Electric Car For My Mum

[V8RX7]

I'm not into electric cars (as I drive old cars) but my Mum wants to change hers and asked me is it worth her looking at electric.

Last time I looked the "best" option was a Nissan Leaf at circa £9k with the larger battery pack, is that still the case ?

She does circa 3k a year and is happy to spend £15k if required but I can't see that the numbers stack up with her limited mileage

Small and automatic are the other requirements

[V8RX7]

Can charge at home
Max distance 50 miles
Currently has old A3 3dr 1.9 TDi doesn't want any larger

It doesn't have to pay for itself as long as it isn't a financial disaster.

The issue with petrol / diesel is that AFAIK there isn't anything like her Audi - she's kept it 15yrs because the other options are either larger, much slower or cheap and nasty.

[V8RX7]

Had a look at the Zoe - prefer it to the Leaf but every one on AT is on battery lease which seems to be £59 / month which is more than she spends on diesel.

[V8RX7]

Thanks - have looked at all the options suggested and I'm going to tell her to buy a petrol as none make any kind of sense with her mileage.

[V8RX7]

ElectricSoup said:

Doesn't that entirely depend on how much she spends buying the car? A £9k petrol engined car will cost far more to run in fuel than a £9k electric car.

I get your point but to me a £9k Leaf looks / feels like a £3k car with a £6k electric premium

She likes the A class - which seems a much nicer car for less than half the price

[V8RX7]

ElectricSoup said:

Have you driven a Leaf? Very well built, high quality materials, excellent seats.

Each to their own of course. I thought your budget was £9-15k in your original post, but now it's £4.5k?

No - I've just looked at them

Her budget is up to £15k - it has been for years yet she keeps driving her £1k A3 as nothing is really any better

It's had a cambelt and 2 oil changes in 10 yrs of motoring and depreciated £2k but she fancies a change