Zoe Owners Daring Tales/Boring Discussion Thread.......
Discussion
I'm loving mine! Over 1800 miles since mid January and £375~ saved in fuel alone! No problems so far except for the occasional refusal to charge - which I've so far manged to sort out. But, that's not the full story, I honestly can't remember the last time I was in a petrol station; my BMW 335i has sat idle for going on 6 weeks (except for mechanical sympathy drives). The Zoe is everything I'd hoped! The drivetrain is superb, it's so smooth!
Before my home charger install I've once nursed the Zoe to a public charging station (which is nowhere near home), arriving at 10PM on a cold, dark, snowy January night with 2 miles range left to find that the car wouldn't charge - after much farting around (and a call to the Renault recovery people - which offered only a flat bed recovery) it eventually took a full charge.
In the beginning I bought into the driving it considerately ethos, unsure of the real world range, but now, comfortable in the knowledge that it'll do what I need each day, I don't use ECO mode, I don't 'ZEN' drive, I just drive. I carry speed through the bends I accelerate moderately out of bends (as any responsible motorist would), I use the available drive and traction to enter roundabouts etc.
Imo it really is an awesome piece of kit! It's a step change in how an electric car looks and drives. Would I rather have a Tesla Model S? Hell yes, in fact I think the Zoe has converted me and for that matter my wife too. When the PCP is over, if a 200 mile~ and <4 hour charge electric car is for sale, then my conversion will be complete!
The Zoe is a real credit to the engineers who designed it - and to Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn who I understand to be a very smart man and a champion of EVs in general.
Before my home charger install I've once nursed the Zoe to a public charging station (which is nowhere near home), arriving at 10PM on a cold, dark, snowy January night with 2 miles range left to find that the car wouldn't charge - after much farting around (and a call to the Renault recovery people - which offered only a flat bed recovery) it eventually took a full charge.
In the beginning I bought into the driving it considerately ethos, unsure of the real world range, but now, comfortable in the knowledge that it'll do what I need each day, I don't use ECO mode, I don't 'ZEN' drive, I just drive. I carry speed through the bends I accelerate moderately out of bends (as any responsible motorist would), I use the available drive and traction to enter roundabouts etc.
Imo it really is an awesome piece of kit! It's a step change in how an electric car looks and drives. Would I rather have a Tesla Model S? Hell yes, in fact I think the Zoe has converted me and for that matter my wife too. When the PCP is over, if a 200 mile~ and <4 hour charge electric car is for sale, then my conversion will be complete!
The Zoe is a real credit to the engineers who designed it - and to Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn who I understand to be a very smart man and a champion of EVs in general.
Edited by FastNReliable on Saturday 28th February 01:21
Good post FnR.
We too are still loving the car, more for just how easy it is to live with. Minor issues aside it's just plug n drive. No need to check fluids, no need to visit petrol stations, no worries about things breaking (4yr warranty), effortless to drive,as easy as charging up your phone.
I do have some minor niggles though.
1. It's heavy, you can't really throw it around like a hot hatch. At the limits of grip it falls apart a bit and just understeers into a traction control frenzy of flashing lights. You have to be smooth to be quick. (good in snow though).
2. The wiper swept area leaves mucky bits of the screen that obscure my view a bit.
3. The ride is a bit "choppy" if this sort of car had citroens hydropneumatic suspension it would be sublime, why don't they do that?
4. The pedestrian warning sounds like a worn wheel bearing from inside the car.
5. The heating is crap... But.... It can be fixed with a dealer update, mine now works great.
Other than that, it's great. I too would love a tesla but back in the real world I'm happy with the Zoe and it does what we need perfectly. When the 2yr pcp is up then I definitely want to replace it with another plug in car.
We too are still loving the car, more for just how easy it is to live with. Minor issues aside it's just plug n drive. No need to check fluids, no need to visit petrol stations, no worries about things breaking (4yr warranty), effortless to drive,as easy as charging up your phone.
I do have some minor niggles though.
