EV Discussion thread

Petriix

@Grumpy_chap I don't think I would buy a new MG5 today at the current asking price. There are a fair few second hand ones on Autotrader which might be worth looking at. Better value at the moment seems to be the Zoe ZE50, but make sure you get one with rapid charging as, rather absurdly, it was an option. 

Grumpy_chap

Thank you @Petriix - you are probably correct.

The current price for the MG5 is at £34k plus £840 for a charger.  I have not yet explored whether any discounts are available - based on the pre-COVID prices, the discount would need to be around £10k to be similar price-point.  Those days, I think, are long gone.  I am looking at Autotrader availability, but I've got to decide which type of car is the right one first

I have asked the MG dealer to confirm the NCAP rating - it is something they will be getting back to me on.  If it is zero, then the car is out of the question.

The Zoe is not even a real car and also still at £33k from a quick look on the Renault website.  Also ZERO NCAP:
https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/renault/zoe/44206

VW had the iD3 Pro, which is a good range, list price was higher than the MG5, but there was a pre-reg at £32k.  Unfortunately, the exact opposite of "like a Golf" (if you recall the TV advert of yesteryear) - nothing about the iD3 seemed well put together or quality.

Having realised that I could accept the MG5 as a car, it made me realise that a TM3SR might also be suitable (I'd always thought it must be LR).  My criteria is to commute 70 miles each way (140 miles) for work when required..TM3SR is at £43k today and I think the Tesla charger offer is around £425.  It seems far nearer the MG than I'd expected.

I will continue to look at the vehicle options and may even visit Tesla to test drive.

IF I get an EV, what is the best way to get the charger?  Via the manufacturer, or are there good routes via independents?

Petriix

@Grumpy_chap Re chargers (or more accurately EVSEs): things have changed somewhat since I paid £300 for my Zappi in 2019; I asked for recommendations on SpeakEV and got quotes directly on there.

There was a period when an Ohme commando 32A was £200 through Octopus. I'd still recommend picking up something end of line or second hand then getting it fitted by a local spark rather than paying the premium for a specialist installer.

Whatever you do, get something that can do scheduled charging via an app. I highly recommend the Zappi if you think you'll ever get any kind of microgeneration (solar, battery etc). 

1961Nick

Grumpy_chap said:

Thank you @Petriix - you are probably correct.

The current price for the MG5 is at £34k plus £840 for a charger.  I have not yet explored whether any discounts are available - based on the pre-COVID prices, the discount would need to be around £10k to be similar price-point.  Those days, I think, are long gone.  I am looking at Autotrader availability, but I've got to decide which type of car is the right one first

I have asked the MG dealer to confirm the NCAP rating - it is something they will be getting back to me on.  If it is zero, then the car is out of the question.

The Zoe is not even a real car and also still at £33k from a quick look on the Renault website.  Also ZERO NCAP:
https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/renault/zoe/44206

VW had the iD3 Pro, which is a good range, list price was higher than the MG5, but there was a pre-reg at £32k.  Unfortunately, the exact opposite of "like a Golf" (if you recall the TV advert of yesteryear) - nothing about the iD3 seemed well put together or quality.

Having realised that I could accept the MG5 as a car, it made me realise that a TM3SR might also be suitable (I'd always thought it must be LR).  My criteria is to commute 70 miles each way (140 miles) for work when required..TM3SR is at £43k today and I think the Tesla charger offer is around £425.  It seems far nearer the MG than I'd expected.

I will continue to look at the vehicle options and may even visit Tesla to test drive.

IF I get an EV, what is the best way to get the charger?  Via the manufacturer, or are there good routes via independents?

The TM3SR is actually pretty long range since they fitted the bigger LfP battery. Regular 100% charging doesn't degrade the battery either.

The Zappi charger is an excellent piece of kit & the app monitors solar & batteries in real time as well.

Martyn1981

Grumpy_chap said:

Having realised that I could accept the MG5 as a car, it made me realise that a TM3SR might also be suitable (I'd always thought it must be LR).  My criteria is to commute 70 miles each way (140 miles) for work when required..TM3SR is at £43k today and I think the Tesla charger offer is around £425.  It seems far nearer the MG than I'd expected.

Hiya GC. I'd also suspect that would work for you. I did suggest it to you back when the bigger batt was rolled out, but of course the price was too high then.

Using EV_Database again, they suggest a cold (-10C) highway range of 170 miles, so given that extreme, you'd probably do better at more common British cold temps, though I suspect Solarchaser and locals have seen worse!

You also have the fall back of the SC network, and if you are falling short, it will only be by, say 10 miles, so just a few kWh's would do, barely a 'splash and dash'.

But still quite a bit more money than the MG's. But the Tesla is possibly on par with the VW prices now.

Any other cars jumping out at you? I know you've mentioned Lexus in the past, and there is the RZ 450e on its way, but I think that's just the BZ4X, so overpriced at £66k+.


Edit - I was going to suggest having a look at the BYD Atto 3 when it arrives, but looking at EV_Database (not UK), it's a bit more money than I'd expected:

BYD ATTO 3

michaels

I suspect the standard Stellatis offering would not get your range but there is now an upgraded version coming as the jeep avenger, mokka etc that might be enough, probably mid 30s pricing.

