Discussion
Are there many mini electric owners on here?
Took a 48 hour test drive of one of these recently, with a view to getting my wife a small EV as her first car when she (hopefully) passes her test in a few months time. This shouldn't really have been on the list as the range is dire and its impractical being 3 door only.
I nearly binned the test drive off but decided to take the car when it was offered and was really blown away by the sheer fun of it - a real surprise. Maybe that's just what driving 2.5 tons of blancmange routinely does for you.
I've actually ended up buying one but just wondered how other people are getting on with them and whether the fun factor dies off after a short time and the reality is annoying.
This would be for a new driver who wouldn't venture too far from home and will be a third car in a household with one other EV (e-tron 55) and ICE (F10 M5). The fact I also have a 17 year old who will be learning to drive in the next year was also a factor.
Took a 48 hour test drive of one of these recently, with a view to getting my wife a small EV as her first car when she (hopefully) passes her test in a few months time. This shouldn't really have been on the list as the range is dire and its impractical being 3 door only.
I nearly binned the test drive off but decided to take the car when it was offered and was really blown away by the sheer fun of it - a real surprise. Maybe that's just what driving 2.5 tons of blancmange routinely does for you.
I've actually ended up buying one but just wondered how other people are getting on with them and whether the fun factor dies off after a short time and the reality is annoying.
This would be for a new driver who wouldn't venture too far from home and will be a third car in a household with one other EV (e-tron 55) and ICE (F10 M5). The fact I also have a 17 year old who will be learning to drive in the next year was also a factor.
Great to hear positive feedback. I bought a very nearly new level 3 car from my local dealer. I was getting about 85-90 miles in the one I borrowed and that was pretty much worst case, cold weather, heating and seats on high and giving it some stick.
Thats absolutely fine for the use case - the wife won't want to drive long distances, if she does there will be larger cars available for the job. I'll soon be covering 50-60 miles a day just on school runs and kid ferrying, and its all on marvellous South Shropshire B-roads none if this home counties angry stuff.
Should be a good car for the job I reckon.
The other problem with the more powerful EVs eg Tesla is that they really aren't appropriate for a new driver. The mini is "still" 184bhp but putting even the most sensible new driver in a 400+ bhp car is asking for trouble.
Thats absolutely fine for the use case - the wife won't want to drive long distances, if she does there will be larger cars available for the job. I'll soon be covering 50-60 miles a day just on school runs and kid ferrying, and its all on marvellous South Shropshire B-roads none if this home counties angry stuff.
Should be a good car for the job I reckon.
The other problem with the more powerful EVs eg Tesla is that they really aren't appropriate for a new driver. The mini is "still" 184bhp but putting even the most sensible new driver in a 400+ bhp car is asking for trouble.
ds666 said:
That's a fair point about auto/manual .
Likely that first/ affordable cars for new drivers will still be mainly manuals for a while ?
Yes if the young driver is financial autonomous, but if they are still living with mum and dad I expect the most affordable car is the one which magically fills itself up again every night rather than needing an endless supply of £20 notes stuffed in the tank.Likely that first/ affordable cars for new drivers will still be mainly manuals for a while ?
My wife is learning in a manual because (1) I sort of insisted it was good training whilst promising her I would buy an auto when she passed (2) instructors with autos are like hens teeth and (3) my wife is foreign and if she did have to drive in her home country eg parents car or hire car it would be manual.
17 year old - totally different proposition - I would suggest auto / EV
Surprised more instructors aren't cottoning onto it...
Edited by theboss on Saturday 15th January 18:57
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