Anyone been tempted to return to ICE for one last hurrah?
Discussion
There is no other EV like the i3. The rest are varying degrees of dull. I would just give up, lol.
Tbh you won’t find an A3 or Golf in EV land either. I had a Golf R like everyone else for a while and it runs rings around EVs and it’s not even that exciting by ICE standards. But of course having fine tuned hot hatches over forty odd years with lots of incremental improvements does lead to a pretty decent product. Vs scrambling to get to market with EVs in order to tap into tax breaks.
Tbh you won’t find an A3 or Golf in EV land either. I had a Golf R like everyone else for a while and it runs rings around EVs and it’s not even that exciting by ICE standards. But of course having fine tuned hot hatches over forty odd years with lots of incremental improvements does lead to a pretty decent product. Vs scrambling to get to market with EVs in order to tap into tax breaks.
I’ve got a 2018 LCI BEV i3 and had zero issues in the last 9 months I’ve owned the car and general consensus is 2017 onwards these are generally reliable. The adaptive cruise / city alert stuff is all camera based and inherently unreliable, if you have expectations of a radar system it just won’t meet them. Maybe keep the car, and hope you’ve found all the issues?
That said, I wouldn’t have it as an only car and I have a larger petrol car for long journeys (mostly comfort reasons, although partly charging) The i3 does the bulk of the mileage though.
That said, I wouldn’t have it as an only car and I have a larger petrol car for long journeys (mostly comfort reasons, although partly charging) The i3 does the bulk of the mileage though.
richolmes said:
I’ve got a 2018 LCI BEV i3 and had zero issues in the last 9 months I’ve owned the car and general consensus is 2017 onwards these are generally reliable. The adaptive cruise / city alert stuff is all camera based and inherently unreliable, if you have expectations of a radar system it just won’t meet them. Maybe keep the car, and hope you’ve found all the issues?
That said, I wouldn’t have it as an only car and I have a larger petrol car for long journeys (mostly comfort reasons, although partly charging) The i3 does the bulk of the mileage though.
Yeah I went into the deal knowing the adaptive cruise wouldn’t be quite as good as the radar system on the A3 I traded in / my mum’s GLA she had in 2014 / my friend’s 2009 Volvo (lol) - I just didn’t expect it to refuse to activate about a quarter of the time I tried to use it! And the collision assist going off randomly at high speeds is downright dangerous. Never had that happen before.That said, I wouldn’t have it as an only car and I have a larger petrol car for long journeys (mostly comfort reasons, although partly charging) The i3 does the bulk of the mileage though.
Even with all these issues the i3 does the bulk of my mileage too. But honestly, with everything that’s gone wrong, continues to go wrong (USB port still intermittent, rattling still not fixed), and the possibility of another expensive repair (I’m certainly not paying £3k for a battery module!) I actively don’t want to own this vehicle once the warranty expires. It’s a shame because (apologies if I’m repeating myself lol) I would have 100% loved to keep the i3 for a substantial period of time.
johnjamesjack said:
I’m moving to London - I still need the car for work, so am definitely keeping it.
Whoo hold on....you are moving to London, the land where a 3 bed, 100 years+ end terrace just within Zone 3 with no off road parking will cost you 750k+!! Is London likely where you are going to be for the next 5-10 years? If you have cash in the bank, it probably make more sense to see where you are interms of getting on the housing ladder, especially if a property price crash comes.
gangzoom said:
Whoo hold on....you are moving to London, the land where a 3 bed, 100 years+ end terrace just within Zone 3 with no off road parking will cost you 750k+!!
Is London likely where you are going to be for the next 5-10 years? If you have cash in the bank, it probably make more sense to see where you are interms of getting on the housing ladder, especially if a property price crash comes.
I’m definitely not planning on being there for a long time - tbh I plan to be moving to the states in a couple years! And don’t worry I’m definitely not looking at a 3 bed, very much pre-family right now hahaIs London likely where you are going to be for the next 5-10 years? If you have cash in the bank, it probably make more sense to see where you are interms of getting on the housing ladder, especially if a property price crash comes.
johnjamesjack said:
very much pre-family right now haha
In which case don't waste time on a SQ5, get an Elise/old 911/350Z/S2000 basically RWD and not for families etc. If you want to 'enjoy' a petrol car might as well get something special versus family wagon. I suspect a thought after 'fun' combustion car (not a SQ5) will only go up in value over the next few years.For EVs, the Twizzy just looks insane, sitting in one just feels mad and for London it would work really well, but its really a toy versus transport.
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 25th May 07:32
gangzoom said:
In which case don't waste time on a SQ5, get an Elise/old 911/350Z/S2000 basically RWD and not for families etc. If you want to 'enjoy' a petrol car might as well get something special versus family wagon. I suspect a thought after 'fun' combustion car (not a SQ5) will only go up in value over the next few years.
For EVs, the Twizzy just looks insane, sitting in one just feels mad and for London it would work really well, but its really a toy versus transport.
As much fun as they’d be, honestly I’m looking for something a bit more reliable than the BMW! Also as it’s my only car, I definitely want something that’s well behaved when you need it to be and can calm you down a bit - my sister had a Mini that was great fun, but no way would I want to be driving that to a client site in Slough in stop start traffic in November when it’s raining if you know what I mean. I’ve done that commute in the Mini, my i3 and the Q7 - by far my favorite car in that scenario (which is an unfortunately large part of my driving) is the Q7For EVs, the Twizzy just looks insane, sitting in one just feels mad and for London it would work really well, but its really a toy versus transport.
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 25th May 07:32
johnjamesjack said:
I’ve had an i3 for just under a year. Great fun to drive, but it’s been the most unreliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Have you considered selling your dodgy i3 and buying a not-dodgy i3?If you like the way the i3 drives and most are much more reliable than your current example, is that the simplest fix?
johnjamesjack said:
Oh and weirdly rattling windows,
8 months on my 71 I3s and no issues at all apart from an oddly rattling drivers window, I have found just tapping the window down button quickly to move it a fraction gets rid of it... I can only assume it's a poorly fitting rubber seal or something, however for that I will not have the dealer look at it as it may come back worse (my experience when hunting niggles).Edited by johnjamesjack on Tuesday 24th May 22:11
Like others I'm lucky to own one of each and to be honest for day to day nothing beats electric it just seems a better solution to me. Personal opinion of course. For fun and something special ICE still floats my boat and I know it's only a little Mk1 MX-5, but it's cheap enough to not worry about and go for a fun drive. That being said I really crave a Toyota Century at the moment, but I feel that may be a little ridiculous and will likely never happen but I keep looking.
So I wouldn't go back, but I could be tempted with one very odd last hurrah...
I've not even left ICE yet with my own car, but having driven my wife's EV a lot, there's no way I'd go back once I get mine (apart from my TVR, but that doesn't count 
). Certainly wouldn't go back for a Diesel SUV?!! I miss the immediacy of response of EV every time I drive my E350d. It's the gearbox as much as the engine itself, but as a drivetrain package it is so compromised in comparison.
Can't wait till I get out of Diesel. My Q4 is on order but unlikely to be here any time soon. I wouldn't have gone for an SUV out of choice, an EV estate with similar internal space to my E-Class would do me fine, but not a huge amount of choice at present. Next time round though, I would expect there will be plenty of choice.
). Certainly wouldn't go back for a Diesel SUV?!! I miss the immediacy of response of EV every time I drive my E350d. It's the gearbox as much as the engine itself, but as a drivetrain package it is so compromised in comparison. Can't wait till I get out of Diesel. My Q4 is on order but unlikely to be here any time soon. I wouldn't have gone for an SUV out of choice, an EV estate with similar internal space to my E-Class would do me fine, but not a huge amount of choice at present. Next time round though, I would expect there will be plenty of choice.
blearyeyedboy said:
Have you considered selling your dodgy i3 and buying a not-dodgy i3?
If you like the way the i3 drives and most are much more reliable than your current example, is that the simplest fix?
That would have been ideal. Unfortunately I’ve been massively turned off by this particular car, and the atrocious treatment by BMW. I’ve had letters sent to me, free services, and charitable donations made in my name for significantly less critical issues from Audi dealers (think along the lines of delay, miscommunication and a rude staff member), whereas Reading BMW broke part of my car and didn’t even apologize or admit fault even when I came back with photographic evidence. If you like the way the i3 drives and most are much more reliable than your current example, is that the simplest fix?
Also I feel it’s a bit of fool me once, shame on you if you know what I mean
Moonpie21 said:
8 months on my 71 I3s and no issues at all apart from an oddly rattling drivers window, I have found just tapping the window down button quickly to move it a fraction gets rid of it... I can only assume it's a poorly fitting rubber seal or something, however for that I will not have the dealer look at it as it may come back worse (my experience when hunting niggles).
Exactly the same regarding small issues in my experience. Went to Reading to deal with rattly windows and wind whistle, came back with rattly seatbelt mount and sat nav screen too (somehow)plfrench said:
I've not even left ICE yet with my own car, but having driven my wife's EV a lot, there's no way I'd go back once I get mine (apart from my TVR, but that doesn't count ). Certainly wouldn't go back for a Diesel SUV?!! I miss the immediacy of response of EV every time I drive my E350d. It's the gearbox as much as the engine itself, but as a drivetrain package it is so compromised in comparison.
Good thing I’m not going for diesel ). Certainly wouldn't go back for a Diesel SUV?!! I miss the immediacy of response of EV every time I drive my E350d. It's the gearbox as much as the engine itself, but as a drivetrain package it is so compromised in comparison. 
I’m looking at a 2018, which was when they still used petrol!I definitely would miss the immediacy of electric. However when the ICE would get to 60mph 30% faster I think I could forgive it hahahah
Electronicpants said:
Have you thought about going to a plug in hybrid, you get the convince/cost saving of the daily boring stuff in EV and if you want to hear some petrol being burned most have a sport mode so you can rev away?
Was really strongly considering it. Still could be tempted by a 55TFSIe Q5, they’ve got more power than the SQ5 anyway - only thing is they’re a bit more expensive too. Cheapest one I found that had everything the SQ5 did was £10k more and in turbo blue which I’m not crazy on - although it was also a year newer and had 15k less miles. johnjamesjack said:
That would have been ideal. Unfortunately I’ve been massively turned off by this particular car, and the atrocious treatment by BMW. I’ve had letters sent to me, free services, and charitable donations made in my name for significantly less critical issues from Audi dealers (think along the lines of delay, miscommunication and a rude staff member), whereas Reading BMW broke part of my car and didn’t even apologize or admit fault even when I came back with photographic evidence.
Also I feel it’s a bit of fool me once, shame on you if you know what I mean
That's understandable after your experience.Also I feel it’s a bit of fool me once, shame on you if you know what I mean
Could you live with the shorter range of something like a Honda e? Or a Mini Electric? (I know it's a BMW brand, but still?)
blearyeyedboy said:
That's understandable after your experience.
Could you live with the shorter range of something like a Honda e? Or a Mini Electric? (I know it's a BMW brand, but still?)
Unfortunately no - as it is the i3 can only just handle my weekly ‘long trip’ into London (100ish miles on motorway). I was looking at EQAs too, but for some reason they’ve got rid of the premium plus model which is the one with all the kit I wanted Could you live with the shorter range of something like a Honda e? Or a Mini Electric? (I know it's a BMW brand, but still?)
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