What do you Drive?

[ezdog]

In the Netherlands most people drive a different kind of grey Toyota

My Tiny Car is just up this page a few posts too!

[Aloha]

Its a comfy tuck for sure.  Lots of power and yes the Tacoma isn't much better on gas.  I've got the double cab ( half doors ) 6ft bed.  I came from a Avalanche.  Its been a great truck for sure.  Not towing a lot but its nice to know it'll handle most anything id tow.  I do wish I'd chose 4WD.   

[Reinier]

I ordered a Polestar 2 last week
Including a private charging station so public charging won't be necessary.

My Polestar 2 just arrived



My charging station was installed a few weeks ago so the car is charging as we speak

[Gareth]

Very cool mate.    Electric of some kind is definitely the future but I do kind the utter lack of serious effort in the charging infrastructure here very depressing.  Like you I have a driveway and could install a charging point, but if I didn't then I'd be stuffed.

[enki_ck]

Very cool ride, Reinier


I've been driving a Duster for the last few years. Very happy with it.

[Reinier]

Thank you Gareth!
The infrastructure is actually quite good here in the Netherlands. The Polestar's range is not exactly great. For work I will probably have to use public (DC) chargers sometimes depending on where I need to be. Some of my clients are in South Limburg (400km round trip). Too much for the Polestar, especially in the winter.

[Reinier]

Very cool ride, Reinier


I've been driving a Duster for the last few years. Very happy with it.

Thanks Nikola!
I really like the Duster's rugged looks

[Gareth]

A very run of the mill Ford Kuga AWD for the last year or so.  Does everything I need but is less quirky than my old Koleos.  I miss my old Koleos. 

[Reinier]

Nice Kuga. I had one for a day a while back.
Magnetic? Same color as the Mondeo I just returned.

[Gareth]

Nice Kuga. I had one for a day a while back.
Magnetic? Same color as the Mondeo I just returned.

Think so, but I'd be lying if I said for sure.  My wife has a Fiesta that is nearly, but not quite, the same colour. It'd look better if I washed it a little more often. 

[Reinier]

Funny, my wife has a dark blue Fiesta (see above), my in-laws have a Fiesta ST in Magnetic gray.
Excellent cars those Fiestas.

[Gareth]

Funny, my wife has a dark blue Fiesta (see above), my in-laws have a Fiesta ST in Magnetic gray.
Excellent cars those Fiestas.

Great compact cars IMO.  My wife's is the 1.0 Ecoboost 98bhp engine.  Not nearly as sharp as the full ST, but still quick enough to be fun.  

[Reinier]

Great compact cars IMO.  My wife's is the 1.0 Ecoboost 98bhp engine.  Not nearly as sharp as the full ST, but still quick enough to be fun.  

We talked about that four years ago but she had the 123bhp version back then

I now have 408bhp but in a very heavy car (battery pack is 600kgs or so). Still fairly quick, 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 4.5s. I'm pretty excited about this car

[Gareth]

We talked about that four years ago but she had the 123bhp version back then

I now have 408bhp but in a very heavy car (battery pack is 600kgs or so). Still fairly quick, 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 4.5s. I'm pretty excited about this car

awesome. 

[Gareth]

We talked about that four years ago but she had the 123bhp version back then

I now have 408bhp but in a very heavy car (battery pack is 600kgs or so). Still fairly quick, 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 4.5s. I'm pretty excited about this car

I've just been corrected.  It's the 123bhp we have too. 

[Reinier]

I've just been corrected.  It's the 123bhp we have too. 

[old Lefty]

The Polestar looks cool! Volvo is an the roll currently methinks.
Pls. share how you'll be finding it!

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Gareth]

Only Volvo I ever owned was a 1.7 340 GL.

Not even close to exciting but it was sold and reliable.

[Top-Gear-24]

Very cool ride, Reinier


I've been driving a Duster for the last few years. Very happy with it.

When my trusty 10 year old Citroën Berlingo is on its last breath, the Duster will most likely be the one to replace it.

