VW ID3 ownership experiences
Discussion
We’re interested in adding a used EV alongside our existing family SUV, mostly for local run-arounds but the odd longer commute / trip to see family if need be.
Budget is around £20k, so I’d started with the Peugeot e208 but it’s a bit small.
Squeezing a bit more from the budget, a used ID3 looks like a good option. Usefully bigger and the mid-size battery looks good from a range point of view. Had considered a Tesla M3 but they seem a little bit pricier.
Not the most PH car, but - any owners on here? Thoughts, experiences, features you wished you had, things you didn’t need?
Thanks!
Budget is around £20k, so I’d started with the Peugeot e208 but it’s a bit small.
Squeezing a bit more from the budget, a used ID3 looks like a good option. Usefully bigger and the mid-size battery looks good from a range point of view. Had considered a Tesla M3 but they seem a little bit pricier.
Not the most PH car, but - any owners on here? Thoughts, experiences, features you wished you had, things you didn’t need?
Thanks!
I think the only real thing to say is get a good feel for the infotainment before committing to buying, the infotainment system is, by most people’s accounts, godawful.
It’s a real shame because the Cupra Born would have made the perfect school run car for the wife, but my god the systems and controls are dire.
It’s a real shame because the Cupra Born would have made the perfect school run car for the wife, but my god the systems and controls are dire.
We've got one.
It's OK, nowhere near what I'd expect for a near 40k car.
Haptic buttons are the single worst invention on modern cars and it has lots of them. The infotainment screen is laggy. HVAC controls are by the worst I've ever used in any car.
Lots of EML type lights but they've always got out on their own.
Lots of piano black on the touch points.
Fancy intelligent matrix headlights that are good when they work but get flummoxed by certain situations that mean you end up switching the auto element off or live with blinding people.
Lane keep assist tech is Borderline dangerous and needs turning off every journey, AEB applications for random parked cars, curbs etc.
Some of those issues have been addressed with the facelift and there's various updates that address the awful infotainment. There's a couple of recalls for battery/software and tyres.
I absolutely wouldn't spend my own money on one, we got it through a ridiculously cheap salary sacrifice scheme. It replaced a Citroen C3 for the same price.
It's not all negative. They drive nicely enough, very middle of the road VW, well when it's not trying to drive you into the scenery because it thinks you're not in the middle of the lane.
It's OK, nowhere near what I'd expect for a near 40k car.
Haptic buttons are the single worst invention on modern cars and it has lots of them. The infotainment screen is laggy. HVAC controls are by the worst I've ever used in any car.
Lots of EML type lights but they've always got out on their own.
Lots of piano black on the touch points.
Fancy intelligent matrix headlights that are good when they work but get flummoxed by certain situations that mean you end up switching the auto element off or live with blinding people.
Lane keep assist tech is Borderline dangerous and needs turning off every journey, AEB applications for random parked cars, curbs etc.
Some of those issues have been addressed with the facelift and there's various updates that address the awful infotainment. There's a couple of recalls for battery/software and tyres.
I absolutely wouldn't spend my own money on one, we got it through a ridiculously cheap salary sacrifice scheme. It replaced a Citroen C3 for the same price.
It's not all negative. They drive nicely enough, very middle of the road VW, well when it's not trying to drive you into the scenery because it thinks you're not in the middle of the lane.
I've been looking at these and the spec seems weird - the lower spec models have heated steering wheels but not heated seats which I'm given to understand are a no-brainer if there's no heat pump?
I think a lot of of the safety stuff is just as bad on VW group's ICE models and I was put off getting cheap Passat Alltrack deal that a lot on here went for as the sat nav in wife's Tiguan is so awful and at the time there was no way of linking a phone to it.
People seem to rave about the e-Golf (if range isn't an issue). I don't know why VW didn't continue with that - I suppose not profitable enough.
What's the default EV for people in the OPs position? I saw BMW i3 mentioned but I'm seeing horror stories about them going wrong as they get older.
I think a lot of of the safety stuff is just as bad on VW group's ICE models and I was put off getting cheap Passat Alltrack deal that a lot on here went for as the sat nav in wife's Tiguan is so awful and at the time there was no way of linking a phone to it.
People seem to rave about the e-Golf (if range isn't an issue). I don't know why VW didn't continue with that - I suppose not profitable enough.
What's the default EV for people in the OPs position? I saw BMW i3 mentioned but I'm seeing horror stories about them going wrong as they get older.
Sheepshanks said:
Maracus said:
The i3 issue seems to be the ReX versions. If the car has not used it for months it can play up (from what I read on forums, etc)
Seen it on both.Other EVs could be the same of course and it's just that there aren't many other models of that age yet.
ChocolateFrog said:
We've got one.
It's OK, nowhere near what I'd expect for a near 40k car.
Haptic buttons are the single worst invention on modern cars and it has lots of them. The infotainment screen is laggy. HVAC controls are by the worst I've ever used in any car.
Lots of EML type lights but they've always got out on their own.
Lots of piano black on the touch points.
Fancy intelligent matrix headlights that are good when they work but get flummoxed by certain situations that mean you end up switching the auto element off or live with blinding people.
Lane keep assist tech is Borderline dangerous and needs turning off every journey, AEB applications for random parked cars, curbs etc.
Some of those issues have been addressed with the facelift and there's various updates that address the awful infotainment. There's a couple of recalls for battery/software and tyres.
I absolutely wouldn't spend my own money on one, we got it through a ridiculously cheap salary sacrifice scheme. It replaced a Citroen C3 for the same price.
It's not all negative. They drive nicely enough, very middle of the road VW, well when it's not trying to drive you into the scenery because it thinks you're not in the middle of the lane.
Mine is a 2023 ID3 and on software 3.xx and it seems to be a lof different from yours. My matrix headlights are my favourite feature. Flawless so far and Lane assist works as expected. I like to drive slightly towards the centre line so as to avoid drains etc, and sometimes it'll flash on the screen to keep more central, but that's ok, I'm comfortable driving that way. The car doesn't try to correct it.It's OK, nowhere near what I'd expect for a near 40k car.
Haptic buttons are the single worst invention on modern cars and it has lots of them. The infotainment screen is laggy. HVAC controls are by the worst I've ever used in any car.
Lots of EML type lights but they've always got out on their own.
Lots of piano black on the touch points.
Fancy intelligent matrix headlights that are good when they work but get flummoxed by certain situations that mean you end up switching the auto element off or live with blinding people.
Lane keep assist tech is Borderline dangerous and needs turning off every journey, AEB applications for random parked cars, curbs etc.
Some of those issues have been addressed with the facelift and there's various updates that address the awful infotainment. There's a couple of recalls for battery/software and tyres.
I absolutely wouldn't spend my own money on one, we got it through a ridiculously cheap salary sacrifice scheme. It replaced a Citroen C3 for the same price.
It's not all negative. They drive nicely enough, very middle of the road VW, well when it's not trying to drive you into the scenery because it thinks you're not in the middle of the lane.
I like the HVAC. I find myself hitting the shortcut and using the smart features, Eg, 1 press to enter menu, select defog windows, job done. Or 'warm my feet' is another good one. In my BMW with manual buttons, it's a more convoluted process.
I hate the fact the rear electric windows are operated by the same buttons as the front. Stupid idea and I will never get round to liking it.
It's a very easy car to drive. Goes where you point it and feels rock solid on poor roads. Would be hard to make a mistake in this car, it feels surefooted in all conditions (although haven't tried it on ice or snow yet)
Edited by soupdragon1 on Saturday 13th May 11:30
Almost a year into a three year lease so we've done about 6k so far. Lots to like, plenty of space inside, way bigger internally than most cars of that size. Comfy, relaxing drive, like the regenerative braking mode.
Downsides, I'm still on software 2.4 and the voice control is laggy and inconsistent. Won't change temperature or do much other than change radio and navigate to home. Sat nav so so.
The haptic buttons are awful, no other way to describe the joy of pressing one to go up 1mph on the cruise control and finding it jump by 5mph. Or vice versa. The mirror and rear window buttons are so show to respond. The decision to not illuminate the temperature and volume controls is a design flaw it is hard to fathom got signed off.
However I have no real issues with the lane assist. The ACC is good. It's a very likable car. Reckon 230 miles in the summer and nearer 180 in winter. Heated seats and wheel is good too. Very sure footed and I find it relaxing to be in. You can preset the heating to go on before you need to leave anywhere.
If buying from a dealer I'd expect the software to be version 3 before buying it. Apparently could be a dealer only software update as for a year they've been trying to do it over the air and failing horribly.
It's close to being a really nice car and close to being a disaster. I like it overall but it's not what is expect from a £35k+ car. Second hand might make more sense of not leasing
Downsides, I'm still on software 2.4 and the voice control is laggy and inconsistent. Won't change temperature or do much other than change radio and navigate to home. Sat nav so so.
