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Replacing Mazda 6 with an EV? Recommendations please?

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Undecided_buyer

Original Poster

72 posts

79 months

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Saturday 8th March

Hi all, bit of a brainstorm post, but any input greatly appreciated

I currently have a 2010 Mazda 6 GH 2.5 Sport estate, 80k
Although it still looks pretty good, it is aging a little, not economical, and probably going to have to start spending a little on general wear and tear items due to it's age.
And to be honest, I just fancy something newer/different.

An estate is no longer a necessity, but admit it's handy at times (used to have a large dog, no longer do), but we are a family of 4, with the 2 kids almost teenagers, so nothing tiny!

Only do around 6k miles a year, most of this is my 6 mile urban commute

I'm assuming this will be a used car, not brand new.
A purchase would probably be funded, in the majority, with a loan or similar. Don't like the idea of PCP, a deposit and monthly payments on something I'll never actually own just doesn't add up to me.

I'm thinking electric might be the way forward and quote fancy trying one...
Can probably charge it at work sometimes.
Would still need a charger installing at home.
Minimal servicing costs, cheaper tax

Researching 2nd hand EV best buys, Tesla Model 3's come up top, but I'm open to anything, ideally something nice spec/different/interesting

Quick searches show
2019 Model 3, 70k, £12500ish, private sale(good idea?!).
Or 50k's for £15kish
Or everything in between really.

These I think would be around my max manageable budget

Other options or recommendations?

Thanks for reading my ramblings biggrin

Edited by Undecided_buyer on Saturday 8th March 23:03

Master Bean

4,279 posts

132 months

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Saturday 8th March

Something with a big V8.

Undecided_buyer

Original Poster

72 posts

79 months

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Saturday 8th March

Master Bean said:

Something with a big V8.

Thank you haha

David87

6,855 posts

224 months

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Saturday 8th March

Really can’t beat a Model 3. They’re hard as nails, extremely good value to run and can be picked up pretty cheaply now. Worth paying the extra for a 2021 model onwards as they have a bunch of upgrades and were assembled in Shanghai (to a higher standard) than the earlier Californian cars.

Failing that, an MG5 might be worth a look. Not an exciting car by any stretch, but it’s an estate and again likely to be reliable and cheap to run.

Patio

1,031 posts

23 months

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Saturday 8th March

Echo the above

The current MG's seem to be pretty decent and good value

CG2020UK

2,480 posts

52 months

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Sunday 9th March

+1 for the Tesla Model 3.

All Model 3s are pretty good and I wouldn’t worry about year just buy on condition.

Recommend a Long Range AWD model if you can stretch.

ChrisH72

2,509 posts

64 months

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Sunday 9th March

What are the running costs like on an older Tesla?

I always thought they were horrifically expensive to fix if anything goes wrong and that insurance was expensive as a result. Could be wrong though.

Can you take them to any garage or do you need to use a Tesla service centre? Also, do you need to get a warranty sorted?

They are starting to look cheap now and I have read that they can easily take high mileage. Seems like there must be a catch?

samoht

6,542 posts

158 months

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Sunday 9th March

The Model 3 is anomalously cheap, I don't think you'll get better for £15k in terms of range, public charging and performance/handling.

There was a period when Tesla were terrible at supplying parts so if you had an accident the car could be off the road for months, but I think this was earlier in the company's life.

For the sake of completeness:
- The Kia Niro 64 kWh is widely available ~£12k and is more a practical body, but won't be as dynamic.
- The VW ID3 is a similar price and has the benefit of RWD, though personally I didn't like the interior ambience.

- You mention "nice spec/different/interesting", which makes me think of the Polestar 2. The launch spec cars are all high spec with eg panoramic roof and matrix headlights, 400hp AWD. However they're out of budget, starting around £17k for sub 100k miles.

Martyn76

741 posts

129 months

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Sunday 9th March

Plenty of used Tesla Models 3s out there now so you can afford to be picky IMO, a few YouTube videos out recently re higher mileage cars

https://youtu.be/qQFmwChHlm0?si=7iAqoKOqIEN0namG

https://youtu.be/UBxSWmzN4NI?si=pD1cgERqrgtyLUM3
https://youtu.be/byZcmX8Cgwk?si=mvec5qrGKRkSrDhm

I think the most likely issue is around the front suspension, a known issue and any 'normal' garage should be able to deal with them, you can check here
https://hevra.org.uk/ for a more EV specialist garage near you.

ZX10R NIN

28,905 posts

137 months

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Sunday 9th March

CG2020UK

2,480 posts

52 months

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Sunday 9th March

ChrisH72 said:

What are the running costs like on an older Tesla?

