Fast estate/SUV (U.K.) - but electric?!
Discussion
Turned into a long story.
// Basically, I drive a 2020 530d touring and want to
swap it in 12-18 months for an EV. Needs to be big
enough for 3 teenagers in the back. Has to be
electric, roughly £1k to 1.5k per month lease salary sacrifice. Is the Etron GT the best bet? Not sure 3 teenagers will fit? Is there a fast estate as big as a 5 series? Maybe closest is the Bmw IX? //
I've been really lucky over the years and find myself
with a high enough salary to consider a new fast
estate.
I currently drive a 2020 530d msport touring which
was a bargain; bought it just as we went into
lockdown 1 and they were realising businesses were
closing. List price £52k, 18k(!) dealer deposit
contributions, sold to me for £34k with 18k ballon
payment. So I only had to put 1500 deposit in and
pay £400pcm for a 52k factory order.
Since then I've added around 50k a year to my
salary which is awesome, but a chunk now
disappears at 60% tax rate.
Next year the company will have an EV salary
sacrifice scheme. If I give back the 530d I could
lease an EV and pay for it using salary sacrifice.
So…I could earn 12k salary at the tax trap rate, pay 60% tax and have only 4.8k to show for it. That's
£400 per month. Or I could salary sacrifice the 12k
and have 12k to show for it. That's £1000 per
month.
I currently pay £400 per month, so my logic is to tell
the mrs "I either spend £1k/month on a nice car or
pay tax and have only 400 to spend…it just makes
sense".
So what would you get if you could justify £1000 to
£1500 a month (well I did get a pay rise) on a salary
sacrifice ev scheme? Needs to be big enough for 3
teenagers in the back. Has to be electric. Is the
Etron GT the best bet? Not sure 3 teenagers will fit?
Is there a fast estate as big as a 5 series? Maybe
closest is the Bmw IX?
Thanks for making it this far!
// Basically, I drive a 2020 530d touring and want to
swap it in 12-18 months for an EV. Needs to be big
enough for 3 teenagers in the back. Has to be
electric, roughly £1k to 1.5k per month lease salary sacrifice. Is the Etron GT the best bet? Not sure 3 teenagers will fit? Is there a fast estate as big as a 5 series? Maybe closest is the Bmw IX? //
I've been really lucky over the years and find myself
with a high enough salary to consider a new fast
estate.
I currently drive a 2020 530d msport touring which
was a bargain; bought it just as we went into
lockdown 1 and they were realising businesses were
closing. List price £52k, 18k(!) dealer deposit
contributions, sold to me for £34k with 18k ballon
payment. So I only had to put 1500 deposit in and
pay £400pcm for a 52k factory order.
Since then I've added around 50k a year to my
salary which is awesome, but a chunk now
disappears at 60% tax rate.
Next year the company will have an EV salary
sacrifice scheme. If I give back the 530d I could
lease an EV and pay for it using salary sacrifice.
So…I could earn 12k salary at the tax trap rate, pay 60% tax and have only 4.8k to show for it. That's
£400 per month. Or I could salary sacrifice the 12k
and have 12k to show for it. That's £1000 per
month.
I currently pay £400 per month, so my logic is to tell
the mrs "I either spend £1k/month on a nice car or
pay tax and have only 400 to spend…it just makes
sense".
So what would you get if you could justify £1000 to
£1500 a month (well I did get a pay rise) on a salary
sacrifice ev scheme? Needs to be big enough for 3
teenagers in the back. Has to be electric. Is the
Etron GT the best bet? Not sure 3 teenagers will fit?
Is there a fast estate as big as a 5 series? Maybe
closest is the Bmw IX?
Thanks for making it this far!
I have had three 5 series tourings from E60 on, an C7 RS6 and a B9 RS4 and am now in a new iPace - and couldn't be happier. Not as big as the RS6 and 5 series, but big enough. I have removed the rear parcel shelf for the dog (golden retriever). Handles well. Far more refined than the BMWs and Audis and faster in day to day use. Good looking car too - mine is Caesium blue with black pack like this one:
https://www.i-paceforum.com/showcase/caesium-blue-...
https://www.i-paceforum.com/showcase/caesium-blue-...