Or even a leaf e+, starting to become available at sensible (low 20s) price second hand.

JKenH

If you are thinking of a TM3 but can’t justify a £43k outlay, one option would be to buy a Used TM3 from Tesla and see if you like it then if you do buy the new Highlander version when it comes out later this year buy one of them. If buying with cash (rather than leasing or PCP) I would be wary of buying a new TM3 now when there is a new (or heavily revised) Highlander TM3 model coming out this year.

This example at £25k like all Tesla supplied used cars comes with a 1 year 10k miles warranty on top of the 8 year battery warranty. 

https://tesla-info.com/car/GB-5YJ3F7EA0KF501626

This Tesla supplied 2020 model at £28,600 seems better value to me. It’s blue as well which I think really suits the TM3.

https://tesla-info.com/car/GB-5YJ3F7EA8LF656166

Edit: The £25k TM3 linked above has now disappeared from the listings, presumably sold. It was a good price for a TM3 with a years Tesla warranty.

Grumpy_chap

Martyn1981 said:

But still quite a bit more money than the MG's. But the Tesla is possibly on par with the VW prices now.

Pricing for cars seems to be all over the place at the moment.

The MG5 lists at £34k and offers on CarWow are quite limited.  I've not yet explored pre-reg / nearly new alternatives.  I have asked the Dealer to confirm the safety rating so won't do anything before that answer is provided.

I'm not sure what the iD.3 lists at, but we were offered a pre-reg "72" with less than 500 miles Pro Tech Performance (which seem quite high up the trim options and has a long range) at £32k.  Unfortunately, it seemed rather cheaply put together and not desirable.

We will certainly arrange to see the TM3 - the prices have moved to be more attractive, though still a fair jump from the MG but, as Ken mentioned, pre-reg / nearly new options might solve that if the car is the right one otherwise. 

The Tesla price move certainly kills off any consideration of the BMW / Mercedes / Kia / Skoda type EV products as they are all massively more expensive.

We have to do something now as the old Fiesta will have to leave us because of ULEZ.  That said, we have a few months to make a choice and then find exactly the right car / deal.  If we can't get an EV solution, any number of ICE's will be available in the summer for far less money and greater buying simplicity.  

JKenH

Grumpy_chap said:

Martyn1981 said:

But still quite a bit more money than the MG's. But the Tesla is possibly on par with the VW prices now.

Pricing for cars seems to be all over the place at the moment.

The MG5 lists at £34k and offers on CarWow are quite limited.  I've not yet explored pre-reg / nearly new alternatives.  I have asked the Dealer to confirm the safety rating so won't do anything before that answer is provided.

I'm not sure what the iD.3 lists at, but we were offered a pre-reg "72" with less than 500 miles Pro Tech Performance (which seem quite high up the trim options and has a long range) at £32k.  Unfortunately, it seemed rather cheaply put together and not desirable.

We will certainly arrange to see the TM3 - the prices have moved to be more attractive, though still a fair jump from the MG but, as Ken mentioned, pre-reg / nearly new options might solve that if the car is the right one otherwise. 

The Tesla price move certainly kills off any consideration of the BMW / Mercedes / Kia / Skoda type EV products as they are all massively more expensive.

We have to do something now as the old Fiesta will have to leave us because of ULEZ.  That said, we have a few months to make a choice and then find exactly the right car / deal.  If we can't get an EV solution, any number of ICE's will be available in the summer for far less money and greater buying simplicity.  

You can pick up a 72 plate Golf from just over £22k https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172581155

or a 72 plate ID3 for £28,985 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302154276536

Martyn1981

Grumpy_chap said:

Martyn1981 said:

But still quite a bit more money than the MG's. But the Tesla is possibly on par with the VW prices now.

Pricing for cars seems to be all over the place at the moment.

The MG5 lists at £34k and offers on CarWow are quite limited.  I've not yet explored pre-reg / nearly new alternatives.  I have asked the Dealer to confirm the safety rating so won't do anything before that answer is provided.

I'm not sure what the iD.3 lists at, but we were offered a pre-reg "72" with less than 500 miles Pro Tech Performance (which seem quite high up the trim options and has a long range) at £32k.  Unfortunately, it seemed rather cheaply put together and not desirable.

We will certainly arrange to see the TM3 - the prices have moved to be more attractive, though still a fair jump from the MG but, as Ken mentioned, pre-reg / nearly new options might solve that if the car is the right one otherwise. 

The Tesla price move certainly kills off any consideration of the BMW / Mercedes / Kia / Skoda type EV products as they are all massively more expensive.

We have to do something now as the old Fiesta will have to leave us because of ULEZ.  That said, we have a few months to make a choice and then find exactly the right car / deal.  If we can't get an EV solution, any number of ICE's will be available in the summer for far less money and greater buying simplicity.  

Good news for you with a growing selection of choice, be it new or SH. Hopefully prices will start to fall as production increases and technology improves, but looks like supply, particularly for batteries, will hinder that.

Best of luck though, and interesting to see how you get along and how your thoughts change, focus etc.. Hope you are enjoying it, not finding it a chore.