Darth Niloc's BYD Seal

[Darth Niloc]

Edit moderator: This thread originated in the MG4 vibration thread. It was originally on-topic, as the MG4 Xpower was a consideration as an alternative, but the vibration issue was a concern. Photos and delivery start next page.

These are the options...

The BYD Seal AWD (530bhp)

The Kia 6 (only 325bhp and way more expensive so not really an option)

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (It's a bit much I think)

And finally the X-Power for comparison.

I quoted the wrong figures above. X-Power has a list price of £36,500 vs the Seal at £48,500. 12 grand of a difference but overall the Seal is only £100 a month more expensive than the X-Power.

 

[Tuareg]

Picked up my Xpower brand new for a total of €31,000, which is £25,800, not £36,500. which makes the Xpower nearly half the price of the BYD seal.

 

[ilukey77]

Agree 100%. Some here (including me ) might think I am being daft by deciding against an X-Power especially now the vibration problem has been fixed and I wasn't even affected by it. But what if some other problem happens with the new model and they pull the same trick again?

Same reason why I will never buy another Ford. Wife bought a new Fiesta several years ago. Wheels were constantly buckled, forums full of owners saying the same thing. It was found that the alloy they used was crap but Ford refused to admit there was an issue.

The only way to fight back against big companies is with your wallet. Refuse to spend another penny with them ever. Eventually when they piss enough people off they will cease to be a big company anymore.

Yes and no because for the poor it’s all about the all mighty $$$$ or what ever your currency is..

This is why cheap cars sell so well; companies know that for the 100k people they upset there is another million buying their rubbish but cheaper cars..

I’m not even close to Porsche, BMW, Audi, VW Mercedes or any other expensive high end EV market..

Even BYD and Tesla for what I wanted was out of my price range ( I wanted AWD and at least 250kW )
74k AUD for the Seal premium
And Tesla about the same ..

Hence my 320kW AWD X power

But fight them as a lot of Aussies would say “fight them to keep the bastards honest”

 

[salty]

These are the options...

All nice motors. Obviously I'm a bit biased about the X Power. But out of the others, I personally would dismiss the Kia, straight away. Looking at the monthly prices of the others, the Seal seams like a no brainer. Been reading up on the Seal, since you mentioned it, and it does sound like an excellent motor. Choices, choices.
Good luck.

The only way to fight back against big companies is with your wallet. Refuse to spend another penny with them ever. Eventually when they piss enough people off they will cease to be a big company anymore.

In theory that sounds great. In reality, it's never gonna happen, unfortunately.

 

[ilukey77]

All nice motors. Obviously I'm a bit biased about the X Power. But out of the others, me personally would dismiss the Kia, straight away. Looking at the monthly prices of the others, the Seal seams like a no Brainer. Been reading up on the Seal, since you mentioned it, and it does sound like an excellent motor. Choices, choices.
Good luck.

If it wasn’t for the crazy high price of the ionic 5 N a Matt blue one would be parked in my driveway no doubt..

I adore the idea of the paddle shift simulated manual ..

It makes a EV a true drivers car 1speed 0 to whatever is plain boring now ( sure I have fun smoking cars off at the lights in my X power )

But that simulated gearbox is what makes the ionic 5N a true drivers car and sets it apart from everything else

EVs are kinda boring otherwise

Argument could be made that exclude the power and other features that simulated gearbox box is around the 15k to 20 k in fun factor alone

 

[salty]

If it wasn’t for the crazy high price of the ionic 5 N a Matt blue one would be parked in my driveway no doubt..

I adore the idea of the paddle shift simulated manual ..

It makes a EV a true drivers car 1speed 0 to whatever is plain boring now ( sure I have fun smoking cars of at the lights in my X power )

But that simulated gearbox is what makes the ionic 5N a true drivers car and sets it apart from everything else

EVs are kinda boring otherwise

Agree, to a certain extent. The 5N does sound very good. But a simulated Gearshift and simulated vroom vroom noise does nowt for me. And I've never really understood this "driver's car" crap.
I'm more than happy with my one warp speed in silence motor. A sort of no fuss silent assassin. But that's only my opinion of course. Other opinions are available.

 

[LenEV2016]

Picked up my Xpower brand new for a total of €31,000, which is £25,800, not £36,500. which makes the Xpower nearly half the price of the BYD seal.

He already explained it's on salary sacrifice though which will probably negate any deals like that so he is working on book price.

But if we are being pedantic there are pre reg top of the range seals (the 3.8 sec one) 10 miles on the clock for £43450

You go on about me and others poo pooing stuff

 

[JonnyG]

......These are the options...

That looks a pretty decent price with Tusker for the BYD Seal Excellence if it includes insurance and maintenance, and good value compared to to the other options IMHO.

 

[ilukey77]

Agree, to a certain extent. The 5N does sound very good. But a simulated Gearshift and simulated vroom vroom noise does nowt for me. And I've never really understood this "driver's car" crap.
I'm more than happy with my one warp speed in silence motor. A sort of no fuss silent assassin. But that's only my opinion of course. Other opinions are available.

My Idea of a drivers car if having fun going though gears bouncing off redlines, hearing the sound of the engine.