Mines cost me nothing except switching to better tyres.

Plenty of mega miles Tesla’s floating about now.

ChrisH72 said:

I always thought they were horrifically expensive to fix if anything goes wrong and that insurance was expensive as a result. Could be wrong though.

You get 8 years warranty on your battery which takes care of the biggest concern.

Saying that how many 1L Fords, 1.2L Peugeots and Land Rover engines go boom.

Suspension known weakness but then same as every car these days.

ChrisH72 said:

Can you take them to any garage or do you need to use a Tesla service centre? Also, do you need to get a warranty sorted?

Yeah for suspension and brakes.

I’d only use Tesla if a battery issue came up as pricey.

Tesla do extended warranty only if your car is in its 4 years everything warranty period. Battery as mentioned has 8 year warranty. Buy direct from Tesla you get a year warranty which you can extend.

ChrisH72 said:

They are starting to look cheap now and I have read that they can easily take high mileage. Seems like there must be a catch?

Insurance prices are high.
I still think they look funny personally.
CEO is a nutter.

samoht

6,542 posts

158 months

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Sunday 9th March

ChrisH72 said:

What are the running costs like on an older Tesla?
...
They are starting to look cheap now and I have read that they can easily take high mileage. Seems like there must be a catch?

For me the catch is that the Model 3 is a four-door saloon, not the five-door hatchback its looks suggest. But obviously that's just for my needs.

ChrisH72

2,509 posts

64 months

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Sunday 9th March

CG2020UK said:

ChrisH72 said:

What are the running costs like on an older Tesla?

Mines cost me nothing except switching to better tyres.

Plenty of mega miles Tesla’s floating about now.

ChrisH72 said:

I always thought they were horrifically expensive to fix if anything goes wrong and that insurance was expensive as a result. Could be wrong though.

ChrisH72 said:

Can you take them to any garage or do you need to use a Tesla service centre? Also, do you need to get a warranty sorted?

ChrisH72 said:

They are starting to look cheap now and I have read that they can easily take high mileage. Seems like there must be a catch?

Insurance prices are high.
I still think they look funny personally.
CEO is a nutter.

Thanks for that. I don't think I'd ever have one for a few reasons but they do intrigue me at current prices. Any Tesla owners I know have them on lease through work so running costs don't bother them. I can't think of anyone who has bought an older one privately.

Our next family car will probably be an EV. But it's my wife's car and she wouldn't have a Tesla. Not only that they don't make the body style she'd want but she can't stand EM either. She does like Hyundai though so there are possibilities there. For now I quite like our old cheap petrol MPV. It's pushing shed territory, it's slow and has no infotainment or screen to bother about. We don't care where we drive or park it which is quite liberating!

Undecided_buyer

Original Poster

72 posts

79 months

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Sunday 9th March

Thanks for all of the replies, much appreciated, and food for thought
Will take a look at some of the suggestions over the next few days, and keep an eye out for any for sale locally to see them in person

Snow and Rocks

2,782 posts

39 months

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Sunday 9th March

ChrisH72 said:

We have a Model Y owned outright that we run through the business and it's been a bit of PITA reliability wise being honest - it's now on about 110k miles and since the warranty ran out at 50k it's needed £7k worth of repairs. £3k of that was just because of a failed inverter that resulted in the car completely bricking itself and locking my parents inside on a local High Street. The bill included replacement front windows because of the moronic design of the door release system. The rest was replacement rear knuckles and hubs and now 2 sets of front suspension arms. We've given up using Tesla themselves for repairs but even our trusted independent has struggled to get parts - waiting several weeks for suspension arms for a common and fairly mundane car isn't really on in my mind.

The car also feels pretty shagged with various creaks and rattles, probably not helped by the borderline unacceptable ride quality and road rumble. We previously used diesel E classes for the same job and they aged much better, with very little aggro even at 200k+.

I'm sold on EVs and plug in hybrids if they suit your use case, we've saved a lot of money on fuel, but not convinced we'll have another Tesla. Some pretty idiotic design feautures in there too that are just cost cutting measures dressed up as "tech".

CG2020UK

2,480 posts

52 months

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Sunday 9th March

ChrisH72 said:

I bought mine used outright.

I would happily buy another one. We actually were very close for the wife but ended up with an X3.

Model 3s are weirdly like a cheat code in cars I think at the moment. Fast, handles well, practical and comfortable with good reliability and basically no servicing costs. Only thing you can really hold against them is the media/Musk thing.

I just advise everyone to test drive one and make their own mind up they are very good cars and loads on the roads now.

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