Volkswagen

RikM

I hope you're not relying on car industry data for that...

But I think you missed something: after "actually" it should say "could be".
In practice?. Hybrids get closer than normal engines, as they allow for a more efficient cycle. But the patterns of driving, by most people, in most cars?
And you can't use coal directly in a car. Or nuclear power. Which has the potential to make EVs much more flexible about energy sources.

I don't think electric cars are mature enough yet, however. Ranges are poor and batteries are still too bulky and heavy. I'm expecting that to improve as the market develops (or the market to develop as that improves).

Ultimately, like most people, I just want a car that goes, is cheap enough to run, doesn't cost too much and is hassle free... it doesn't much matter what it runs on (though I'm geek enough to look at new tech and think "cool"). This VW incident falls into the "hassle" area (and will maybe hit the "cheap" bit as well - give the govt an excuse to raise taxes, and they probably will).

qwert_yuiop

The point is you get around 25% of the energy in the petrol actually available at final drive, the rest largely dissipated as heat. There is a similar level of efficiency in power station turbines, but losses through transmission and in transference to a battery eat into this further. Yes, you can generate power from wind and falling water of course.

An efficient cycle has pedals.

qwert_yuiop

motorguy wrote: »

On the basis of one magazine article.

Shows the ridiculous hysteria surrounding all of this.

It may well be ridiculous hysteria, we don't know, but the vw share price has dropped by a third since this kicked off, and the owners of 11 million vehicles are to be contacted in the next few days to arrange recalls.

Now, the whole thing may be nonsense, and if it is, the share price will come storming back. So have you invested yet?

motorguy

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

It may well be ridiculous hysteria, we don't know, but the vw share price has dropped by a third since this kicked off, and the owners of 11 million vehicles are to be contacted in the next few days to arrange recalls.

Now, the whole thing may be nonsense, and if it is, the share price will come storming back. So have you invested yet?

The hysteria around it is ridiculous. Even on here there was some bloke on the motoring forum with a cracked exhaust on a PETROL golf that caused it to fail MOT on emissions citing that they felt they had been CONNED by VW over emissions.

They'll be contacted over the next days maybe, but it'll be some sort of an attempt at appeasement until such times as they can schedule recalls, probably over the next 3+ months.

It'll be sorted. Very expensive for VW, but i wouldnt expect anything other than a recall on the affected cars to correct the S/W. Certainly not "MOT fails" worldwide and thus millions of cars being put off the road, as has been suggested by yourself. I certainly wouldnt be fretting if i owned one, though i am sure there'll be plenty coming out of the woodwork seeking com-pen-say-shun.

I ran a great little mk6 Golf 1.6TDI for 18 months that is probably one of the cars affected. Averaged 65-70mpg brim to brim over 35,000 miles. I've had various VWs over the years and i've been very happy with them.

Would buy another one in the morning with no qualms at all.

qwert_yuiop

That's not what I asked.
As you know, you don't get put off the road for an mot failure unless you don't correct it.

So this share price. Perhaps I'm on the wrong website, but if vw is going to come roaring back to its position of world dominance, we should be able to make our fortune pretty easily by buying vw shares. Have you bought already?

motorguy

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

That's not what I asked.
As you know, you don't get put off the road for an mot failure unless you don't correct it.

So this share price. Perhaps I'm on the wrong website, but if vw is going to come roaring back to its position of world dominance, we should be able to make our fortune pretty easily by buying vw shares. Have you bought already?

Theres no evidence at all that cars that dont have the "patch" applied will be an automatic fail, so propagating that is helping fire the hysteria.

You're merging two issues here - theres the issue facing us all, which is the impact of this on cars on our roads, particularly VW users and potentially other manufacturers, and then there is the financial impact of the company itself for investors.

Personally, i dont give a monkeys about the financial impact to the Porsche family, corporate shareholders, etc. I'm a passing interest in the motoring side of it (as i dont own a recent VW) and very bemused by the hysteria propagated by people like you.

Also, i'm not a stock market investor, however the comment i would make would be that i read that big corporate investors arent yet willing to buy into VW until such times as the true cost to VW is known and a total resolution is in place. This makes sense to me. If i were to invest, i'd be waiting until that point.

Lets not forget that Toyota had to recall 10 million cars and it hasnt done them much medium / long term harm. Likewise Ford have made some fantastical gaffs in the past, particularly relating to safety and people burning to death in their cars and they're still around. Audi with the TT going backwards down sliproads - didnt impact sales of those much. Mercedes A Class, with the Elk test. All those companies have went from strength to strength.

Ultimately, big fine for VW group and corrective measures will be the outcome.

You seem to be under the impression that if i'm not prepared at this point to invest thousands of my own hard earned on a punt on VW shares then my view must be wrong? Quite strange. I quite like my local Tescos, but i've felt no urge to rush out and buy shares in them either.

Conversely, your doom and gloom view seems to be that VW is on its knees, or will be, so at what point will you be buying shares?

ballyblack

RE VW Stock Price

'In the absence of the light at the end of the tunnel, the more prudent strategy may be to steer clear of crisis stocks. After all, a stock that looks cheap may be a bargain for good reason.'


http://www.cityam.com/225338/vw-scandal-it-worth-buying-crisis-stocks-cnbc-comment




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motorguy

ballyblack wrote: »

RE VW Stock Price

'In the absence of the light at the end of the tunnel, the more prudent strategy may be to steer clear of crisis stocks. After all, a stock that looks cheap may be a bargain for good reason.'


http://www.cityam.com/225338/vw-scandal-it-worth-buying-crisis-stocks-cnbc-comment




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Yes, that bears up with what i was saying. If you were a stock investor i dont think now is the time - not until the cost and resolution has "bottomed out". Stock prices could go lower in the meantime

ballyblack

even after bottoming out and getting a fix for the problem, the ongoing confidence by the consumer in VW will be dented for a few years to come

This period will very hard to measure by the stock ANAL-ISTS, who try and predict the future share price!



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motorguy

ballyblack wrote: »

even after bottoming out and getting a fix for the problem, the ongoing confidence by the consumer in VW will be dented for a few years to come

This period will very hard to measure by the stock ANAL-ISTS, who try and predict the future share price!



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It will be dented, but i wouldnt underestimate how quickly joe public will forget about it (at least as part of their buying decision)

I dont think its mortally wounded.