2025 GLA 45 S vs EV ownership..is it my age?
Discussion
I work for MG so I take various models home, from the new S5/S6 to the hybrid MG3 (195 bhp, wicked car) and I went to my brother's house for Christmas, his wife had a GLA 45 S as a courtesy car so I said hand me the keys, sharpish
From the moment of turning the car on with the sports exhaust on, I knew I was in something special, loud, I drove it around for a bit and when it warmed up, I gave it the full beans and wow, that is a quick car, it blasted through the gears with ferocity I haven't felt since I had my M4, in fact, it's definitely quicker on public roads. I am aware a lot of it is made to feel the way the way it does, the way it thumped through the gears was simulated along with the fake noise however, it was definitely an event.
When I walked away from it though, I didn't rush to the classifieds or see if I could make it work like I always do when I used to when I drove any car I liked.
I guess there is an element of the cars I use being somewhat free as it comes out of my pay and I don't pay maintenance or insurance anymore but this AMG nearly had a full tank and was showing a range of 220 miles of range, this is my sister in law driving who doesn't even like going fast, does the school run etc.
When I saw that, it reminded me of what it was like to spend so much money on fuel despite being stuck in traffic, having the engine constantly running, it reminded me of the insurance and tax costs.
Now that I am used to EV's and hybrids with 195 bhp minimum, I don't see performance cars the same way, it just seems like a waste, in the MG3 Hybrid which is actually a quick car, it has a 3 speed auto but the 2nd and 3rd ratios are only felt on kick downs past 40 mph so there is never any lag in power or that feeling where you aren't in the right gear and you have to wait for it to kick down. That is the reason I prefer manuals to auto's as I am always in the right gear however with these new hybrids and EV's, all of that is gone, you put your foot down, you're off, never any lag or hesitation from the car.
This has now put me in a strange position as I love performance cars, I like noise and power but as an average member of society, I don't ever think I am going to spend my hard earned on a performance car like the M4 or M2. The new M2 manual was my goal, I wanted to wait for it to drop to mid 30's to buy but I don't think I want to anymore unless I fall into a load of cash where it doesn't matter.
There is a lot of hate for EV's on this forum and endless threads with people arguing for/against them but I have two questions for the people who staunchly oppose them
Are you well off enough to not care about the benefits?
Have you lived with an EV?
I think if someone answered no to those two questions would put ICE cars in danger. If you can charge your EV at your home or workplace and you aren't well off enough to care about fuel costs, you will drive an electric car and never look back.
From the moment of turning the car on with the sports exhaust on, I knew I was in something special, loud, I drove it around for a bit and when it warmed up, I gave it the full beans and wow, that is a quick car, it blasted through the gears with ferocity I haven't felt since I had my M4, in fact, it's definitely quicker on public roads. I am aware a lot of it is made to feel the way the way it does, the way it thumped through the gears was simulated along with the fake noise however, it was definitely an event.
When I walked away from it though, I didn't rush to the classifieds or see if I could make it work like I always do when I used to when I drove any car I liked.
I guess there is an element of the cars I use being somewhat free as it comes out of my pay and I don't pay maintenance or insurance anymore but this AMG nearly had a full tank and was showing a range of 220 miles of range, this is my sister in law driving who doesn't even like going fast, does the school run etc.
When I saw that, it reminded me of what it was like to spend so much money on fuel despite being stuck in traffic, having the engine constantly running, it reminded me of the insurance and tax costs.
Now that I am used to EV's and hybrids with 195 bhp minimum, I don't see performance cars the same way, it just seems like a waste, in the MG3 Hybrid which is actually a quick car, it has a 3 speed auto but the 2nd and 3rd ratios are only felt on kick downs past 40 mph so there is never any lag in power or that feeling where you aren't in the right gear and you have to wait for it to kick down. That is the reason I prefer manuals to auto's as I am always in the right gear however with these new hybrids and EV's, all of that is gone, you put your foot down, you're off, never any lag or hesitation from the car.
