Which electric or plug in hybrid?
Discussion
Couldn't give a toss about economy (was a happy rx8 owner). I just want an electric car to take to pieces and because it's cool technology.
What should I be looking at?
Up to £4k down, £500/mo. 12k miles / year. Minimum range 35 miles (so calculated in the cold with all the accessories on). Don't care about badge or looks.
What should I be looking at?
Up to £4k down, £500/mo. 12k miles / year. Minimum range 35 miles (so calculated in the cold with all the accessories on). Don't care about badge or looks.
What is your average journey distance?
This will determine what is the best route to go.
But I think an i3 REX would be a good choice and it would save you some money.
https://www.leasingoptions.co.uk/personal/bmw/i3/i...
This will determine what is the best route to go.
But I think an i3 REX would be a good choice and it would save you some money.
https://www.leasingoptions.co.uk/personal/bmw/i3/i...
I do 30 miles each way but only commute a couple of times a week. There's a few chargers near work and they're always empty.
Outlander gx4h is my current favourite so far but it's not far ahead of the i3 rex.
Edit: ampera could work if it's any good. I thought gm were squeezed for pennies so guessed the ampera would have been a rush job. Twizzy is to small. I want a car, not a shoe!
Outlander gx4h is my current favourite so far but it's not far ahead of the i3 rex.
Edit: ampera could work if it's any good. I thought gm were squeezed for pennies so guessed the ampera would have been a rush job. Twizzy is to small. I want a car, not a shoe!
Edited by ShaunTheSheep on Monday 18th January 19:45
Edited by ShaunTheSheep on Monday 18th January 19:47
ShaunTheSheep said:
I do 30 miles each way but only commute a couple of times a week. There's a few chargers near work and they're always empty.
Outlander gx4h is my current favourite so far but it's not far ahead of the i3 rex.
Edit: ampera could work if it's any good. I thought gm were squeezed for pennies so guessed the ampera would have been a rush job. Twizzy is to small. I want a car, not a shoe!
EV tech is moving along at a decent pace both the eGolf and i3 are due a range boost. GM has just announced a $30,000 200 mile range car due to start delivery in less than 12 months. Unless your buying a Tesla I would go for as cheap as possible, and than something else better in a few years.Outlander gx4h is my current favourite so far but it's not far ahead of the i3 rex.
Edit: ampera could work if it's any good. I thought gm were squeezed for pennies so guessed the ampera would have been a rush job. Twizzy is to small. I want a car, not a shoe!
A 24 kWh Leaf will do 60 miles from 100% in current weather. You can pick up a used one for less than £10k including the battery paid for. Even if it deprecates to £5k in 2-4 years time you will have only lost/spent £5k. An i3 will deprecate a lot more in the same time period, especially when an updated version is all but confirmed.
The Leaf is a really good family car, I've test driven the i3, Zoe, Tesla P85D. Honestly for getting from A to B in town, the Leaf is just as good as a Tesla. I think the secret is the EV drivetrain, normally a crappy 3/4 cylinder engine in a car like the Leaf would make driving a ball ache. Noisy, rubbish gear box, rubbish Mpg because you have to rev it etc. But the EV motor means actually even a Zoe is just as refined around town as a £100K Tesla.
Add in cabin pre-heating which in the current cold weather is amazing - No more scrapping the windscreen
, plenty of other gadgets, 15 ich wheels makes parking really easy - crubs no longer worry me, and decent room for people and bags make the Leaf really good, as long as your not planning on doing regular 100 mile round trips in it.
We're expecting our first baby in a few months, and to my suprise the Leaf is actually more child friendly than our Lexus IS. So last week my wife has been driving it, plugging it in, and she loves it. For how cheap they are going for these days you cannot really go wrong - Again just bare in mind the range, ours rarely leave the county, 99% of usage is 30-40 mile in a day running around town.
AND you can get them for a lot cheaper than £4K down and £500/month. Mine was bought last March when Nissan was trying to hit sales figure, £0 deposit, £120/month for the car + 80/month battery rental (£200/month total), 2 year deal, 7.5k per year, hand back in 2 years. I'm sure come March 2016 Nissan will be pushing similar deals.
That'll probably leave you enough change from £4K deposit to buy a weekend toy - or even keep the RX8
Add in cabin pre-heating which in the current cold weather is amazing - No more scrapping the windscreen
, plenty of other gadgets, 15 ich wheels makes parking really easy - crubs no longer worry me, and decent room for people and bags make the Leaf really good, as long as your not planning on doing regular 100 mile round trips in it.We're expecting our first baby in a few months, and to my suprise the Leaf is actually more child friendly than our Lexus IS. So last week my wife has been driving it, plugging it in, and she loves it. For how cheap they are going for these days you cannot really go wrong - Again just bare in mind the range, ours rarely leave the county, 99% of usage is 30-40 mile in a day running around town.
AND you can get them for a lot cheaper than £4K down and £500/month. Mine was bought last March when Nissan was trying to hit sales figure, £0 deposit, £120/month for the car + 80/month battery rental (£200/month total), 2 year deal, 7.5k per year, hand back in 2 years. I'm sure come March 2016 Nissan will be pushing similar deals.
That'll probably leave you enough change from £4K deposit to buy a weekend toy - or even keep the RX8
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 20th January 11:27
For £4k down an £500/month you can buy a leaf and lease an i3 rex at the same time! Vanilla i3 can be had for £199. And leaf figures are above. Take a look at the zoe.
Outlander is slow. And doesn't really get the benefit of an EVs off the line torqueas it weighs 1800kg!
Coming from an RX8 I'd have thought RWD and suicide doors would make the i3 a natural choice. I'm loving mine. Stuck £4k on it, loads of options and its £450/month.
Outlander is slow. And doesn't really get the benefit of an EVs off the line torqueas it weighs 1800kg!
Coming from an RX8 I'd have thought RWD and suicide doors would make the i3 a natural choice. I'm loving mine. Stuck £4k on it, loads of options and its £450/month.
Ampera. You would need to purchase second hand though.
Quick enough, no range anxiety (so it can truly be your only car if you want it to). Over engineered, so good for the 'geek' factor.
You could argue the tech is older, but they are rare on the roads and the ride is good INMHO.
Only negative is the touch sensitive dash buttons.
I have had a Leaf Tekna and an Ampere. Because of the lack of range anxiety the Ampere wins.
Quick enough, no range anxiety (so it can truly be your only car if you want it to). Over engineered, so good for the 'geek' factor.
You could argue the tech is older, but they are rare on the roads and the ride is good INMHO.
Only negative is the touch sensitive dash buttons.
I have had a Leaf Tekna and an Ampere. Because of the lack of range anxiety the Ampere wins.
Had a shot in the i3 in lodge trim. Wow, how's that for nice and awkward at the same time. Beautiful interior, I actually prefer the wool seats over all leather. Still there's something awkward about the steering wheel but nothing I'd complain about. Ugly as sin outside but very very nice inside.
No need for a brake pedal when driving, takes about a mile to get used to the throttle then it feels fine. More power than expected.
Very very nice car!
No need for a brake pedal when driving, takes about a mile to get used to the throttle then it feels fine. More power than expected.
Very very nice car!
Have a go in the Leaf. They do 4 day test drives.
I've just taken delivery of an Acenta 30kW and even in cold weather it will do 100 miles.
I've leased through Bristol Street Motors in Sheffield and they matched online quotes.
Also bought my old car from me for a decent price.
I pay £292 pm on a 3+35 20k per year.
Only problem is I may go over my allowance as its so good.
I've just taken delivery of an Acenta 30kW and even in cold weather it will do 100 miles.
I've leased through Bristol Street Motors in Sheffield and they matched online quotes.
Also bought my old car from me for a decent price.
I pay £292 pm on a 3+35 20k per year.
Only problem is I may go over my allowance as its so good.
Had a shot in the leaf, I think it's the least compromise so far. You could basically treat it as a normal car, more or less. I love toys and gadgets but surprisingly the mid range model acenta has pretty much everything except leather (which I don't want) and led headlights (which I do!).
30kwh battery with the 6.6kwh charger on board. I could do our holidays to Yorkshire with that and minimal waiting at chargers.
The only fly in the ointment is an upgraded i3 is just around the corner. It will be more expensive than the current i3. It's ugly where the leaf just blends in I think. The interior is something special though and it has a good bit more puff than the leaf. Ironically I think I prefer the leafs handling. These are shopping trolleys and I like my shopping trolley comfortable not twitchy.
30kwh battery with the 6.6kwh charger on board. I could do our holidays to Yorkshire with that and minimal waiting at chargers.
The only fly in the ointment is an upgraded i3 is just around the corner. It will be more expensive than the current i3. It's ugly where the leaf just blends in I think. The interior is something special though and it has a good bit more puff than the leaf. Ironically I think I prefer the leafs handling. These are shopping trolleys and I like my shopping trolley comfortable not twitchy.
My wife & I drive a Leaf Tecna 24 Kw suits us perfectly, it really depends on your use, local & commutes ideal being nippy & with parking aids like the all round camera system that`s handy . Longer range is improving all time with more fast chargers, after 75 or so miles we are usually ready for a leg stretch, loo & coffee break, so after 20 mins or so & we silently slip away. Long journeys are also a joy with the superb Bose Sound sys. We are saving so much not having to spend out £70 a tank on Diesel, high servicing costs (about 1/4 of ICE invoices) even after spending more on coffee stops, the Leaf is brill.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff