Man Maths vs Bangernomics

[feef]

My Citroen C6 has cost a fair bit in the last 6 months, most of it exhaust and emissions related which, consider 99% of my trips are frequent and within a 10 mile radius, it's not really surprising that EGR valves are getting stuck and whatnot.

So, I'm thinking of retiring it from daily duties and getting something else for the short journeys.

I really don't care about image or performance, but looking at my running costs, it's led me to a couple of choices.

I could pick up a cheap, small, older car for under a grand and use that. (The Citroen masochist in me is looking at C3 Pluriels because they're not a Corsa or similar)

Or, I could pick up a second hand Leaf for £5-6k (battery included, no rental/lease) and run that. Considering I spend a couple of hundred quid a month on fuel, it would pretty much have paid for itself in a couple of years due to only costing a few pence to recharge (and I can recharge it at work for free). Range isn't an issue as, like I say, the furthest it's going to go is about 20 miles away.

I'd still keep the C6 for trips to see family in Scotland or holidays and whatnot, but I really can't afford, nor do I want to kill off such a majestic beast by using it around town every day.

Which would you choose?

Edited by feef on Wednesday 3rd May 16:21

[kambites]

Would a £5-6k leaf include ownership of the batteries? If you have to pay battery rental it's going to eat up most of your fuel savings.

[Krikkit]

If, as above, the battery is included I'd be tempted to a Leaf - once the fuel savings have paid for the car you can essentially throw it away, so even if the batteries die it'll still have earnt its keep.

[J4CKO]

We have a Citroen C1 for those kind of journeys, costs £130 to insure and £20 to tax, does 45 to the gallon or more and has hardly needed anything in 30k, trouble is, you go much bigger, more powerful, faster, you may as well downsize the C6 to something like a Golf. All I have spent is a self doen il change each year plus a set of disks and pads which were £30.

Can get a C1/Aygo/106 for £1500 upwards, they seem to last well and, if you dont have to drive them all the time, quite good fun, its the true successor to the original Mini.

[feef]

Good point. Edited to add, yes, that's including battery, no lease/rental.

I think a battery rental is only worthwhile if you're buying new and intending on keeping it for a LONG time. The costs don't add up if you're looking at it over, say a 3 year period at which time a PCP deal with lease is more cost effective (but outwith the budget of this exercise)

[TheLuke]

Leaf looks like the best option for you.

It sounds ideal in your circumstances





(The inner petrol-head in me cries )

[feef]

TheLuke said:

Leaf looks like the best option for you.

It sounds ideal in your circumstances





(The inner petrol-head in me cries )

While the techie/geek in me is interested and curious to see how an EV actually works as a DD

[GreatGranny]

feef said:

While the techie/geek in me is interested and curious to see how an EV actually works as a DD

If you can get a Leaf for that kind of money then go for it.
For your mileage it will be ideal.
Just charge it at work each day and you'll never have to charge it at home.

Battery life is not a problem. There are ones being used as taxis with high mileage and little affect on battery life.