The future of convertibles in the electric era?

Herzlos

scrappy_returns said:

Read the reviews for it.

I have. Can you provide any information as to why it's not a suitable estate? I'm not sure if vague comments really add anything to the discussion.

What makes a real estate? I don't see anything obviously different from my Passat estate except the power train and towing ability)?


I'm not entirely sure how we've gone from EV convertibles to estates, but alas here we are.

Grumpy_chap

Herzlos said:

What makes a real estate? I don't see anything obviously different from my Passat estate except the power train and towing ability)?

That's an interesting comparison - there was a former contributor to the forum that regularly cited a reason for not liking the MG5 that it looked like a Passat Estate, so the comparison is not an absurd one.

Actually, I saw an MG5 earlier today and just in the past few minutes back from my run, someone was parking a Golf Estate and that really does like very similar to the MG5.  In fact, based on style alone, I slightly prefer the MG but that is a personal perspective.

From a size comparison, I think the MG5 better compares to a Focus / Astra / Golf Estate than the class above.  Unfortunately, the price comparison puts you firmly in the class above territory, though total cost of ownership almost certainly compensates for that.

As an EV, I think the MG5 is a second-place to the TM3, neither are likely to be launched as convertible models anytime soon - like ever!

scrappy_returns

Herzlos said:

scrappy_returns said:

Read the reviews for it.

I have. Can you provide any information as to why it's not a suitable estate? I'm not sure if vague comments really add anything to the discussion.

What makes a real estate? I don't see anything obviously different from my Passat estate except the power train and towing ability)?


I'm not entirely sure how we've gone from EV convertibles to estates, but alas here we are.

Because whilst the UK buys the most convertibles on all of Europe, we also buy and use estates. They just aren't offered currently in the EV market.

Ectophile

One complaint aboiut the MG5 that I have heard, regarding its use as an estate car, is that the rear seats don't fold flat.  That's not ideal for shoving wardrobes in.

It seems to be a common problem with EVs, where the floors are too full of batteries to allow the seats to fold flat.

Herzlos

scrappy_returns said:

Herzlos said:

scrappy_returns said:

Read the reviews for it.

I have. Can you provide any information as to why it's not a suitable estate? I'm not sure if vague comments really add anything to the discussion.

What makes a real estate? I don't see anything obviously different from my Passat estate except the power train and towing ability)?


I'm not entirely sure how we've gone from EV convertibles to estates, but alas here we are.

Because whilst the UK buys the most convertibles on all of Europe, we also buy and use estates. They just aren't offered currently in the EV market.

There are, depending on how you define estate.

So what makes an estate?

Not having the seats fold flat is awkward, but they haven't folded particularly flat on any of the estates I've had and I've got away with it.

Personally after getting an MPV I can't see me getting another estate. It's a bit taller and not as fun to drive but an awful lot better in practical terms. 

NBLondon

Herzlos said:

Not having the seats fold flat is awkward, but they haven't folded particularly flat on any of the estates I've had and I've got away with it.

Personally after getting an MPV I can't see me getting another estate. It's a bit taller and not as fun to drive but an awful lot better in practical terms. 

Flat to floor might make a difference to some people.  My current Focus doesn't quite nor did the preceding Mondeo but those are both 5 door hatches;  my old Chevette estate from my student days did and it was useful for moving junk between digs.

Sea_Shell

NBLondon said:

Herzlos said:

Not having the seats fold flat is awkward, but they haven't folded particularly flat on any of the estates I've had and I've got away with it.

Personally after getting an MPV I can't see me getting another estate. It's a bit taller and not as fun to drive but an awful lot better in practical terms. 

Flat to floor might make a difference to some people.  My current Focus doesn't quite nor did the preceding Mondeo but those are both 5 door hatches;  my old Chevette estate from my student days did and it was useful for moving junk between digs.

...and in a convertible you just drop the roof and have your load sticking out!! 😉

ontheroad1970

Sea_Shell said:

I'd hope that insurance could be arranged wholely independent of one's own car insurance, so that any incidents involving your car, whilst on hire, would not reflect on you or your claims history, or NCD.

They should not even be notifiable incidents.

Do other counties (Australia?) do insurance differently?  Like insure the driver (in anything) rather than the car?

In Australia and New Zealand, Insurance isn't a legal requirement.  

Car_54

ontheroad1970 said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'd hope that insurance could be arranged wholely independent of one's own car insurance, so that any incidents involving your car, whilst on hire, would not reflect on you or your claims history, or NCD.

They should not even be notifiable incidents.

Do other counties (Australia?) do insurance differently?  Like insure the driver (in anything) rather than the car?

In Australia and New Zealand, Insurance isn't a legal requirement.  

That wasn't my recollection, and a quick Google shows it's not true.

ontheroad1970

Car_54 said:

ontheroad1970 said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'd hope that insurance could be arranged wholely independent of one's own car insurance, so that any incidents involving your car, whilst on hire, would not reflect on you or your claims history, or NCD.

They should not even be notifiable incidents.

Do other counties (Australia?) do insurance differently?  Like insure the driver (in anything) rather than the car?

In Australia and New Zealand, Insurance isn't a legal requirement.  

That wasn't my recollection, and a quick Google shows it's not true.

Apologies - it is compulsory in Australia but is not in New Zealand as third party cover is part of the cost of vehicle registration.   I've driven in both a few years ago.