C350E..... or an i3 Rex.
Discussion
I'm replacing my very trusty CLK 220 which is now well past 200K miles and my first thought was a C350E, idea being all my local running around can be done on electric power. However I'm now thinking about the possibility of an i3 REX which would cover all the short and mid range journeys on electric and appears to be able to cover the five or six 250 mile round trips I do a month too.
No requirement for boot space, seating etc. so any size/shape would do the trick. Not overly fussed about performance as this is just a white good car for use during the week. Like the idea of the i3 being essentially free use for short/mid journeys.
Pure electric isn't an option as I'm not up for waiting 30 mins at 3AM to top one off in order to make it home, a 5 minute splash and dash is acceptable though.
Any thoughts? Alternative options to those two or feedback on if an i3 Rex is capable of that mileage all much appreciated
No requirement for boot space, seating etc. so any size/shape would do the trick. Not overly fussed about performance as this is just a white good car for use during the week. Like the idea of the i3 being essentially free use for short/mid journeys.
Pure electric isn't an option as I'm not up for waiting 30 mins at 3AM to top one off in order to make it home, a 5 minute splash and dash is acceptable though.
Any thoughts? Alternative options to those two or feedback on if an i3 Rex is capable of that mileage all much appreciated
Experience from 5 years with a 66 plate C350e Sport estate. It could just about do my 11 mile commute on electric under temperate conditions, in the cold it managed 8 miles ish. It made a great family barge cruising around on the air suspension, interior wise all worked well and was logically laid out, the nav screen was crap though! Plenty of go, but wallowed around the corners, the lady was not for being hustled... Only option I had was the Driver Assistance pack with ACC and lane guidance, that worked excellently taking the strain in stop-start traffic and for mile munching.
foggy said:
Experience from 5 years with a 66 plate C350e Sport estate. It could just about do my 11 mile commute on electric under temperate conditions, in the cold it managed 8 miles ish. It made a great family barge cruising around on the air suspension, interior wise all worked well and was logically laid out, the nav screen was crap though! Plenty of go, but wallowed around the corners, the lady was not for being hustled... Only option I had was the Driver Assistance pack with ACC and lane guidance, that worked excellently taking the strain in stop-start traffic and for mile munching.
You got 8 miles in cold weather? I only get 4 miles in cold weather lol For the i3Rex, definately drive one and see if you like it. Perhaps a marmite car, with a specific handling feel.
The REX is also a complex beast, and i'm not sure i'd buy one s/h or with high miles, as opposed to the pure BEV which is really simple / reliable by comparison.
It will however mean you are mostly fully electric, as even the small battery i3 can do about 70 miles on pure EV
The REX is also a complex beast, and i'm not sure i'd buy one s/h or with high miles, as opposed to the pure BEV which is really simple / reliable by comparison.
It will however mean you are mostly fully electric, as even the small battery i3 can do about 70 miles on pure EV
We’ve ran a c350e estate for the last 4 years, 60k miles and is being replaced this week.
Been great, good turn off speed in S+, use the individual setting to get rid of the wallow in the air suspension when cruising. Which it does extremely well.
Most journeys have been the commute to work for my wife, as said before full electric range, as expected, is severely limited by the outside temp. Again about 4-5 miles when cold, in the spring and summer around 11-12. Fuel consumption has been overall - according to the trip computer - 37-38 Mpg. Not bad for a biggish petrol bus. About the same as my e class diesel managed a few years ago.
Hasn’t been trouble free, had 2 starter motors early on replaced by warranty, and the air suspension collapsed a couple of months ago. Both common faults. Also has had 3 drivers seat covers, as the fake leather doesn’t seem to be particularly hard wearing and the surface colour peeled off.
If pushed probably would have another. But it’s being replaced with an ipace. Purely for BIK reasons.
Been great, good turn off speed in S+, use the individual setting to get rid of the wallow in the air suspension when cruising. Which it does extremely well.
Most journeys have been the commute to work for my wife, as said before full electric range, as expected, is severely limited by the outside temp. Again about 4-5 miles when cold, in the spring and summer around 11-12. Fuel consumption has been overall - according to the trip computer - 37-38 Mpg. Not bad for a biggish petrol bus. About the same as my e class diesel managed a few years ago.
Hasn’t been trouble free, had 2 starter motors early on replaced by warranty, and the air suspension collapsed a couple of months ago. Both common faults. Also has had 3 drivers seat covers, as the fake leather doesn’t seem to be particularly hard wearing and the surface colour peeled off.
If pushed probably would have another. But it’s being replaced with an ipace. Purely for BIK reasons.
Thanks for the feedback chaps. All very useful and much appreciated.
I'm going to sniff out an i3 to borrow for a couple of days and see how that goes. Circa 8 miles electric range on the 350E is fine for me, my thoughts on this were all the "pop to get the shopping" type stuff could be done mostly on electric which seems like it would be possible aside from in the depths of winter!
I'm going to sniff out an i3 to borrow for a couple of days and see how that goes. Circa 8 miles electric range on the 350E is fine for me, my thoughts on this were all the "pop to get the shopping" type stuff could be done mostly on electric which seems like it would be possible aside from in the depths of winter!
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