Been a while since ive needed a new car, so many choice, Electric, Lease, or 2nd hand?!

BOWFER

HyperSpace88 said:

Since car dealerships have opened up, car prices are higher about £1,000 to £2,000. Bargains are hard to find.... 

That's just dealers taking advantage of people browsing their forecourts for 'something to do', and trying to recoup some of their losses.
It doesn't mean people are actually paying it.

mickym

One other thing thats just dawned on me. 
We have a very short, steep driveway off a higher main road. Our current Rav, has no problem going down it without the car scraping the front as it meets bottom of driveway. Some of our friends car scrape the front spoiler/ under bumper if its low.

Any car I purchase has to be able to get down it safely... but how the hell do I find out if it does? 
First thing that comes to mind is to arrange a test drive for one, and then try it out. But that leaves me with the following questions:

- Im presuming the only way to get a test drive is to do that through a dealer?
- If I do arrange it with a dealer, they will only do so if I am interestied in buying from them and not leasing from elsewhere? 

Ive never gone through test drive process so all new to me!

Petriix

There have been some great lease deals on the Ioniq 38 and the Corsa-e recently. If you're buying outright then the MG ZS and MG5 are really good value. We bought our MG5 by extending our mortgage at 1.84%; it's costing £75 per month (although we're overpaying) which is about what we're saving in running costs.

I wouldn't personally go for anything with less than a 40kWh battery. While Leaf 30 owners claim 105 miles of range, what they mean is that it just about can achieve that on a perfect summer's day at < 60mph. If you want to drive at 70mph on a cold, wet day then you might only get 70 miles. My MG5 will get roughly double the real world range of a Leaf 30 with a bit of battery degradation.

Grumpy_chap

mickym said:

- Im presuming the only way to get a test drive is to do that through a dealer?
- If I do arrange it with a dealer, they will only do so if I am interestied in buying from them and not leasing from elsewhere? 

If you arrange a test drive, do so as a prospective customer of that dealer.  It is up to that dealer to still win your business with a competitive deal should you choose to purchase.  If the dealer does the work, but then over-prices the sale, that is the dealer's loss.

Bluebell1000

Do you have the option to look at salary sacrifice car lease? BIK rates are still very good at the moment for full electric cars. We have a lease which covers everything on our Kia e-niro through that scheme - that's breakdown cover, business insurance, all maintenance and servicing apart from topping up screen wash. It works out about £350 a month net for me, and the insurance was very good when I had a bump last year (just had to pay £250 excess). We will have the option to buy the car at the end of the 4 year lease.
Just be aware it might have an impact on pension contributions depending on how your employer calculates things, and you won't accrue no-claims if you are insured through their scheme, though apparently they can provide a letter.   

BOWFER

Petriix said:

There have been some great lease deals on the Ioniq 38 and the Corsa-e recently. If you're buying outright then the MG ZS and MG5 are really good value. We bought our MG5 by extending our mortgage at 1.84%; it's costing £75 per month (although we're overpaying) which is about what we're saving in running costs.

I wouldn't personally go for anything with less than a 40kWh battery. While Leaf 30 owners claim 105 miles of range, what they mean is that it just about can achieve that on a perfect summer's day at < 60mph. If you want to drive at 70mph on a cold, wet day then you might only get 70 miles. My MG5 will get roughly double the real world range of a Leaf 30 with a bit of battery degradation.

Disagree with this, I was getting 70 NE SCotland winter miles in my 24KWH Leaf with everything switched on no problem at all, so I think you're being very pessimistic about the 30KWH there.
A colleague was asking me about the MG EVs and they do seem good value for money and the reviews are fine.
I just couldn't live with the looks, there's just something really 'odd' about them, especially the SUV one.
Perhaps a strange comment from someone who had a Leaf, but beauty in the eye of the beholder etc.

BOWFER

mickym said:

- Im presuming the only way to get a test drive is to do that through a dealer?
- If I do arrange it with a dealer, they will only do so if I am interestied in buying from them and not leasing from elsewhere? 

Ive never gone through test drive process so all new to me!

Taking a test drive with no intention to source from there is called 'showrooming', I personally don't agree with it and have never done it.
But if you intend to  give them a fair shout at a deal, fair enough.
I can't honestly remember the last time I test drove a car though, I don't have the time and feel it's a bit of a waste of time these days - all cars decent.
I tend to just read reviews/forums/reviews and decide from there.
Can't say i've ever taken on a car and gone "damn, wish I'd driven it first..."

Herzlos

mickym said:

One other thing thats just dawned on me. 
We have a very short, steep driveway off a higher main road. Our current Rav, has no problem going down it without the car scraping the front as it meets bottom of driveway. Some of our friends car scrape the front spoiler/ under bumper if its low.

Any car I purchase has to be able to get down it safely... but how the hell do I find out if it does? 

Get something like this and work out the angle, then take it and a length of wood into the dealership to see if the car can clear it:

https://www.toolstation.com/trend-digital-angle-rule/p16609

I'm sure they've seen stranger

mickym

Thanks @herzlos but I think it has to be an actual practical test to try it out. 

I quite like the look of the MG ZS. It's just the issues with the app, including scheduled charging (to take advantage of night time cheap rates) and preheating of car that put me off a little. 

Grumpy_chap

mickym said:

Thanks @herzlos but I think it has to be an actual practical test to try it out. 

I quite like the look of the MG ZS. It's just the issues with the app, including scheduled charging (to take advantage of night time cheap rates) and preheating of car that put me off a little. 

I would expect the MG ZS to have sufficient ground clearance for most driveways - if yours is unusually extreme, then checking it out first is practical.

Why would you be put off by the pre-heating of the car?  As I understand it, this is to heat the interior of the car before you plan to get in for two benefits:

• Comfort - warm and toasty on a cold morning
• Range - uses electricity from the mains to warm the car interior rather than battery charge

What's not to like?  Or, are we talking about something different?