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Vauxhall Ampera

24567

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭slicedpanman


    Well after my 35km during the week, I just did a long trip with the missus and the kids (Limerick to Kilkenny)

    So, same car same driver and driving style - this time I got 58.8km from full to zero :)

    Weather was still cold but not freezing (started at 10C was 12C when we arrived in Kilkenny), little wind and some drizzle.

    So the differences were, preheated on mains and 1 single drive in fairly free flowing N road traffic, cabin heating kept at a minimum. Vs lots of short trips in stop/start traffic on my commute with heating on max

    On my normal commute I'm lucky if I get to 50% on the driving style graph in the efficiency page


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭marklazarcovic


    These cars have shot up in value .. even Zoe's have gone up..not enough to go around it seems.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭slicedpanman


    Hi marklazarcovic... You got an ampera too iirc, how long have you had yours? And what's your best/worst range on battery?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    These cars have shot up in value ..

    GBP 7,995

    Looks like a bargain

    Linky


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    unkel wrote: »
    GBP 7,995

    Looks like a bargain

    Linky

    Once they get close to, or over, 100k miles the asking price drops. Most cars are the same. I'm sure the drive train is still fine...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭marklazarcovic


    Hi marklazarcovic... You got an ampera too iirc, how long have you had yours? And what's your best/worst range on battery?

    Not yet


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,212 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    n97 mini wrote: »
    Once they get close to, or over, 100k miles the asking price drops. Most cars are the same. I'm sure the drive train is still fine...
    The sister car for this, the Chevrolet Volt first gen, have many examples over 300k miles in the US with no battery loss. I'd have no concerns at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    With just 10kWh usable out of a 16kWh, a decent BMS and no fast charging, it would take decades and hundreds of thousands of miles before you have any noticeable degradation :D

    You can have that Ampera / Volt landed here on Irish plates for less than €9.5k - a pretty good deal. I'd take it any day over a Leaf if it were to be my only family car with the hopeless state of our public charging network :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,638 ✭✭✭zilog_jones


    It really doesn't like the cold and all the stop starting of short trips. Starting cold seems to knock one or two km off the range each time as does blasting the heat

    I find I lose about 1-1.5 miles on the range estimation in winter with my Prius Plug-in (get about 11 miles in summer), though it's hard to tell what my effective range is because using the heater = running the ICE.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    ELM327 wrote: »
    The sister car for this, the Chevrolet Volt first gen, have many examples over 300k miles in the US with no battery loss. I'd have no concerns at all.

    I'm merely pointing out the 100k mile psychological barrier that some people have, hence there is less demand and therefore lower prices.

    Having said that, there are many parts that wear out with time and mileage. Bushings, ball joints, brake components etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    I wouldn't worry too much about the brake components :D

    But yeah most cars need considerable suspension work around the 200-300km mark. That would cost hundreds rather than thousands though. I would prefer to buy a car a few thousand cheaper that might need a few hundred spent on it than buying an expensive low miler :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    unkel wrote: »
    I would prefer to buy a car a few thousand cheaper that might need a few hundred spent on it than buying an expensive low miler :D

    By expensive low miler, you mean brand new?! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,638 ✭✭✭zilog_jones


    unkel wrote: »
    I wouldn't worry too much about the brake components :D

    The fact the friction brakes will be used less than a traditional car doesn't mean they can be ignored either.

    I've had to replace all the caliper guide pins on the rear brakes on my Prius as they were seized - they need regular inspection and lubrication to avoid this. Every 2 years or so is probably enough.

    I don't know how much of an issue this is with other hybrids and EVs, but if you see rusty discs (and not just light surface rust) then they'll need attention. Some cursory Googling suggests the Volt/Ampera is not immune to this problem.

    Even if the discs look OK it's probably good to check them and lubricate the pins. I gained about a mile EV range after doing this :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    n97 mini wrote: »
    By expensive low miler, you mean brand new?! :)

    Nah, just I'd prefer to spend £7,999 on a 100k miles on rather than £9,999 on a 20k miles one. Most people are the opposite, that's why high milers are such good value :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,615 ✭✭✭grogi


    n97 mini wrote: »
    - TPMS actually shows tyre pressures without having to use OBD. I don't know why the Leaf doesn't. The downside is that when the car is in metric mode, tyre pressure is shown in kilopascals! Why?! Should be in Bar ideally, but I still use PSI anyway.

    Because kPa is the metric unit of pressure. Divide it by 100 and you'll have the value in bars. In which part the Pound per Square Inch is metric? ;P


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    grogi wrote: »
    Because kPa is the metric unit of pressure. Divide it by 100 and you'll have the value in bars. In which part the Pound per Square Inch is metric? ;P

    Learn something new every day. Still not sure why the pressure isn't just in bars, to match what's on air pumps.


  • Registered Users Posts: 105 ✭✭Dark and Long


    Have one of these about a month now and love it. I have a 250km round commute to work and got it after work put in chargers, spending about 5/8th's of what I was on fuel (coming from a 2.0 cDTI Astra). Find it great to drive and very comfy. The touch sensitive infomatant system is really annoying for things like the temp control, and I find the windscreen fogs up very easily and much more than any other car I've had for some reason (although I am aware I'm a bit more stingy with the heating in EV mode!!).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    With a 250km commute and work charging, did you not consider a Leaf 30kWh? The extra few grand up front would have paid for itself very quickly in fuel savings alone.


