOTs! :)
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Don't forget the extra road tax for vehicles costing more than £40,000
Not that much ::)
The interesting thing was they had 3 cars at different show rooms of theirs, all the same colour and model but £8k+ variation in prices. :-X
Be careful, as it’s the RRP of the vehicle, not what you paid for it. It would have to be a very basic spec level Skoda Superb estate MHEV to have a RRP of less than £40K, as most that I looked at just crept over that price. :) What you pay for it is irrelevant if the RRP is over that figure. :y
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Any thoughts for a comfy economical suggestion welcome (Prefer and estate) :y
Can't wait to see what old jalopies Al comes up with this time! ;D
Well I'm surprised and disappointed that Al hasn't come up with a string of of old jalopies for Skrunties consideration for his new business venture. ::)
He's not only let us down, he's let himself down! :( ;D
I'll have a go instead. Here you go Skruntie, how about this? (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170245642?sort=price-asc&searchId=207fb7c6-e986-4c8e-adfb-fe932049ee41&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=E%20Class&postcode=DT7%203NB&transmission=Automatic&fromsra) :)
I think Al will wholeheartedly approve! :y
That'll make a great dog transporter if Skrunts doesn't buy it >:D
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If it's a new venture, buying a new car is just an extra expense.
Depends what you're considering doing... Been rather vague on that... ::)
If you need a van, get a van. If you're delivering food, buy a scooter and forget all the highway code you ever read.
If you're doing hospital appointment transfers, buy a Skoda Yeti.
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Interesting, Had a look at the E class Mercs but the pricing has gone silly.
My neighbour has a Mercedes E220d estate, with the 2.0 diesel 9 speed auto. He reckons that on a decent run he gets 70mpg. :y
…….
or might look at what X7 are on offer.
My mate has a fully restored X7 but I’m failing to see what use an old 2 stroke Suzuki would be to you. :-\ ::) ;D
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If it's a new venture, buying a new car is just an extra expense.
Depends what you're considering doing... Been rather vague on that... ::)
Don't know how to define it other than maybe something specialized, requiring odd long distance travel - hence I want some class and comport :-\
If you need a van, get a van. If you're delivering food, buy a scooter and forget all the highway code you ever read.
Nothing to do with food, but a van would draw the wrong attention.
If you're doing hospital appointment transfers, buy a Skoda Yeti. nothing like that
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If it's a new venture, buying a new car is just an extra expense.
I was planning a newer car at least in the next year or 2.
This is an idea that once the numbers are crunched will it be worth a new or newer car or not?
The economy of the Omega could be absorbed starting a business from new as am anticipating reasonable low mileage may 4/500 miles a month if that., minimal would 60 miles a trip. once in full swing 400 miles once a week plus the 60 so say 500 weekly 25k yearly.
With all the vat and mileage allowance on the Skoda @ 681mpg it would have paid for its self buying a new car.
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Don't forget depreciation. Just because you can't see it, you still pay for it.
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And if you're planning your budget based on pie in the sky fuel economy, you'll be unpleasantly surprised.
The fuel savings going from a 3.2 Omega to a diesel Insignia weren't enough to cover the finance. Cars now cost significantly more, so any perceived fuel cost savings are negated by higher purchase costs and proportionally greater depreciation costs.
I considered buying a Tesla Model S when they first came out to use as a taxi and for a £45k car I would have needed to clear £1k a week.
Back in 2014, £45k was alot of money, but now it's middle of the road. Be realistic and do the maths very carefully.
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If it's a new venture, buying a new car is just an extra expense.
I was planning a newer car at least in the next year or 2.
This is an idea that once the numbers are crunched will it be worth a new or newer car or not?
The economy of the Omega could be absorbed starting a business from new as am anticipating reasonable low mileage may 4/500 miles a month if that., minimal would 60 miles a trip. once in full swing 400 miles once a week plus the 60 so say 500 weekly 25k yearly.
With all the vat and mileage allowance on the Skoda @ 681mpg it would have paid for its self buying a new car.
I wouldn't trust an omega to be reliable enough for a business to rely on it, low mileage or not.
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If it's a new venture, buying a new car is just an extra expense.
I was planning a newer car at least in the next year or 2.
This is an idea that once the numbers are crunched will it be worth a new or newer car or not?
The economy of the Omega could be absorbed starting a business from new as am anticipating reasonable low mileage may 4/500 miles a month if that., minimal would 60 miles a trip. once in full swing 400 miles once a week plus the 60 so say 500 weekly 25k yearly.
With all the vat and mileage allowance on the Skoda @ 681mpg it would have paid for its self buying a new car.
I wouldn't trust an omega to be reliable enough for a business to rely on it, low mileage or not.
No you're right, but he might be wise to buy a cheapish second hand diesel estate of some description first to see if the business is viable enough to warrant buying a new car. :)
Depending what the business plan is of course. It might be that turning up in an old E Class might not project the correct image. :-\
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
That simply depends on what Skrunties business plan is.
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And if you're planning your budget based on pie in the sky fuel economy, you'll be unpleasantly surprised.
I did the sums for a laugh based on the given MPG knowing full well 681mpg is unachievable.
After speaking to friends about their cars getting 70 & 80 mpg I was aiming to find a car giving 100mpg+ when the skoda salesman suggested it would average 120 maybe 140 on the motorway then was quite impressed. :y
I would be buying a car in the future so any money spent will be written off where as buying one through the business will allow some funds to be claimed back, mileage allowance, tax/vat considerations etc, so yes depreciation has to be absorbed. :-\
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It wont get nearly that, budget around a 50mpg and you might be closer to it.
Given the mpg figures are based on a handful of different drive cycles, with weighted percentages, and optimised conditions (the smallest tyres, audio off, etc etc), plus they start with a full charge, you then get the crazy mpg figures.
Unless it will be plugged in every 50 miles or so then the sky high figures are a world of dreams :y
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Cheers Mark this is the sort of information that helps define a purchase.
So now the the question to consider is.
PHEV v Diesel
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I wouldn't trust an omega to be reliable enough for a business to rely on it, low mileage or not.
Why not? Many of them were originally bought by companies for that exact usage. Maybe Amba will comment on this, as he used one until about a year ago.
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I wouldn't trust an omega to be reliable enough for a business to rely on it, low mileage or not.
Why not? Many of them were originally bought by companies for that exact usage. Maybe Amba will comment on this, as he used one until about a year ago.
Because the newest ones are over 20 years old. Thirsty, complicated and unreliable. You can say different, but I certainly wouldn't trust one to be used on lengthy journeys every day.
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Oh......and most of them are rusty too ;D
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It wont get nearly that, budget around a 50mpg and you might be closer to it.
This is in line with what other road tests have said. If I were making the PHEV vs Diesel choice, I'd consider:
Will you be driving frequently into/near big cities? ULEZ is costly and a PHEV is likely to stay exempt longer than a diesel
What will your average journey length look like - longer will favour diesel, shorter phev.
Can you charge at home always? Charging a PHEV/EV on the motorway makes it more costly than diesel.
How long will you keep the car? Batteries are rightly considered an unknown on the resale market, so that could hurt residuals, wiping out any fuel savings.
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Cheers Mark this is the sort of information that helps define a purchase.
So now the the question to consider is.
PHEV v Diesel
[/size]
In fairness, we had already explained how the PHEV mpg calculations were made on page 1. :y
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It wont get nearly that, budget around a 50mpg and you might be closer to it.
This is in line with what other road tests have said. If I were making the PHEV vs Diesel choice, I'd consider:
Will you be driving frequently into/near big cities? ULEZ is costly and a PHEV is likely to stay exempt longer than a diesel
What will your average journey length look like - longer will favour diesel, shorter phev.
Can you charge at home always? Charging a PHEV/EV on the motorway makes it more costly than diesel.
How long will you keep the car? Batteries are rightly considered an unknown on the resale market, so that could hurt residuals, wiping out any fuel savings.
On occasions it could be anywhere in the country.
Main journey will be from Sheffield (M1) to Kings Cross some business in London then could be any where, Birmingham, Kent, Wales etc and return to Sheffield.
