Buying car to last 15 years?

AdrianC

Goudy wrote: »

As you're planning to keep it so long, due to the Hybrid system it should pretty much future proof it from various emission zones and emission regs that might be planned, they are already trying to force all but the latest euro spec diesels off the road now, what will it be like in 10 or 15 years?

Hybrids are still petrol or diesel, as far as the Euro emissions are concerned, so a diesel-hybrid that isn't Euro6 will be banned in the London ULEZ area from 2021.

The cut-off lines have been drawn at Euro4 petrol/Euro6 diesel for one simple reason - NOx - which is measured in grams per kilometre, as measured on the same WLTP(/NEDC) regime as every other emission and fuel standardised test. So hybrids that don't meet the standard are simply putting out too much NOx to meet the standard...

Petrol - Euro3 = 0.15g/km NOx. Euro4 = 0.08g/km. Euro6 = 0.06g/km
Diesel - Euro5 = 0.18g/km NOx. Euro6 = 0.08g/km.
Euro 6 is the current standard, Euro 7 limits haven't been defined yet, and are unlikely to reach production before 2025.

(And, no, brexit won't make the slightest difference - they're UN ECE standards as well, and rapidly becoming the global standards through WLTP)

Angus_Og

Goudy wrote: »

Have you considered a C-HR Hybrid or Rav4 Hybrid?

I quite like the C-HR but think it is a little small and I'm still debating whether I want an SUV or not. I have a jeep Commander outside with a knackered auto box, which I really don't know it I want to get repaired or not (it has a couple of other issues too). 10 years ago it would have been something similar.

My problem is will the batteries of a hybrid meet my 15 year criteria? If not how much are the batteries?

Angus_Og

What age is the sweet spot for buying baring in mind I want 15 years out of it?

My thoughts are 2+ years old (still in warranty)? But the prices are still relatively high.

AdrianC

Let's go back a step. Why are you so fixated on "15 years"?

Sure, you don't want to be chopping and changing every year or two, but why this absolute hard line in the sand?

If you're looking to own one car for what is slightly over the average life expectancy of a new car, then of course you're going to need to buy something that's still relatively young. And that means high purchase price and steep initial depreciation. If what you want is minimal depreciation and minimal ownership-change costs, then it would almost certainly work out better to buy older and keep for a shorter period.

But, as I said at the start, it's all about your attitude to maintenance. If you start looking at garage labour charges and comparing them to the car's value, then you're going to be throwing away almost anything over 5-10yrs old at pretty much the first work that's more than basic routine servicing. If you regard basic routine servicing as all that's ever going to be needed, and anything else as a disaster, then that's not the way to get the best life out of a car.

Goudy

Angus_Og wrote: »

My problem is will the batteries of a hybrid meet my 15 year criteria? If not how much are the batteries?

https://www.toyota.co.uk/hybrid/hybrid-faq/affordability

The whole car comes with 5 years warranty, but you can extend the battery warranty every year with a Hybrid Service and you can do this for 15 years.

Gloomendoom

I have a 1955 Land Rover. It starts on the button. I'm confident it will last another 15 years.

Loads of ground clearance. Three ton towing ability (whatever that is in Johnny foreign). Sixteen inch wheels with big bouncy tyres. Enough grunt to overtake 2CVs, electric milk floats and blue invalid carriages (just). Not an auto though and you would need to learn to double de-clutch.

WobblyDog

Do you have a garage that will keep the car dry, and is the car small enough to fit in it? My impression is that structural rust kills more cars than mechanical problems.

AdrianC

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I have a 1955 Land Rover. It starts on the button. I'm confident it will last another 15 years.

Loads of ground clearance. Three ton towing ability (whatever that is in Johnny foreign). Sixteen inch wheels with big bouncy tyres. Enough grunt to overtake 2CVs, electric milk floats and blue invalid carriages (just). Not an auto though and you would need to learn to double de-clutch.

That s1 must have modified from the original 52bhp 2.0 - what is it, a 200TDi in an 86"? My 2.25 88" s3 is MUCH slower than my 2cv...

(Three ton in "foreign" is nice and easy, btw. 3,000kg. Dunno what it is in Dibnahs - it probably depends on which confusing variation of the Dibnah you're after.)

Gloomendoom

It is the original engine, although breathed on somewhat. However, maybe only quicker than a 1955 2CV (just... possibly).

Just used an online Johnny foreigner unit converter and three tons is, apparently, equivalent to 3048.14 Kg.

AdrianC

Ah, an equivalent age 2cv? Yes, well... 12bhp from 425cc...

As for "tons", there's three different sizes to choose from, ranging from 3048.14kg to 2721.55kg. Or 3,000.00kg on the nose.