Electric car servicing
Discussion
Trying to decide whether to lease the wife an e-golf for our local journeys. Most are within 10miles around town, rarely exceed 30mph, most cold starts.
Any idea on the likely annual/18/24 month service schedule/costs? Appreciate they won't be charging me £100 for their superduper special oil but interested to know what VAG will sting me for instead to make up the costs.
Its between that and a 1 litre A3.
Any idea on the likely annual/18/24 month service schedule/costs? Appreciate they won't be charging me £100 for their superduper special oil but interested to know what VAG will sting me for instead to make up the costs.
Its between that and a 1 litre A3.
stut4 said:
Trying to decide whether to lease the wife an e-golf for our local journeys. Most are within 10miles around town, rarely exceed 30mph, most cold starts.
Any idea on the likely annual/18/24 month service schedule/costs? Appreciate they won't be charging me £100 for their superduper special oil but interested to know what VAG will sting me for instead to make up the costs.
Its between that and a 1 litre A3.
Also interested to know this, purely out of interest.Any idea on the likely annual/18/24 month service schedule/costs? Appreciate they won't be charging me £100 for their superduper special oil but interested to know what VAG will sting me for instead to make up the costs.
Its between that and a 1 litre A3.
No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
"Servicing" an EV is basically an inspection, plus a few off things like changing pollen filters. Sadly that doesn't stop dealerships charging hundreds of pounds for it. They're generally cheaper to service than petrol or diesel cars, but not by as much as they should be.
Mind you, the eGolf schedule seems to be first service at 2 years, then every year so since VW only offer a three year warranty, you'll only end up servicing it once before it's out of warranty anyway. Paying a main dealer to "service" an EV out of warranty would be madness, IMO.
Mind you, the eGolf schedule seems to be first service at 2 years, then every year so since VW only offer a three year warranty, you'll only end up servicing it once before it's out of warranty anyway. Paying a main dealer to "service" an EV out of warranty would be madness, IMO.
Krikkit said:
Don't forget that after the 5-7 year range you'll be needing regular suspension maintenance on them - they weigh nearly as much as a Range Rover for the heavier EV saloons.
The eGolf is apparently 1615kg which is only fractionally heavier than a Golf-R. I suspect eGolfs tend to be driven rather more sensibly than Golf Rs mind. 
Krikkit said:
Don't forget that after the 5-7 year range you'll be needing regular suspension maintenance on them - they weigh nearly as much as a Range Rover for the heavier EV saloons.
I've got a 2011 leaf and the suspension is perfect. In fact it's one of the better damped cars I've ever owned. Eats up speed bumps and crappy roads really, really well.For the OPs use case why not just get £5-6k leaf? It'll cost you bugger all.
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Also interested to know this, purely out of interest.
No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
We all know they require less maintenance, but the dealers have also trained a generation that a basic service costs £300-£750. No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
So they'll just start lobbing in items like "high voltage safety checks" - they'll do less and charge the same.
"Sorry sir, you're saying you don't require the high voltage safety checks? On the car your wife uses?? To transport your children ??? <fake gasp of horror>
Well... you would be our first customer ever to decline.. you'll have to wait whilst I type this letter to head office, shouldn't take more than an hour..
You'll need to sign a legal disclaimer of course... which will need to be witnessed and countersigned by an independent solicitor...
Oh you would like to include it. I'll just pop that on then. Excellent value at £375+VAT <cough>
Very wise of you sir. Very wise indeed".
The spinner of plates said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Also interested to know this, purely out of interest.
No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
We all know they require less maintenance, but the dealers have also trained a generation that a basic service costs £300-£750. No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
So they'll just start lobbing in items like "high voltage safety checks" - they'll do less and charge the same.
"Sorry sir, you're saying you don't require the high voltage safety checks? On the car your wife uses?? To transport your children ??? <fake gasp of horror>
Well... you would be our first customer ever to decline.. you'll have to wait whilst I type this letter to head office, shouldn't take more than an hour..
You'll need to sign a legal disclaimer of course... which will need to be witnessed and countersigned by an independent solicitor...
Oh you would like to include it. I'll just pop that on then. Excellent value at £375+VAT <cough>
Very wise of you sir. Very wise indeed".
You're almost certainly correct
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Also interested to know this, purely out of interest.
No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
They do have coolant and a water pump to circulate it.No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
egolf first service is at 2 years / 20k miles. Annual/10k after.
It's a big list of "inspect" items. Brake fluid, diff oil, pollen filter changes are on the same schedule as any other mk7 Golf but that's it. Think the first service is around £150 (some have paid less), a little more on the ones that need fluid changes.
The car is great, by the way.
It's a big list of "inspect" items. Brake fluid, diff oil, pollen filter changes are on the same schedule as any other mk7 Golf but that's it. Think the first service is around £150 (some have paid less), a little more on the ones that need fluid changes.
The car is great, by the way.
Edited by sjg on Thursday 8th October 20:11
Edited by sjg on Thursday 8th October 20:12
MJK 24 said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
Also interested to know this, purely out of interest.
No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
They do have coolant and a water pump to circulate it.No oil, no spark plugs, no coolant, no air filter (just cabin filter). It will be interesting to know how many mechanics garages make up for what will likely be a fairly significant loss of income I'd have thought. No more needing to change clutches, cam belts, water pumps etc etc. I for one would love an EV but they don't quite meet my needs yet (purely on a charging basis and a cost basis).
Get an insurance quote for the eGolf and the Audi. Sometimes EV’s are inexplicably much more expensive to insure than their ICE equivalents. Porsche Taycan insurance is triple that of a similarly priced Panamera.
I don’t know about the eGolf specifically but it might be worth checking.
I don’t know about the eGolf specifically but it might be worth checking.
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