EV suggestions - £18k budget
Discussion
I would like a used EV runabout for short trips - eg to the station, dropping my daughter a mile up the road for the school bus etc. I will keep the sports car and the family estate, this is very much going to be the second car. I have offstreet parking, live in North Essex and the use case is solid for me. The budget is about 18k, which I think gets me into a 2020 I3 or a 2021/22 e-208. Are there any other suggestions that I'm missing? The key requirement for me is that it has a heat pump so that it can pre-heat the cabin and defrost itself in the winter.
Lots of possibilities for £18k if range isn't an issue. Many discussed here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... although that was with more of a focus on range.
You could look at something like a Honda e or Mazda MX-30 if range isn't important. Or look to save money and get an old Leaf for a lot less.
Pre-conditioning is distinct from having a heat pump. That is, you could have a car without a heat pump that purely uses resistive heating to warm the car up, and it could still do that in the 30 mins before your anticipated departure. If that departure was from home where the car was plugged in, it wouldn't even make any impact on the car's range as it would be drawing power from the wall.
The heat pump is just a more efficient form of heater, so that if you're pre-conditioning when not plugged in, or using heat on the journey to keep comfortable, it has a much lower (1/3rd or so) draw of energy from the battery.
Even then, if you're doing trips of under 10 miles you'd have plenty of spare energy, so not sure a heat pump would be a requirement.
You could look at something like a Honda e or Mazda MX-30 if range isn't important. Or look to save money and get an old Leaf for a lot less.
Pre-conditioning is distinct from having a heat pump. That is, you could have a car without a heat pump that purely uses resistive heating to warm the car up, and it could still do that in the 30 mins before your anticipated departure. If that departure was from home where the car was plugged in, it wouldn't even make any impact on the car's range as it would be drawing power from the wall.
The heat pump is just a more efficient form of heater, so that if you're pre-conditioning when not plugged in, or using heat on the journey to keep comfortable, it has a much lower (1/3rd or so) draw of energy from the battery.
Even then, if you're doing trips of under 10 miles you'd have plenty of spare energy, so not sure a heat pump would be a requirement.
Edited by samoht on Thursday 7th September 16:02
Don't rule out a Tesla model 3 with high miles, see this video from a mechanic who looks after them:
A Tesla model 3 with 200k on it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWLl-M3PvE
A Tesla model 3 with 200k on it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWLl-M3PvE
Same budget and same two choices for me 
Off to pick up an i3 on Saturday. Apple Carplay is 2020 onwards
If you're not cash then there is about to be a very cheap lease deal on the pre facelift 208 over the next couple of days.
Somebody posted this very helpful link that tracks all i3s for sale (and other cars) on a different thread: https://tesla-info.com/bmw/bmw-inventory.php?sale=...
Off to pick up an i3 on Saturday. Apple Carplay is 2020 onwards
If you're not cash then there is about to be a very cheap lease deal on the pre facelift 208 over the next couple of days.
Somebody posted this very helpful link that tracks all i3s for sale (and other cars) on a different thread: https://tesla-info.com/bmw/bmw-inventory.php?sale=...
gashead1105 said:
Thanks Samoht, that's all very helpful!
Edit: albeit so uninspiring, I wonder what 18k would get me in a fiesta ST!
It would get a 3 year old ST3Edit: albeit so uninspiring, I wonder what 18k would get me in a fiesta ST!
Edited by gashead1105 on Thursday 7th September 17:02
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023082110...
But as an EV runabout I think the Corsa e looks decent value for a lot less than 18k.
The i3 S is a more interesting option and your budget would get a fairly newish one.
dave_s13 said:
You'd get into what is effectively an almost new Nissan Leaf 62kw for that money.
We've got a 2019 40kw and it's pretty much a perfect second car.
Seconded. I spent years taking the mickey, but as a cheap, second runaround the 40kw is a fantastic car, albeit boring.We've got a 2019 40kw and it's pretty much a perfect second car.
The range isn't fantastic, but for 95% of use cases it does the job. I'm staggered at just how much we've saved swapping our daily errand mileage from a car that averages 40mpg to the Nissan Leaf...
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to think about - I'm much more inspired by the fiesta than any of them and I think it would depreciate a lot less than also to offset higher running costs, but the use case is much more towards an EV than another petrol car. Last time I was sensible (bought a Skoda Citigo rather than a hot hatch) it lasted 3 months but that, at least, was a cheap car...
I do quite like the Kia but I'm struggling to find one in budget within even 100 miles. Lots of 67/18 plate Souls for about 10k though, which I guess could be a reasonable guide for where a 20/21 niro could be in a couple of years? That's a lot of depreciation...
i3 seems quite like a hot hatch so is probably the best place to start. Local BMW dealer has a 68 plate in, might have a look even though that's a bit older than I'd like.
I do quite like the Kia but I'm struggling to find one in budget within even 100 miles. Lots of 67/18 plate Souls for about 10k though, which I guess could be a reasonable guide for where a 20/21 niro could be in a couple of years? That's a lot of depreciation...
i3 seems quite like a hot hatch so is probably the best place to start. Local BMW dealer has a 68 plate in, might have a look even though that's a bit older than I'd like.
gashead1105 said:
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to think about - I'm much more inspired by the fiesta than any of them and I think it would depreciate a lot less than also to offset higher running costs, but the use case is much more towards an EV than another petrol car. Last time I was sensible (bought a Skoda Citigo rather than a hot hatch) it lasted 3 months but that, at least, was a cheap car...
Are the Up/Citigo/Mii EVs also worth a look? You could get a newer one, so longer warranty, etc.Maracus said:
gashead1105 said:
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to think about - I'm much more inspired by the fiesta than any of them and I think it would depreciate a lot less than also to offset higher running costs, but the use case is much more towards an EV than another petrol car. Last time I was sensible (bought a Skoda Citigo rather than a hot hatch) it lasted 3 months but that, at least, was a cheap car...
Are the Up/Citigo/Mii EVs also worth a look? You could get a newer one, so longer warranty, etc.I would be going for the i3, or a Mini Electric,
I watched a Harry Metcalfe review of it recently, and he said how much fun the Mini was, Well worth a watch.
I do like the Honda E as well, but unsure if it comes with a heat pump.
Or this generation Kia Soul
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306248...
I watched a Harry Metcalfe review of it recently, and he said how much fun the Mini was, Well worth a watch.
I do like the Honda E as well, but unsure if it comes with a heat pump.
Or this generation Kia Soul
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306248...
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