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I wouldn't trust an omega to be reliable enough for a business to rely on it, low mileage or not.
Why not? Many of them were originally bought by companies for that exact usage. Maybe Amba will comment on this, as he used one until about a year ago.
Because the newest ones are over 20 years old. Thirsty, complicated and unreliable. You can say different, but I certainly wouldn't trust one to be used on lengthy journeys every day.
Your diesel Astra is far more complicated than any Omega. My - fading - experience of breakdowns is that modern cars are no more or less reliable than older ones, but that the problems tend to be much bigger with commensurate increased costs/difficulty/time to fix them. Some culprits are wet timing belts, inadequate timing chains, high pressure fuel pumps, plastic cooling pipes, DI fuel injectors, poorly sited ECUs full of water, sealed for life drive train components, etc etc.
The key to any car being reliable is frequent use, and dealing with issues immediately. That means treating OE maintenance schedules and times as maximums and actually fixing problems instead of symptoms.
A lot of the reported unreliability of cars kept as toys - sports cars, classics, ultra-low mileage, fancy convertibles etc - is caused by their lack of use. They frequently don't start, run badly, leak or have bizarre intermittent faults. And because they're not used much, those faults are never sorted even though they could be at no cost in a minimal amount of time.
Some of those faults are fundamental but easily fixed: tyres well into their second decade; fluid leaks; brake fluid the colour and consistency of oxtail soup; worn out wiring combined with ancient, shoddy repairs; fuel systems contaminated with rust, water and other nasties; utterly oppsed suspensions; damp interiors. Some of them are because the owner does all his own work, but is both incompetent and only ever patches things up instead of replacing all the worn parts in one go - this is very common with brakes ???
There is no reason why a forty year-old any car cannot be relied on to drive across the country on a whim. That has been a requirement for any that I've owned or had anything to do with.
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Skrunty's is a very low mileage, hardly used car.
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
See reply #41 ;D
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
I'll refer you to reply #42.
Some people would think that someone turning up in a 20 year car, obviously isn't doing a very good job of what they do if they couldn't afford a newer car. ::)
That said, when my Mum died a few years ago and I got the Funeral Director round , he arrived in a brand new top of the range Jag XJ and my first thought was Shit this is going to be expensive! ;D
Although.... If he'd rocked up in a 20 year old Ford Focus, I might not have had the same confidence that he would handle my Mum's final journey to my satisfaction. ;)
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
See reply #41 ;D
Gatwick internet is getting the blame for that.
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Skrunty's is a very low mileage, hardly used car.
[/highlight]
30 October 2024
PASS
Mileage
58,276 miles
31 October 2023
PASS
Mileage
58,186 miles
2 November 2022
PASS
Mileage
57,617 miles
4 November 2021
PASS
Mileage
56,878 miles
3 December 2020
PASS
Mileage
56,013 miles
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
I'll refer you to reply #42.
Some people would think that someone turning up in a 20 year car, obviously isn't doing a very good job of what they do if they couldn't afford a newer car. ::)
That said, when my Mum died a few years ago and I got the Funeral Director round , he arrived in a brand new top of the range Jag XJ and my first thought was Shit this is going to be expensive! ;D
Although.... If he'd rocked up in a 20 year old Ford Focus, I might not have had the same confidence that he would handle my Mum's final journey to my satisfaction. ;)
Perhaps, but if he had turned up in a well presented 20 year old Jag or Merc...
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Skrunty's is a very low mileage, hardly used car.
[/highlight]
30 October 2024
PASS
Mileage
58,276 miles
31 October 2023
PASS
Mileage
58,186 miles
2 November 2022
PASS
Mileage
57,617 miles
4 November 2021
PASS
Mileage
56,878 miles
3 December 2020
PASS
Mileage
56,013 miles
You need to get out more, Skruntie. ;) >:D
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Skrunty's is a very low mileage, hardly used car.
[/highlight]
You need to get out more, Skruntie. ;) >:D
Thats part of the plan.
But as of next we have decided to do some sight seeing around Yorkshire if the weather is good so the mileage will rise. :y
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Skrunty's is a very low mileage, hardly used car.
