BMW i3S or Toyota Corolla Hybrid?
Discussion
The mrs' lease deal ends at the end of April, so we need to get a car sorted for her. Currently she has a 2.0TDI Audi A5, she does around 250-300 miles a week, mostly around town during peak traffic times.
Budget is 20k, second hand obviously and I would prefer to go approved used as I have no clue what to look at when buying one of these cars, so don't want to end up with a lemon. 20k gets us a very well specced I3S or a 2 year old Carolla.
I cannot decide if we should go full electric or a hybrid.
Reliability is the most important thing, hence my Toyota thought initially. She does need a bit of boot space for her work stuff, an i3 would just about cut it I suppose.
As an abosolute virgin to the Ev world, can anyone offer me some advice on which way to go?
Budget is 20k, second hand obviously and I would prefer to go approved used as I have no clue what to look at when buying one of these cars, so don't want to end up with a lemon. 20k gets us a very well specced I3S or a 2 year old Carolla.
I cannot decide if we should go full electric or a hybrid.
Reliability is the most important thing, hence my Toyota thought initially. She does need a bit of boot space for her work stuff, an i3 would just about cut it I suppose.
As an abosolute virgin to the Ev world, can anyone offer me some advice on which way to go?
If it's all town driving and you have home charging then an EV is an absolute no brainer IMO.
Surely if you're after reliability then a hybrid would be the worst of both worlds? Even if it is a Toyota.
The i3 is a very nice place to be inside, especially if you choose one with the Suite interior and a sunroof. Boot space is kinda small with the rear seats up but massive with one or two rear seats folded down and/or the parcel shelf removed.
Surely if you're after reliability then a hybrid would be the worst of both worlds? Even if it is a Toyota.
The i3 is a very nice place to be inside, especially if you choose one with the Suite interior and a sunroof. Boot space is kinda small with the rear seats up but massive with one or two rear seats folded down and/or the parcel shelf removed.
The I3S is a brilliant car, but it's more like a go kart than people typically like. Boot space is small unless the seats are folded down and then as mentioned the "on display issues". Charge consumption is good around 4m/kwh a fair bit lower in the miserable months lets say 3.5 giving a total winter range below 150 miles, more like 120 on a full charge with creature comforts (for the 42KWh). Plus you will likely run it between 20% and 80% most days so range convenience is still something to approach with eyes wide open.
Loved mine to bits really nice place to sit and was an interesting drive for a car person. Others did not agree with the "drive" and practicality with the prospect of more than 2 adults was it's downfall (not uncomfortable, but not easy to live with (rear half doors)).
If the I3 is still an option for you I'd try a standard one as well as the S. Whilst not a luxury car by any means the ride is a lot less jiggly in the standard I3 and performance is still fun (another reason for moving on, as my wife gets car sick as a passenger).
Still look longingly at them on the road I'm sure I'd still have it if it wasn't for friendly advice from my wife.
Loved mine to bits really nice place to sit and was an interesting drive for a car person. Others did not agree with the "drive" and practicality with the prospect of more than 2 adults was it's downfall (not uncomfortable, but not easy to live with (rear half doors)).
If the I3 is still an option for you I'd try a standard one as well as the S. Whilst not a luxury car by any means the ride is a lot less jiggly in the standard I3 and performance is still fun (another reason for moving on, as my wife gets car sick as a passenger).
Still look longingly at them on the road I'm sure I'd still have it if it wasn't for friendly advice from my wife.
If you don't need a hybrid, which the usage scenario plainly doesn't require.. might as well not even consider a hybrid, it's just more complexity and more to go wrong.
I like the i3S very much, friends wife has one and adores it. Although if you have any reservations about it then there are endless other used EV's for the £20k budget.
You could probably haggle your way to a 2020/21 Model 3 with 40k miles for about £16k. That way you would also have a car for longer journeys that is simple to charge quickly and dirt cheap to run. If you have an EV that has real world 250 mile range, going that for for a day trip/night away will cost about £7 in 'fuel'. Far better than a hybrid or an EV with such as the i3 where the lesser range will force more of a dependence on expensive public charging.
I like the i3S very much, friends wife has one and adores it. Although if you have any reservations about it then there are endless other used EV's for the £20k budget.
