EV Thread

[Carlos]

My i3 has been sold back to the dealer i bought it off after 7 months and 5,500 miles.

Nothing much to report that hasn't already been said. Cost next to nothing to run, no VED, insurance was £180 a year, no repairs or maintenance and £1200 in depreciation, the bulk of which was all down to me not having the time or patience to prepare and sell it privately.

They are brilliant cars and people seem to overlook how fun and interesting they are due to them being an EV.

Clean and cheap to run can be fun guys

[Jobbo]

What's replaced it Carl?

[Carlos]

A new i3s which was supposed to be delivered tomorrow but is now on hold due to a safety recall !

[Explosive Newt]

Test drive booked on a VW ID3 this coming Friday afternoon. Delivery times for a new one seem to be stretching out to a year now though. And depressingly a nearly new one with 10k on the clock seems to command a £5000 premium over a fresh order.

Also considering a Tesla Model 3 and a Polestar 2, but they are probably a bit more car than I need (both in size and price); my larger plan is to chop in my Golf for an e-car and a Cayman S so I still have a fun car.

[Carlos]

Have you tried an i3 or i3s ?

As a NHS worker BMW will give you a genuine discount through Park Lane.

[Jobbo]

Test drive booked on a VW ID3 this coming Friday afternoon. Delivery times for a new one seem to be stretching out to a year now though. And depressingly a nearly new one with 10k on the clock seems to command a £5000 premium over a fresh order.

Also considering a Tesla Model 3 and a Polestar 2, but they are probably a bit more car than I need (both in size and price); my larger plan is to chop in my Golf for an e-car and a Cayman S so I still have a fun car.

How much more is the base price of a Model 3 than an ID3? You don’t really need to add any cost options to a Tesla either.

[Explosive Newt]

Model 3s start at £40k, ID3s at £30k, although I'd probably be going for a mid-spec one at 35. So not a lot of difference.

The BMW I had sort of discounted as it looked a bit too mini-MPV but I'm willing to be swayed. The range doesn't look quite as good as the ID3. How did you find it for motorway / long distance stuff?

[Carlos]

My old one had a 33kw battery and does between 100-140 miles depending on outside temperature.

Like I mention above it's much more fun than it looks although it does move around on the motorway with ruts and wind due to the skinny tyres and slab side design.

New one has a 42kw battery so I would expect 140-180 mile range. The s has a wider track as well so apparently more stable.

[KevH18]

Model 3s start at £40k, ID3s at £30k, although I'd probably be going for a mid-spec one at 35. So not a lot of difference.

Have they announced anymore about them building anything other than the base spec? VW said a short while ago that they were only building the life spec, with loads of features missing. Presumably because of the semiconductor crisis.

[Explosive Newt]

Model 3s start at £40k, ID3s at £30k, although I'd probably be going for a mid-spec one at 35. So not a lot of difference.

Have they announced anymore about them building anything other than the base spec? VW said a short while ago that they were only building the life spec, with loads of features missing. Presumably because of the semiconductor crisis.

I’m a bit confused on this, their website seems to imply you can order anything but I too had heard they were doing Pro Performance Life only. I’ll find out a bit more when I go for the test drive.

[Explosive Newt]

Test drove an ID3 on Friday.

Comfy seats and all the extras like radar cruise that will make it swallow the commute. The 200 horse version was pokey although unexciting. It's fine as a mode of transport, I think, and about the right size I am looking for. The only dislike was the driving position being a bit more elevated than I would like (you sit on batteries, as in so many of these), so you feel you sit on, rather than in. The dealer was quoting a 60-week delivery period and a nearly-new ex demonstrator with 10k miles on the clock was commanding a £5k premium over a new build.

Have a Tesla 3 test lined up this week and a Polestar 2 drive lined up the week after.

[Explosive Newt]

Interesting day of testing.

Went for a re look at the ID3. I wasn’t sold on the driving position - seats too lofty and unsupportive - but wanted to check I wasn’t being unduly harsh. Tried adjusting them several ways but couldn’t get it right. It’s a solid and competent car but not a place I would want to be spending lots of time. Lead time on delivery is about 60 weeks right now (!).

Next stop was a Tesla Model 3. They are every bit as quick as people say. Astonishingly rapid acceleration. Add to this that the seating position felt bang on and the handling was excellent. I felt the seat was squishy and supportive in the right measures. The infotainment/setup will take a bit of getting used to and the other downside was I thought it was probably a little bigger than what I was after. These would deliver in August.

Finally, Cupra Born. Warm hatch speed, competent although uninteresting handling. A fine hatch and not hugely different from the ID3 except that the interior felt far nicer. Better seating position, more supportive seat and generally a better feel to the cockpit. The one issue I had was the over-use of copper colouring to accent the trim, which felt over done and garish. I guess I could probably learn to live with it. It’s about the right size although a bit tall. Probably about 6 month wait for these.

Testing a Polestar 2 on Thursday but the VW and Cupra both see price rises on Friday (April 1st) so realistically need to order before then.

[mik]

Testing a Polestar 2 on Thursday but the VW and Cupra both see price rises on Friday (April 1st) so realistically need to order before then.

Worth looking at XC40 recharge too? Same underpinnings in a less sporty but more practical dress?

[Explosive Newt]

Polestar 2

Too heavy, brakes struggled to stop it, handling was inert.
Cabin felt well screwed together but the driving position wasn't great. You sit lower in a relatively high-sided car, so I felt like Hans Moleman peering over the steering wheel. My left knee rubbed up against a hard bit of plastic by the console, which grew uncomfortable over the half hour drive. The seat was supportive enough, though.
Tech was good - easy to use adaptive cruise and lane assist, points there.
Suspension was far too firm. I went over a rutted B-road and was jolted all over the place.

Overall, I was really disappointed. Think I will be getting a model 3.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Have you looked at the Enyaq? Or is that a little on the big side for what you're after?

[KevH18]

I think it's common on here to recommend your own car, but have you considered a Kona EV? Obviously not as quick as a Model 3, but around par with a Polestar single motor. Interior definitely ahead of an iD3 on usability, if not quality maybe, but there isn't much in it. The cost will be a lot less than all for the same sort of kit and still just over 200bhp and nearly 400nm of torque.

The kit is fantastic on it, even on a Premium. Ultimate gives you 'leather' with ventilated seats and a sunroof. Premium has heated seats and wheel, but I prefer the cloth seats as they're like a soft wool material. Still has ACC, self-drive and full LED lights.

I can't sell you on its looks mind!

[Mito Man]

Just reading through this. I've been a passenger in an ID3 and thought it was a pretty terrible car from that perspective. Interior plastics on par and maybe even slightly worse than my very old and much cheaper Mito, seats worse too. Is this really an electric Golf because I can't remember ever being in a bad Golf.

[Holley]

Polestar 2

Too heavy, brakes struggled to stop it, handling was inert.
Cabin felt well screwed together but the driving position wasn't great. You sit lower in a relatively high-sided car, so I felt like Hans Moleman peering over the steering wheel. My left knee rubbed up against a hard bit of plastic by the console, which grew uncomfortable over the half hour drive. The seat was supportive enough, though.
Tech was good - easy to use adaptive cruise and lane assist, points there.
Suspension was far too firm. I went over a rutted B-road and was jolted all over the place.

Overall, I was really disappointed. Think I will be getting a model 3.

I really, really didn't want a model 3. Not particularly sold on the looks, dislike the fanboy image and find the interior a bit bland. Plus they're everywhere.

But everything else (i4, polestar, EV6, ipace etc) are over 2 tonnes and just don't drive as well. Model 3 still a bit heavy at 1850kg but doesn't affect handling at all. Was surprised just how similar it felt to the M240i in steering but with significantly better traction and way faster (LR version has 434hp).

4 months in and love the way it drives, family don't moan when I boot it because no noise, comfortable and looks have grown on me. Although I do hate other tesla drivers waving at me when they drive by. Just wear shades and pretend you haven't seen them

[Jobbo]

I haven't yet read Autocar's road test of the Model Y but the headline is that it's a great car with a major dynamic flaw - I think that's the hard ride. The Model Y looks like a great choice if that's not a concern because it's basically a more practical Model 3, and the odd shape sort of works with the unconventional proportions.

ETA: Autocar have finally stuck the road test online: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/tesla/model-y

[Swervin_Mervin]

I hadn't appreciated just how much lighter the Teslas are when compared to the offerings from traditional manufacturers. Is that down to the drivetrain or just general packaging?

Either way, it's a big deal being a quarter of a ton lighter than a rival, both dynamically and in terms of that all important range factor, and it has you wondering wtf the other manufacturers are playing at really.