Interesting article on EVs

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718072#Comment_123718072

I know it's subjective, but I find the teslas awful looking, especially the model 3.

I took one out for a spin last year when they were doing the cybertruck promotion to get people into the showroom. No stalks on the wheel, too much tapping of buttons on the giant ipad...

The tech was impressive sure but as a car it was not for me at all!

My 12 year old son loved it though! He'd definitely bought into the pre-Elon as Trump's bestie marketing

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718074#Comment_123718074

At the mid 20’s high mileage bracket there’s not much. The w Audis are plan Jane Audis but an EV equivalent would be a Model 3, but that has more power and better performance and it’s a safer car but they are marmite cars. Some love the minimalist interior, some don’t.

Other options are too new, like BYD Seal, again, more performance, same space, faster but they only came out in 2024.

BMW i4 was for sale on here for €30k today. Twice the car as those older Audis and none of the maintenance costs.

In your price bracket, it may be a few more years but your off setting that buy buying cheap high milers with the running costs, motor tax costs and maintenance bills.

Flinty997

Would the writer of the article save any money running an A8 Quatro over his 18yr old BMW 318 diesel. Can't see it.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718046#Comment_123718046

And an A7 or A8 isn't a fashion/identity statement?

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123717732#Comment_123717732

I just checked. Energia is 6.74c Inc vat. 2-6am. Day rate doesn't matter. Anyone on these rates is properly setup and clued in. I keep my battery topped up when it drops below 60%, plugging in every other night. I could do the same on the 5c Pinergy plan, but choose the 4 hours with energia for storage. So, my original point stands.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718074#Comment_123718074

No, not out long enough. You're comparing much older cars with newer EVs. They weren't around in 2016 really.

Only thing comparable really is original etron which are at about 30k for bigger battery at 5 years old. At 9 years old like these they would be cheaper id imagine.

But no home charging rules you out anyway

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718093#Comment_123718093

150k km for a car like those A8s is nothing though. The tax is only 400 on them too I believe. Yes, you'll have the maintenance costs but that's to be expected with a premium segment car.

As I mentioned in my other post, I've driven a Model 3 and it's nowhere near equivalent to even my current A7, never mind an A8. Maybe an A4. As you say, I was one of those who hated the interior.

An i4 again though is (from a quick search) 40k to start used and from the look of it, also an A4 competitor (I'm not as up on BMWs though so maybe I'm wrong on the target segment).

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718100#Comment_123718100

Not to the same level as EV ownership seems to inspire. It's almost like a crusade reading some of the threads.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718105#Comment_123718105

That's another question though... What will the battery and range be like when these cars hit 8/9 years old or more? Unlike ICE that sure, may lose some power and range as they get older, they at least don't need a whole new engine in most cases.

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718081#Comment_123718081

The stalkless thing in the new M3 is a bridg too far for me. I want the stalks! My new MY only came with an indicator stalk, so I retrofit a gear change stalk. Looks OEM and is hardwired. Took only a few minutes, but should have come as standard. Some people like the stalkless. I love the screen and always hated cars with a keyboard load of buttons and knobs. I think the only other thing I would like is a HUD.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718112#Comment_123718112

Funny thing is, the crusade within those threads are from non EV owners telling EV owners how their cars can’t drive across our little country. They can’t understand what they don’t know unfortunately.

Buying an A8 is a statement. Buying the 3.0 is another statement. It’s like buying the performance model in the EV variant. So no point sugar coating it.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718117#Comment_123718117

I have a HUD in my A7. It's probably a bit basic by some more modern standards but to be honest, I never use it - same with the paddle shifters. Car is far better at doing gears without my interference!

Equally it has the option to park itself too but I've never used that either. Always already parked by the time I think of it.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718110#Comment_123718110

Yes they are different segment of cars. Based on size though. Nothing else. And the Seal and M3 would have equivalent interior space as an A6 or A7, 5 series etc

The badge is what keeps people glued to the German marques though. And at that price bracket, mileage and age, your stuck with the older cars as no EV’s of main stream equivalent would be that old.

In 2017 we had Leaf’s, Ioniq’s and a few stragglers.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718124#Comment_123718124

I admit, I like my big German saloons. Though I'm increasingly drawn to the idea of a Q7. The A7 is just a bit too low in a world of SUVs and getting older!

I have driven a Tuscon and really found myself liking the higher seating position. It was a lovely car for what it was - leather interior, comfortable etc, and surprisingly nimble for a 1.7 diesel 2WD.... but still no comparison to my Audi from a build quality perspective (even though I read the newer models have gone downhill significantly in this respect). I couldn't get used to the weird cruise control setup either!

I had a 2009 Q7 for a few days at one point. Originally I thought it was a ridiculous thing - you have to climb up into it and it's huge... But, you can see everything, no one tailgates you or cuts you off, that size brings a sense of stability and security on the road, and being an Audi everything inside was where it should be/I was used to!

But you'd definitely have needed a tanker following you around. I'm presuming that the newer models are more efficient though!

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718123#Comment_123718123

All of which are common place nowadays. I can’t even use the HUD in my BMW as I wear polarized glasses!

