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Will an e-Golf suit?

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  • 13-02-2018 4:53pm
    #1
    Vronsky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 273 ✭✭


    My mother has recently retired and had now found herself with a large diesel and nowhere to go. Up until she stopped working she would have been doing in excess of 40k kms/year and very few short journeys. Now she does little more than 100km/week and all short journeys - apart from occasionally driving to the airport 130km. I've noticed her car attempting to regenerate the dpf a few times now so it's fairly obvious her driving patterns do not suit diesel.

    She's always been a fan of VW, but the choice of electric and hybrid vws is very limited: essentially e-Golf or gte Passat. The GTE Passat would seem to be her natural choice as it's swapping a big car for a big car and wouldn't have the range worries, but it's insanely expensive for what it is. I actually think the e-Golf would suit her, but it's motorway range would be key. Would it be able to do the trip to the airport non-stop at motorway speed? She won't buy electric unless it can do the airport trip non-stop.

    She's very much guided by what her garage tells her as well - and they have told them that there are no hybrid VWs available. Is the GTE and e-Golf only available to a limited number of selected dealers?


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    #2
    goz83
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭goz83


    I’m sure shefwed will be along with more info pn the egolf. Most of us think it’s overpriced, but there arean’t any other options if your mother insists on VW.

    Both the ioniq and the 2018 Leaf would do the journey non-stop and then she could charge at the airport. The Leaf woukd be a bit closer to the golf style wise....and by that I mean she could easily get in and out. The ioniq is a bit lower down.

    The new Leaf is supposed to be in showrooms this month....unless a trip up north is in the cards.


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    #3
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    A couple of e-Golf owners knocking around boards so should not just be me :-)

    If she is a fan of VW then she will love the eGolf. I have a 15 eGolf, love it. After a year of driving, I average 17kWh/100km. This seems to be similar to the new model as well after I checked on the Worldwide eGolf pages. So I average about 120-140km per charge. That is a 26kW battery.

    The new eGolf has 35.8kW and with 17kWh/100km you will be good at 200KM+. Most people are getting above that.

    That's the maths out of the way. The car itself is lovely to drive, I would recommend to bring it for a test drive. Next question is of course where are you located? At the moment only 2 VW dealers are certified to sell. VW Liffey Valley(I use) or Blackwater motors in Cork. I got mine serviced in Liffey Valley the other week and they know their stuff.

    Supply is also an issue, just to be warned. Liffey Valley has sold over 10 this year which doesn't seem like many but they had requested less so if you order then put onto waiting list. In US/Canada the waiting list if 6 months, I think it is not that bad here....again VW can tell you....

    Mine is full spec, automatic parking/adaptive cruise control/ etc etc. It was imported. Not sure what the Irish models are coming with.


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    #4
    Vronsky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 273 ✭✭Vronsky


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    A couple of e-Golf owners knocking around boards so should not just be me :-)

    If she is a fan of VW then she will love the eGolf. I have a 15 eGolf, love it. After a year of driving, I average 17kWh/100km. This seems to be similar to the new model as well after I checked on the Worldwide eGolf pages. So I average about 120-140km per charge. That is a 26kW battery.

    The new eGolf has 35.8kW and with 17kWh/100km you will be good at 200KM+. Most people are getting above that.

    That's the maths out of the way. The car itself is lovely to drive, I would recommend to bring it for a test drive. Next question is of course where are you located? At the moment only 2 VW dealers are certified to sell. VW Liffey Valley(I use) or Blackwater motors in Cork. I got mine serviced in Liffey Valley the other week and they know their stuff.

    Supply is also an issue, just to be warned. Liffey Valley has sold over 10 this year which doesn't seem like many but they had requested less so if you order then put onto waiting list. In US/Canada the waiting list if 6 months, I think it is not that bad here....again VW can tell you....

    Mine is full spec, automatic parking/adaptive cruise control/ etc etc. It was imported. Not sure what the Irish models are coming with.

    Thanks for that shefwedfan. She's in Roscommon, so not close to either Cork or Dublin for servicing. She might also find out hard to move away from her present dealer whom she has had a good relationship with, although I'm not sure what loyalty counts for these days.

