Old stock bargains

[LenEV2016]

At my first tyre change, Continentals to Goodyear Vector all-seasons, I could not believe that the hideous plastic trims concealed proper alloy wheels which look so much better. I sold the trims on eBay for £100 which effectively gave me a 20% discount on the new tyres. Result all round

I know the trims are designed to improve wind-resistance at higher speeds but I generally avoid motorway driving because the charge falls off a cliff at 70mph. I agree that they do look a bit 'retro'

Back to the subject of old stock bargains, the low values of nearly-new EVs reflects the reluctance of the car-buying public to fully embrace the actuality of owning, driving and charging an EV when compared to an ICE car. Home charging at night at discounted rates - great. Short journeys on A and B roads - great. Range at motorway speeds - pants. Public charging network - pants. Add to that the recent addition of car tax and you have few incentives to switch from ICE to EV as your only car

As an example, next month I will be travelling 200 miles to an event in the Midlands, mostly along motorways. My MG4 won't get me anywhere near on one 100% charge so I will be forced to pay around 90p/kWh to re-charge at least twice on the motorway network. This introduces an anxiety to the progress of my journeys plus a significant cost for extortionate re-charging charges. By contrast, if I take my 1999 Jaguar XKR with a 4 litre supercharged petrol engine, it will do 24mpg at 70mph so it will cost me about £100 in petrol for 400 miles with one very easy and quick re-fuelling stop

If I chose to use a more efficient ICE car than the thirsty Jaguar for this long journey, not only could I do the return journey without a re-fuelling stop but it would cost me a lot less. As a result, EVs are condemned to play only a supporting role in our personal transport needs

Disagree completely with your last sentence

 

[Kenp1]

Don't they look better without the wheel trims.

Those look like the 17 inch wheels and the design isn't too bad. I took the covers off the 18s and the wheels are a flat design that doesn't look great, so the wheel trims went back on.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

At my first tyre change, Continentals to Goodyear Vector all-seasons, I could not believe that the hideous plastic trims concealed proper alloy wheels which look so much better. I sold the trims on eBay for £100 which effectively gave me a 20% discount on the new tyres. Result all round

I know the trims are designed to improve wind-resistance at higher speeds but I generally avoid motorway driving because the charge falls off a cliff at 70mph. I agree that they do look a bit 'retro'

Back to the subject of old stock bargains, the low values of nearly-new EVs reflects the reluctance of the car-buying public to fully embrace the actuality of owning, driving and charging an EV when compared to an ICE car. Home charging at night at discounted rates - great. Short journeys on A and B roads - great. Range at motorway speeds - pants. Public charging network - pants. Add to that the recent addition of car tax and you have few incentives to switch from ICE to EV as your only car

As an example, next month I will be travelling 200 miles to an event in the Midlands, mostly along motorways. My MG4 won't get me anywhere near on one 100% charge so I will be forced to pay around 90p/kWh to re-charge at least twice on the motorway network. This introduces an anxiety to the progress of my journeys plus a significant cost for extortionate re-charging charges. By contrast, if I take my 1999 Jaguar XKR with a 4 litre supercharged petrol engine, it will do 24mpg at 70mph so it will cost me about £100 in petrol for 400 miles with one very easy and quick re-fuelling stop

If I chose to use a more efficient ICE car than the thirsty Jaguar for this long journey, not only could I do the return journey without a re-fuelling stop but it would cost me a lot less. As a result, EVs are condemned to play only a supporting role in our personal transport needs

If you are doing that journey daily or even once a week , you have a point . If its only once in a while you will experience some inconvenience and possibly more cost but overall an EV as you have stated will be the better and cheaper option .
When getting the MG4 I considered our annual holiday trip and thought , its going to be more hassle , worry , and cost than an economical ICE car but overall daily usage it would be annually cheaper. With regards to the holiday , I am still working out whether or not to hire a cheap ICE car to do the normal 3000 km jaunt which also has the advantage of keeping the MG within its annual insurance mileage limit .

 

[Muffler]

Yep, head up regularly to Derbyshire and those two locations always come in handy. Always reliable and never had to queue for a charger, even at peak times, although varying traffic conditions can add fairly significantly to the ‘time out’ on your journey, depending on how you catch things.

 

[fshuk1]

I don't get this. The new 2025 SE SR has only 49kwh battery. 51KWH is the old model.

 

[LenEV2016]

25 plate so been registered a while

 

[Bam Bam]

hire a cheap ICE car to do the normal 3000 km jaunt which also has the advantage of keeping the MG within its annual insurance mileage limit .

Or a longer-range EV? I guess those might not be cheap to hire, though!

 

[Sparky2]

I realise that we are getting off the subject of "Old Stock Bargains" but if you cannot afford to own a second ICE car for long journeys, why should EV owners have to hire another car for extended trips?