The haptic buttons are awful, no other way to describe the joy of pressing one to go up 1mph on the cruise control and finding it jump by 5mph. Or vice versa. The mirror and rear window buttons are so show to respond. The decision to not illuminate the temperature and volume controls is a design flaw it is hard to fathom got signed off.
However I have no real issues with the lane assist. The ACC is good. It's a very likable car. Reckon 230 miles in the summer and nearer 180 in winter. Heated seats and wheel is good too. Very sure footed and I find it relaxing to be in. You can preset the heating to go on before you need to leave anywhere.
If buying from a dealer I'd expect the software to be version 3 before buying it. Apparently could be a dealer only software update as for a year they've been trying to do it over the air and failing horribly.
It's close to being a really nice car and close to being a disaster. I like it overall but it's not what is expect from a £35k+ car. Second hand might make more sense of not leasing
Thanks all, much appreciated.
It seems we’ll need to try one out to faff about with the buttons etc. We’d be looking at an early car, but likely VW Approved as the price “premium” vs the market isn’t huge, plus it should be prepped with the right software etc.
Good to hear re: range. We do a regular journey to family about 130 miles away, mostly motorway, and it’s good to know that if we absolutely had to, this would get us there.
Will consider the i3 but it’s a bit smaller, as is the range.
It seems we’ll need to try one out to faff about with the buttons etc. We’d be looking at an early car, but likely VW Approved as the price “premium” vs the market isn’t huge, plus it should be prepped with the right software etc.
Good to hear re: range. We do a regular journey to family about 130 miles away, mostly motorway, and it’s good to know that if we absolutely had to, this would get us there.
Will consider the i3 but it’s a bit smaller, as is the range.
Maracus said:
Sheepshanks said:
Maracus said:
The i3 issue seems to be the ReX versions. If the car has not used it for months it can play up (from what I read on forums, etc)
Seen it on both.Other EVs could be the same of course and it's just that there aren't many other models of that age yet.
I don't use it that much but most definitely if I'm doing a long journey as it's cheaper than the public network (I hate that it's come to this). Combined I get a useful 200 mile range, which isn't far off a modern EV hatchback.
20K miles in an ID3 Pro Life here. Ours was a very late 2020 model which we have just sold in a PX deal.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
bigmowley said:
20K miles in an ID3 Pro Life here. Ours was a very late 2020 model which we have just sold in a PX deal.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
Also, who in their right mind thought naming the model ‘Pro Life’ was a good idea? Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
I have an Id.3 on a company lease scheme. 18 months and 15000 miles in
I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
Diderot said:
bigmowley said:
20K miles in an ID3 Pro Life here. Ours was a very late 2020 model which we have just sold in a PX deal.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
Also, who in their right mind thought naming the model ‘Pro Life’ was a good idea? Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
bigmowley said:
Diderot said:
bigmowley said:
20K miles in an ID3 Pro Life here. Ours was a very late 2020 model which we have just sold in a PX deal.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
Also, who in their right mind thought naming the model ‘Pro Life’ was a good idea? Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
therams said:
I have an Id.3 on a company lease scheme. 18 months and 15000 miles in
I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
Ouch, two sets of tyres in 9 months is painful!I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
bigmowley said:
20K miles in an ID3 Pro Life here. Ours was a very late 2020 model which we have just sold in a PX deal.
Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
I'm all for taking a gamble but I reckon I'd be more inclined to own an Aston out of warranty than an ID3. Complete white goods of a car, does everything it says on the tin, completely average in almost every way. Very boring.
Stand out features are the shockingly bad infotainment. This is much, much worse than anything I have ever experienced before. Downright dangerous in fact. How a company like VW can spunk 35Billion Euros on a platform development and end up with that is beyond words. Staggeringly inept in every way. Add in the amazing number of false warnings that pop up at random and then disappear. Bloody awful.
I would avoid at all costs, as these get older and less well supported by VW they could become a real white elephant. Never touch one out of warranty. Which is a shame as the electric bit of it works quite well.
Getting outdated very quickly.
therams said:
I have an Id.3 on a company lease scheme. 18 months and 15000 miles in
I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
I'd forgotten about the creaking roof. I wouldn’t buy one
Dodgy software
Battery issues, mine blew a module and Vw took 9 months to fix it
Goes through tyres every 8000 miles
Low rent interior
Crappy infotainment
Hard plastics, most of them just where your knee rests
Creaks from the fixed sunroof
Lane assist is terrible
Our started at 10k.
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