We don't know what you like and what you don't. Google for a shortlist and then ask this thread's readers. That way, we can cross several off.
If you're intent on changing cars in 12 - 18 months, I wouldn't consider anything not officially released in the UK after next spring as the lead times are so long.
Saying all that, to add to the above: Tesla Model S or a Genesis GV60? The former is not to everyone's tastes but it's a proven car that should be very well sorted now. The latter looks very nice in my opinion. And maybe bigger Genesis cars are to follow if it's not big enough for you.
If you're intent on changing cars in 12 - 18 months, I wouldn't consider anything not officially released in the UK after next spring as the lead times are so long.
Saying all that, to add to the above: Tesla Model S or a Genesis GV60? The former is not to everyone's tastes but it's a proven car that should be very well sorted now. The latter looks very nice in my opinion. And maybe bigger Genesis cars are to follow if it's not big enough for you.
Bear in mind that especially with big BMWs like 5 and 7 series, "list" price is often meaningless, and very generous discounts are often available.
Regarding your needs, go test drive a BMW iX. Is it roomy? Yes, for driver and all passengers it's extremely spacious inside. Boot is on the small size for size of vehicle, but rear seats fold down.
It's more refined than iPace or e-Tron 55 in my opinion (yes, I've driven them extensively) and it rides, stops and steers better than both of them, imho.
Ride quality is simply sublime, even on 22 inch wheels without air suspension. I have ordered the 40 version which on paper does 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, but in practice, it is quicker than that, and has plenty of grunt in the real world. Naturally, if you crave even more acceleration (and more range) you can opt for the 50 or 60 models, but lead times are longer. That's part of the reason I went for the 40, lead time of just 2 months, when so many EVs are having lead times between 6-18 months.
The only thing you may not like is their approach to tech, in terms of hardly any buttons inside, and the menus can be rather convoluted when trying to find settings.
Regarding your needs, go test drive a BMW iX. Is it roomy? Yes, for driver and all passengers it's extremely spacious inside. Boot is on the small size for size of vehicle, but rear seats fold down.
It's more refined than iPace or e-Tron 55 in my opinion (yes, I've driven them extensively) and it rides, stops and steers better than both of them, imho.
Ride quality is simply sublime, even on 22 inch wheels without air suspension. I have ordered the 40 version which on paper does 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, but in practice, it is quicker than that, and has plenty of grunt in the real world. Naturally, if you crave even more acceleration (and more range) you can opt for the 50 or 60 models, but lead times are longer. That's part of the reason I went for the 40, lead time of just 2 months, when so many EVs are having lead times between 6-18 months.
The only thing you may not like is their approach to tech, in terms of hardly any buttons inside, and the menus can be rather convoluted when trying to find settings.
raspy said:
Bear in mind that especially with big BMWs like 5 and 7 series, "list" price is often meaningless, and very generous discounts are often available.
Regarding your needs, go test drive a BMW iX. Is it roomy? Yes, for driver and all passengers it's extremely spacious inside. Boot is on the small size for size of vehicle, but rear seats fold down.
It's more refined than iPace or e-Tron 55 in my opinion (yes, I've driven them extensively) and it rides, stops and steers better than both of them, imho.
Ride quality is simply sublime, even on 22 inch wheels without air suspension. I have ordered the 40 version which on paper does 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, but in practice, it is quicker than that, and has plenty of grunt in the real world. Naturally, if you crave even more acceleration (and more range) you can opt for the 50 or 60 models, but lead times are longer. That's part of the reason I went for the 40, lead time of just 2 months, when so many EVs are having lead times between 6-18 months.
The only thing you may not like is their approach to tech, in terms of hardly any buttons inside, and the menus can be rather convoluted when trying to find settings.
The only thing you may not like.Regarding your needs, go test drive a BMW iX. Is it roomy? Yes, for driver and all passengers it's extremely spacious inside. Boot is on the small size for size of vehicle, but rear seats fold down.
It's more refined than iPace or e-Tron 55 in my opinion (yes, I've driven them extensively) and it rides, stops and steers better than both of them, imho.
Ride quality is simply sublime, even on 22 inch wheels without air suspension. I have ordered the 40 version which on paper does 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, but in practice, it is quicker than that, and has plenty of grunt in the real world. Naturally, if you crave even more acceleration (and more range) you can opt for the 50 or 60 models, but lead times are longer. That's part of the reason I went for the 40, lead time of just 2 months, when so many EVs are having lead times between 6-18 months.
The only thing you may not like is their approach to tech, in terms of hardly any buttons inside, and the menus can be rather convoluted when trying to find settings.
You're forgetting it can be argued it's the ugliest car currently on sale. Utterly hideous creation.
ChocolateFrog said:
The only thing you may not like.
You're forgetting it can be argued it's the ugliest car currently on sale. Utterly hideous creation.
LOL I forgot, when you drive the car, you will be sitting outside the car, facing the front, right? And of course, you will be desperate for people to say "nice" car, so you will buy something that others find looks good, right? And of course, you're going to spend your every waking minute glancing out of your house, staring at your beautiful looking car because you have nothing better to do, right? You're forgetting it can be argued it's the ugliest car currently on sale. Utterly hideous creation.
I’m picking up my iX50 on Friday.
In the real world, the looks are better than pictures. I actually like the way it looks and more than a few people have commented to me they like the looks.
Taycan was too small in the back for the size of kids I have.
E-Tron is quite old tech.
I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
I can tell you more about the iX in a couple of days.
In the real world, the looks are better than pictures. I actually like the way it looks and more than a few people have commented to me they like the looks.
Taycan was too small in the back for the size of kids I have.
E-Tron is quite old tech.
I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
I can tell you more about the iX in a couple of days.
BeeBopp said:
I’m picking up my iX50 on Friday.
I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
.
I’m sorry but to me this is just nonsense. I’ve had a lot of BMW’s in the last 20 years - circa 15ish IIRC. But I don’t think I’ll ever go back, there isn’t a single BMW in the last 5years that has made me think ‘I fancy one of those’. In my experience they have become dull, really dull and incredibly ugly now. Interiors are just plain and don’t feel like they are special at all. I think the fact that BMW have to discount the cars so massively speaks volumes.I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
.
New iPace interiors feel special - Range Rover level special.
Edited by W12GT on Wednesday 7th September 20:54
Mr E said:
The only BEV estate I’m aware of is the Taycan. And is in your budget I think.
I’ve been forced down the SUV route and expect to whine about it.
There are precisely two EV estates, the Taycan Cross/Sport Turismo and the MG5. I’ve been forced down the SUV route and expect to whine about it.
Obviously not the OP but personally the Taycan is out of budget, the MG5 is too slow and dull (both for me and the OP) and I refuse to have an SUV... which doesn't really leave much.
Fastdruid said:
There are precisely two EV estates, the Taycan Cross/Sport Turismo and the MG5.
Obviously not the OP but personally the Taycan is out of budget, the MG5 is too slow and dull (both for me and the OP) and I refuse to have an SUV... which doesn't really leave much.
That's why I bought a Model S, more luggage space than the previous RS6, more space than my wife's Touareg. I have 3 older kids and it fits them really well, the catch (other than the Tesla Marmite effect), you can't buy a new one.Obviously not the OP but personally the Taycan is out of budget, the MG5 is too slow and dull (both for me and the OP) and I refuse to have an SUV... which doesn't really leave much.
BeeBopp said:
I’m picking up my iX50 on Friday.
In the real world, the looks are better than pictures. I actually like the way it looks and more than a few people have commented to me they like the looks.
Taycan was too small in the back for the size of kids I have.
E-Tron is quite old tech.
I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
I can tell you more about the iX in a couple of days.
iX is a good drive but I didn't like the looks - personal thing.In the real world, the looks are better than pictures. I actually like the way it looks and more than a few people have commented to me they like the looks.
Taycan was too small in the back for the size of kids I have.
E-Tron is quite old tech.
I-pace is nice but a class of car down from the iX in my view.
I can tell you more about the iX in a couple of days.
iPace is good looking for an EV and I felt the interior was more premium than the BMW. But again it depends on the spec, and each to their own.
Build quality excellent too, but perhaps that's because JLR don't build the iPace (MS in Austria)
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