    Just on the figures you quote, I've done a bit of research and your 17kwh/100km seems fairly typical, but would that be for urban/mixed driving? I know an electric does well in the city where it has a chance to regenerate unlike on the motorway, and can get good figures but how does the e-Golf do on the motorway at 120kmh? No matter how good the car is in her day to day driving, she just won't consider it unless it can do the airport run one-way non-stop.

    I know the only real way of finding out it's suitability is to do a long test run, but I appreciate the advice/shared experience all the same.


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    #5
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 65,043 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    goz83 wrote: »
    I’m sure shefwed will be along with more info pn the egolf. Most of us think it’s overpriced, but there arean’t any other options if your mother insists on VW.

    VW seem to do a great deal on scrapping / trading in a diesel. I'm not sure about the details, but is is worth looking into

    The eGolf is a great car, far better than Ioniq or Golf. It's small though, but that would be no problem for the OPs mother.


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    #6
    xl500
    Registered Users Posts: 864 ✭✭✭xl500


    If she Likes VW she may Like Audi Etron same stable maybe her dealer is Audi as well

    Also BMW I3 Rex would be a great car for her


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    #7
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    I didn't tell you this, but if you have an old banger and a decent car....they will accept the banger and you will get 4k off and also give you the trade in value of the other car as well.

    Really you need to test drive the eGolf. By all means have a look at Leaf & Ioniq but a test drive in eGolf should make the decision easy


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    #8
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    xl500 wrote: »
    If she Likes VW she may Like Audi Etron same stable maybe her dealer is Audi as well

    Also BMW I3 Rex would be a great car for her

    The Audi e-Tron is more expensive than the eGolf. Not sure why she would need for doing 100km a week

    Also the BMW i3 is more expensive than the eGolf, dont see requirement for REX either.....if i3 the full electric would work

    My wife loves Audi/VW but she had a BMW and hated it, most people I find are either BMW or Audi/VW people.


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    #9
    Casati
    Registered Users Posts: 3,022 ✭✭✭Casati


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    The Audi e-Tron is more expensive than the eGolf. Not sure why she would need for doing 100km a week

    Also the BMW i3 is more expensive than the eGolf, dont see requirement for REX either.....if i3 the full electric would work

    My wife loves Audi/VW but she had a BMW and hated it, most people I find are either BMW or Audi/VW people.

    I think it’s pointless considering ev as she does such tiny mileage, her fuel costs must be negligible as it is.

    She should consider a petrol VW and will have a great choice of cars and spec’s available.


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    #10
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Casati wrote: »
    I think it’s pointless considering ev as she does such tiny mileage, her fuel costs must be negligible as it is.

    She should consider a petrol VW and will have a great choice of cars and spec’s available.

    I wouldnt say pointless. As older they could potentially get a electricity allowance so fuel is free or as close to free as possible

    My mother wanted an electric car for one major reason, she didn’t want to go to a fuel station. She hates them and would always get someone to fill up car. With electric she can refuel at home

    She also loves the electric in terms of how it drives. She wanted to move automatic so that was tickin box. COmes with all the extras she wanted etc etc....it all made sense

    Also just because a lady is doing small mileage and older doesn’t mean she has to buy a cheap petrol.....enjoy the car you drive, if you have the money why not spend it

    THe one feature she does love since she got it, the ability to warm it up before she goes. SO in morning car is toasty when she gets into it.....something a cheap petrol wont offer


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    #11
    Casati
    Registered Users Posts: 3,022 ✭✭✭Casati


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    I wouldnt say pointless. As older they could potentially get a electricity allowance so fuel is free or as close to free as possible

    My mother wanted an electric car for one major reason, she didn’t want to go to a fuel station. She hates them and would always get someone to fill up car. With electric she can refuel at home

    She also loves the electric in terms of how it drives. She wanted to move automatic so that was tickin box. COmes with all the extras she wanted etc etc....it all made sense

    Also just because a lady is doing small mileage and older doesn’t mean she has to buy a cheap petrol.....enjoy the car you drive, if you have the money why not spend it

    THe one feature she does love since she got it, the ability to warm it up before she goes. SO in morning car is toasty when she gets into it.....something a cheap petrol wont offer

    Electricity allowance is flat rate credit regardless of electricity consumption and is means tested. Maybe folks qualifying are buying new e Golf’s for 30k+, in Ireland anything is possible.