We own two Berlingo's, one 10 years old, the other 3.  The Berlingo had an awesome value for the money, and I would buy a new Berlingo but since its "face-lift" last year it got a lot more expensive, to a point that I thought that I could do better for the money.

And electric? That's simply not an option with our budget, plus, I really dislike the limited range on most of them.  Okay to get me to work and to go shopping, but for a 1000 km trip to Austria or Switzerland... And yes, we could still use the other Berlingo for that, but we always try to have one "old" car and one new (so we don't get into a situation where we have to buy two new cars only five years apart or so), but it feels kinda weird to have a young car at home and take the old one for a 2000 or 3000 km trip on vacation...

My Defender or Wrangler dreams will never come true, not enough budget now, and by the time the mortgage from our house is done (9 years to go), our oldest son will be 25, the other 23, and our baby girl 14, and I just can't buy a 60.000 Euro car while my kids are trying to find a home for themselves and their loved ones by that time...

So a Duster it will be (or maybe a Suzuki Jimny, if it's still available by then, and if I can fit my 1,94m behind the driving wheel  ).

[Top-Gear-24]

My Polestar 2 just arrived

(Image removed from quote.)

My charging station was installed a few weeks ago so the car is charging as we speak

That's a beautiful ride you have there mate  .

[enki_ck]

Actually it's very well suited for tall people even in the back seat. Lots of head space. And good mileage, My average is 5,8L/100km combined from when I got it, Mountains, motorway, city, ... For such a boxy car, I'm happy. I'm not sure what the regulations for diesels are in Belgium, I know the Germans got really crazy with that, but I think Dacia is again offering it in an LPG configuration straight from the factory.
The only downside is the trunk is a bit narrow, but I think the new model is a bit better at that.

[Gareth]

I've got a couple of friends who love their Dusters.  The boot (trunk) felt a little small for my needs but they are great bang for your buck.

[Top-Gear-24]

Actually it's very well suited for tall people even in the back seat. Lots of head space. And good mileage, My average is 5,8L/100km combined from when I got it, Mountains, motorway, city, ... For such a boxy car, I'm happy. I'm not sure what the regulations for diesels are in Belgium, I know the Germans got really crazy with that, but I think Dacia is again offering it in an LPG configuration straight from the factory.
The only downside is the trunk is a bit narrow, but I think the new model is a bit better at that.

The remark about my length was in case I would go for a Suzuki Jimny sometime in the future (when the kids have  left the house, or at least drive their own cars  ).

But it's great to hear there's enough room in the Duster, I really like the looks of it, and I know from people and reviews that the 4 x 4 version isn't just a wannabe, and I hear reliability is very good on them.

And at the moment they are still the cheapest option out there for someone who wants a capable 4 x 4 SUV on a budget.

[Gareth]

Sadly the new Jinmy was pulled from sale as it couldn't pass the EU emission standards.  Sounds like this new "commercial"  version might be a thing. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/suzuki/jimny/108899/suzuki-jimny-saved-new-commercial-version

There is at least one new Jimny that I see driving around here so they obviously sold a few before they were removed from the market.

[old Lefty]

Sadly the new Jinmy was pulled from sale as it couldn't pass the EU emission standards.  Sounds like this new "commercial"  version might be a thing. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/suzuki/jimny/108899/suzuki-jimny-saved-new-commercial-version

There is at least one new Jimny that I see driving around here so they obviously sold a few before they were removed from the market.

They sold all they could get over here prior the pull. It is a really nice looking and apparently capable little 4x4. A small Defender (the real one, not the new computer thingy) methinks.

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Top-Gear-24]

Sadly the new Jinmy was pulled from sale as it couldn't pass the EU emission standards.  Sounds like this new "commercial"  version might be a thing. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/suzuki/jimny/108899/suzuki-jimny-saved-new-commercial-version

There is at least one new Jimny that I see driving around here so they obviously sold a few before they were removed from the market.

Yep, I know... I was talking about the commercial version (that's why the kids will have to get their own transportation  ), I see a couple of the "regular" version around here, but not that much (and they were sold out in the blink of an eye apparently).

But that's part of my fear.  I once sat behind the steering wheel of a Jimny (but this was 20 years ago, so three versions back), and that one was a commercial version and the plate to seperate the front seats from the cargo space in the back was too much to the front, so I couldn't put the seat back as much as I needed, so not enough legg-room for me  .

[Top-Gear-24]

They sold all they could get over here prior the pull. It is a really nice looking and apparently capable little 4x4. A small Defender (the real one, not the new computer thingy) methinks.

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

Yep, I also like it very much, small (and cheap) enough to feel like a toy, yet capable enough to be a real off-roader.

Not that great on the road apparently, so using it for a 1000km trip to Austria will not be a pleasant or fast experience, but hey, give and take right?

And it looks stunning   .

[Reinier]

That's a beautiful ride you have there mate  .

Thank you

[Reinier]

The Polestar looks cool! Volvo is an the roll currently methinks.
Pls. share how you'll be finding it!

Thank you old Lefty

I've only had it for a few days and have not driven it a lot, but here are my findings until now:

• The design is awesome. When Polestar introduced the car in February 2018 I shouted that's my next ride at my TV screen. In fact, I remember the first time I saw photos of it when it was still the Volvo 40.2 Concept. I really like the looks of it, especially the rear;
• Build quality is excellent;
• The interior feels fresh, modern and minimalist. I guess you could call it "premium" but I don't really like that word
• It's quite a bit smaller than my previous car. Especially the boot (trunk) is a lot smaller;
  
• It drives really well. I have the version with the standard suspension and 19" alloys instead of the Öhlins dampers and 20" rims. This makes the ride fairly comfortable but still firm and even a bit sporty;
• Acceleration is awesome. An EV power train has all power and torque available from 0 rpm so acceleration is instant;
• It has Android Automotive with means it's basically an Android tablet with wheels and seats It works really well and the GUI is familiar, well laid-out and also quick and snappy;
• Google Assistant integration works perfectly. My daughter thinks it's hilarious. "Hey Google, tell me a joke" 
• Not a lot of apps are available (yet). For me it's not a problem. I can access my Youtube Music library (formerly Google Play Music) so I can play the music I purchased on Play Music a while back and recently uploaded to YTM, I use Google Maps for navigation and I don't think I need anything else;
• My car is one of the first 1,000 in the Netherlands and there have been a lot of issues with the drive train and other bugs. Also two recalls. I have experienced some minor issues but so far it's been fine;
• Consumption is worse than expected. The WLTP range used to be 500km but I think it was lowered to 450 or something. But realistically you'll be lucky if you get 300 or so...
• Charging speed is not great. I've not tried DC charging yet but I've seen lots of tests (e.g. by Bjørn Nyland) and cars like the Audi E-Tron and of course all Teslas are much better at that.
• I had asked for the winter tyres to be fitted but it arrived on summer tyres;
• Hand-over was nothing more than the exchange of the car keys. The guy knew nothing about the car. It was nothing like the experience that Polestar promises!
• The car arrived rather dirty (inside and out). I've made an appointment with the Volvo dealership for a full cleaning and detailing, free of charge

Overall I'm very happy! And due to rather complicated tax reasons the Polestar is even cheaper than the Ford Mondeo 1.5 diesel I had previously (list price is a lot higher though).

[Reinier]

Let me add one feature that has blown me away: the pixel LED headlights. Each headlight features 84 individual LEDs that are controlled individually. You can always use the high beams: approaching vehicles and cars driving in front of you are "shaded out" automatically. It works really, really well.

https://www.polestar.com/uk/polestar-2/safety/

My wife's car has halogen lights which are OK. I owned a Volvo with xenon headlights that swiveled around corners: those were very good. Then I had auto-dimming, swiveling LED headlights on my previous car and I thought those were genius. But the Polestar's headlights are just ridiculously well engineered