Car decisions

My faithful and hard-working car, Fiona, made for me to my own chosen specification in 2010, has now covered 194,000 miles. It looks as if she will hit 200,000 miles sometime in February or March next year. That's a lot of mileage; but she is a top-of-the range diesel Volvo XC60 with five cylinders and all-wheel drive, built strongly and well, powerful, and inherently likely to soldier on to 300,000 miles and beyond. It's in her DNA. 

But like any car, this all depends on careful driving and regular maintenance, and a bit of love. She has always had all three. That said, the regular maintenance part comes at a cost. She has never been cheap to run. And the older she gets, the more will wear out. I don't expect any sudden breakdowns that will leave me stranded. No, it will be a long series of component replacements, each one having lasted for a very impressive number of miles, but inevitably reaching the point where failure looms. The trick is to recognise the signs, and get the item fixed at the right moment, not too soon and not too late. Money is a big consideration; but so is safety, peace of mind, and sheer convenience. I must be able go on one of my extended and long-range caravan touring holidays without any fear that something will go wrong. Or when at home, without useful bus services to fall back on, I need to stay mobile for shopping and socialising.  

As was intended, Fiona has met my personal needs perfectly. So it was upsetting to think that avoidable global warming and the legislation to counter it would lead to a premature severance of our acquaintance. Not so long ago, I was making plans to switch to an all-electric car in 2025 or 2026. The savings I was making to that end had to be spent instead on essential house, car and caravan repairs, forcing me to rethink what to do. Now the government has extended the window for buying and using a petrol or diesel car. This suits me personally, even though I think it's bad for the government's green credibility, and bad for the planet. I don't think my conscience will let me drive Fiona around beyond 2030, but I am at least relieved that Fiona has had a reprieve. 

It's only 2023: there are seven years ahead in which to formulate a realistic car replacement strategy. I can reasonably expect that during those seven years the electrical technology will improve, more charging infrastructure will be put in place, and costs will come down. I will be able to build up my savings again, and have the money ready for a very fat deposit on whatever models are available in 2030. And let's face it: by 2030 I will be seventy-eight. I dare say I'll still be criss-crossing the country with my caravan in tow, but the hops between caravan sites will be less. Two hundred miles is normally the most I like to drive in one day. By 2030 the kind of electric car I have in mind should be able to tow a caravan that distance, and allow me to unhitch and find a topping-up charge-point before bedtime. At home, of course, I'd have installed my own charging point.

Will Fiona last another seven years, until I change to a future-generation electric car? I don't see why not. She's in a great state body-wise; her engine is still sweet; only her lesser components will use my purse as a punchbag. Even so, I know that I will face endless expenses, some major, some minor, but each one needing a positive decision to proceed if I want to keep Fiona on the road. 

Some would advise buying a new or second-hand replacement car instead. But unless I purchase a commercial vehicle, or something like a Ford Ranger, I can't buy a new diesel-engined chariot, and a diesel I must have for caravanning, to give me not only pulling-power but decent range. In any case, the current price of any new or newish car is presently well beyond my reach. So the stick-with-Fiona plan is really the only viable one for now. 

Of course, if I gave up caravanning, and turned to hotels for accommodation, I could buy a smaller car that would still let me journey about. But I wouldn't be able to afford nearly so many holidays.

Fingers crossed that Fiona's bits and pieces wear out slower than I expect! But I can't see myself driving less in the next seven years. Indeed, I'll want to get around and see as many places as possible while I'm still physically able to do so. I'm not yet ready to stay at home and nod off.