You could probably haggle your way to a 2020/21 Model 3 with 40k miles for about £16k. That way you would also have a car for longer journeys that is simple to charge quickly and dirt cheap to run. If you have an EV that has real world 250 mile range, going that for for a day trip/night away will cost about £7 in 'fuel'. Far better than a hybrid or an EV with such as the i3 where the lesser range will force more of a dependence on expensive public charging.
riskyj said:
I would question the “dirt cheap to run”. Any charging savings are surely offset by the greater insurance costs on the Tesla?
Just ran some comparisons there and I’m getting quotes around £1500 for a Model 3 which is bonkers when a similarly priced Ioniq 5 is £500.
Wow, yea I hadn't thought about it being so high...Just ran some comparisons there and I’m getting quotes around £1500 for a Model 3 which is bonkers when a similarly priced Ioniq 5 is £500.
Still, quite a few other very decent EV's in the OP's budget. They're not all bonkers to insure.
Thanks for the replies, everyone. Just got an insurance quote for a Tesla 3 and an I3S, they came in at £500 and £850 respectively.
Hadn’t even considered a Tesla. She definitely does not want a Kia.
Only thing with Tesla is, looking at their approved used the cheapest is £25k currently. I have no idea what to check over on a second-hand EV so would be very nervous of buying one that way, even though they are well in budget in that market.
Over on the I3 group on Facebook, a few people recommended a company named Wisely Automotive in London for buying an I3 through, has annyone on here used them?
Hadn’t even considered a Tesla. She definitely does not want a Kia.
Only thing with Tesla is, looking at their approved used the cheapest is £25k currently. I have no idea what to check over on a second-hand EV so would be very nervous of buying one that way, even though they are well in budget in that market.
Over on the I3 group on Facebook, a few people recommended a company named Wisely Automotive in London for buying an I3 through, has annyone on here used them?
Big Rig said:
The mrs' lease deal ends at the end of April, so we need to get a car sorted for her. Currently she has a 2.0TDI Audi A5, she does around 250-300 miles a week, mostly around town during peak traffic times.
Budget is 20k, second hand obviously and I would prefer to go approved used as I have no clue what to look at when buying one of these cars, so don't want to end up with a lemon. 20k gets us a very well specced I3S or a 2 year old Carolla.
I cannot decide if we should go full electric or a hybrid.
Reliability is the most important thing, hence my Toyota thought initially. She does need a bit of boot space for her work stuff, an i3 would just about cut it I suppose.
As an abosolute virgin to the Ev world, can anyone offer me some advice on which way to go?
Given that she’s been doing a lot of peak time urban miles in a DPF equipped modern diesel, I’d say she’s done very well to have experienced reliability with the current A5. Dodged a bullet? Budget is 20k, second hand obviously and I would prefer to go approved used as I have no clue what to look at when buying one of these cars, so don't want to end up with a lemon. 20k gets us a very well specced I3S or a 2 year old Carolla.
I cannot decide if we should go full electric or a hybrid.
Reliability is the most important thing, hence my Toyota thought initially. She does need a bit of boot space for her work stuff, an i3 would just about cut it I suppose.
As an abosolute virgin to the Ev world, can anyone offer me some advice on which way to go?
Any petrol / hybrid or full EV would avoid the same issues.
Big Rig said:
Over on the I3 group on Facebook, a few people recommended a company named Wisely Automotive in London for buying an I3 through, has annyone on here used them?
Yes. Been in the game from the start, very honest seller and is always very helpful to owners on the I3 Facebook site. Has lots of videos on you tube as well.
Wish said:
Big Rig said:
Over on the I3 group on Facebook, a few people recommended a company named Wisely Automotive in London for buying an I3 through, has annyone on here used them?
Yes. Been in the game from the start, very honest seller and is always very helpful to owners on the I3 Facebook site. Has lots of videos on you tube as well.
I agree a full EV is definitely worth considering in this use case but those suggesting a hybrid Toyota is going to be somehow inherently unreliable just because it's a hybrid are way off the mark.
The hybrid system itself is actually very simple and has been engineered to eliminate many of the common failure points of a traditional ICE. Just as examples there's no starter motor, no alternator, no cambelts, no accessory drive belt, no belts at all in fact on most of them, no clutch, no turbo, no complicated autobox.
Combine that inherent simplicity with Toyota build quality and reliability and you a recipe for about the most reliable/low maintenance car on the road! There is a reason so many taxis are hybrid Toyotas. 10 year warranty there too if you really don't believe me.