I'm sorry but until somebody produces an EV with a real, all-seasons range of at least 500 miles, affordable EVs will be relegated to the status of second car for short journeys for most people who choose to have a second car. This is why secondhand EVs are, on the face of it, such good value for money because new prices are far too high plus the unfounded fear of battery range depletion.

We are lucky to have two classic petrol cars for summer use and an MG4 for everyday trips all year. We have a double garage and home charging facilities. I would suggest that most car owners do not have the necessity or ability, for whatever reason, to have more than one car. Many do not have off-street parking or home charging facilities. Outside cities, the public EV charging provision is a totally dysfunctional shambles with no prospect of improvement. In my experience across 5 years of EV ownership, public charging facilities are either occupied, broken or require you to sign up to an app which doesn't work despite taking all your bank details and other personal information

Old stock EV bargains may be good value for money but if the long-range versions will only do 180 miles on a full charge in winter, they are still failing to meet most people's needs long term. Plans to phase out ICE cars in the near future are nothing more than a tail-pipe dream at the moment

 

[LenEV2016]

Disagree completely we have two EVs and undertake loads of long journeys.
Charging is not an issue and still cheaper than petrol

 

[Paulie68]

That’s insane! Doesn’t say a lot for residual values…

They'll be terrible. My new MG5 Trophy cost £21000 just over 12 months ago, now it's worth £14k tops for trade in. But it doesn't matter much over 3 years or so, as it's a large percentage chopped off from a very much smaller initial figure to start with, so if you're keeping for a few years, it's great.

 

[salty]

Old stock EV bargains may be good value for money but if the long-range versions will only do 180 miles on a full charge in winter, they are still failing to meet most people's needs long term. Plans to phase out ICE cars in the near future are nothing more than a tail-pipe dream at the moment

Actually it's the opposite. 180 mile range in winter, is perfectly fine for most folks needs, not all obviously but most definitely. And if you do happen to need more, just charge it again. Simple's.
It's not rocket science.

 

[Sparky2]

OK Len, your argument has some merit for those with deep pockets. Our self-employed Son-in-Law lives in Fife and he has just spent 4 years leasing a £60k Tesla and is now leasing a £70k Polestar 4 as his company car. These cars have a decent range but to buy, they are out of reach for most folk

 

[Paulie68]

I realise that we are getting off the subject of "Old Stock Bargains" but if you cannot afford to own a second ICE car for long journeys, why should EV owners have to hire another car for extended trips?

I'm sorry but until somebody produces an EV with a real, all-seasons range of at least 500 miles, affordable EVs will be relegated to the status of second car for short journeys for most people who choose to have a second car. This is why secondhand EVs are, on the face of it, such good value for money because new prices are far too high plus the unfounded fear of battery range depletion.

We are lucky to have two classic petrol cars for summer use and an MG4 for everyday trips all year. We have a double garage and home charging facilities. I would suggest that most car owners do not have the necessity or ability, for whatever reason, to have more than one car. Many do not have off-street parking or home charging facilities. Outside cities, the public EV charging provision is a totally dysfunctional shambles with no prospect of improvement. In my experience across 5 years of EV ownership, public charging facilities are either occupied, broken or require you to sign up to an app which doesn't work despite taking all your bank details and other personal information

Old stock EV bargains may be good value for money but if the long-range versions will only do 180 miles on a full charge in winter, they are still failing to meet most people's needs long term. Plans to phase out ICE cars in the near future are nothing more than a tail-pipe dream at the moment

I almost disagree completely too. Our MG5 will "only" do 160 miles safely in cold, wet, winter use, but we still rarely have to charge away from home and when we occasionally do, the chargers are mostly perfectly fine, just too damned expensive, I do agree with you on that one.

 

[LenEV2016]

OK Len, your argument has some merit for those with deep pockets. Our self-employed Son-in-Law lives in Fife and he has just spent 4 years leasing a £60k Tesla and is now leasing a £70k Polestar 4 as his company car. These cars have a decent range but to buy, they are out of reach for most folk

I don't have deep pockets, and don't have any long range cars, with a Born and MG4, Tesla chargers are the best bet for long journeys

 

[Archev]

I only have one vehicle, the eBerlingo with around 200 mile range. I’ll happily drive anywhere at the drop of a hat.
Next week I’m off to Ayr to collect a friend and take her to Aberdeen for a flight to Norway. I might just drive home then or not. There’s some snow forecast so that might become more important than battery range. There’s plenty of chargers, I haven’t regretted shunning petrol / diesel stations for these last five years or so.

 

[Archev]

Actually it's the opposite. 180 mile range in winter, is perfectly fine for most folks needs, not all obviously but most definitely. And if you do happen to need more, just charge it again. Simple's.
It's not rocket science.

