EV replacement for Mk5 Golf GTI
Discussion
Some context - my lowered, chipped, suspension-tuned GTI has now gone to the scrapyard in the sky - too much stress on engine components, as it was damn quick. Also, I could officially have a bus pass, have teenage kids who I occasionally have to take places, usually one or two at a time, and three dogs including an Irish wolfhound. And I like driving nice, characterful cars. Do have others around (Vantage, Caterham, some classics).
The q is, what do I get as replacement for the Golf? An EV cost of £250/mo on lease, PCP or loan, or outright purchase over 3 years, would essentially be free cos I spend that much a month on fuel. Mostly shorter journeys, commuting, running kids around, occasionally taking dogs further afield for walks, but down to see my mum or into work directly rather than via the station ~120 miles round trip too. Can charge cheaply at home.
R5 Alpine (290) performance edition is about £80/month over budget (affordable) on a lease so more or less there -probably better to drive than the R5 (base one is cheaper on lease or PCP, anything over base is weirdly more expensive than the Alpine). Looks cool (R5 looks better?) should drive well. Will struggle for range for the occasional longer trip esp in winter (but we have a VW Transporter too). Bit slow.
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD. Not buying new as not giving Muskitler cash, but can justify out used. Decent ones around for £15-28k, so well within budget. Faster, pretty good handling. But saloon so dogs bit a problem (but we have the Transporter :-)) Range fine for longer trips - though we'd usually have the dogs.
BMW i4 e40 - looks fine, has the space. Test drive was disappointing - fast-ish, but not Tesla-like. Handling was wallowy, but this one didn't have adaptive suspension - suspect that really helps. £25k ish so edge of budget but ok, disappointed with the feel of the one I drove though, wanted to like it more. (Closed eyes when looking at it front on).
Tesla Y - jittery suspension, felt terrible, esp as passenger. In some senses the practical choice, but the one I drove was not nice to drive. Model S - nice but getting on a bit for price bracket = older tech, possible issues. Model X, maybe, not driven one, suspect like the S but more SUV like.
What I want is the Tesla handling and acceleration and range, with a hatchback. Even looked into whether I could remove the rear parcel shelf to make it a hatchback - you can't.
Any experiences from people on here that might help?
The q is, what do I get as replacement for the Golf? An EV cost of £250/mo on lease, PCP or loan, or outright purchase over 3 years, would essentially be free cos I spend that much a month on fuel. Mostly shorter journeys, commuting, running kids around, occasionally taking dogs further afield for walks, but down to see my mum or into work directly rather than via the station ~120 miles round trip too. Can charge cheaply at home.
R5 Alpine (290) performance edition is about £80/month over budget (affordable) on a lease so more or less there -probably better to drive than the R5 (base one is cheaper on lease or PCP, anything over base is weirdly more expensive than the Alpine). Looks cool (R5 looks better?) should drive well. Will struggle for range for the occasional longer trip esp in winter (but we have a VW Transporter too). Bit slow.
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD. Not buying new as not giving Muskitler cash, but can justify out used. Decent ones around for £15-28k, so well within budget. Faster, pretty good handling. But saloon so dogs bit a problem (but we have the Transporter :-)) Range fine for longer trips - though we'd usually have the dogs.
BMW i4 e40 - looks fine, has the space. Test drive was disappointing - fast-ish, but not Tesla-like. Handling was wallowy, but this one didn't have adaptive suspension - suspect that really helps. £25k ish so edge of budget but ok, disappointed with the feel of the one I drove though, wanted to like it more. (Closed eyes when looking at it front on).
Tesla Y - jittery suspension, felt terrible, esp as passenger. In some senses the practical choice, but the one I drove was not nice to drive. Model S - nice but getting on a bit for price bracket = older tech, possible issues. Model X, maybe, not driven one, suspect like the S but more SUV like.
What I want is the Tesla handling and acceleration and range, with a hatchback. Even looked into whether I could remove the rear parcel shelf to make it a hatchback - you can't.
Any experiences from people on here that might help?
Another one to consider is the Cupra Born VZ. I was in a similar position to you but massively disappointed when I test drove an A290. I almost ended up buying an R5 as they are fun to drive, but a bit slow.
Then I test drove the Born - roughly Golf sized on the outside. The VZ isn’t OMG fast, but it is fast with plenty enough punch to make overtaking trivial, and cornering entertaining. In “Cupra” driving mode the steering is fast and it feels a very pointy car. The adaptive suspension does a great job of balancing sport feel whilst still taking the edge off bumps and potholes. The seats are lovely.