You need to get out more, Skruntie. ;) >:D
Thats part of the plan.
But as of next we have decided to do some sight seeing around Yorkshire if the weather is good so the mileage will rise. :y
Be careful of the bus lane if you go to Scarborough, I saw some old duffer drive along it the other day. I bet he’ll get a fine in the post any time soon. ::) :-[ :-[
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In 175k my 3.2 needed to be recovered twice, one for a clutch and once for a fuel pump.
That said, parts availability would be the biggest concern for the Omega... In that respect there are better 20 year old options.
As for image, would you rather someone in a presentable older car knowing they're not screwing you to keep brand new metal paid for or someone in a shiny car worrying about the next payment. :-\
I'll refer you to reply #42.
Some people would think that someone turning up in a 20 year car, obviously isn't doing a very good job of what they do if they couldn't afford a newer car. ::)
That said, when my Mum died a few years ago and I got the Funeral Director round , he arrived in a brand new top of the range Jag XJ and my first thought was Shit this is going to be expensive! ;D
Although.... If he'd rocked up in a 20 year old Ford Focus, I might not have had the same confidence that he would handle my Mum's final journey to my satisfaction. ;)
Perhaps, but if he had turned up in a well presented 20 year old Jag or Merc...
A clearly cherished 20 year old Jag XJR, maybe..... A 20 year old Merc of any flavour, no. A clearly cherished 40 year old Merc of any flavour maybe... :)
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I would question whether a lightly used low mileage Omega would now survive doubling said mileage over a couple of years, if only because of parts availability. The types of journey described are potentially going to double the last year's mileage in one trip.
Everyone here who has used their Omega as a work hack will have done so from the outset. And whilst they were built to do proper mileages, they were designed to do so within the factory warranty period.
I deliberately bought an ex police car because it ticked all the physical requirements, had been well maintained and used regularly.
All Omegas suffer from a handful of issues between 80 and 120k. A lightly used low mileage example pressed into work duties is going to hit all of them long before that.
A well maintained 10 to 15 year old car with twice the mileage would be a more durable bet.
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Here's another offering for you Skruntie! :)
A bit newer this time, a 2013 Mazda 6! (https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503240509631?sort=relevance&searchId=0a405106-e720-4ed8-a505-2966b1e3f5a0&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Diesel&keywords=ulez&make=&page=3&postcode=DT7%203NB&fromsra) :) It's Euro 6, so ULEZ & CAZ compliant, a claimed average fuel economy of 67.30mpg, and the tax is only £35 a year! :y
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From the vagueness of the whole proposal* I am going to stick my neck out and suggest something discreet and unassuming...
Any of the following depending on just how discreet it needs to be.
4 to 7 years old, a regular pre 2001 reg, so obviously older than the vehicle it's on, say R43MFX for example... And all in dark metallic grey/charcoal, solid black (but keep it clean), silver or dark blue.
Toyota Camry
Audi A6
Mercedes Viano/Vito... (Ex government agency)
BMW 5 series but not MSport
Volvo S80
Lexus LS
*Going to go with driving either a doctor/barrister or escorts. I really don't care what the actual business venture is, but it's difficult to make a decent suggestion based on such a vague brief.
Thinking about it, an unmarked plod mobile might be just the ticket... New enough to be nice, but not so new as to be flashy not so old as to attract attention.
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Well he said that he'd be going to London regularly so something ULEZ compliant would be sensible. :)
In fact he did mention he'd be going to Kings Cross regularly, so you might be on the money about driving escorts about! ;D
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And if that is the case, there might actually be grounds to be correctly licensed by the local authority in which you reside plus suitable insurance. This may also impact your choice of vehicle.
Carrying people for reward is very different prospect to carrying boxes... Tread very carefully.
On the plus side, this does then open the door for things like Uber as a revenue stream. The best cover for a nefarious business is a legitimate one.
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Not against the Audi A6 :y
5 Series is a contender :y
Considering a newer Mazda 6 SUV test Drive.
Another mate swears by his Kia Sportarge (His other car was a E350 just changed it for a C Class I think) but prefers the Sportarge.
Also considering Volvo :y
What ever I choose in the end I think I will go for an AWD option, I know we dont bad weather like we used to but would still rather be prepared for it.
I think the major consideration for us is the comfort in case we get stuck in traffic for hours. ::)
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I just ordered a PHEV :-X
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Not against the Audi A6 :y
5 Series is a contender :y
Considering a newer Mazda 6 SUV test Drive.
Another mate swears by his Kia Sportarge (His other car was a E350 just changed it for a C Class I think) but prefers the Sportarge.
Also considering Volvo :y
………
I think the major consideration for us is the comfort in case we get stuck in traffic for hours. ::)
Audi A6 is a big, quiet comfy car (I have the Avant version) but I’ve also had plenty of BMW’s of various models. I have no real issues with my A6, it’s very quiet inside the cabin due to acoustic glass (it’s double glazed) but from personal experience I can say that the bmw infotainment system/Nav is leagues ahead in both speed and user interface. :y
Also, up until recently the bmw gets the 8 speed ZF auto box, which is a great combination, whereas only the most powerful Audi’s get that box, RS6, BiTdi’s etc. The others get the S Tronic, which is generally fine but it’s not a patch on the ZF8, especially in slow moving traffic. The average Joe wouldn’t notice though. :y
Up until a few years back, a friend ran a chauffeur business. He ran a bmw 730dL (long wheel base) and a Lexus 600h. He ran the bmw for 465K miles (gearbox overhauled at 265K) until he retired. The Lexus was a strange choice. It had massage function, a fridge with champagne bottles and glasses, rising foot rests and reclining rear seats. It ran on electric in town but when out of town the 5.0 V8 fired up. :)
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The 7 series looks the part but screams drug dealer or taxi depending on the spec. No one notices the Lexus ;)
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Either Skruntie has gone and got lost on a test drive, or I speculated a bit close to the mark...
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Either Skruntie has gone and got lost on a test drive, or I speculated a bit close to the mark...
No, still here, not been too well last few days. :-[
Still looking on line.
Cars I would like to try are the Superb, 5 series and A6 ::)
Others that friends have are Sportarge, 5008SW but dont think I will like the seats or the steering. and Volvo (Not sure of the model) :y
Not rushing to buy yet as we have decided its quicker and easier from Heathrow, subway, Kings Cross by train to Doncaster for now, and the Omega only has 30 mile round trip to train station and back, then return to trip to Heathrow, so at most 60 Miles a week. GF is happy with that so who am I to complain. :y
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5th gear rated the Skoda well in a back to back test.
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Still looking and not had any test drives yet. ::)
Volkswagen Tiguan caught my eye is a search.
Has anyone got one or driven one.?
Contenders list
Skoda Superb/Kodiac
Audi A6/Q series
BMW 5 series/X series
Merc E Class
All cars as estates
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The only Q that could reasonably be considered a true estate is the Q7. Similarly the X5/7 but only because they're all the size of a house.
Kodiak better value than a Tiguan.
On your list, Skoda over Audi... Why pay a premium for what is essentially the same thing.
Mercedes E for all round practicality and durability/longevity.
5 Series for driving.
That said, considering the ambiguity of the whole proposal, whichever one you can get for the least amount of money*
In which case, I very much doubt that you'll better this: https://www.thetaxicentre.com/new-taxi-sales/skoda/superb/se-technology/296471/skoda-superb-1.5-tsi-e-tec-se-technology-5dr-dsg-petrol-estate/
* I know that it's irrelevant on paper because it's a business expense, but you want to be on the hook for as little as possible until you can buy it outright.
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Volkswagen Tiguan caught my eye is a search.
Has anyone got one or driven one.?
Only a bog standard diesel one from around 5 or 6 years ago.
Dull, boring, overpriced, but does the job of carrying little baskets to their McDonalds party.
Personally, I found they aggravated my (previously buggered) back after around an hour, but then many cars do.
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Volkswagen Tiguan caught my eye is a search.
Has anyone got one or driven one.?
