Renault Fluence EV? Am I mad?

Renault Fluence EV? Am I mad?

Author
Discussion

oldmanbm

Original Poster:

388 posts

204 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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My wife's current commute to work is only 5 miles return per day and we have decided to give her old Polo to eldest daughter as first car. We have two other modern vehicles but one of them is a large diesel jeep that we use for caravanning. The Polo has been great but with such a small mileage it would seem electric would be a possibility. The local Mitsubishi dealer is selling a 2013 Renault Fluence with 20 odd thousand miles for less than £4000. It's like new and represents a lot of car for the money. Has anyone experience of the Fluence? Would we be better to double to £8k and look for a nearly new Zoe or a Toyota Yaris Hybid?

Mezzanine

9,148 posts

218 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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They were one of, if not THE, fastest depreciating cars ever.

For £4K it is hard to see much going wrong, aside from the value continuing to drop. Specific parts might be an issue later in life but even if you ran it for a fews years and sold for £2k it would be a bargain.


phil y

548 posts

121 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Didn't they come with a hefty monthly fee for battery leasing? I recall it worked out the same as paying for a fair amount of fuel.

smileymikey

1,445 posts

225 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Arent the batteries still owned by Renault and you have to rent them?

essayer

9,008 posts

193 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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smileymikey said:
Arent the batteries still owned by Renault and you have to rent them?
Yes - iirc you have to sign a 3 year contract at £66/month for 6,000 miles pa
although it does include recovery if you run out of battery smile

Edited by essayer on Saturday 18th March 18:43

Andy Allenton

554 posts

122 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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The battery lease on a Fluence would cost loads more than the petrol or diesel that you would otherwise have to buy each month. For £8000, I'd scout around for a Leaf Acenta - you may just about get one. No EV comes close for the money.

lost in espace

6,135 posts

206 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Someone has been trying to flog one for ages on speakev.com for a grand I think.

Leaf, far better proposition just make sure its a gen2 and buy privately. Or PCP a new one.

dtmpower

3,972 posts

244 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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A Zoe would be a better option. Fluence is flawed and only has slow domestic charging.

I'm surprised Renault don't buy them back.

Amateurish

7,696 posts

221 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Fluences are effectively worthless now. What happens when you try to sell it on but no one wants to take on the lease?

Downward

3,488 posts

102 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Do the batteries have to be lease for the lifetime of the car ?


Amateurish

7,696 posts

221 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Yes. Crazy isn't it?

angels95

3,157 posts

129 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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A Yaris hybrid would definitely be worth a look. Admittedly not my kind of car, but such a smooth drive. Worth the extra in my opinion.

Frimley111R

15,533 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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lost in espace said:
Someone has been trying to flog one for ages on speakev.com for a grand I think.
A grand??!!

essayer

9,008 posts

193 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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You also have a potential nightmare at the other end - when you want to sell it, you have to transfer the battery lease to the new buyer - even if you trade it in, the garage has to take the lease on or you keep paying it - unless you sell it to a Renault dealer, who won't touch Fluences at all.

I suspect if you scrap the car you're still on the hook for the rental and have to return the battery to Renault/RCI first!

Related, I think non-PCPd ZOE owners might be in for some surprises once their battery agreements run out

lost in espace

6,135 posts

206 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Frimley111R said:
A grand??!!
There is talk of exporting to avoid battery charges.

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Wednesday 5th April 2017
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Saw the for sale thread on SpeakEV - it was £2k and is gone

I would seriously consider one at that

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

229 months

Friday 7th April 2017
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They are truly awful cars though. An Indian market car with EV gubbins stuck in - the interior makes a Dacia feel like a Maybach.

BHML

307 posts

169 months

Wednesday 12th April 2017
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I did extensive research into Fluence a couple of weeks ago.

According to Fluence forums even UK Renault dealers won't touch these cars. P/X offers were often less than a grand due to prohibitive battery lease costs.

Some owners were even considering removing the battery pack to return to Renault and scrapping the shell.

eliot

11,361 posts

253 months

Friday 12th November 2021
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Thread resurrection folks…
So what happens if you buy a car and don’t pay the lease on these things. I’ve read they cant repair or replace the battery - so what exactly are you leasing?
If you bought one and simply didn’t pay it - what are they going to do?

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Friday 12th November 2021
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eliot said:
Thread resurrection folks…
So what happens if you buy a car and don’t pay the lease on these things. I’ve read they cant repair or replace the battery - so what exactly are you leasing?
If you bought one and simply didn’t pay it - what are they going to do?
It’s a finance agreement, so take you to court?

You can very readily buy out the battery lease now.