This has now put me in a strange position as I love performance cars, I like noise and power but as an average member of society, I don't ever think I am going to spend my hard earned on a performance car like the M4 or M2. The new M2 manual was my goal, I wanted to wait for it to drop to mid 30's to buy but I don't think I want to anymore unless I fall into a load of cash where it doesn't matter.
There is a lot of hate for EV's on this forum and endless threads with people arguing for/against them but I have two questions for the people who staunchly oppose them
Are you well off enough to not care about the benefits?
Have you lived with an EV?
I think if someone answered no to those two questions would put ICE cars in danger. If you can charge your EV at your home or workplace and you aren't well off enough to care about fuel costs, you will drive an electric car and never look back.
Edited by Chestrockwell on Saturday 27th December 21:54
It’s the same old same old. I’m comfortable enough to drive whatever I want up to maybe £75k. I choose though to have a diesel 2022 Defender, Smart #1 EV and a 1960s classic. Different cars give different experiences. They all can have their merits. If I was hard up and could only have say one car up to £15k it would likely be an EV. If I was looking at sub £10k cars then I would likely buy an ICE.
It’s very hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. My financial situation and car usage is not the same as someone else’s. Just do you I say.
Others will be along to say everyone else is wrong but that hate usually comes from the EV haters and doesn’t take into consideration what I have said above.
It’s very hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. My financial situation and car usage is not the same as someone else’s. Just do you I say.
Others will be along to say everyone else is wrong but that hate usually comes from the EV haters and doesn’t take into consideration what I have said above.
I'm not sure you are comparing like for like.
You seem to have the opportunity to run cars paid for in considerable part by your employer MG.
It's no real surprise that the option of a car you would have to fund and fuel entirely out of your own pocket, regardless of it's motor type, doesn't seem very attractive.
I have nothing against EVs. They work very well for some people.
Others have issues with them and choose something else.
You seem to have the opportunity to run cars paid for in considerable part by your employer MG.
It's no real surprise that the option of a car you would have to fund and fuel entirely out of your own pocket, regardless of it's motor type, doesn't seem very attractive.
I have nothing against EVs. They work very well for some people.
Others have issues with them and choose something else.
swisstoni said:
I'm not sure you are comparing like for like.
You seem to have the opportunity to run cars paid for in considerable part by your employer MG.
It's no real surprise that the option of a car you would have to fund and fuel entirely out of your own pocket, regardless of it's motor type, doesn't seem very attractive.
I have nothing against EVs. They work very well for some people.
Others have issues with them and choose something else.
I see what you mean however my company car isn't an EV as I live in a flat, I could charge it using public rapid chargers and it would still work out cheaper than petrol however I am happy with a hybrid for the convenience. If I got a job doing something unrelated to the motor trade, knowing what I know now, I would buy a hybrid, probably an MG actually due to the value, warranty and power available. You seem to have the opportunity to run cars paid for in considerable part by your employer MG.
It's no real surprise that the option of a car you would have to fund and fuel entirely out of your own pocket, regardless of it's motor type, doesn't seem very attractive.
I have nothing against EVs. They work very well for some people.
Others have issues with them and choose something else.
Matt Watson timed the MG3 0-60 at 6.5 seconds, it's not about performance, I don't speed everywhere but 60 mpg with instant torque up to 50 mph makes a compelling case
It sounds like I am trying to promote the product I happen to be selling but I am not, Mrs Rockwell drives a Lexus UX250h and that is the car we use during personal time, hybrid is just better 99% of the time. I ran a M240i for nearly 4 years, loved that thing but looking back, all I can think of is how much money I wasted.
I am very conflicted, I love performance cars however I don't want them anymore, is it my age?
I hear what you are saying OP but for comparison a good mate of mine has a sales job at a main VW dealership, he has access to company cars of whatever VW sell and for a while drive various ID models and tried telling us all we should convert to EV s and it s the future.
After a while he has now changed his view and bought an Alfa Gulia Quadrofolio instead out of his own money instead of the cheaper company car options.