1. It's heavy, you can't really throw it around like a hot hatch. At the limits of grip it falls apart a bit and just understeers into a traction control frenzy of flashing lights. You have to be smooth to be quick. (good in snow though).
2. The wiper swept area leaves mucky bits of the screen that obscure my view a bit.
3. The ride is a bit "choppy" if this sort of car had citroens hydropneumatic suspension it would be sublime, why don't they do that?
4. The pedestrian warning sounds like a worn wheel bearing from inside the car.
5. The heating is crap... But.... It can be fixed with a dealer update, mine now works great.
Other than that, it's great. I too would love a tesla but back in the real world I'm happy with the Zoe and it does what we need perfectly. When the 2yr pcp is up then I definitely want to replace it with another plug in car.
FastNReliable said:
I'm loving mine! Over 1800 miles since mid January and £375~ saved in fuel alone!
YES! This! I am 3k London commuter miles over 9mths. It is terrific. I have whizzed ariund in anything froma Lambo to a fiat 500 Abarth and this is BY FAR the best commuter car I have owned. Swift (surprises many - the ultimate Q car?) comfortable, all the equipment needed, all at a price point that wouldn't buy me a clio and without congestion and fuel charges....It would be severly compromised by the additional weight though I reckon. Just wacking another set of batteries in the boot would completely fook up the already not quite so sporty dynamics of the thing.
I've read somewhere that the new one has an NEDC range of nearly 150miles. It'll be optomistic at best obviously.
I've read somewhere that the new one has an NEDC range of nearly 150miles. It'll be optomistic at best obviously.
dave_s13 said:
It would be severely compromised by the additional weight though I reckon. Just wacking another set of batteries in the boot would completely fook up the already not quite so sporty dynamics of the thing.
I've read somewhere that the new one has an NEDC range of nearly 150miles. It'll be optomistic at best obviously.
It does actually go round corners (on the 17" rims) far faster than you'd think from the high seating position, but you always feel the weight of it as soon as you press on a bit!I've read somewhere that the new one has an NEDC range of nearly 150miles. It'll be optomistic at best obviously.
Now if they were to make a Renaultsport version with 2 motors & sportier dynamics...
Oddly enough I can echo FnR comments. On paper the Zoe should be a joke, very heavy and only 88bhp but in real life around the doors it seems to be away quicker than anything else on the road. The smooth drive train makes it fun to drive even though its no hot hatch. Handling I'd say for the type of car it is its spot on. As long as your smooth with the throttle (which is very easy) and the steering it grips very well and will take corners at a decent pace.
The hard as nails tyres are not that grippy as I found out last night coming away from Anfield and outside Goodison the lights changed but I was committed however I took the left hander a bit quick in the rain, a mid corner bump didn't help and the tail skipped out just a little but enough for a heart in mouth moment, they are no P Zeros ;o)
DSLiverpool said:
The hard as nails tyres are not that grippy as I found out last night coming away from Anfield and outside Goodison the lights changed but I was committed however I took the left hander a bit quick in the rain, a mid corner bump didn't help and the tail skipped out just a little but enough for a heart in mouth moment, they are no P Zeros ;o)
Do you have the EV tyres or the larger wheels/regulars. I find the EVs on mine very soft, almost like the winter kumho tyres I used to run on my MR2 in the snow. So I find the opposite it sticks in the cold and the wet but gets a bit floaty when it gets above 10Dstargazer30 said:
DSLiverpool said:
The hard as nails tyres are not that grippy as I found out last night coming away from Anfield and outside Goodison the lights changed but I was committed however I took the left hander a bit quick in the rain, a mid corner bump didn't help and the tail skipped out just a little but enough for a heart in mouth moment, they are no P Zeros ;o)
Do you have the EV tyres or the larger wheels/regulars. I find the EVs on mine very soft, almost like the winter kumho tyres I used to run on my MR2 in the snow. So I find the opposite it sticks in the cold and the wet but gets a bit floaty when it gets above 10DGassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff