15k (ish), interesting, green credentials.

[DSharp]

Hi all

Bit of an odd one, maybe, but thinking about new car - I'm sure it's something that doesn't exist or that I'm not willing to spend enough on but...

Probably 6k per year. 30 mile round trip one or twice a week and then the odd longer drive upto 100 miles each way visiting family
2 seats ok, 4 bit more flexible with family
Not likely to self-destruct regularly
Interesting.
Nice interior and bum warmers hugely welcome.
Green credentials - can be an EV / hybrid etc - but doesn't have to be - just not something that's hugely bad for environment. Not diesel though.
Fast is a welcome benefit

Budget was 10-12, now 15, might end up higher - but only if there's something notably good / interesting.
Ideally I'd buy an i8, but don't want to spend that much.

So;
plug in hybrids -
i3 REX
330e
Golf GTE

efficient petrols -
Mini Cooper S
Abartth 595 are too small.
MX5

Been looking at all sorts. Any inspiration or ideas? I think quadrupling my initial budget for an i8 is off the table. how close could you get for 15k, maybe 20k?

Thanks!

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

Infiniti Q50 Hybrid

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353642399307?hash=item5...

CR-Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...

Efficient petrol:

Fiat 124

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107235...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107014...

[georgeyboy12345]

I bought an Audi A3 e-tron in June, it's great I love it. Perfect for my city commuting running mainly on battery power, then I have also used it for a couple of long trips to the Lake District and North Wales. Done over 2000 miles in it and only had to fill it with petrol 3 times so far. I plug it in normally every other day at home. Decently quick too. As long as they are serviced properly and on time, they should be reliable. There was one for sale on autotrader not long ago with 190,000 miles on it, so they can do the miles. Make sure they have had the recall to address water ingress into the HV battery - campaign 93D2.

Here's a couple of decent ones
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


Volkswagen's Golf GTE is the more obvious alternative
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108015...


If you want something a bit bigger, you can also get the Passat with the same drivetrain
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...


When I bought my A3 e-tron, I also test drove one of these - a BMW F30 330e, it was awesome, but didn't have folding rear seats (some do though) and I didn't like the dealer. The petrol engine can be remapped from 180 to 300 bhp and there are reports of some being dyno'ed at 400 bhp with the electric motor assisting!

Here's a well priced one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

Here's a nice one with folding seats
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108116...


Also worth a look

Mercedes C350e
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...


Kia Optima 2.0 GDi PHEV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...


Hyundai Ioniq PHEV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

Or an Ioniq in normal hybrid flavour
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108236...


I know you said you didn't want a diesel, but what about a diesel PHEV?

Volvo V60 D5 TwinEngine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

You can also get the D6s that are even faster, but there aren't any decent ones for sale right now within budget

Or a diesel hybrid?

Mercedes C300h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...


Other petrol hybrids

Toyota Corolla
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


Lexus CT200h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109147...


Lexus IS300h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107255...


In terms of efficient petrols, perhaps offerings from VAG with cylinder deactivation technology

Audi A3 1.5 TFSI CoD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

Cut price equivalent Seat Leon Eco TSI FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...

or this VW Golf 1.0 TSI Bluemotion
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104091...


Comparative bargain to the other cars here in the form of this Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 22 September 23:27

[Mr Tidy]

Good luck with your search for some "green" misery!

[DSharp]

ZX10R NIN said:

Leftfield

Infiniti Q50 Hybrid

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353642399307?hash=item5...

CR-Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...

Efficient petrol:

Fiat 124

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107235...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107014...

Many Thanks, I had seen a Q50s locally that sold before I could view. Reminded me a bit of my old GS450h!

Might have to see if I fit in the Fiat 124, I assume they are similar gidth to the mx5 NC that I can just about occupy!

[DSharp]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I bought an Audi A3 e-tron in June, it's great I love it. Perfect for my city commuting running mainly on battery power, then I have also used it for a couple of long trips to the Lake District and North Wales. Done over 2000 miles in it and only had to fill it with petrol 3 times so far. I plug it in normally every other day at home. Decently quick too. As long as they are serviced properly and on time, they should be reliable. There was one for sale on autotrader not long ago with 190,000 miles on it, so they can do the miles. Make sure they have had the recall to address water ingress into the HV battery - campaign 93D2.

Here's a couple of decent ones
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


Volkswagen's Golf GTE is the more obvious alternative
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108015...


If you want something a bit bigger, you can also get the Passat with the same drivetrain
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...


When I bought my A3 e-tron, I also test drove one of these - a BMW F30 330e, it was awesome, but didn't have folding rear seats (some do though) and I didn't like the dealer. The petrol engine can be remapped from 180 to 300 bhp and there are reports of some being dyno'ed at 400 bhp with the electric motor assisting!

Here's a well priced one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

Here's a nice one with folding seats
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108116...


Also worth a look

Mercedes C350e
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...


Kia Optima 2.0 GDi PHEV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...


Hyundai Ioniq PHEV
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

Or an Ioniq in normal hybrid flavour
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108236...


I know you said you didn't want a diesel, but what about a diesel PHEV?

Volvo V60 D5 TwinEngine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

You can also get the D6s that are even faster, but there aren't any decent ones for sale right now within budget

Or a diesel hybrid?

Mercedes C300h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...


Other petrol hybrids

Toyota Corolla
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...


Lexus CT200h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109147...


Lexus IS300h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107255...


In terms of efficient petrols, perhaps offerings from VAG with cylinder deactivation technology

Audi A3 1.5 TFSI CoD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

Cut price equivalent Seat Leon Eco TSI FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...

or this VW Golf 1.0 TSI Bluemotion
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104091...


Comparative bargain to the other cars here in the form of this Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 22 September 23:27

Thank you - good old list to work through!

I'm hoping for something fun - so might have to try and take a golf GTE out and see if they are much fun.

[DSharp]

Mr Tidy said:

Good luck with your search for some "green" misery!

Thank you.

The opportunity / indirect benefits won't be a misery though.

[Magnum 475]

I’ve read a few horror stories about 330e s suffering from failures in a module that controls battery charging and bills of around £2.5k to fix. Not sure how frequently this happens, but it was enough to put me off.

I’d be looking at a Lexus IS300h - although finding a dealer to arrange a test drive proved so hard recently that I didn’t buy one, despite it being high on my list of replacement cars, but this could be due to me living some distance from any Lexus dealers.

The obvious, if dull, option is the Prius Plug-in. Just about available in budget, and will do a 30 mile round trip without using petrol. Lots of Uber drivers use the Prius, and they seem reliable, efficient, and relatively comfortable.

[will-w]

ZX10R NIN said:

Leftfield

…
CR-Z

…
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108045...
…

I was just going to post ‘how about a CR-Z?’, but it appears I’ve been beaten to it - and you’ve linked my advert (thank you!).

They’re awesome little machines. Very capable around town, funky and different (it’s always getting looks of admiration!). Very capable on British roads, especially when driven enthusiastically.

Chassis stiffer than an FN2 Civic Type-R with as much torque, thanks mainly to Honda’s IMA hybrid assist technology (think F1’s KERS style hybrid assistance, rather than a Prius!

Japanese import, rare.. oh and most importantly a MANUAL! Ticks many boxes I feel