Car recommendation for herself

redsheeps

Wife currently drives an F30 320D 3-Series. We'll have a second child mid next year and she wants to get something more practical (something with more room for the two little ones in the back and more boot space).

Her yearly driving will drop to <10,000km a year with a job change, so imagine no point staying with a diesel. She loves automatic so likely will want to stay with this. We're also moving to a new house so will have the option to add a car charging connection at the house if we went PHEV.

Probably thinking in the region of €15k + at least €10k for trade-in, so in the region of €25k total.

She's drawn to the Hyundai Tucson (like every second person in Ireland) and I've read completely opposing views on their reliability. Saw some suggesting the Kia Sportage being basically identical and a little nicer interior.

Curious if there are similar car recommendations we should consider outside of the Hyundai / Kia range?

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327898/car-recommendation-for-herself

Every manufacturer has a Crossover like that as part of their range. Interesting when we looked we preferred the interior to the Hyundai to the Kia. Also felt the engine was a lot noiser in the Kia than in the Hyundai

Best thing is to look around at all of them and see which one offers best deal and best interior.

We had a Qashqai years ago and when second came along and a double buggy the boot became an issue. Something to think about if you need a double buggy. If you do I would buy the buggy and then bring as part of the test drive

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327898/car-recommendation-for-herself

Would she go full electric? Sounds like made for it. Automatic box is ticked.

Reliability (in my opinion only) should be good compared to a car with an engine. Thats the single biggest reason I am not going back from EV, I dont want an engine and gearbox anymore which can be problematic.

Kia Niro in round your budget. VW ID4 if you can stretch budget to 30k.

If not, I'd say you are on the right track with Hyundai and Kia anyway. They will still have manufacturers warranties, most German brands at 25k will be running out of their warranties, usually 3 years

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121522645#Comment_121522645

Niro is small, I parked beside one and not much bigger to a Golf

ELectric prices have crashed at the moment but limited options in budget. You won't get an ID4 for 25k would you?

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121522656#Comment_121522656

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-id-4-life-77kwh-204hp/33883660

Thats the cheapest one I can find at 30k. Possibly because of the colour, I wouldnt be a fan but others might be!

But I'd say we will see a 25k one in 2024 at some stage maybe.

duffman3833

not PHEV but this could do for short term until your settled into new house

Corolla estate hybrid

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-touring-estate-automatic-luna/34910622

bazz26

A Toyota Rav4 hybrid is worth a look at. On your budget you looking at the older model but Toyota hybrid driver trains are tried and testes with no need to plug it in.

kanuseeme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327898/car-recommendation-for-herself

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-2-series-luxury-auto/35581067

30 to 40 km on electric, 45 mpg on petrol,

I have a 2020, 12,8 and 4 year old in a child seat, not as high as a SUV, not as low as the 3 series, charge every night, you could get months out of a tank

redsheeps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121522645#Comment_121522645

Yeah the German's aren't too keen on much of a warranty. VAGs only offering 1 year. BMW 2 years.

Showed her the ID4 (in yellow) and she laughed at me - I actually like it myself but she won't be convinced :)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121523067#Comment_121523067

She did want a Rav4 a few years ago. Hadn't thought of that - will take a nose and see what she thinks. Cheers for the suggestion.

Magown3

Won't go wrong with a Honda Fit Shuttle. Other half has one a couple of years now with zero issues.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/35837423

2018 Honda Fit Shuttle 1.5 Hybrid auto Top Specs

Finochet

For my sins I've just bought a phev Tucson for delivery in two weeks. Any suggestions on wall box installation and installer's? Zappi seems to be the front runner as it will permit connection to solar panels if and when I ever get around to them.

Because of the age of the house it seems an upgrade of the "tails" at the fuse board is required together with an additional earth from the upstairs immersion and a new earth rod outside. Expensive at 2.7k ? Does this sound right to anyone?

duffman3833

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688267#Comment_121688267

That's very similar to what i had to get done. Needed new fuse board, earth rod and installation of charger. Was 2.5k if i recall about a year ago

Finochet

Ok. Sounds about right then . Quote comes in at 2.9 but that includes extra outside plug socket

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688267#Comment_121688267

There is a dedicated home charger thread over in the EV forum. Ask in there for opinions:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2057839190/home-charge-points-purchase-problems-questions-see-mod-note-post-1

kanuseeme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688267#Comment_121688267

I am not an electrician.

When these guys hear "electric car" prices seem to jump up.

My suggestion is to get a 32a plug installed outside, then buy these 2,

https://shop.tesla.com/en_ie/product/blue-adapter---16a_32a-

https://shop.tesla.com/en_ie/product/mobile-connector

250 euro,

With feed in tariffs, its cheaper to charge at night and earn more by exporting, is the car going to be there when the sun is shining?

Just a suggestion.

Again I am not an electrician.

Finochet

Thanks for that. Plenty of creative thinking. I did manage to find another thread and the consensus would seem to imply earth rods etc are a good idea so I'll probably bite the bullet and have a reliable electrician do it.

Again thanks for trying to help.