Joining the electric car club

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Well, I’ve done it. I’m just back from the Audi dealership having purchased an E-Tron 55 Quattro, which is a fully electric (not hybrid) SUV. I have to say that it’s not a cheap car to buy, but in theory the lower tax, fuel and servicing costs should make it stack up financially.

I intend to report back on this thread from time to time with updates as to what real-World ownership of a fully electric car is actually like. In theory, the range is about 260 miles, but apparently in practice it’s more like 210. Time will tell.

The first hurdle is to have the home charge point installed, and there’s about a 3 week wait on that currently (not allowing for the seasonal hols).

I pick it up next week, so will post some pics then. But as some of you will be expecting, it’s blue! (Galaxy Blue)
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
An i3 driver tried to mow me down today as I walked across a car park! Came out of nowhere lol. I may have to learn a new set of skills.
 

Manc5

Member
Messages
395
I quite like the E-Tron and there was a really attractive 24mth lease deal when they first released them. I tried to convince SWMBO that she should get one, sadly I failed and she got a merc coupe instead purely due to range anxiety. Enjoy and i am looking forward to updates of real life usability and range as you get used to it.
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
Sneaking up on people is yet another bonus!!

I had an i3 and my favourite attribute was a turning circle better than a black cab.

(Also for my B&B the charge point was a) tax deductible and b) good 'green' advertising)

I suspect the Audi may not be quite as nimble. Lovely car though. Look forward to the updates!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 

Hurricane52

Member
Messages
1,211
An i3 driver tried to mow me down today as I walked across a car park! Came out of nowhere lol. I may have to learn a new set of skills.
Perhaps all EVs should have external speakers playing a Strad soundtrack? Safe and sound.
 

Guy

Member
Messages
2,007
Well, I’ve done it. I’m just back from the Audi dealership having purchased an E-Tron 55 Quattro, which is a fully electric (not hybrid) SUV. I have to say that it’s not a cheap car to buy, but in theory the lower tax, fuel and servicing costs should make it stack up financially.

I intend to report back on this thread from time to time with updates as to what real-World ownership of a fully electric car is actually like. In theory, the range is about 260 miles, but apparently in practice it’s more like 210. Time will tell.

The first hurdle is to have the home charge point installed, and there’s about a 3 week wait on that currently (not allowing for the seasonal hols).

I pick it up next week, so will post some pics then. But as some of you will be expecting, it’s blue! (Galaxy Blue)
replacing? it will be good if you have all the data from its ICE predecessor.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Well, I’ve done it. I’m just back from the Audi dealership having purchased an E-Tron 55 Quattro, which is a fully electric (not hybrid) SUV. I have to say that it’s not a cheap car to buy, but in theory the lower tax, fuel and servicing costs should make it stack up financially.

I intend to report back on this thread from time to time with updates as to what real-World ownership of a fully electric car is actually like. In theory, the range is about 260 miles, but apparently in practice it’s more like 210. Time will tell.

The first hurdle is to have the home charge point installed, and there’s about a 3 week wait on that currently (not allowing for the seasonal hols).

I pick it up next week, so will post some pics then. But as some of you will be expecting, it’s blue! (Galaxy Blue)

so - can I ask why? What made you pick the Audi? I was talking this week to someone who has the ID3...
 
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Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
An i3 driver tried to mow me down today as I walked across a car park! Came out of nowhere lol. I may have to learn a new set of skills.

I've had similar with a leaf , turned round and it was there. totally silent at low speeds.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
I quite like the E-Tron and there was a really attractive 24mth lease deal when they first released them. I tried to convince SWMBO that she should get one, sadly I failed and she got a merc coupe instead purely due to range anxiety. Enjoy and i am looking forward to updates of real life usability and range as you get used to it.
I saw that deal too and it did make me think about it...just for a second
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
The E-Tron is to replace the Evoque. I’m keeping the big Rangie.

The Evoque has been great. Bought it new in Dec 2015, so we’ve had it for exactly 5 years and about 60,000 miles. It’s not put a foot wrong, and because it came with “free” 5 year servicing, it’s running costs have been very low - just tyres, Add Blue, some brakes, and fuel.

I‘ll try and put a proper advert up, but in the meantime, if anyone is looking for a useful, practical, diesel, 4WD, Evoque (late 2015 car, but 2016 model with updated engine, trim, etc) in high Tech spec, in metallic grey with black leather, with full supplying main dealer history and only 1 owner, at a highly competitive price (mid/high teens), give me a call.
 

Motorsport3

Member
Messages
869
Nice car the e-tron, probably the most interesting electric car on the market. What I would be interested in hearing from a classic car enthusiast, once the initial excitement subsides is whether you feel the ICE is so last century that almost not worth bothering OR classic cars makes even more sense as fun only cars.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
so - can I ask why? What made you pick the Audi? I was talking this week to someone who has the ID3...
I did look at the ID3 (on the internet), but didn’t like the cheap interior, so that didn't make the short list. For the same reason, and size, others in that price bracket and below were also soon ruled out.
At the other end of the financial scale, the Taycan was too low/small. And I’ll not give Musk my money, so no Tesla’s.
So, it came down to the Jag I-Pace, Merc ECQ, or Audi E-Tron. Any of these would have been fine, but the Audi just seemed to suit us better than the other two finalists.
In our chosen spec it came to £79k, but I managed to find a pre-registered one for a good discount.
 
Messages
291
I did look at the ID3 (on the internet), but didn’t like the cheap interior, so that didn't make the short list. For the same reason, and size, others in that price bracket and below were also soon ruled out.
At the other end of the financial scale, the Taycan was too low/small. And I’ll not give Musk my money, so no Tesla’s.
So, it came down to the Jag I-Pace, Merc ECQ, or Audi E-Tron. Any of these would have been fine, but the Audi just seemed to suit us better than the other two finalists.
In our chosen spec it came to £79k, but I managed to find a pre-registered one for a good discount.
Another option would have been the base petrol sport or Veloce Alfa Romeo Guilia. There roughly 200kw from a 4 cylinder engine, so not bad on petrol.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Another option would have been the base petrol sport or Veloce Alfa Romeo Guilia. There roughly 200kw from a 4 cylinder engine, so not bad on petrol.
Sorry - that would be completely missing the point. I have lots of petrol and diesel cars already, and a hybrid. This new car had to be fully electric only. That was the one key criteria. (It’s a tax issue - here in the U.K., as a company car, fully electric cars attract 0% benefit in kind, and the cost can be deducted from the company profit/tax bill, so it’s a complete no brainer to have an electric car over a petrol or diesel. Plus you can charge it work, which therefore pays the fuel.)
 
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Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,017
Interesting, Ewan. What put you off the iPace relative to the Audi? I've always quite liked the iPace and the just-updated one looks even better.

Mostly I'm interested in your real-world experiences. I keep looking at these, partly for the tax and partly because I'm intrigued by the experience of running an electric car. What keeps putting me off is the fact that it's a ****-ton of money for something that would annoy me intensely if I kept having to muck about with a fragmented and unreliable charging network. Also, I'm hugely sceptical about the environmental advantages of these. By the time you've factored in child labour, shipping, manufacturing and so on I'm not yet fully persuaded they're anything more than a tax dodge. Which is fine, but I'd need to be honest with myself about my motives (as I suspect you are!).