Leaf or Zoe to Compliment RS6 V10

[oilydan]

Just looking for a sense-check really, plus some opinions on which way to go...

The wife is currently running a 715 BHP 5.0 TT V10 for shopping and school runs(10 miles/day), plus longer weekend distances (total about 700 miles/month). She burns, on average, 250-300 pounds worth of Super per month.

So I have been looking into getting her a small run-around to take some of the mileage. Usually my man-maths makes it hardly worthwhile as a 40MPG car would still burn about 100 pounds worth of juice, plus RFL, servicing, insurance would make it uneconomical.

Until I saw the EV threads....

150 pounds per month for a Zoe? Pretty-much zero running costs? Renault have my attention!

Saving 150 pounds per month would put an extra couple of tank fulls in the RS for me to burn Or would buy me a whole load of pies.

I am absolutely, positively not going to get rid of the RS, that is my toy for when I come home and have to drive or for her doing longer distances, tip runs, dog carrying etc. But for school runs/crumbs in the carpet, mud on the back of the seats work, would an EV work for her?

Distances are very small; 4 mile commute to school, 2 miles to town for shopping or swimming training, playdates generally within 10 miles. That makes range not an issue.

I seem to have convinced myself but a sense-check would be appreciated! If I am going to get one, which one? Leaf or Zoe?

[gangzoom]

There are no tricks or small print with these cheap Leaf/Zoe deals.

I've had my Leaf now coming up to 6 months. Done nearly 3000 miles, total cost of electricty to me is around £20 - I charge up alot at local Nissan garage which is on my way to work. Even if I did all my charging at home it would still only add up to a grand total of £80 - Which is how much my old BMW use to cost to go 250 miles.

As for the actual car, cannot fault it for what it is - a practical, comfortable, Golf sized family hatchback. It's got next to no steering feel, torque steers to rival a VXR Astra, and it's not all that fast (Though it feels fast). But it all adds to the 'charcter' - and makes you appreicate/realise just how quick the latest hyperhatches/super saloons are. I've even taken it out on some Sunday AM drives, the only problem is when driven in a 'sprited' fashion I can use up 25% of the battery in about 15 miles, so the journey back home is always 'fun'

I worked that if I was to buy the Leaf out-right, and kept it for 5 years, assume it's worth only £5K at 5 years, put the money saved by not buying a Tesla (or any £50K+ car) into a high-interst bond, the total monthly ownership cost is something stupidlly cheap like £150/month ALL IN!!! But I've never been sensible with money and cars

[oilydan]

I've also tried to stay clear of being sensible with money and cars. Hence the over-the-top Audi.

I have looked into the i3 and e-Up today. Both don't seem to come close to the Zoe in terms of value for money.

[gangzoom]

oilydan said:

I've also tried to stay clear of being sensible with money and cars. Hence the over-the-top Audi.

I have looked into the i3 and e-Up today. Both don't seem to come close to the Zoe in terms of value for money.

Used i3 are creeping in under £20K, but still more expensive than a new Leaf, and at the end of the day they both still have pretty much the same range.

A longer range Leaf is apparently due in September - likely announced at the Frankfurt motorshow, so there should be some good bargains around.

A word of warning though....once your lived with an current gen EVs for a while, you might suddenly find your RS a little a bit 'crude'

[andrewrob]

I've been thinking the same thing recently. Main car is a BMW 540 (although LPG converted so not quite as bad as a V10 RS!) which costs 20p a mile round town, need a second car anyway, leaf deals (taking into account the deposit) seem to be around £180 for 7500 miles pa on a 2 year deal. No road tax, apparently about 2p per mile run and its a brand new car. Seems mad not to do it!

[PKLD]

oilydan said:

I've also tried to stay clear of being sensible with money and cars. Hence the over-the-top Audi.

I have looked into the i3 and e-Up today. Both don't seem to come close to the Zoe in terms of value for money.

The i3 is a completely different animal compared to the Zoe so depends what you are wanting. To be honest if you can look past a couple of cheap plastics in the interior and focus on the absolute cheapest way to do frequent short journeys, go with the Zoe.

The i3 would be more of a one car solution for people who want an extremely well built economical, non-diesel car and one that is surprisingly fast.

I'm 'enjoying' my Leaf, like others say it's not the handling, speed or looks(!) that I like. I love the comfort on the commute, heated seats, cruise control, very quiet interior (not just because of lack of engine, it's generally well insulated and little wind noise etc) and the BOSE hi-fi is good fun...

...and it costs bugger all to run! £80-90 for the last 4,500 miles (including some freebie public charging)

Zoe: absolute cheapest monthly offering, new 120ish mile range and I think it looks the nicest
Leaf: middle ground, better built than the Zoe, larger but a little more expensive
i3: best designed, good range, worth the higher cost, fast!

Or....

Get rid of the Audi and get a Tesla P85 and get the best of both worlds

[oilydan]

I had deduced the same about the i3; not for me as I'd be looking for cheap motoring and don't need the extra range, style or performance.

Finding the customer service at both Renault and Nissan a bit overbearing though...