Dropping back though gears into a corner and accelerating out changing gears then that balance between losing it and keeping the car stable though corners going though gears on straights.

To me the more I’m thinking about the more fun I’m having and at the end of the stint I feel pleased I’m still alive and the car is in one piece..

That is my idea of a drivers car being able to control almost everything that car is doing..

Cant say I’m a fan of the fancy soundtracks the ionic 5 N uses but the feeling of total control makes for a more fun experience.

The N just does that without a high fuel cost

 

[salty]

My Idea of a drivers car if having fun going though gears bouncing of redlines hearing the sound of the engine

Dropping back though gears into a corner and accelerating out changing gears then that balance between losing it and keeping the car stable though corners going though gears on straights

To me the more I’m thinking about the more fun I’m having and at the end of the stint I feel pleased I’m still alive and the car is in one piece..

That is my idea of a drivers car being able to control almost everything that car is doing..

Cant say I’m a fan of the fancy soundtracks the ionic 5 N uses but the feeling of total control makes for a more fun experience

The N just does that without a high fuel cost

And that's totally, fair enough. Each to their own, as they say.

 

[ilukey77]

And that's totally, fair enough. Each to their own, as they say.

You can do it with the X power no doubt I’ve thrashed the bejesus out of mine up and down a twisty mountain road near where I live ..

That road is my testing ground for every car I’ve owned sometimes to see its limitations other times for just pure fun..

I’ve being racing up and down there now and then for over 20 years ..

Sometimes and dead lucky not to be dead or have a mangled car..

And the X power does it very well I can assure you

But it just lacks that more driver involvement I crave is all..

So I do agree it’s ones perception of a drivers car for sure!!

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I've never driven mine hard or treated it harshly in any way.

I'm a stickler for speed limits and setting nothing but a good example to other road users.

It's an A to B experience, merely an appliance if you will.

I have no feelings for the car one way or another.

























YEAH RIGHT

 

[Everest]

5 laps my butthole....
Might trust it with a couple of laps of Castle Combe, but not SPA!
And I should know.
I caned the life out of my VXR8 there a few years ago....
What a track!
What a car!!!

I didn't pick 5 laps of Spa randomly

Agree with what a track - we walked the whole track a long time ago - couldn't believe the incline of Eau Rouge - it didn't look that steep on TV!

 

[Darth Niloc]

Sorry I can't get the multi quote thing to work on my phone.

I'm far from rich believe me and it was the price of the X-Power which attracted me in the first place. However this is through salary sacrifice as another poster said so the price is the price. I did look into a PCP deal on both the X-Power and the Seal but the overall reduction in salary through the scheme drops me a bracket meaning I'll save quite a few thousand on tax.

The best PCP deals I could find had a similar monthly payment but some with a sizable deposit and didn't include insurance, servicing, tyres and all the other things this deal includes. Even a 2nd hand Tesla Model 3 is more expensive overall by the time I factor the above in. What's even better is if I factor the tax saving against the monthly cost of the Seal it drops it down closer to £350 a month.

I went for a test drive this morning in the BYD Seal AWD. The last time they only had the RWD 300bhp version available as a demonstrator which is the same car minus the extra motor. It was quick but I can confirm the AWD is an absolute rocket! Was able to test the 0-60 off a red light joining the motorway, didn't have time to find the launch control option so just floored it in sport mode and it was rapid Extremely comfortable and feels like a solid motor although I am coming from a 20 year old BMW so take that as you will lol.

Anyway I am just about to place my order for one. The Excellence AWD in Space Black paint and black interior. Guy at the dealership confirmed there is a ten week lead time so all being well I should have it for the middle of May. Just trying to decide on the annual mileage, worked out from the MOT certificates on the BMW that I average around 15k a year but I will be blasting the Seal around like a loon so I think I'll need a bit extra

 

[salty]

Excellent! Good choice.

 

[pjmmk]

First time I floored the throttle in a high performance EV was just a few minutes after buying the thing. I was used to the Focus ST and gave the EV the beans on a motorway slip road. I felt the blood drain from my face. I'm used to it now but that first time - don't think I'll ever forget that.

 

[mGizmo]

I'm used to it now but that first time - don't think I'll ever forget that.

I still feel like I've been gently punched in the gut from a full-bore standing start... after a year of getting "used to it"...

 

[Darth Niloc]

Hello again everyone.

After a 3 month wait I finally pick up my new Seal on Friday. Super excited

I will be back with a full report and plenty of pictures as promised.

Thanks,
Darth Niloc

 

[salty]

Hello again everyone.

After a 3 month wait I finally pick up my new Seal on Friday. Super excited

I will be back with a full report and plenty of pictures as promised.

Thanks,
Darth Niloc

Enjoy your new motor. I'm sure you will.
They are nice motors.

 

[Darth Niloc]

Enjoy your new motor. I'm sure you will.
They are nice motors.

Went to collect the car today only to be told someone somewhere changed the delivery date on the system from today until the middle of next month. I didn't know why, they didn't know why, whole thing was a bit of a shit show tbh. Not BYD's fault at all but it looks like I'm in for another three week wait despite the car being there and ready to go.

Thanks,
Darth Niloc