Picking a car for new job commute, electric?

[infernouk]

Hey guys, I’m starting a new job in a couple of months that has a 70mile round commute. All M25 and M11

I currently don’t have a car as I live in London, so will be looking to purchase one for this trip 3-4 times a week.

I was wondering where to start looking. I’m a fan of interesting cars, my last was a GT86, but appreciate for motor ways you really want comfort.

I’m uncertain about best purchase route, the new role adds around £400 to my salary and I’m happy to invest all that in the commute if necessary, and I don’t NEED to have a shiny new car if bank loans are smarter routes.

Having said that, I’m currently looking at the Mini Electric as an option, leases seem to be 350ish over 3 years, range is 120ish which is more than I’d need. But I’m not sure if there’s much better options?

Appreciate some inputs and thoughts from those with more experience with this scenario

[clockworks]

70 mile a day commute might take you over the annual mileage on a lease, and excess mileage charges could make a difference to your calculations.
Not sure I'd be committing myself to a debt or lease when starting a new job either.

[anonymous-user]

Zoe might be cheaper and has 245 mile range

[loskie]

does living in that London rule out something like a D5 Volvo S60? If not get one of them for 3 to 5 K

[MYOB]

I would suffer from anxiety stuck in m25 traffic with only battery to run the car.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say get something like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202002297...

It'll do your commute with ease & not cost you a lot to run.

[infernouk]

Thanks guys, don’t worry about the funding etc, I have the cash in the bank to tide me over if things go south! But I am leaning more toward buying cash in the short term until I’m settled in and then can upgrade

Range on the M25 isn’t an issue if it’s 40% of battery capacity? I’m doing the opposite of normal route driving out of London for work too so less traffic risks

The gulietta isn’t something I’d considered as it’s manual which might not be ideal for motorways?

[ZX10R NIN]

Then take a look at the IS300h in F Sport spec with Premium nav & the Mark Levinson stereo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008182...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007281...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005289...

ES300h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008082...

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

Then take a look at the IS300h in F Sport spec with Premium nav & the Mark Levinson stereo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008182...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007281...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005289...

ES300h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008082...

Never considered the Lexus over something like BMW? I may shop closer to the gulietta price point to avoid long term financial commitment and then revisit for upgrade to the higher price point after 3 months. The Gulietta just seems quite a random suggestion?

[ZX10R NIN]

infernouk said:

Never considered the Lexus over something like BMW? I may shop closer to the gulietta price point to avoid long term financial commitment and then revisit for upgrade to the higher price point after 3 months. The Gulietta just seems quite a random suggestion?

The Giulietta is a good reliable car it's only random if you're thinking of Alfa's old reputation.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009043...

Lexus IS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008303...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008252...

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Giulietta is a good reliable car it's only random if you're thinking of Alfa's old reputation.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009043...

Fair enough I just assumed they weren’t a class leader vs a fiesta or similar? Is 170 bhp decent for motorways?

The Lexus don’t really do it for me as the interiors have aged poorly to my eye

Oh also no need for 5 door or any practicality, I prefer 3

Edited by infernouk on Friday 4th September 21:41

[ZX10R NIN]

infernouk said:

Fair enough I just assumed they weren’t a class leader vs a fiesta or similar? Is 170 bhp decent for motorways?

No they're not class leading but they're good enough especially when you consider price age spec & mileage they're a good buy or maybe look at the Lexus IS250.

170 should be more than good enough for motorway work, they do a 240bhp version if it's not enough.

[infernouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

No they're not class leading but they're good enough especially when you consider price age spec & mileage they're a good buy or maybe look at the Lexus IS250.

170 should be more than good enough for motorway work, they do a 240bhp version if it's not enough.

Yeah this version looks nice depending on reliability into the higher mileages

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[ZX10R NIN]

infernouk said:

Yeah this version looks nice depending on reliability into the higher mileages

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

The reliability is good & that's a good one.

[anonymous-user]

MYOB said:

I would suffer from anxiety stuck in m25 traffic with only battery to run the car.

Unless I’m missing something surely if you’re stuck you’re not using any battery and if you are moving but going slowly in traffic you’re using battery but very efficiently?

[Jag_NE]

You could spend a good chunk more on the car if you go EV, 70 miles a day is ball park 200 quid a month if you go ICE which leaves you 200 to buy the car. Less insurance, tax, servicing, MOT, maintenance (which at 70 miles a day won’t be insignificant), maybe the old job wasn’t so bad

[dave_s13]

sebdangerfield said:

MYOB said:

I would suffer from anxiety stuck in m25 traffic with only battery to run the car.

Unless I’m missing something surely if you’re stuck you’re not using any battery and if you are moving but going slowly in traffic you’re using battery but very efficiently?

Yep...a full electric is most efficient at speeds under 50mph (sweeping generalisation).

It's actually quite relaxing being stuck in traffic in an EV as you can sit there not burning any cash. They are perfect commuting tools.

A longer range leaf would be way more that that Alfa but total cost of ownership would likely be far less. If you get on the octopus go tariff running costs are basically fek all and depreciation will be far slower than a petrol or diesel powered car.

They are tools for a job rather than things to enjoy though, saying that I don't mind our old gen 1 leaf, it's nippy enough and it's fairly entertaining to drive like you stole it.

[infernouk]

Jag_NE said:

You could spend a good chunk more on the car if you go EV, 70 miles a day is ball park 200 quid a month if you go ICE which leaves you 200 to buy the car. Less insurance, tax, servicing, MOT, maintenance (which at 70 miles a day won’t be insignificant), maybe the old job wasn’t so bad

The new job is significantly better and I’ll relocate in March next year to no commute

[infernouk]

dave_s13 said:

Yep...a full electric is most efficient at speeds under 50mph (sweeping generalisation).

It's actually quite relaxing being stuck in traffic in an EV as you can sit there not burning any cash. They are perfect commuting tools.

A longer range leaf would be way more that that Alfa but total cost of ownership would likely be far less. If you get on the octopus go tariff running costs are basically fek all and depreciation will be far slower than a petrol or diesel powered car.

They are tools for a job rather than things to enjoy though, saying that I don't mind our old gen 1 leaf, it's nippy enough and it's fairly entertaining to drive like you stole it.

Yeah I’m thinking a 10k used leaf might be the correct answer overall, only issue is that I can charge it for free at work but I don’t really have reliable access to charging at home

[ZX10R NIN]

If you can't charge at home then it doesn't make sense to me, it means your tied to your job if you change then what if you're going EV for me you have to be able to charge at home.