I sent both their respective online forms for arranging a test drive, including specific dates and times, also noting that I only wish to be contacted by e-mail. (I'm currently in Saudi and the EV was to be a surprise for the wife).

Both phoned my home number almost immediately, both also send e-mails later after being told that I'm not there - offering test drives and asking what date/time would be best. Duhhh.

So, ruined my surprise and over-eager e-mails. Calm down guys!!

Renault, in their tripping-over-themselves-haste actually offered me a test drive in the "Renault B***E" (where B***E is my surname, pasted where the car model should be).

[andrewrob]

gangzoom said:

I charge up alot at local Nissan garage which is on my way to work.

How does that work? Do you book a slot in with them and then just wait at the dealers whilst its charging?

[gangzoom]

andrewrob said:

How does that work? Do you book a slot in with them and then just wait at the dealers whilst its charging?

You just turn up any time and charge. In 6 months have yet to have any problems. I don't do many miles so only charge up at the dealers once a week. There's an ASDA 5 minute walk away, so I just plug in, go and grab some food shopping, comeback, unplug, and off I go.

It's not really a deal breaker though. Charging up at home night costs £2, and is much more convenient, but I happen to need to do shopping and swing past the dealer, why not

[natcot]

andrewrob said:

, apparently about 2p per mile run

That's based upon being on economy 7 and getting a really low rate from your supplier! It's hardly an expensive car to run, but not many of us can achieve that rate.

[andrewrob]

natcot said:

andrewrob said:

, apparently about 2p per mile run

That's based upon being on economy 7 and getting a really low rate from your supplier! It's hardly an expensive car to run, but not many of us can achieve that rate.

Ah I see, I guess even at 5p a mile its still incredibly cheap

[Phunk]

I bought my mum a Zoe, I have a Leaf Company car and have driven an i3 and e-Golf, so know most of the cars!

Zoe has been great, very good for the money, just watch your mileage incase you go over the battery lease. If this is an issue, buy a 'i' model. Infotainment system is better than the Leaf, looks better and has a more flexible (albeit not as reliable) charging system.

Leaf is great, not the best looking car, but in Tekna spec comes with plenty of toys. Comes with a Chademo charging port which is the most common and reliable for Rapid charging should you need it.

i3 is ok, need to spend a bit for a decent spec, small boot, awkward doors, only 4 seats and uses CCS for rapid charging which is the rarest and most unreliable type.

e-Golf, great car to drive and is the most normal car like. Heat pump is a £700 option and uses CCS for rapid charging which is a pain.


There is also the KIA Soul EV which gets a great write up, however it's pretty expensive.

[PKLD]

andrewrob said:

natcot said:

andrewrob said:

, apparently about 2p per mile run

That's based upon being on economy 7 and getting a really low rate from your supplier! It's hardly an expensive car to run, but not many of us can achieve that rate.

Ah I see, I guess even at 5p a mile its still incredibly cheap

You don't need economy 7 (from my other post) see my bills (and I pay too much just now my new tariff will be 11.7p a unit, standard tariff):

I pay 14p per kWh at home, I use public chargers fairly regularly (mostly for return trips on longer journeys away from home) which are free.

I've done 4,000 miles with about 1,200 of those done for free.

The car averages 4 miles per kWh so it's costing me (for home charging) 3.5p per mile but including the freebie miles this means:

2,800 at 3.5p + 1,200 at 0p = 2.45p per mile

£98 for 4,000 miles ain't bad (I used to fill up my BMW 3 series with £80 of fuel and only managed 450 miles!)

Although there are some who want to go to off peak for their electric I can't see it being worth it as the current tariffs make it expensive for the average home using power during the day.

Hope that helps...

[C70R]

PKLD said:

andrewrob said:

natcot said:

andrewrob said:

, apparently about 2p per mile run

That's based upon being on economy 7 and getting a really low rate from your supplier! It's hardly an expensive car to run, but not many of us can achieve that rate.

Ah I see, I guess even at 5p a mile its still incredibly cheap

You don't need economy 7 (from my other post) see my bills (and I pay too much just now my new tariff will be 11.7p a unit, standard tariff):

I pay 14p per kWh at home, I use public chargers fairly regularly (mostly for return trips on longer journeys away from home) which are free.

I've done 4,000 miles with about 1,200 of those done for free.

The car averages 4 miles per kWh so it's costing me (for home charging) 3.5p per mile but including the freebie miles this means:

2,800 at 3.5p + 1,200 at 0p = 2.45p per mile

£98 for 4,000 miles ain't bad (I used to fill up my BMW 3 series with £80 of fuel and only managed 450 miles!)

Although there are some who want to go to off peak for their electric I can't see it being worth it as the current tariffs make it expensive for the average home using power during the day.

Hope that helps...

Wow. That's impressive dedication to penny-pinching!

[PKLD]

C70R said:

Wow. That's impressive dedication to penny-pinching!

saving money for a tesla... or a classic car... or a ducati... or a mk1 elise... or a classic mini... or something else that's not for my commute!