    I never mentioned a ‘cheap’ petrol car so why do you mention it?


    Sticking with VW group cars she can get anything from an RS6 to an UP with an auto box where as she’d very limited to models and price points in buying an ev or hybrid VW.

    The op has come from doing 40k a year in a large diesel so it’s very unlikely that she has a big issue with going to a petrol station maybe once a month


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    #12
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Casati wrote: »
    Electricity allowance is flat rate credit regardless of electricity consumption and is means tested. Maybe folks qualifying are buying new e Golf’s for 30k+, in Ireland anything is possible.

    I never mentioned a ‘cheap’ petrol car so why do you mention it?


    Sticking with VW group cars she can get anything from an RS6 to an UP with an auto box where as she’d very limited to models and price points in buying an ev or hybrid VW.

    The op has come from doing 40k a year in a large diesel so it’s very unlikely that she has a big issue with going to a petrol station maybe once a month

    I didn’t see the OP requesting an analysis of Petrol v Electric, not sure why every thread has to go down the same route with pages of cr*p which has nothing to do with the OP question

    If you feel the need to discuss the merits of petrol v electric maybe start your own thread

    They asked about eGolf. I gave some info....based on my knowledge of owning the car......


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    #13
    Casati
    Registered Users Posts: 3,022 ✭✭✭Casati


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    I didn’t see the OP requesting an analysis of Petrol v Electric, not sure why every thread has to go down the same route with pages of cr*p which has nothing to do with the OP question

    If you feel the need to discuss the merits of petrol v electric maybe start your own thread

    They asked about eGolf. I gave some info....based on my knowledge of owning the car......

    Have a look at the thread title. My view is that no an eGolf won’t suit and recommend that a petrol VW would be a better option.

    You gave your view about the car and that’s fine but you must realize that other people have a view and a right to express it. Do you have an ambition to be a dictator or are you simply ignorant to others opinions?


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    #14
    thierry14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,480 ✭✭✭thierry14


    How far is the airport trip non stop?

    Ev's are not good at motorways speeds, even Teslas drain battery quickly at those speeds

    I'm guessing your not going to get more than 75 minutes driving in an e-golf at motorway speeds

    Standard trips like Limerick - Dublin, Cork- Dublin, Galway - Dublin, Belfast - Dublin are just not possible at motorway speeds without slowing to a crawl in an e-golf

    Does your mother really need that headache?

    Forking out over 30k for the privilege

    In a few years those trips will be no prob, better off wait imo.


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    #15
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    thierry14 wrote: »
    How far is the airport trip non stop?

    Ev's are not good at motorways speeds, even Teslas drain battery quickly at those speeds

    I'm guessing your not going to get more than 75 minutes driving in an e-golf at motorway speeds

    Standard trips like Limerick - Dublin, Cork- Dublin, Galway - Dublin, Belfast - Dublin are just not possible at motorway speeds without slowing to a crawl in an e-golf

    Does your mother really need that headache?

    Forking out over 30k for the privilege

    In a few years those trips will be no prob, better off wait imo.

    I would advise the OP that the person posting the above has never driven or even sat in a eGolf. They have no idea what they are talking about....

    For more information from eGolf owners you could post in the following group on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vwegolf/

    This is Worldwide group but a number of Irish drivers with the new eGolf are also members.

    The information I posted above is based on real World driving(including motorway). As I mentioned I also posted in the group above and people are seeing similar kWh/100km as I am. Those in California are a lot better because the eGolf really loves warm weather


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    #16
    thierry14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,480 ✭✭✭thierry14


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    I would advise the OP that the person posting the above has never driven or even sat in a eGolf. They have no idea what they are talking about....

    For more information from eGolf owners you could post in the following group on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vwegolf/

    This is Worldwide group but a number of Irish drivers with the new eGolf are also members.

    The information I posted above is based on real World driving(including motorway). As I mentioned I also posted in the group above and people are seeing similar kWh/100km as I am. Those in California are a lot better because the eGolf really loves warm weather

    How long/far can an e-golf drive at motorway speeds?