He’s the same age as me (44) so not a young boy racer.
After a while he has now changed his view and bought an Alfa Gulia Quadrofolio instead out of his own money instead of the cheaper company car options.
He’s the same age as me (44) so not a young boy racer.
Jamescrs said:
I hear what you are saying OP but for comparison a good mate of mine has a sales job at a main VW dealership, he has access to company cars of whatever VW sell and for a while drive various ID models and tried telling us all we should convert to EV s and it s the future.
After a while he has now changed his view and bought an Alfa Gulia Quadrofolio instead out of his own money instead of the cheaper company car options.
He s the same age as me (44) so not a young boy racer.
I was talking to a 30 yr old sales guy at SEAT recently. His own private car was a Bullitt Mustang. He took the advantages of running a relatively cheap EV company car and spent the savings on his own toy. Good lad I say what would be really telling is if he could have one car with his own money and risk what would it be?After a while he has now changed his view and bought an Alfa Gulia Quadrofolio instead out of his own money instead of the cheaper company car options.
He s the same age as me (44) so not a young boy racer.
Mikebentley said:
I was talking to a 30 yr old sales guy at SEAT recently. His own private car was a Bullitt Mustang. He took the advantages of running a relatively cheap EV company car and spent the savings on his own toy. Good lad I say what would be really telling is if he could have one car with his own money and risk what would it be?
Yeah, if you can run two cars then it's easy as an enthusiast to have one of each, the ease and economy of an EV for everyday driving and have something special, which can then be less compromised, for fun. And that's where I am happily now.For me, looking back to when I only had one car, I wouldn't have given up my unreliable, thirsty RX-7 for an EV. The trackdays, the noise, the drama, the feeling of subtly pivoting into oversteer, those looks, driving an iconic car from Japan's peak era. Most EVs drive like a truck compared to that thing. Even a Taycan which has the capabilities of a sports car, doesn't have the feel or the throttle-steering interplay.
Yes an EV would have saved money, but I'd be looking at that money wanting to spend it on a sports car. Like, what else is money for ??
So I guess my question for the OP would be -
Have you had a proper drive in a proper sports car? MX-5, MR2, Boxster, 911, 968CS, Elise, that sort of thing? I.e. not something derived from a regular car, but purpose-built. Have you ever had the chance to drive on track? Because I think there's a world out there, beyond stability control, the liminal space between slip and grip, where you really feel how the car moves in response to the fundamental forces acting on it. And you can't really access that world in an EV, AFAIK.
I've just picked up my first EV and I'm a massive convert
the one thing I was worried I was going to miss was the drama that comes with performance cars usually
which is why I went for an Ioniq 5 N
the car is absolutely amazing, and I'm repeating myself from other threads, but it almost feels like the offspring of the two cars it has /will have replaced:
F10 M5
Megane Rs 275 trophy
I'm so impressed with the handling and the simulated gears are insane, the sound is great as well
however I do miss driving through a tunnel with the windows down, makes me realise how much "yob" there is in my subconscious, but it's worth the trade off!
the one thing I was worried I was going to miss was the drama that comes with performance cars usually
which is why I went for an Ioniq 5 N
the car is absolutely amazing, and I'm repeating myself from other threads, but it almost feels like the offspring of the two cars it has /will have replaced:
F10 M5
Megane Rs 275 trophy
I'm so impressed with the handling and the simulated gears are insane, the sound is great as well
however I do miss driving through a tunnel with the windows down, makes me realise how much "yob" there is in my subconscious, but it's worth the trade off!
I’ve changed from wanting coupes with big engines to practical things that don’t need messing about with.
Part of it is age I think, a bigger part is that for over 50% of my driving I have my 5 year old son in the back seat so giving it maximum round the twisty bits isn’t really an option unless I want to be cleaning up sick and bribing him not to tell mum.
I do miss having a V8, but not enough to buy another one.
I’d consider electric as lthey shouldn’t need as much looking after as similar performance ICE cars and have low running costs for the sort of miles I do.
