Would a hybrid save me money?

Jonesya

Do you want to do something for the environment? Or do you want a new car?

Your mileage is quite low, so switching to something more efficient isn't actually going to reduce your emissions that much because they're not very high to begin with, but changing cars is expensive, particularly if you went and bought a new hybrid.

But if you've got to change to something bigger, then given your really low mileage something like a cheap, second hand EV might work. Particularly if your longest drive is 50 miles round trip and you can charge at the destination, even a 24kWh Leaf might suffice.

The most environmentally friendly option is probably to keep the Polo and spend the money you save on other measures - insulate your house, get a condensing boiler, or fit solar panels to your roof.

photome

Jonesya wrote: »

Do you want to do something for the environment? Or do you want a new car?

Your mileage is quite low, so switching to something more efficient isn't actually going to reduce your emissions that much because they're not very high to begin with, but changing cars is expensive, particularly if you went and bought a new hybrid.

But if you've got to change to something bigger, then given your really low mileage something like a cheap, second hand EV might work. Particularly if your longest drive is 50 miles round trip and you can charge at the destination, even a 24kWh Leaf might suffice.

The most environmentally friendly option is probably to keep the Polo and spend the money you save on other measures - insulate your house, get a condensing boiler, or fit solar panels to your roof.

And use the push bike for the short commute

-pete-_2

I only see my kid for a couple of hours a day, I used to bike but it would cut the amount of time I saw him in half, he's only young so any time is precious to me.

As mentioned in the post, the Polo is a good car but it would be very snug with 2 adults and 2 car seats in.

Its not just about doing something for the environment, its about minimising the footprint of getting a car whilst still being practical for modern family life.

photome

-pete- wrote: »

I only see my kid for a couple of hours a day, I used to bike but it would cut the amount of time I saw him in half, he's only young so any time is precious to me.

As mentioned in the post, the Polo is a good car but it would be very snug with 2 adults and 2 car seats in.

Its not just about doing something for the environment, its about minimising the footprint of getting a car whilst still being practical for modern family life.

Interesting about your travel time.


my wife and son work at the same place about the same distance from home as your workplace, she drives, son cycles, they leave off at same time, son gets home first.


she does have to park 5 minutes walk away, and no, there is no chance she would cycle

Norman_Castle

-pete- wrote: »

As mentioned in the post, the Polo is a good car but it would be very snug with 2 adults and 2 car seats in.

Have you tried it. They're only children, how much space do you need for a short commute and occasional 50 mile journeys?

wgl2014

Roof box for the polo? From a financial and environmental perspective keeping the current car is least damaging.

-pete-_2

photome wrote: »

Interesting about your travel time.


my wife and son work at the same place about the same distance from home as your workplace, she drives, son cycles, they leave off at same time, son gets home first.


she does have to park 5 minutes walk away, and no, there is no chance she would cycle

The cycling takes about 45 minutes (plus time to get changed and catch my breath!) driving is less than 20, obviously traffic and roadworks can play their part but the roads are pretty big so generally I'm always moving in the car.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Have you tried it. They're only children, how much space do you need for a short commute and occasional 50 mile journeys?

We have a current car seat for number 1 behind Mrs -pete- and we've put number 1's old newborn car seat behind me as a test to see how much room we will have. Its a fair bit smaller than the newer seat and I'm already pretty uncomfortable doing my short commute, longer trips would be pretty unbearable.

Herzlos

Hybrids work if you're doing a 15-30ish mile commute regularly (some will do about 30 miles on a charge), or dealing with things like company cars (BIK tax) or congestion charging zones.


For your mileage, it sounds like a petrol car will be best for you. Even jumping up a class to a 1.4 Golf would be sufficient in terms of economy and leg room.

lopsyfa

-pete- wrote: »

We have a current car seat for number 1 behind Mrs -pete- and we've put number 1's old newborn car seat behind me as a test to see how much room we will have. Its a fair bit smaller than the newer seat and I'm already pretty uncomfortable doing my short commute, longer trips would be pretty unbearable.

The polo is about the same size as the honda jazz. We used the jazz with 2 adults (sometimes 3 adults) and 2 children with car seats and it was pretty ok. We still have it despite buying a larger, newer shape civic. I find that the space in the civic is only marginally better than the jazz just a little bit more boot space. We still have the jazz and we still regularly travel in it.

Except you are buying a big SUV, don't be surprised if your replacement car is not that much different in terms of space. As already mentioned, most of these hybrids are not usually more fuel efficient than diesel/petrol cars. Except if you buy plug-in hybrid and use electric mode mostly.

To change your environmental impact, keeping your current car and driving more economically is probably best because of the environmental impact of new car production (even if electric) and most electricity in the UK are not currently 100% from renewable sources. The next best thing is to get a full electric car which will cost you some money.

photome

-pete- wrote: »

The cycling takes about 45 minutes (plus time to get changed and catch my breath!) driving is less than 20, obviously traffic and roadworks can play their part but the roads are pretty big so generally I'm always moving in the car.






We have a current car seat for number 1 behind Mrs -pete- and we've put number 1's old newborn car seat behind me as a test to see how much room we will have. Its a fair bit smaller than the newer seat and I'm already pretty uncomfortable doing my short commute, longer trips would be pretty unbearable.

:eek::eek: 45 minutes to do 3.5 miles, my son does 3.5 miles in about 10 minutes, takes me a bit longer but I am nearly 60


FWIW though, stick with the polo