    Answer that instead of talking crap about California


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    #17
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,094 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    thierry14 wrote: »
    How far is the airport trip non stop?

    Its in the OP.... 130km.

    Wouldn't all the new EV's manage that.... Ioniq, Leaf 30kWh even, definitely Leaf 40kWh and new eGolf 35kWh too.

    On the basis that this is also only an occasional trip and usually only doing 100km per week, I think all those cars are suitable.

    If she has a preference for VW then there is absolutely no reason to wait a few years.... get a test drive and buy it if she likes it.


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    #18
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 65,043 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    thierry14 wrote: »
    How long/far can an e-golf drive at motorway speeds?

    Answer that


    About 170km in summer at a real speed of 120km/h, so 85 minutes would be my estimate. Less in winter, your 75 minutes would be pretty close I'd say.


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    #19
    thierry14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,480 ✭✭✭thierry14


    KCross wrote: »
    Its in the OP.... 130km.

    Wouldn't all the new EV's manage that.... Ioniq, Leaf 30kWh even, definitely Leaf 40kWh and new eGolf 35kWh too.

    On the basis that this is also only an occasional trip and usually only doing 100km per week, I think all those cars are suitable.

    If she has a preference for VW then there is absolutely no reason to wait a few years.... get a test drive and buy it if she likes it.

    Didn't see that, 130km is no bother alright, even at those speeds


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    #20
    goz83
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭goz83


    thierry14 wrote: »
    How far is the airport trip non stop?

    It’s in post 1 and 4.
    130km to airport....Roscommon.
    Ev's are not good at motorways speeds, even Teslas drain battery quickly at those speeds

    “not good” is very vague, but I get what you’re saying. However, if at motorway speed, the journey can be completed, then it’s not an issue at all.
    I'm guessing your not going to get more than 75 minutes driving in an e-golf at motorway speeds

    And that would be fine. @ 120km/h the distance travelled would be 150km and that assumes the entire journey is in the motorway. Seems like the 130km would be covered.
    Standard trips like Limerick - Dublin, Cork- Dublin, Galway - Dublin, Belfast - Dublin are just not possible at motorway speeds without slowing to a crawl in an e-golf.

    Does your mother really need that headache?

    Those trips aren’t standard for the vast majority. Most people will only do a handful of those trips in their life and even in a 24kWh Leaf they can be done with a couple of stops. Unless these trips are regular, then a current gen ev makes sense.
    Forking out over 30k for the privilege

    In a few years those trips will be no prob, better off wait imo.

    If the buyer has the money to spend and likes what she is buying, who are you to suggest it’s a bad decision?

    If the OP were to pass your sentiment onto his mother, the woman might be left waiting the rest of her days for the next range increase just in case she decides she wants to drive to Poland and back without a charge.


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    #21
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    thierry14 wrote: »
    How long/far can an e-golf drive at motorway speeds?

    Answer that instead of talking crap about California

    The OP asked for 130km. The new Golf will do that no issue. I can do it no issue in my eGolf but I would need to stay at 100km/h


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    #22
    thierry14
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,480 ✭✭✭thierry14


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    The OP asked for 130km. The new Golf will do that no issue. I can do it no issue in my eGolf but I would need to stay at 100km/h

    You have an issue

    Can't even drive for an hour at motorway speeds
    Be accused of trolling again, but that's ridiculous


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    #23
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,094 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Vronsky wrote: »
    I actually think the e-Golf would suit her, but it's motorway range would be key. Would it be able to do the trip to the airport non-stop at motorway speed? She won't buy electric unless it can do the airport trip non-stop.

    One other point OP, as detailed in earlier posts current new EV's will do that trip non-stop at 120km/h.... however, clearly she will need to charge it up before or during the return leg. Is she willing to do that?

    There are slow chargers in Dublin airport and rapids fairly close by but is she willing to deal with that?

    Bear in mind a rapid is typically used to charge to 80% so it could be tight on the return leg. What you really need is a 100% charge at the airport so that she returns to a fully charged car and drives non-stop on the return leg.


    Has anyone recently used the Dublin Airport slow chargers in the car park? Whats involved? Are they reliable AND available?


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    #24
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    KCross wrote: »
    Has anyone recently used the Dublin Airport slow chargers in the car park? Whats involved? Are they reliable AND available?

    Used the fast charger at the petrol station on the way out and it was grand.

    I never use Dublin Airport parking. At Quickpark if you use the Premium service(extra 2 quid or so) they will charge your car and have it ready on your return...brillant service


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    #25
    samih
    Registered Users Posts: 2,795 ✭✭✭samih


    KCross wrote: »
    Bear in mind a rapid is typically used to charge to 80% so it could be tight on the return leg. What you really need is a 100% charge at the airport so that she returns to a fully charged car and drives non-stop on the return leg.


    Has anyone recently used the Dublin Airport slow chargers in the car park? Whats involved? Are they reliable AND available?

    Good points. As of the slow chargers at the airport: I have used the ones at the T2 multistorey. They are 16 A 3.7 kW single phase units so not great topping up for the return trip. Maybe if the car was rapid charged first and then parked to the multistorey to top up to full charge?


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    #26
    WattsUp
    Registered Users Posts: 254 ✭✭WattsUp


    Sounds like a PHEV might be a better option. Can do all the weekly trips on electricity and then the occasional trip to the airport the engine is used. No worries about range, no worries about finding a working charger near the airport etc, no worries about ICEed chargers when in a hurry home.  There is a selection. The A3 Etron, Golf GTE, Passat GTE, BMW 330e, BMW 530e, New Kia PHEV, Ioniq PHEV, Outlander, Tyota PHEV....They cost a bit more but tick all the boxes.  
    Many families "down the country" get away with an EV as a second car for all the local trips but still have a ICE that takes care of the 260km+ return type spins. If you can have just one car a PHEV does both reasonably well.


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    #27
    goz83
    Registered Users Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭goz83


    New eGolf would get there with 80%. Use rapid charger at airport to get up to 80% and return to roscommon.

    Ioniq and Leaf 2 would also do this.

    It’s the longer trips that are more enjoyable, as they save the most


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    #28
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,094 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    goz83 wrote: »
    New eGolf would get there with 80%. Use rapid charger at airport to get up to 80% and return to roscommon.

    Ioniq and Leaf 2 would also do this.

    It’s the longer trips that are more enjoyable, as they save the most

    At 120km/h in wet weather? With what % left?

    You would need at least 10% remaining when arriving home.. probably more to allow for wet weather so I think it might be tighter than you think if starting from 80%

    So you have 70% of a 35kWh battery... thats 24.5kWh and probably 19kWh/100km (possibly worse if weather is bad)... thats right on the 130km mark!

    I suspect her whole issue is she wants zero range anxiety and I think starting at 80% could give range anxiety.


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    #29
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    A lot of posts on here but none from the OP.....it might be worth checking how many times the driver will be required to travel to airport.

    If it is once or twice a year max for holidays I don't see any major issue. Why buy a hybrid for the very rare occasion of going to airport?

    If more regular then maybe a bit of investigation might be needed.....

    Also will the driver want to travel at 120km/h?


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    #30
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    If she is changing purely because of mileage im not sure it's a valid reason. All her current car needs is a small drive on an open road once a week to keep the dpf clear. If it came to it, replacing the dpf will cost a lot less than a new car.

    Of course if she just wants to change for upgrade reasons that's fine too.


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    #31
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,094 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    A lot of posts on here but none from the OP.....it might be worth checking how many times the driver will be required to travel to airport.

    If it is once or twice a year max for holidays I don't see any major issue. Why buy a hybrid for the very rare occasion of going to airport?

    If more regular then maybe a bit of investigation might be needed.....

    Also will the driver want to travel at 120km/h?
    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    If she is changing purely because of mileage im not sure it's a valid reason. All her current car needs is a small drive on an open road once a week to keep the dpf clear. If it came to it, replacing the dpf will cost a lot less than a new car.

    Of course if she just wants to change for upgrade reasons that's fine too.

    I thought the OP was clear as to what (s)he wanted.
    Occasionally non-stop motorway speed driving for 130km to the airport.
    100km/week outside of that.

    "She won't buy electric unless it can do the airport trip non-stop."


    We can suggest hybrids and stopping for charging etc but thats not what s(he) asked for! :)


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