I don’t really get this thinking to be honest. There are so many great cars around these days, both EV and ICE (European, Japanese & Korean) or even hybrid. I don’t get the nostalgia for Commodores. I’m not sure or not whether my next car will be an EV, but if not then there are just a plethora of ICE options still available. I’ll probably end up with a Cupra or something like that.
I’d be happy with an EV, my only limiting factor is being an apartment dweller.. we’ve been told that we can’t have EV charging in our (underground) car park as it’s deemed a fire risk, which is a bummer. I don’t really want to have to rely on fast charging, for cost, practicality and it shortening the battery life too much.
A hybrid would be a good compromise. Or a smaller ICE sedan like a Honda Civic (now that the Mazda 6 - my current car - has gone out of production in ICE form). Still not keen on SUVs.
Yeah I’m in the same predicament as an apartment dweller.
As for SUV’s I think there are different “levels” of SUV. I don’t want a full-sized SUV but some of the milder ones like the Renault Captur for example that are kind of half-way between a hatch and an SUV are what I’ll probably look at.
As for hatches/small sedans I like the Cupra Leon. Must admit I lean towards European cars for driving dynamics :). I like the Civic but gee they have gotten comparatively expensive.
Agree, on the Civic, but they are a fully featured car for the money if you’re looking for a top of the range small sedan, so would be cross shopped against the likes of the Hyundai i30 Premium/ N Line Premium and the Kia K4 GT.
A crossover vehicle, maybe like the Corolla Cross, would be an option too.
I wouldn’t get a EV just yet. I would get a Hybrid though.
I wouldn’t mind a Camry Hybrid.. but that is last resort
I’ll take a V8 anyway.. even if it costs $200 for petrol in 1 week of commuting…
I don’t think I would get a V8 as an everyday car now. If I had the money, and if I was actually into doing up cars, I would get an old one and have it as a show car but that would never happen. There are a few people I know that have done this.
Yeah, your probably are right.. In this day & age, people aren’t into V8s.. it’s all about TikTok & the latest iPhone
Still however, my dad still has a 2001 VX Commodore SS with a 5.7L LS1 (6-Speed Manual of course) still on the road. Got a loud stereo in it. But the fact is.. that VX will be eligible for Historic plates
Those old VP Commodore & EL Falcons from the early 2000s that P-Platers bought?… all eligible for Historic Plates
When I was born… the VX was only 10 years of age.. as old as a 2016 Corolla..
You never realise how much time has passed.. till you look back at old assets
The VX, VE and VL were my favourite Commodores. I had a VX Berlina and a VE Calais, both V6s, sadly never had a V8.
Never had a VL, but my first Commodore was a base VP.
Those VPs were built tough. Along with the VN, VR, VS, VT, VX & VY. VZ bought in the alloytec (Long story.. best to google it) These youngsters these days in their BMWs & Mercedes… they never knew what a actual first car was. A first was a; $1000 sh*t box with very weak a/c, A aftermarket stereo, Manual wind up windows, and of course.. the P-Plate shoved into the license plate
A lot of my friends who were in to the locally made Holdens or Fords got them in the earlier years not as first cars but a lot got a second hand one even if it was just a holden made car. Just to say “I owned a Holden” but a lot have moved on from that. My dad owned a few I’m not sure what models. He hasn’t had one for a very long time.
Holdens always had good air conditioning in my experience. Better than my current Mazda 6, which struggles on a hot day.
My one car regret was not having a Falcon at some point. I liked them too, the EB with the 4 litre MPI would have been one, or maybe an XR6 Turbo!
Some of them are shocking.. especially when they’ve aged.. Dad’s VX only got it’s air-con regassed around 2 years ago
Still - didn’t matter.. you got natural air-con called flooring your V8 with windows down
Back in the day, people drove Commodores or Falcons (and an odd Magna here & there).. Nowadays it’s Tesla’s, Ford Rangers, MG ZS or a Toyota Hilux. Not the same any more, Australian car manufacturing has been dead for the last 10 years..
Agree, the Magnas were a great car too, my Dad had an 88 TN SE wagon, thankfully no issues with the 4 speed auto, they were a real problem for Mitsubishi in the TM and TN series.
having owned a tesla for about 8 weeks, there’s no way in hell I’ll lever buy a petrol car again, especially now i have solar and a battery bank at home. my tesla is basically free to run and with the lower ongoing costs of an EV its a no brainer for me
I unfortunately don’t have solar but I just moved my electricity to Origin that charge like $3. They actually provide a credit on your bill. I’ve had a Tesla for going on 3 years and I put it in for a check and service a few months back for the first time and it cost me $1400 for new tyres, replacing the low voltage battery etc. I think I would have paid much more if I had a petrol car.
The only annoying thing is I’m in NSW and I now need to do a rego check every year as the car has reached 5 years. I personally think this is unnecessary for newer cars now they are a lot safer. Maybe make it compulsory from 10 years or from 5 years and then every 2 or 3 years after that and yearly from the 10 year point. Plus NSW is the only state to my knowledge that makes you do it.
In my honest opinion… Tesla’s are too techy.. the gear shift is done through a screen, climate control is done through a screen, indicators are done via button on the F1 looking steering wheel
I’ll gladly take something 20 years old with actual knobs, buttons & indicator stalks
Isn’t it more dangerous for everything to be done via a screen… y’know if it ends up lagging.. not useful for doing gear changes or climate control
There’s money in it. That’s why. NSW is the DAZN of states.
I think with the increase in EVs, it’s going to be important to retain this - because the servicing requirements of an EV are so vastly different to an ICE vehicle. There is a growing perception among a number of EV owners that servicing is less important.
I’ve recently seen some absolutely shagged Teslas that need thousands of dollars of work because they aren’t being serviced (Tyres, brake pads, suspension). Ultimately, these become safety issues
They appeal to a market. I can see why someone would own one, but I struggle with the idea of owning one myself.
I will only get an EV when I am legally required to own one, and when it can do country driving safely. It must do Western Sydney → Newcastle, Western Sydney → Scone and occasionally Western Sydney → Tamworth/Gunnedah with only one charge up, not midway. Overnight charge, fine.