At the end of the day you buy what you like. You’re the one in the seat. the posts were more to correct your comments that an EV has to charge up on a 400km a week use case.

Also, I’d expect the Audi’s to be built better than the model 3, you’re comparing a brand new €37k car with a car from audi priced near €100k nowadays.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718112#Comment_123718112

I dunno feels like that joke how do you know someone has an Audi/Tesla... they'll tell you.

Why start an anti EV thread then complain when people reply to it.

If it's a valid argument that an EV doesn't suit someone's use case. Consider that in every EV thread it gets derailed by long distance driving that only about 5% of drivers do.

I doubt there are threads about diesel cars that get derailed like that, that often.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718116#Comment_123718116

You can only judge from cars that are 10 yrs old with equivalent battery tech. Not all EVs use the same.

But don't buy one then you never have to find out. Or talk about them.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718159#Comment_123718159

It's not my thread. I'm only adding my own views to it 😊

As has since been established though, what's out there now wouldn't suit my requirements or expectations on multiple levels - not least being the price for something equivalent to what I have.

I also fundamentally don't like the vast majority of them from an aesthetic point of view as well as the (from my perspective) functionality compromises. There's also the point of how usable many of these EVs will be when they're 8+ years and a few owners down the line.

An Audi etron GT Quattro is probably the closest modern equivalent to my A7 - but even the cheapest one is 57 grand on DoneDeal for a 3 year old example. Let's see what it's like in another 5 years and maybe it's worth considering then.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718117#Comment_123718117

Never tried stalkless. But I assume it's like switching between Japanese and German cars with the stalks on opposite sides you'd get used to it.

I like buttons hate touch controls. Love a quality interior. I think tech obsolescence will obsolete all these complex proprietary in car systems. I do like the tech though. ACC, auto dimming, update nav, wireless car play.

Will anyone be able to fix it in 10yrs.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718172#Comment_123718172

Doesn't have be your thread to answer the question.

There are 10yr old EVs out there if it has CSS and 150k+ range is going still be working much the same.

But the nearest thing to 10yr old premium EV is a Model S. The Premium German EVs are too new to fall into high mileage barge territory. It's a bit like looking for a 10yr old 2025 car.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718172#Comment_123718172

I'd say buy the likes of the A8 for 20k or so and in 3 years time there'll be loads of choice for you, but only consider if you have your own charger, thats the difference between making life very simple and being an inconvenience.

In 3 years the 2020 crop will be 8 years old and youll know about usability.

The mid 2010s Tesla model S is still going very strong though I believe. Batteries have better longevity now than the early ones in Leaf that did degrade.

Loads of the work EVs we have are 2022 and nobody has noticed a bit of difference between them now and when they were new.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123717879#Comment_123717879

About 50k km.

The car won't be started a few days every month, and another few days can be very long.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718025#Comment_123718025

1300 km if I was doing with my current car (I'm not I'm at 1000km/week) would work out at €5400-5800 fuel bill for the year.

The saving by switching to EV is going to be circa €5k, assuming home charging. I'm not sure the 2am-6am charging would make sense as I heat house with heat pump, so I'd have to run numbers with energypal before picking tarrif.

Once that saving isn't eaten by depreciation on a 60k investment, I'll be buying electric.

My total purchase price on cars since 2012 is 41k, and I've still got a car with about 8-10k in value.

The same with changing cars since I started driving, keep your eye on depreciation as it's the biggest cost in car ownership.

manno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123717137#Comment_123717137

Any chance you could provide name of provider/plan where i can get elec. for 6c /kWh? Also 580km/75kWh is very good, our Ioniq 5 wouldn't go close to that

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123733783#Comment_123733783

Pinergy do 5c EV rate 2-5am

Energia is closer to 7c, but for an extra hour.

Model Y AWD is 560km range and the LR RWD model is 620km. Same battery.

manno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123733783#Comment_123733783

Sorry, I see you answered this already, It's obviously a heavily discounted rate then? going back up after a year. Also, I like being able to boil the kettle during the day without worrying about the cost of it!

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123733849#Comment_123733849

Its their EV rate, plus the usual discount. Actually I renewed my plan only a month ago and got a better discount than I had before. The rate works best for people who use a large portion of their electricity charging their EV. The sums need to be done. Works great for anyone with home batteries that can be charged on the cheap rate and then used instead of drawing expensive electricity. My kettle boils at the same cheap rate as I charge my EV.

I dump excess battery energy to the grid at night for 3 times the price I paid. Rinse and repeat for zero electricity bill amounts.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123733888#Comment_123733888

You're gona have to stop talking sense, it goes over their heads………..

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123733888#Comment_123733888

You're gona have to stop talking sense, it goes over their heads………..

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718137#Comment_123718137

The comparator EVs for your A8 3.0 TDI are too new and won’t be comparable price wise, whether it is a Merc EQS saloon or a BMW i7, you’ll have to wait and see whether enough are bought in Ireland to make a decent secondhand market for you. Ultimately if you are driving around Ireland and have a home driveway or similar, range will not be an issue as these cars age. Look into the Q7 but you won’t get anything like the MPG you’re seeing in a similarly powered A8. I have a TDI Cayenne and 38mpg would be a fantastic result.