car of the year 2012

briggie · 09-05-2012, 20:52

vauxhall ampera

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...ll_ampera.html

clivvy · 09-05-2012, 21:51

well, I think its pretty flippin lush myself. It obviously steals so many ideas from Honda and Toyota, but this car really is a leap for Vauxhall, and I say well done sir.

96terrano · 09-05-2012, 22:02

I like it. Cool name for a vauxhall too

Midlander · 09-05-2012, 22:14

Well at least there's no EML that lights up at the slightest hint of a fault like the Vectra
It looks nice on the outside, But you're still dragging a shed load of batteries around underneath.
untill they come up with something better than the present battery systems, people will never take electric cars seriously....no matter how flash they look.
If you're out in the sticks and them batteries go flat.... yer Fooked.
At least with a normal engine you can get someone out or go and get a gallon of fuel from somewhere to get you home or to the garage.

dollywobbler · 10-05-2012, 17:59

The Ampera is different. It has a relatively small petrol engine which acts as a generator. No worries about the batteries running flat! It's the way I've always thought it should be done to be honest. You've got an engine to ensure you can actually do motorway speeds, but around town, it's pure electric car.

clivvy · 10-05-2012, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by dollywobbler

The Ampera is different. It has a relatively small petrol engine which acts as a generator. No worries about the batteries running flat! It's the way I've always thought it should be done to be honest. You've got an engine to ensure you can actually do motorway speeds, but around town, it's pure electric car.

agreed, currently, Hybrid is the way to go, which is why al the major manufacturers are releasing cars like the Vauxhall, and why the NIssan Leaf is a major flop.

supergnome · 10-05-2012, 19:05

At £34,000 its a tad expensive.

clivvy · 10-05-2012, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergnome

At £34,000 its a tad expensive.

hmm...that IS a lot of Diesel.....

Midlander · 10-05-2012, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by clivvy

hmm...that IS a lot of Diesel.....

....and

you cant get big stuff in em like fridge freezers
you cant get 7 people in em
you cant mend em yourself
you cant see over the roofs of traffic ahead
you cant drive through floods or deep snow / mud
you cant fill the back up with logs n stuff without flapping that the interior will get shit up

Naah...I'll stick wi my T2

firebobby · 10-05-2012, 21:26

But can you deliver milk in it

clivvy · 10-05-2012, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midlander

....and

you cant get big stuff in em like fridge freezers
you cant get 7 people in em
you cant mend em yourself
you cant see over the roofs of traffic ahead
you cant drive through floods or deep snow / mud
you cant fill the back up with logs n stuff without flapping that the interior will get shit up

Naah...I'll stick wi my T2

lol

clivvy · 10-05-2012, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by firebobby

But can you deliver milk in it

double lol

96terrano · 10-05-2012, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midlander

....and

you cant get big stuff in em like fridge freezers
you cant get 7 people in em
you cant mend em yourself
you cant see over the roofs of traffic ahead
you cant drive through floods or deep snow / mud
you cant fill the back up with logs n stuff without flapping that the interior will get shit up

Naah...I'll stick wi my T2

....And

They don't have a viscous fan that deliveres a nice provoking ROAR, that scares the little old lady driving the micra in front of you

Aye, I'll stick with the T2 as well

solarman216 · 10-05-2012, 23:05

Someone has missed out on the basic facts somewhere, petrol engine to drive a generator, to charge batteries to run an electric motor, that's 4 changes of state by my count, each change incorporates losses, it is a no brain-er, I charge a 24 volt battery bank via two methods, one a modern diesel gen set at 240 volts that then has to go to a charger, the other via a 1975 Lister twin engine driving a bus 24 volt 150 amp alternator direct to the batteries, from flat to full charge the Lister uses more than 2.5 lt LESS fuel than the modern gen set, I rest my case, Rick

(RIP) PLANK · 11-05-2012, 19:37

I admire people who make things like this and people who buy them, overpriced and badly enginered? maybe! But I remember when a VCR cost £3K and the brave peple who bught them and lost a fortune paved the way for the afordable video technology we have today!

09-05-2012, 20:52	#1
briggie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: peoples democratic republic of west yorkshire Vehicle: " alice " Posts: 10,473	car of the year 2012 vauxhall ampera http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...ll_ampera.html

09-05-2012, 21:51	#2
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	well, I think its pretty flippin lush myself. It obviously steals so many ideas from Honda and Toyota, but this car really is a leap for Vauxhall, and I say well done sir.

09-05-2012, 22:02	#3
96terrano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7TD LWB Posts: 8,024	I like it. Cool name for a vauxhall too

09-05-2012, 22:14	#4
Midlander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Leicestershire Vehicle: 99 Terrano11 se touring Posts: 144	Well at least there's no EML that lights up at the slightest hint of a fault like the Vectra It looks nice on the outside, But you're still dragging a shed load of batteries around underneath. untill they come up with something better than the present battery systems, people will never take electric cars seriously....no matter how flash they look. If you're out in the sticks and them batteries go flat.... yer Fooked. At least with a normal engine you can get someone out or go and get a gallon of fuel from somewhere to get you home or to the garage.

10-05-2012, 17:59	#5
dollywobbler Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: West Wales Vehicle: No 4x4 currently Posts: 242	The Ampera is different. It has a relatively small petrol engine which acts as a generator. No worries about the batteries running flat! It's the way I've always thought it should be done to be honest. You've got an engine to ensure you can actually do motorway speeds, but around town, it's pure electric car.

10-05-2012, 19:05	#7
supergnome Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Isle of Axholme Vehicle: T2, 2.7 TDI 2002 lwb Posts: 955	At £34,000 its a tad expensive.

10-05-2012, 21:26	#10
firebobby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Bucks Vehicle: Terrano 3.0 SVE 2005 Posts: 3,499	But can you deliver milk in it

10-05-2012, 23:05	#14
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,431	Someone has missed out on the basic facts somewhere, petrol engine to drive a generator, to charge batteries to run an electric motor, that's 4 changes of state by my count, each change incorporates losses, it is a no brain-er, I charge a 24 volt battery bank via two methods, one a modern diesel gen set at 240 volts that then has to go to a charger, the other via a 1975 Lister twin engine driving a bus 24 volt 150 amp alternator direct to the batteries, from flat to full charge the Lister uses more than 2.5 lt LESS fuel than the modern gen set, I rest my case, Rick

11-05-2012, 19:37	#15
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	I admire people who make things like this and people who buy them, overpriced and badly enginered? maybe! But I remember when a VCR cost £3K and the brave peple who bught them and lost a fortune paved the way for the afordable video technology we have today!