Change the i10 for a Zoe or not?

LLewellen Farquarson

Hi All,
well, I've read all the information, and done the calculations, and still can't make up my mind.
Here's the scenario....
I have a 2009 Hyundai i10, 50k miles. I drive roughly 30 Kms most days, and rarely do more than 100kms in any day. We've two cars and no kids, and the other car is a two-seater.

So, I do around 14000~16000 kms a year. Petrol costs are around €1000 pa, and an electric car would cost around €127 a year for fuel. Take into account tax, servicing etc. I reckon I would save €1000 per annum.

But it could cost up to €5,000 to swap to a second-hand Renault Zoe (I like small cars). If I sell the i10 for about 3k, and buy the Zoe for around 7k, plus home charger, tyres etc. So that's the first five years savings eaten up.
I have night rate electricity, and can do all charging at home.

So what's the collective wisdom of you learned folks?

A. Stick with the i10 and wait for it to need to be changed. NCT is up in November, so I would wait until then anyway. Thus risking the incentives being gone when I eventually do, e.g. no VRT?

or B. Change in November if the i10 passes the NCT. Sell it privately and buy a Zoe up North and drive it down?
I get the feeling that it's much of a muchness financially, but is there anything I'm missing/anything looming on the horizon?

KCross

I don't think you should say the €5k is eaten up to swap because you are not really swapping, but upgrading. You will presumably be coming up a few years from a 2009 to get a Zoe so some of that €5k has to be allocated to upgrading and not swapping.

Put another way, at some point the i10 will give up the ghost and you'll have to spend the €7k anyway whether it be an ICE or an EV.

Should you stick with i10 or go EV.... no perfect right or wrong answer. It depends on your motivation more than anything else.

Are you motivations...
- Total Cost of Ownership
- Environment
- Driving experience
- anything else

An EV does certainly suit your driving pattern and if you like the EV driving experience I'd say go for it.

Sabre Man

Battery rental?

LLewellen Farquarson

Thanks KCross,

Total cost of ownership isn't much of a concern, as the difference between the two isn't significant. Also, environmental impact - I can do my small bit I suppose.

I have yet to actually drive, or even sit into, and EV so I must put that on my to-do list. That might be the deciding factor.

And Sabre Man, I don't know about battery rental. I assume Zoe's can be purchased outright for that money, which is what I intend to do. My mileage wouldn't make battery rental a cost-effective option.

The fact that I commute halfway car/halfway bicycle is the only thing stopping me buying a twizy (I did mention I like small cars )

Shefwedfan

I think you have already made up your mind and just want someone to tell you to buy a Zoe

So....buy a Zoe.....:p

Do you already have a deal in place to swap the i10 for a Zoe? or you just using number from carzone? I wasn't sure from post.

Sometime you have to let the heart rule over the head. I know I did....am I saving money each month....yes....did it cost money to get there....yes.....am I happy....hell yes

You really need to test drive electric car, it will make the decision that much easier.

unkel

^^^

Drive one!

Zoe is a lovely little car and its party trick is that it can charge fast at a fast charger while another car (Leaf, Ioniq, i3, etc) is charging. No other car can do that. I should have taken a picture but there was a Zoe charging beside me a few days ago. Me at 46kW on the DC, she at 43kW on the AC

Beware of the battery rental though, make sure you buy one with the battery owned.

LLewellen Farquarson

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I think you have already made up your mind and just want someone to tell you to buy a Zoe

So....buy a Zoe.....:p

Right so, that's sorted

You're right I suppose, and once I sit in one, the decision will be confirmed.

And, I don't have any trade in/swap agreement, just got representative figures from carzone etc. ('twould be nice if I had though).

Thanks for the input guys.

Anyone have a Zoe in the Cork area that I could have a look at?

ei9go

Reasonably sure you won't buy a battery owned Zoe for 7K

ELM327

ei9go wrote: »

Reasonably sure you won't buy a battery owned Zoe for 7K

I'm reasonably sure he will.
And if not for 7, definitely for 8

I've seen Zoe listed at 8k before.
And listed in the UK at or below 4k

Shefwedfan

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Right so, that's sorted

You're right I suppose, and once I sit in one, the decision will be confirmed.

And, I don't have any trade in/swap agreement, just got representative figures from carzone etc. ('twould be nice if I had though).

Thanks for the input guys.

Anyone have a Zoe in the Cork area that I could have a look at?

Go to local Nissan and take a Leaf out for weekend. You need to test it proper.

I done that but bought eGolf. I needed the weekend to make sure electric worked for me....not sure if Renault do the same....

ei9go

ELM327 wrote: »

I'm reasonably sure he will.
And if not for 7, definitely for 8

I've seen Zoe listed at 8k before.
And listed in the UK at or below 4k

For a battery rental model

ELM327

ei9go wrote: »

For a battery rental model

That will teach me to skim read!

reboot

I go with Sabre, check for continuing battery rental.Note the first Zoe took a fast ac charge, never DC,second model didn't, unless you paid more for it, cheeky monkies.

LLewellen Farquarson

Just an update,
I've checked all the Zoes at the 5~7k price and you were right, all battery rentals. Anything so far that is battery owned is going for over 10k, if you can even find one.

The trouble is, with most ads, they don't list if it is a battery rental or not, and I'm not going to ring every UK number to ask.

I have contemplated a leaf, but can't get past the looks. Maybe when the new leaf comes out and a glut of second hand ones arrive on the market, I'll reconsider.

What I have done is arranged a service and NCT on the I10 so I'm ready to change if a car comes up, but I'm not in any hurry as the I10 has absolutely nothing wrong with it, and paying an extra 7K + to change to electric is a bit pricey for me.

Shefwedfan

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Just an update,
I've checked all the Zoes at the 5~7k price and you were right, all battery rentals. Anything so far that is battery owned is going for over 10k, if you can even find one.

The trouble is, with most ads, they don't list if it is a battery rental or not, and I'm not going to ring every UK number to ask.

I have contemplated a leaf, but can't get past the looks. Maybe when the new leaf comes out and a glut of second hand ones arrive on the market, I'll reconsider.

What I have done is arranged a service and NCT on the I10 so I'm ready to change if a car comes up, but I'm not in any hurry as the I10 has absolutely nothing wrong with it, and paying an extra 7K + to change to electric is a bit pricey for me.

A new Leaf has been reduced to 20k....the 24Kw SVE model. Expect the prices to fall quickly.....some way to kill the value of second hand market by Nissan :rolleyes:

I am still on look out for one for my mother so I might hold on,.....

ei9go

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Just an update,
I've checked all the Zoes at the 5~7k price and you were right, all battery rentals. Anything so far that is battery owned is going for over 10k, if you can even find one.

The trouble is, with most ads, they don't list if it is a battery rental or not, and I'm not going to ring every UK number to ask.

I have contemplated a leaf, but can't get past the looks. Maybe when the new leaf comes out and a glut of second hand ones arrive on the market, I'll reconsider.

What I have done is arranged a service and NCT on the I10 so I'm ready to change if a car comes up, but I'm not in any hurry as the I10 has absolutely nothing wrong with it, and paying an extra 7K + to change to electric is a bit pricey for me.

You don't need to check unless it says "i dynamique" as all others are battery rental.
Even then the dealer may have got it wrong so you need to check.
Might suggest you call Phil in Naas if you want one because they are so hard to find.

Stokolan

Give a call to electric autos in naas. I bought a zoe-i from them a month ago.

They are in the electric car import business. I found the very helpful. They might be able to help you find what your looking for.