Options to stop them buying an i3! (Petrol)

[DUBS73P]

Colleague at work was looking to get a 10k BMW i3, as almost always happens, that budget has now crept to 15k and suddenly alarm bells are ringing in my head that there must be a better alternative than that awful looking thing!

Their requirements are not exactly what you would normally see on here

Electronic handbrake
Reversing camera
Auto a real bonus
Decent badge (snob)
Android Auto (CarPlay a bonus)
5 door
similar size to the i3 or a Golf
Decent interior spec, they like some gadgets
The i3 they're looking at is a 2020 so as close to that as possible though slightly older should be fine, can't imagine them going past 2017 though
Less than 50k miles, they are completely against high mileage

Out of my comfort zone I'm afraid but 15k can't go on an i3 in my opinion,

Edit: Seeing the number of people questioning this, just to be clear they are not set on an i3 at all, they have that as the current front runner but asked my opinion so looking for other options

Edited by DUBS73P on Thursday 3rd August 14:15

Edited by DUBS73P on Thursday 3rd August 15:27

[SteBrown91]

Don't think the i3 has Android Auto (unless the very last models got it).

TBH not sure if it even got CarPlay like the rest of the BMW range.

[biggbn]

DUBS73P said:

Colleague at work was looking to get a 10k BMW i3, as almost always happens, that budget has now crept to 15k and suddenly alarm bells are ringing in my head that there must be a better alternative than that awful looking thing!

Their requirements are not exactly what you would normally see on here

Electronic handbrake
Reversing camera
Auto a real bonus
Decent badge (snob)
Android Auto (CarPlay a bonus)
5 door
similar size to the i3 or a Golf
Decent interior spec, they like some gadgets
The i3 they're looking at is a 2020 so as close to that as possible though slightly older should be fine, can't imagine them going past 2017 though
Less than 50k miles, they are completely against high mileage

Out of my comfort zone I'm afraid but 15k can't go on an i3 in my opinion,

Edited by DUBS73P on Thursday 3rd August 14:15

I think the i3 is a cracking thing, let them go for it.

[cuprabob]

If you're colleague wants to buy an i3, why stop them? It's their money their choice.

[Sycamore]

DUBS73P said:

Out of my comfort zone I'm afraid but 15k can't go on an i3 in my opinion,

Edited by DUBS73P on Thursday 3rd August 14:15

Very weird being as it's for your colleague and you're also not paying

[s1962a]

Mazda MX-30 comes to mind (specifically the GT spec), but why would you try and convince your colleague out on an I3 if it fits their budget and use?

[DUBS73P]

Sycamore said:

Very weird being as it's for your colleague and you're also not paying

Don't see what the big deal is here, they're not completely sold on it so trying to get them some other suggestions. They came to me for help.

[biggbn]

DUBS73P said:

Sycamore said:

Very weird being as it's for your colleague and you're also not paying

Don't see what the big deal is here, they're not completely sold on it so trying to get them some other suggestions. They came to me for help.

Probably because that's not the way you worded it in your original post. It read as if they wanted an i3 but you heartily disapproved and were trying to put them off

[DUBS73P]

s1962a said:

Mazda MX-30 comes to mind (specifically the GT spec), but why would you try and convince your colleague out on an I3 if it fits their budget and use?

Just don't see the benefit

2nd hand values seem poor for EVs and will continue to drop while new advancements are made
We live in a small town with a single charger available to the public, they don't currently have a charge point at home.
They will do no more than 15 miles a day and have another family car already, not exactly looking at a huge saving on fuel there are we

[DUBS73P]

biggbn said:

Probably because that's not the way you worded it in your original post. It read as if they wanted an i3 but you heartily disapproved and were trying to put them off

Edited OP to make that clear

[Mammasaid]

DS3 E-tense

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302033...

[biggbn]

DUBS73P said:

biggbn said:

Probably because that's not the way you worded it in your original post. It read as if they wanted an i3 but you heartily disapproved and were trying to put them off

Edited OP to make that clear

No worries!

[anonymous-user]

Let them get whatever car they want. Personally I would not get involved, if you recommend something and there is ever an issue with it, it will be your fault for recommending it.

[Shaoxter]

You see a funny looking car, others see something original, different and fun to drive with a carbon fibre tub

DUBS73P said:

We live in a small town with a single charger available to the public, they don't currently have a charge point at home.
They will do no more than 15 miles a day and have another family car already, not exactly looking at a huge saving on fuel there are we

So presumably they live in a house so can get one installed? Or if they don't do that much mileage then just use the 3 pin charger. It's not just about the fuel costs either, even if they cost the same I'd still have an EV as a daily over some horrible turbocharged 3/4 pot ICE. Less NVH, instant torque, no gears, lower maintenance costs and no scraping ice from your windscreen in the winter.

[LF5335]

DUBS73P said:

Just don't see the benefit

2nd hand values seem poor for EVs and will continue to drop while new advancements are made
We live in a small town with a single charger available to the public, they don't currently have a charge point at home.
They will do no more than 15 miles a day and have another family car already, not exactly looking at a huge saving on fuel there are we

Is this the “I don’t like EVs” thread for this week?

[LordGrover]

BMW i3 is still one of the best options for BEV IMO and experience, with a few caveats.

Obvs, if the range of130-180 miles is not enough, then it's not enough! Rear doors are not the most convenient, esp. if parked in tight space - but if you rarely use rear seats it's moot. Apart from that, excellent little car.

Many have Carplay, none have Android Auto.

[cuprabob]

DUBS73P said:

biggbn said:

Probably because that's not the way you worded it in your original post. It read as if they wanted an i3 but you heartily disapproved and were trying to put them off

Edited OP to make that clear

To be fair, the thread title implied it too.

[DUBS73P]

LF5335 said:

Is this the “I don’t like EVs” thread for this week?

They do nothing for me personally but that's not the point of this

The fact is there is an order or magnitude of choice when it comes to petrol vs EV, I just thought it would be helpful for them to have some alternatives.

[OutInTheShed]

The £15k ones look like far better value than the £10k i3's, which are older and the batteries are showing it..

I laughed at them when they came out, but I've grown to like that they are 'different' and not indesit white.

[anonymous-user]

i3 looks odd but it such a great car. 180bhp in a rear wheel drive 1275kg hatch. What’s not to like? Cheap as chips to run too.

And, yes, my other car is a Porsche - still love the i3 though (I only bought it as white goods commuter, then fell for it).