My mate who is an Estate Agent had a new one on lease in 2015 and bought it when the lease expired. I guess he does a fair amount of miles every year with his work and he seems to like it, and it certainly seems OK, if a bit dull, when I've been in it. :)
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At the end of the day I think it will come down to the comfort. :y
Planned one route, Sheffield, London, Birmingham back home some 360 miles but maybe sitting waiting in London (Heathrow) and 6.5 hours driving, 60 MPG or better would be nice.
So still no rush. Plus age maybe easier access in and out for car maybe puts the SUV's higher on the list.
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At the end of the day I think it will come down to the comfort. :y
Planned one route, Sheffield, London, Birmingham back home some 360 miles but maybe sitting waiting in London (Heathrow) and 6.5 hours driving, 60 MPG or better would be nice.
So still no rush. Plus age maybe easier access in and out for car maybe puts the SUV's higher on the list.
And possibly Sat Nav if you think Heathrow and Lundun are the same place >:D
Joking aside 60mpg + SUV = fantasy...
You'll die of boredom long before it gets close.
Also, ease of access is a customer consideration. Being sat in the back of a jacked up Golf (aka Tiguan) for 6.5 hours may not be conducive to passenger comfort.
Our opinion is just that, opinion. They only way you're going to be able to answer the question is by going and looking. Find a suitable Car Giant type place and try anything that might be a candidate. Then buy it from somewhere else.
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https://www.bigmotoringworld.co.uk/used-cars/
They have a site in Sheffield and whilst they don't necessarily have any estates or Superbs in stock they do have much of your wishlist in stock for convenient comparison. I wouldn't buy from them, but they're perfect for window shopping.
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Never been to Heathrow before but understand your point, my visit will be to collect GF from T5 and plan to park up so she can find me. (Thinking what 3 words would serve us proud) She fancies a C class so maybe an E class may help to change her mind and get my choice instead of hers. :-X
The dealer in Sheffield I think was the place I visited when they 1st opened (Maybe as a different company) didn't like the was I was herded over to see how much fiance they could screw out of me. but then maybe all dealers are the same. :-\
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At the end of the day I think it will come down to the comfort. :y
Planned one route, Sheffield, London, Birmingham back home some 360 miles but maybe sitting waiting in London (Heathrow) and 6.5 hours driving, 60 MPG or better would be nice.
So still no rush. Plus age maybe easier access in and out for car maybe puts the SUV's higher on the list.
How much do you have to spend, Skruntie?
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Never been to Heathrow before but understand your point, my visit will be to collect GF from T5 and plan to park up so she can find me. (Thinking what 3 words would serve us proud) She fancies a C class so maybe an E class may help to change her mind and get my choice instead of hers. :-X
The dealer in Sheffield I think was the place I visited when they 1st opened (Maybe as a different company) didn't like the was I was herded over to see how much fiance they could screw out of me. but then maybe all dealers are the same. :-\
Like I said, I would never buy a car from them, but it's handy for trying various makes/models. ;)
Have bought a car from Europa in Sheffield and would recommend them from that experience.
Also, re T5, you can use the park and ride for collecting/dropping off free for 29 minutes.
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At the end of the day I think it will come down to the comfort. :y
Planned one route, Sheffield, London, Birmingham back home some 360 miles but maybe sitting waiting in London (Heathrow) and 6.5 hours driving, 60 MPG or better would be nice.
So still no rush. Plus age maybe easier access in and out for car maybe puts the SUV's higher on the list.
How much do you have to spend, Skruntie?
Depends on whats left after the customs have dealt with us. :-\ Paid in full to send via sea cargo, asked 3 times if there would be any more charges or taxes etc oh no they said yada yada.
Only passed through 2 ports on route and they :-X :-\ charged us.
We covered our ourselves for things like this but until I receive the cargo then I really dont know.
We could go finance but as a new venture I think there may be problems.
£30k is realistic, maybe 35k for the Superb, but 5 series or E class would be nice depending on ease of access and comfort.
I phoned one Skoda dealership, they had 3 cars all same write up, 3 different locations and prices. £35k/38k & 43k could have a drive in a superb but not the PHEV
So Skoda in with a chance a chance at the moment depends on what the car differences are.
So at the moment I am not sure.
Always got the Omega for now. :y