Just as well - can you imagine the anxiety if your rocket GOM cries enough as you go round the moon ??

 

[gary333]

Old stock EV bargains may be good value for money but if the long-range versions will only do 180 miles on a full charge in winter, they are still failing to meet most people's needs long term. Plans to phase out ICE cars in the near future are nothing more than a tail-pipe dream at the moment

The car doesn't self explode when it hits 180 miles. Are these people you are talking about incapable of plugging in to a charger? My car is my main car and I'm doing 30,000 miles per year (private miles not business so cost is important), which is clearly well above average, and only have a 2.4kw charger at home and yet have no issues with charging these days.

The MG charges at a c.140kw for a large proportion of it's battery, and still holding in to the 90's up to very high percentages.

Plenty of Tesla chargers available for a half-decent price. Arnold Clark via Electroverse can be even more competitive on price.

I have no problem going from Yorkshire to Glasgow or Edinburgh, no issue going down to Brighton, no issue going to Wales. I don't understand your point.

I did 175 miles yesterday without charging up (went to Spurn Head) and came home with 29% remaining. Charged up last night and have done 100 miles already today.

 

[Sparky2]

The MG4 Trophy LR replaced a BMW i3 which had half the range of the MG. I still miss the simplicity of driving the i3 without interference from the MG's so-called 'driver safety aids' which are bonkers

My main points are that (almost) affordable EVs have short ranges and real long-range EVs like the Tesla and Polestar are unaffordable for ordinary folk. I have tried driving the i3 and the MG on long journeys and almost without exception, re-charging away from home has been a nightmare. I have lost count of the number of times I have been standing alongside an EV charger in the pouring rain trying to download an app (or get an existing app to work). Contrast this with re-fuelling an ICE car under a canopy and paying with your bank card. 5 minutes versus at least 30 minutes for an EV

Our MG4 is mostly charged at home during the night on Octopus IOG using a Zappi charger but if there is a power outage (quite common in the Pennines) or a software update in any of the various bits of interlinked digital kit in the garage, the whole system just falls over and the charge fails

If these issues were not real, the take-up of EVs would have advanced much faster. I predict that EVs will increase market share but they will never succeed in replacing ICE cars across the board. In theory (and often in practice) running an EV can be cheaper than running an ICE car but they are still too expensive to buy and there is still too much inconvenience in re-charging and range anxiety to convince most people to make the transition. The end of zero car tax for EVs just makes things worse

 

[salty]

Makes me wonder why you ever got an EV.

 

[gary333]

The MG4 Trophy LR replaced a BMW i3 which had half the range of the MG. I still miss the simplicity of driving the i3 without interference from the MG's so-called 'driver safety aids' which are bonkers

My main points are that (almost) affordable EVs have short ranges and real long-range EVs like the Tesla and Polestar are unaffordable for ordinary folk. I have tried driving the i3 and the MG on long journeys and almost without exception, re-charging away from home has been a nightmare. I have lost count of the number of times I have been standing alongside an EV charger in the pouring rain trying to download an app (or get an existing app to work). Contrast this with re-fuelling an ICE car under a canopy and paying with your bank card. 5 minutes versus at least 30 minutes for an EV

Our MG4 is mostly charged at home during the night on Octopus IOG using a Zappi charger but if there is a power outage (quite common in the Pennines) or a software update in any of the various bits of interlinked digital kit in the garage, the whole system just falls over and the charge fails

If these issues were not real, the take-up of EVs would have advanced much faster. I predict that EVs will increase market share but they will never succeed in replacing ICE cars across the board. In theory (and often in practice) running an EV can be cheaper than running an ICE car but they are still too expensive to buy and there is still too much inconvenience in re-charging and range anxiety to convince most people to make the transition. The end of zero car tax for EVs just makes things worse

This all just sounds like you haven't tried to charge on the go very often, or are talking about years ago when charging was more hit and miss.

Obviously charging an EV takes longer than an ICE car but apart from that everything you said sounds more like you lack much experience of charging and are translating your experience to how it is everywhere.

Consider:
1) Using charging hubs / places with lots of chargers. Don't go to solo / dual charger sites
2) Don't use poor networks like BP Pulse / Genie point etc (unless it's their larger hub sites)
3) Use cards such as Electroverse to ensure you get best "standard" price, and then you just tap and charge without any other apps involved
4) Don't forget about Tesla sites, they are often the cheapest and tend to just work
5) If you want the best prices, plan ahead, check before you go where's best to stop
6) If you are planning a extended period time away from home look to see if a subscription to Telsa, Ionity etc will save money as these can usually be bought for a month at a time, so long as you plan ahead to ensure they are within the routes you are making

I travel all over the place, and tend to now just use: Tesla, Arnold Clark or Ionity and rarely have any issues.