  • Registered Users Posts: 105 ✭✭Dark and Long


    unkel wrote: »
    With a 250km commute and work charging, did you not consider a Leaf 30kWh? The extra few grand up front would have paid for itself very quickly in fuel savings alone.

    I simply could not look at a leaf every day, it's just so ugly and unappealing, snobbish I know, but I like a good looking car! I don't plan on having this commute for much longer, so I was looking ahead and figured it would do my needs in future, while cutting my costs presently and having a car I like the look of.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,479 ✭✭✭Kamili


    Theres two for sale on done deal at the moment, no mention of spec and I haven't gone digging.

    https://www.donedeal.ie/all?words=Ampera&area=Ireland&campaign=14


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,212 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    I simply could not look at a leaf every day, it's just so ugly and unappealing, snobbish I know, but I like a good looking car! I don't plan on having this commute for much longer, so I was looking ahead and figured it would do my needs in future, while cutting my costs presently and having a car I like the look of.
    I did over 50k km in a leaf in around 12 months. You don't have to look at it when you are driving! :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,793 ✭✭✭coolisin


    Kamili wrote: »
    Theres two for sale on done deal at the moment, no mention of spec and I haven't gone digging.

    https://www.donedeal.ie/all?words=Ampera&area=Ireland&campaign=14

    Went to have a look at the one in Naas, not bad very interested in them as a car, not a fan of the silver in the flesh, wheels would also need a refurb.
    Didn't get them to value my car, not sure if my missus will ever actually let me get a Vauxhall :D

    Dont think I would go next to near the place in ballymount!
    There was a nice one for sale up the north. Too busy to head up to have a look.

    I would love to have a 48hr test drive to see how it would suit my needs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,404 ✭✭✭1874


    Have one of these about a month now and love it. I have a 250km round commute to work and got it after work put in chargers, spending about 5/8th's of what I was on fuel (coming from a 2.0 cDTI Astra). Find it great to drive and very comfy. The touch sensitive infomatant system is really annoying for things like the temp control, and I find the windscreen fogs up very easily and much more than any other car I've had for some reason (although I am aware I'm a bit more stingy with the heating in EV mode!!).


    Whats insurance on these, I know that'l be variable based on other factors.
    Anyone know what are the actual servicing costs up north?

    Kamili wrote: »
    Theres two for sale on done deal at the moment, no mention of spec and I haven't gone digging.

    https://www.donedeal.ie/all?words=Ampera&area=Ireland&campaign=14


    Seems steep compared to the UK based one,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,479 ✭✭✭Kamili


    1874 wrote: »
    Seems steep compared to the UK based one,

    Very steep, was thinking that myself.
    Don't like the silver either


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭marklazarcovic


    White or red they look amazing imo


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    coolisin wrote: »

    Dont think I would go next to near the place in ballymount!

    Any particular reason?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Kamili wrote: »
    Theres two for sale on done deal at the moment, no mention of spec and I haven't gone digging.

    https://www.donedeal.ie/all?words=Ampera&area=Ireland&campaign=14

    The Murphy Doyle one is Electron (has satnav)
    The Electric Autos one is Positiv (no satnav)

    Both 2013 model year. The red trim in the 13MY is rare. Tends to be more common in the 12MY.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,404 ✭✭✭1874


    coolisin wrote: »
    Went to have a look at the one in Naas, not bad very interested in them as a car, not a fan of the silver in the flesh, wheels would also need a refurb.
    Didn't get them to value my car, not sure if my missus will ever actually let me get a Vauxhall :D

    Dont think I would go next to near the place in ballymount!
    There was a nice one for sale up the north. Too busy to head up to have a look.

    I would love to have a 48hr test drive to see how it would suit my needs.


    Probably not much they could do to one though?
    Looking online, I like the look of the Volt more, neither car seem to have a good means to seperate anything stored in the boot and no proper cover for the boot either, seems an odd thing to put me off, but it looks like stuff could come through and no privacy from peering eyes for anything you might have in there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭marklazarcovic


    I heard the volt/ampera don't have exact same suspension etc, only the drivetrain is the same, slight differences in a lot of other things.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,793 ✭✭✭coolisin


    1874 wrote: »
    Probably not much they could do to one though?
    Looking online, I like the look of the Volt more, neither car seem to have a good means to seperate anything stored in the boot and no proper cover for the boot either, seems an odd thing to put me off, but it looks like stuff could come through and no privacy from peering eyes for anything you might have in there.

    True enough that.
    Its just the dealing I've had with Ballymount and the rep of dealers around there.

    Boot cover wouldn't bother me as a drive an estate with the cover always out anyway.

    Would rather the light cloth one that looks like you can fold in a pocket easier then the retractable cover I need to move all the time!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,404 ✭✭✭1874


    I prefer a retractable roller cover, Ive an estate and as I might have anything in there I prefer its not visible, more suprising to me is the lack of any or a significant barrier to stop items in there moving through into the rest of the car, one vehicle looked like the barrier was about as substantial as a piece of hardboard others had none on display, other than that I like the look of both cars, volt looks nicer, but the ampera looks ok in certain colours


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,077 ✭✭✭Patser


    Strange timing to see this thread, just seen my 1st Chevy Volt in the flesh - a 12 reg, one of the rebadged Amperas. Not too bad looking a car up close.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,212 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    Patser wrote: »
    Strange timing to see this thread, just seen my 1st Chevy Volt in the flesh - a 12 reg, one of the rebadged Amperas. Not too bad looking a car up close.
    Cough.... an ampera is actually a rebadged Volt, not the other way round


  • Registered Users Posts: 105 ✭✭Dark and Long


    1874 wrote: »
    Whats insurance on these, I know that'l be variable based on other factors.
    Anyone know what are the actual servicing costs up north?





    Seems steep compared to the UK based one,

    My insurance is ~500 sterling for the year, which was about 100 lower than my 2.0 cDTI Astra.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    8 Amperas and 1 Volt so far this year. Image courtesy the IEVOA

    Screenshot-from-2018-11-01-15-56-23-1024x381.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    Anyone know how long the charge cable is? Would it reach a socket on the front of a house if the Ampera is the second car in a driveway if that makes sense?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    Anyone know how long the charge cable is? Would it reach a socket on the front of a house if the Ampera is the second car in a driveway if that makes sense?

    I don't know specifically for the Ampera, but most EVs come with a 5m cable. This would not be long enough to reach the second car on the drive

    For this reason, I had a 15m cable made for me :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 277 ✭✭wing52


    Is you're 15m cable as tough or better than the standard. Ones? I've seen a few with chips gone off the end of them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    Anyone know how long the charge cable is? Would it reach a socket on the front of a house if the Ampera is the second car in a driveway if that makes sense?

    The included cable is 6m... but the socket on the car is on the passenger side wing, so you lose probably a metre because of that.

    If the car in front is a hatchback it probably would reach. Probably not if it's a saloon.

    Also depends on where on the house the socket is located.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    wing52 wrote: »
    Is you're 15m cable as tough or better than the standard. Ones? I've seen a few with chips gone off the end of them.

    I've a few different cables/plugs here. ITT made ones are definitely the best quality. They also have metal release mechanisms (on Type-1 plugs only), most of the rest are plastic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65,707 ✭✭✭✭unkel
    Chauffe, Marcel, chauffe!


    wing52 wrote: »
    Is you're 15m cable as tough or better than the standard. Ones?

    Probably better. It is very heavy. I have it permanently tethered to my charger. It hangs in the bushes between my and my neighbour's driveway right beside the charge port of my car, for maximum convenience. The only solution more convenient than this would be wireless charging :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    We've ours for a few days and love it so far.

    Feels much quicker than 9s 0-100km

    468460.jpeg

    468461.jpeg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Nice! Looks well in silver.

    Which model year (12/13) is it, and which trim (Positiv/Electron)?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    2012 electron and it's got high mileage (120k) but that relieves us of any of the Belfast servicing worries and have found a few places to service it in Dublin.
    One scratch on the bodywork and the steering wheel is a bit frayed but otherwise it's in great condition.
    Going to get a full valet over the holidays.
    Only issue so far is the front splitter scrapes off the ground on the way into the driveway, it's extremely low!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭slicedpanman


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    Only issue so far is the front splitter scrapes off the ground on the way into the driveway, it's extremely low!
    Yeah, I've to watch the speed bumps, it's a low clearance alright


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    Only issue so far is the front splitter scrapes off the ground on the way into the driveway, it's extremely low!

    Ours scrapes on the way out!

    There is a lower profile skirt available, which I intend to fit to ours. Off the top of my head it's 10mm shallower, and I'll order it to coincide with the next the service. It's around £30, and held on by 4 or 6 screws.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    Has anyone figured out how to play music through the stereo from a phone via bluetooth? Works fine for calls but doesn't seem to pick up as an audio device.

    Also, in case anyone was unsure - we've been accepted for the reduced rates toll tag.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,212 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    Simona1986 wrote: »
    Has anyone figured out how to play music through the stereo from a phone via bluetooth? Works fine for calls but doesn't seem to pick up as an audio device.

    Also, in case anyone was unsure - we've been accepted for the reduced rates toll tag.


    As a PHEV or as an EV? PHEV will also get accepted but you don't get the full reduction that full EVs get.


    AFAIR the EU models didnt come with bluetooth audio, just bluetooth calls, but I do stand to be corrected on this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,868 ✭✭✭Alkers


    ELM327 wrote:
    As a PHEV or as an EV? PHEV will also get accepted but you don't get the full reduction that full EVs get.

    PHEV I assume and I'm nearly sure that's what we applied for. Still a decent saving.
    ELM327 wrote:
    AFAIR the EU models didnt come with bluetooth audio, just bluetooth calls, but I do stand to be corrected on this.

    That would make sense on my attempts so far!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭marklazarcovic


    Well that's a bit of a dumb thing .. ref Bluetooth


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