Part of it is age I think, a bigger part is that for over 50% of my driving I have my 5 year old son in the back seat so giving it maximum round the twisty bits isn’t really an option unless I want to be cleaning up sick and bribing him not to tell mum.
I do miss having a V8, but not enough to buy another one.
I’d consider electric as lthey shouldn’t need as much looking after as similar performance ICE cars and have low running costs for the sort of miles I do.
Chestrockwell said:
Are you well off enough to not care about the benefits?
Have you lived with an EV?
Yes we're well off enough not care about the benefits and we're not even that well off.Have you lived with an EV?
Edited by Chestrockwell on Saturday 27th December 21:54
We have perfectly performing and uptogether ICE vehicles, including a 24 plate Cooper S.
We do very low mileage (retired early so no commutes).
Although we have a drive, a charger installation would cost us thousands to install (complex situation).
The cost to change just isn't worth it for us, it would take years just to break even.
There's very little EV uptake in our area or appetite to change from neighbours (just an observation)
So the time isn't right for us, one day it may well be so I'm always looking at how things are transgressing.
My son on the other hand has two EV's and my daughter's exploring getting one but they have different needs.
I've had some toy performance cars in the past, and still have a motorbike. It was a model 3 performance that changed my mind. No, it won't go round a racetrack like the toys, but on the real roads, like I mostly drove them, it was plenty quick enough. And the savings were mental, not least because with a battery solar, I can do the whole house at 7p thing, which saves silly amounts of money each year. Take the EV away and house leccy bill goes up too.
I find it more than a little depressing that you re surprised that a small SUV / crossover with a powerful, but pretty dull 4 pot engine isn t much more exciting than a similar EV.
Both can have fake engine sounds piped in. Both sit too high to be too much fun apart from in a straight line. Both are optimised for the school run / shopping wagon.
One is perfect for the task. The other one is designed to part idiots from considerable amounts of cash because they somehow think it s a superior product.
The correct answer is above. Minimise the amount spent on the dull stuff in order to fund something that s actually fun to drive as a second car.
Both can have fake engine sounds piped in. Both sit too high to be too much fun apart from in a straight line. Both are optimised for the school run / shopping wagon.
One is perfect for the task. The other one is designed to part idiots from considerable amounts of cash because they somehow think it s a superior product.
The correct answer is above. Minimise the amount spent on the dull stuff in order to fund something that s actually fun to drive as a second car.
The nice thing about asking what performance EV drivers think about EV Vs ICE is that most of us that now have a performance EV also previously had performance ICE cars for the rest of our driving career - so the feedback is balanced and genuine in most cases.
However, OP, your position seems to be that you liked the power and feeling of the Merc, but are equally happy with your far less powerful EV for other reasons. But... You could have an EV far quicker than the Merc and it would still have the super low running costs and other benefits you're used to now
My personal view is that performance EV is mind blowing in terms of pace but not quite as much of an event as a performance ICE car. However, due to the always ready nature and low running costs of the EV, I can enjoy it's performance endlessly with no real cost or hesitation. If I drove my old ICE cars like I drive my recent EV's they'd rarely exceed 10mpg... So do you want the most fun sometimes or nearly as much fun but all the time? For me it's the latter
(And when Mrs Deuce is in the car and there's no fun to be had, I'd far rather the easy and cheap EV)
However, OP, your position seems to be that you liked the power and feeling of the Merc, but are equally happy with your far less powerful EV for other reasons. But... You could have an EV far quicker than the Merc and it would still have the super low running costs and other benefits you're used to now
My personal view is that performance EV is mind blowing in terms of pace but not quite as much of an event as a performance ICE car. However, due to the always ready nature and low running costs of the EV, I can enjoy it's performance endlessly with no real cost or hesitation. If I drove my old ICE cars like I drive my recent EV's they'd rarely exceed 10mpg... So do you want the most fun sometimes or nearly as much fun but all the time? For me it's the latter
(And when Mrs Deuce is in the car and there's no fun to be had, I'd far rather the easy and cheap EV)
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff