EV for commute after October MGZS?
EV for commute after October MGZS?
Author
Discussion

audikentman

Original Poster:

650 posts

264 months

Wednesday 20th January 2021
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Hi all, long time lurker in the EV forum
Currently have an 09 dirty diesel 4x4
From October I will need a new car for my commute into the ULEZ in London.
15 miles each way on a 4 day week = 120miles
I can't use public transport as I do shift work, sometimes starting at 04.15, sometimes finishing at 02.00.
No real off street parking as partner has bagged it for their MX5
I can charge at work they have charging posts, 32amp I think, so I should be able to commute for a week & just charge it once or twice in a week?
Been looking at the MG ZS EV been looking online & CarWow can pick up an Exclusive for £23,000 an Excite for £21,000.

What are they like? Any good?
Should I pull the trigger now or wait until near the time.



[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/rNSXXAqt[/url]

superpp

517 posts

220 months

Thursday 21st January 2021
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I considered one, but was worried about depreciation and build quality.
It has no pre-heat for frosty mornings and at the time no timed charge option (think this is fixed).
Cancelled my order and bought a nearly new Leaf 40kwh Tekna saved some money too (only had 8k on the clock).

4anascooter

318 posts

209 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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I have been watching (far too) many of the YT videos from UK, Australia and India on the MG and it appears that most people creating the videos are pleasantly surprised at the build quality.
Guess the MG EV has not been around long enough to measure depreciation, but as its a decent sized car for the money i can see a healthy secondhand demand from people wanted electric, but in a family sized vehicle. 7 year warranty cannot hurt either

In December the Chelmsford dealer had one parked up in the shopping mall with an £18.5K price tag (I guess dealer demo/pre-reg) and I was quite tempted until i realised it wouldnt get me to my daughters uni and back without a charge (no charging available at her end).

If you are interested, do a YT search as there is quite a lot of MG EV content on there.

aestetix1

873 posts

73 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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You should be fine with that. Also consider a Leaf 40, you get some nice features in there like an app to do pre-heating/defrosting.

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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OP's needs a Leaf 40 would be better I think.

Yes, charge once or twice a week for that usage pattern. Leaf is a better built, better designed, better equipped car then the MG. MG's biggest advantage is thermal battery management, but that won't make any difference in the OP's case, so I'd be inclined to go for a nearly new/lightly used Leaf 40 over the MG. Even a Leaf 30 (like the one I own!) would do the job handsomely, and you can pick them up around £10k. My 30 is my second Leaf, I ran a Leaf 24 for 3 years doing a very similar commute to the OP, and even the limited range on that was more than enough. Another thing to remember is that an EV is inherently more reliable and durable than an ICE car, with far lower maintenance requirements and less need for things like new brake pads, so second hand is a lower risk in those terms than ICE cars ever were.

Tophatron

474 posts

243 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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How about an MG5? Bigger battery and around the same price.

I’ve owned several Leafs and although they’re decent cars personally I find them a bit dated now. Not sure how long you keep your cars for but the 7 year warranty on the MG makes it a good long term prospect.

Luke-36

68 posts

126 months

Friday 22nd January 2021
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I'd get a leaf, there are some stonking lease deals about on them at the moment. Wouldn't bother buying with cash personally, if all its for is a commute. Lease and forget.

aestetix1

873 posts

73 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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It's a shame about the MG ZS EV, the UK version is poverty spec compared to what you get in other countries.

spaceship

907 posts

197 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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The lack of pre heat function puts me off. Like you, I leave very early for work and hate getting into a freezing cold car. Next car will probably be a phev, and definitely want to have that function.

superpp

517 posts

220 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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pre-heat is also pre-cool in summer, definitely a major missing feature on MGs

jay2000

146 posts

123 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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You mentioned preheating is essential but only the most top spec ICE cars come with preheating. How did we get by in the last 10 years? Real world problem? rolleyes

spaceship

907 posts

197 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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jay2000 said:
You mentioned preheating is essential but only the most top spec ICE cars come with preheating. How did we get by in the last 10 years? Real world problem? rolleyes
Or first world problem?

It’s not 10 years ago though. It’s 2021 and it’s a common feature of EVs and an added benefit so it really should have it. And if you want to be pedantic and talk about the past, an Ampera had this feature 9 years ago.

Toaster Pilot

14,827 posts

180 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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Both of those prices are a bit meh. Nobody buys the Excite but those that do pay about £19k for a pre-reg.

Absolutely no complaints with my 2020 ZS EV apart from one of the parcel shelf clips breaking which I found rather hilarious.

Readers Cars thread here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Toaster Pilot

14,827 posts

180 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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ElectricSoup said:
Leaf is a better built, better designed, better equipped car then the MG..
scratchchin

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th January 2021
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Toaster Pilot said:
ElectricSoup said:
Leaf is a better built, better designed, better equipped car then the MG..
scratchchin
OK. In my opinion. I own a Leaf and have looked around the ZS, with a view to buying when I changed my Leaf 24 last Year. That was my conclusion, and I went for a Leaf 30. It might have been a closer decision, granted, if a ZS had been available at the £13k price point I paid for the Leaf, but I think my impression of the Leaf as the better bet would have prevailed (100-140 miles range is more than adequate for my needs). At the £20k price point, however, a Leaf 40 would have been a shoe-in over a ZS.

I haven't had a parcel shelf related breakage yet wink

Noah EV

124 posts

61 months

Wednesday 27th January 2021
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The ZS looks as if selling in big numbers.
The newest visual update is greatly better looking, for what it is.

I saw a thing about some not being sealed well underneath, whether that was petrol or battery ZS.
How true is that?

Toaster Pilot

14,827 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th January 2021
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The facelift is petrol only.

There’s a lot of talk about underseal but very little evidence apart from the odd very fussy owner that it’s actually that bad or any worse than a lot of other cars. Getting it treated if you were that worried and planning to keep it a long time wouldn’t be a hugely expensive or difficult task.

Noah EV

124 posts

61 months

Wednesday 27th January 2021
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Could be tricky to underseal privately if battery is underslung?