Wow 3 years on we have a range of electric cars to pick from

[CooperS]

Question for all you wonderful people.

I have a MY17 i3 rex and other than the small frustration on the connect app and the lack of android Auto I have loved driving it. Yes it has cost warranty wise over 6k (electric motor and gearbox, new steering wheel and drivers seat cover) but I couldn't see myself going back to petrol unless it's a high powered unit.

It needs to go back in the next 6 months. Covering 70k miles thus far no warranty can be offered next March if I were to buy it out.

Unlike many I've used the REX (don't know by how much) but I do use it on a weekly basis (currently my commute is 120 miles round trip).

I've been fortunate by gaining access to the company car scheme. most of my colleagues take the money because either they're close to work or don't like the BIK on anything other than an electric car. Both these things don't apply to me.

So below are my options with the additional funds I'd need to pay each month (to be clear it's rental, full maintenance and insurance)

1. 1. i3s (same spec as mine so no sunroof, leather or radar but everything else) for £150 pm
2. 2. Pug 208e in their launch top spec £240pm
3. 3. Tesla Model 3 base spec for £275 pm

Everything else is just silly like the Jag ipace - additional £570 per month! And the id3 isn't on their books yet to see how much that would be (I'd guess good price as golf e is relatively cheap).

Obviously Tesla appeals as it's a larger battery and honestly it's a Tesla. But in base spec will it be rather.... basic? My drive into London is littered with well specd 3s so I haven't seen any on base spec wheel for example? Oh and the lease company can't guarantee when I'd get it and if I went for one and got bored waiting I'd be liable for the cancellation fee which is £1k.......... although they cited people who ordered then 6 months ago when books opened who now have them!

i3S appeals but it's only got 160 mile range (so I've read) and without the rex means I can't just drive anywhere knowing at least I'll be covered by petrol.

Pug looks cool, it's new (well hasnt been released) got loads of tech and has a larger battery but firm reviews suggests the ride is firm and I'd be committed to this car for 36 months......

So what would you guys pick?

Edited by CooperS on Saturday 5th October 07:06

Edited by CooperS on Saturday 5th October 07:10

[CooperS]

manracer said:

I have a base spec model 3, but I'm not sure the words 'base spec' are really fitting imo, they do it an injustice.

Interesting. Is there anything you think in retrospect you should of added. Every option really hurts the monthlies so looking to keep the options low if any.

The Tesla excites me it's just the unknown wait.

Going to see if they will give me an i3 as a interim..... lol

[CooperS]

964Cup said:

I'd look seriously at an i3 (non-s). We originally ordered the s, then switched to the base car to get all the options we wanted and stay under £40k (to get zero VED). It's quick enough and has significantly (20+ miles) more range than the s. We're getting 130-140 miles in town driving in London and over 170 miles in motorway use. We charge at home, so I can't comment on charging network availability, but it looks like there's some movement towards getting this sorted out over the next year or so.

Otherwise why not a base model 3 if you're happy that Tesla are going to survive (corporately speaking)? AIUI the main issue with Teslas at the moment is after-sales parts availability. There are a lot of horror stories about people waiting six months for parts (warranty and crash repair). I have to say I'd be looking seriously at a Model 3 LR if I were in the market right now.

Yes the thought of going non S did occur to me. Cheaper too.

Although I don't know how you get more miles on a motorway than town driving lol .

In around town I get 4.5 but motorway at this time of year it's 3.8 kw per mile

[CooperS]

Blue Oval84 said:

OP - is that a salary sacrifice scheme like Tusker that you're getting the prices from? They're very competitive.

We're getting that at my work in a couple of months, been told that a Tesla M3 SR will be about £290 per month, but that won't do for me as I need long range.

If yours is the Tusker scheme, any chance you could tell me current rates on an M3 Long Range with an allowance of at least 15K please?

Its not, ours is through Arval and I only get c.7k (I must try harder!)

The steps are £238, £380 £460 (I think - i'll check and update). I presume its a salary sacrifice scheme and it does appear on certain models it is very competitive.

[CooperS]

Anyone got any thoughts on what I asked??

[CooperS]

gangzoom said:

CooperS said:

Anyone got any thoughts on what I asked??

I persume if you opted out of the company car scheme your take home pay would be higher.

Most SR+ deals current seem to be around the £500/month mark, thats alot of cash to waste on a base car.

Why not just buy out the i3? Surely it'll run and run for another 70k at least?

I have considered this. The problems I see are the risk to more things go wrong for which I cannot get a BMW warranty to cover (done more mileage than the warranty company would accept). When things have gone wrong all my bills have been expensive nothing has been a few hundred its al been thousands.

Plus the fact my car won't be worth anything after I pay off the 10k balance (already at 60k and in three years time will be 100k+) along with the CC scheme providing insurance and maintenance you can see why it might be attractive to me.

If I opt out I'll just get it taxed so it's around the £300 mark I would guess. If it wasn't for the big miles I'd be pulling the money and getting an Alfa as I really fancy something Italian.