Sugggesting that a BMW I3 or Tesla will be more reliable is crackpot stuff and I say that with a Model Y. They might well be perfectly good choices but for ultimate reliability they don't really have the best of records!
The hybrid system itself is actually very simple and has been engineered to eliminate many of the common failure points of a traditional ICE. Just as examples there's no starter motor, no alternator, no cambelts, no accessory drive belt, no belts at all in fact on most of them, no clutch, no turbo, no complicated autobox.
Combine that inherent simplicity with Toyota build quality and reliability and you a recipe for about the most reliable/low maintenance car on the road! There is a reason so many taxis are hybrid Toyotas. 10 year warranty there too if you really don't believe me.
Sugggesting that a BMW I3 or Tesla will be more reliable is crackpot stuff and I say that with a Model Y. They might well be perfectly good choices but for ultimate reliability they don't really have the best of records!
Edited by Snow and Rocks on Thursday 14th March 23:39
The Corolla uses the Prius engine they’ve been making for 20+ years. The 2 year old ones will be 4th generation. Extremely reliable with lots of high mileage ones around that have minimal maintenance costs.
You’ll also get a 10 year/100k warranty free if you use main dealer servicing.
I changed cars a few months ago, final choice was between a brand new 5th gen Corolla or a used model 3 long range.
As I can’t charge at home and there aren’t public chargers in most of the locations I go to, I went with the Corolla.
You’ll also get a 10 year/100k warranty free if you use main dealer servicing.
I changed cars a few months ago, final choice was between a brand new 5th gen Corolla or a used model 3 long range.
As I can’t charge at home and there aren’t public chargers in most of the locations I go to, I went with the Corolla.
Whataguy said:
The Corolla uses the Prius engine they’ve been making for 20+ years. The 2 year old ones will be 4th generation. Extremely reliable with lots of high mileage ones around that have minimal maintenance costs.
You’ll also get a 10 year/100k warranty free if you use main dealer servicing.
I changed cars a few months ago, final choice was between a brand new 5th gen Corolla or a used model 3 long range.
As I can’t charge at home and there aren’t public chargers in most of the locations I go to, I went with the Corolla.
You’ve only got to look at how many taxis are Toyota hybrids. They’re indestructible, and with the 10 year warranty it’s a no brainer. Well equipped, well built, the drivetrain is pretty seamless and they’ll be cheap to run. Not the most exciting drive, cheaper to insure I would guess, which might offset the fuel cost a bit.You’ll also get a 10 year/100k warranty free if you use main dealer servicing.
I changed cars a few months ago, final choice was between a brand new 5th gen Corolla or a used model 3 long range.
As I can’t charge at home and there aren’t public chargers in most of the locations I go to, I went with the Corolla.
We got through 11 grand in Tesla warranty claims in two years but that was a 2018 Model S bought at two years old. Sold just before the four year warranty ran out! Sidelight bulb failing meant a £1200 replacement headlamp for example.
Not sure how reliable an i3 is but gocart handling design icon something something. The dash top felt like it was made from recycled recycled bin bags. The ones we tried didn’t even have a parking camera, never mind 360 view or a front one, but I’m sure that’ll just be the options that were picked.
Don’t discount Kia or Hyundai just because of the badge either - they’re very good cars with a 7 and 5 year warranty respectively.
Edited by andy43 on Friday 15th March 09:42
Have you looked at Stellantis? Peugeot e208 / Vauxhall Corsa / Citroen e-C4 are all officially a stupid £30k+ but are available new for £20k
Citroen - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402297...
Peugeot - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402096...
Corsa - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061...
Citroen - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402297...
Peugeot - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402096...
Corsa - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061...
OP - Do you have off-street parking and the ability & budget to put an ev charger on your house? If not I'd go for the hybrid, otherwise EV all the way.
If she doesn't mind charging frequently, and does less than 100 miles in a day, an e-Golf or Honda e may suit.
If she doesn't mind charging frequently, and does less than 100 miles in a day, an e-Golf or Honda e may suit.
Edited by gmaz on Friday 15th March 12:39
Big Rig said:
Only thing with Tesla is, looking at their approved used the cheapest is £25k currently. I have no idea what to check over on a second-hand EV so would be very nervous of buying one that way, even though they are well in budget in that market.
The manufacturers warranty on Teslas is 4 years and 50,000 miles (and 8 years and 120,000 miles for the battery and motor). So you don’t need to buy used approved to find a car within your budget on autotrader.
Hope this helps you!
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