Other cars besides Peugeot

[Mike T]

We have been running smart diesels for 20 years and also a 2008 Mercedes-Benz B200 5 speed, the latter to 361,000 km. We decided late last year to simplify life and get one new car and sell the last remaining smart to our youngest daughter, a BRABUS-modified first generation convertible model, white on white with leather etc.

The B200 was sold to our nephew Cam for $1000 and the smart to Julia for $2000, the latter well below market value.

The 404C stays and I hope to get it finished later this autumn, just about time!

The replacement car isn't something I ever thought I'd own, it's what some call a SUV. 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e PHEV. We made a factory custom order in December and got the car in June, after it had been built in March in Bremen.

It does over 120 km in electric mode and another 700+ on gasoline. Very comfortable, smooth. Quick too, though I usually accelerate slowly. Over 5500 km, the car has averaged 2.2 L/100 km, thanks to running mostly in E mode, and when in E mode, the consumption of electricity has been usually a bit under 22 kWh/100 km, which costs about $3.10. That would buy about 1.7 litres of premium fuel, so it's very cheap to power,  if not to buy.

Did a road trip to Penticton and even on the highway with no electric refill the consumption was amazing for a heavy vehicle with 4WD, at 6L/100 km in one direction via 100 km/h Hwy 3 and 7.5 L/100 km via the 120 km/h Coquihalla. We drove about 5-10 over the limit.