And a factor I’d not thought would bother me: the much greater efficiency (even when using the full performance) and much bigger battery of the VZ compared with the A290 means the range is really quite useful. It fast charges at a much higher rate too. Decent discounts around too that bring the price down a lot.
Worth a test drive - it’s substantially different to drive compared with the cooking Born.
Then I test drove the Born - roughly Golf sized on the outside. The VZ isn’t OMG fast, but it is fast with plenty enough punch to make overtaking trivial, and cornering entertaining. In “Cupra” driving mode the steering is fast and it feels a very pointy car. The adaptive suspension does a great job of balancing sport feel whilst still taking the edge off bumps and potholes. The seats are lovely.
And a factor I’d not thought would bother me: the much greater efficiency (even when using the full performance) and much bigger battery of the VZ compared with the A290 means the range is really quite useful. It fast charges at a much higher rate too. Decent discounts around too that bring the price down a lot.
Worth a test drive - it’s substantially different to drive compared with the cooking Born.
Curpa Born VZ is an interesting shout - but £200/mo more on lease, (£535ish pcm). PCP going to be quite high I suspect too, and few used ones :-( one for a couple of years time I suspect. Range is good, I take on board what you say about driving dynamics.
P2 interesting too - they get good reviews, but don't love the shape - though am sure it's practical. Will check one out. Good used choice.
iPace has cropped up, but reliability is an issue though not sure if it's just an internet issue or a real life one.
P2 interesting too - they get good reviews, but don't love the shape - though am sure it's practical. Will check one out. Good used choice.
iPace has cropped up, but reliability is an issue though not sure if it's just an internet issue or a real life one.
You can get a nearly new V2 or V3 Born for not much money at the moment (under £24k). With the updated 2025 infotainment upgrade and also the five year warranty. Really enjoying mine, perfect for uk roads, and will consider buying a replacement at the end of the lease. All depends on the finance.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is worth a look - it depends if you like the looks and the size, which isn't as compact as a Golf but will have plenty of space if you're ferrying around teenage children. I would have thought that would be the challenge with the Renault 5/alpine.
Kia EV6 is on a similar platform - I really liked it when I test drove: there are a few GTs for around £28k on autotrader, so north of your budget, but to be honest it was never reviewed very well, and there are plenty of GT-Lines at around £20k.
Kia EV6 is on a similar platform - I really liked it when I test drove: there are a few GTs for around £28k on autotrader, so north of your budget, but to be honest it was never reviewed very well, and there are plenty of GT-Lines at around £20k.
normalbloke said:
too much stress on engine components, as it was damn quick .
Is that speek for you blew it up ?
Sort of :-) low oil pressure light a while ago - oil pump and balance shaft unit turned out to have oval holes where the shafts sit and spin, so large leakage. Fixed, all good, but then after a week EML and low power, essentially limp mode. Turns out cams for high pressure fuel pump very worn, ditto camshaft. Worried that having poured money into the bottom of the engine, pouring more into the top is a recipe for ongoing expense. There could be other damage waiting for me to fix this next thing, given the low oil pressure, and not sure it's worth the risk. Car is worth £3k at the moment; if it fix it up, it'll be worth, about, er, £2k.....Is that speek for you blew it up ?
- however, I do need to chat to the garage as it's not clear to me if the camshaft is badly damaged, or not. If it's just the cam follower, it may well be worth repairing..... However, we still can run a £250/mo EV for 'free' so the q's still stand
I assume when you are talking about monthly payments of circa £250 you are ignoring the initial payment in your calculations or using man maths to get around it when you say it will be free driving? The deals I've seen looking briefly all seem to ask for up to 12 months payments upfront as an initial cost.
Jamescrs said:
I assume when you are talking about monthly payments of circa £250 you are ignoring the initial payment in your calculations or using man maths to get around it when you say it will be free driving? The deals I've seen looking briefly all seem to ask for up to 12 months payments upfront as an initial cost.
I was throwing in what WBAC would give me for the Golf (£2k, so ~6 months up front cost).xcentric said:
- however, I do need to chat to the garage as it's not clear to me if the camshaft is badly damaged, or not. If it's just the cam follower, it may well be worth repairing..... However, we still can run a £250/mo EV for 'free' so the q's still stand
ETA - if anyone has done it, please share how easy/difficult DIY it is - probably £2-2.5k at a garage.
And as to lease/PCP am sure there's some man-maths there too.....
Edited by xcentric on Sunday 18th January 11:19
xcentric said:
uktrailmonster said:
Polestar 2 DM is probably the closest match to a Tesla Model 3 with a hatchback. But it is more cramped inside and the infotainment is less polished. Good value used as they depreciate faster than Tesla I think.
How do they drive and handle?Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff