Wannabe GT Owner newbie questions

[TeslaDriver]

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a 2nd hand GT as a "high days and holidays" car, and definitely for touring rather than as a sports-car.

I would appreciate your help in learning about anything that I am likely to find annoying such that I should definitely pay attention to it on the test drive.


I've been driving Tesla since 2015 (Model-S performance, then replaced 2nd backup-ICE with Model-3 then Model-Y)

I've spoken to a number of people who have Cybersters and they absolutely love them.


The things I have read of include:

Lots of bongs, and fairly tedious to turn them off at the start of each trip. I'm doubting that will bother me ... but.

Doors - slow to open, not great when it is raining, possibly if wipers are left on they may auto-start before doors are closed and sweep water "inside". Not sure that would bother me either (and presumably something I could mitigate)

Problems if the car sits unused for prolonged period - eg 12 volt battery


I like Tesla's eco-system, but I am not looking to reproduce that.

But that said, is there anything that might annoy me? I've read that the distribution of info around the various screens is a bit haphazard. I am assuming I will get used to that, and that it won't especially bother me either. Any maybe OTA update has/will? improve that.

Have issues actually been solved by an over-the-air update during your ownership, or is the promise not as good as the execution?

Is there anything / improvement I would miss out on if I get a 2024 car compared to a 25 / 75 plate?


I have a search running on AutoTrader, are there other places I should be looking?

Any things I should look out for when viewing a 2nd hand vehicle (I'm likely to be buying from a dealer)

Are there any other questions I should have asked?


Thanks

 

[salty]

To the forum.

 

[tarbat]

The bongs are fairly easy to turn off. Swipe down on the centre screen and turn off what you don't want on at the start of each journey. Many modern cars are like this to meet NCAP safety ratings.

Only problem I've had with doors is if there's water sitting on the sensor the door won't open. Just wipe the water off.

No problem with the car sitting for weeks without charging. The 12V battery gets frequently topped up from the traction battery. But, don't leave the Cyberster on charge, that prevents the 12V battery being topped up.

You might want to read my earlier topic on any other issues that bothered me - see Goodbye to my Cyberster | MG Cyberster EV Forum

 

[TeslaDriver]

don't leave the Cyberster on charge, that prevents the 12V battery being topped up.

Thanks, very useful to know.

I had already read your post, very helpful thanks.

The terrible

• The dealer network

Hopefully I will fare better. I've known my local dealer, personally, for probably 20 years (back then they had a Renault franchise and we needed an Espace to ferry kids around)

 

[Chongma]

I've spoken to a number of people who have Cybersters and they absolutely love them.

Had mine since first day available, and I'm definitely in this camp. The kids love it too.

Lots of bongs, and fairly tedious to turn them off at the start of each trip. I'm doubting that will bother me ... but.

The really annoying tone of a change of speed limit - that one can be switched off and is then always off.
The other recurring bong is exceeding the speed limit. This one needs to be switched off each time, but I don't mind it as I don't speed all that much! I would say the car is more of a tourer than a sports car.

Doors - slow to open, not great when it is raining, possibly if wipers are left on they may auto-start before doors are closed and sweep water "inside". Not sure that would bother me either (and presumably something I could mitigate)

More niggly than annoying. The doors go up and then all the water runs down onto the sill / footwell.
But it's the frozen doors during the winter months and when I forget to warm up the cabin ahead of time that bugs me. Some days the windows can be frost free, but they're still frozen.

Have issues actually been solved by an over-the-air update during your ownership, or is the promise not as good as the execution?

Is there anything / improvement I would miss out on if I get a 2024 car compared to a 25 / 75 plate?

Think this could be the major shock. Tesla and their OTA updates are infinitely ahead of MG in this regards.

The dealer network

I'm with Rawlinson in Bury. Nearly an hour each way, but at least the car makes it an enjoyable journey.

 

[CybersterWatcher]

If you’re coming from a Tesla, be aware that the software is very different in capabilities, night and day different.

Imagine the Cyberster as a older ICE car that happens to be electric, rather than an electric car. By that I mean that some of the features you’d expect to be there on a modern electric car (OTA, navigating to charging stations, easy camera viewing, remote app, phone unlock, etc) either don’t exist or are poor implementations.

Performance is equal to a Tesla Model 3 performance (I’ve compared both as a friend owns one) but that’s about where they end in similarities.

M/KW is much lower in the Cyberster, budget for around 2.2M/KW on fast roads in the winter or if you’re in sport mode having fun, so on a 80/20 charge you’re getting around 110 miles or so of range (and charging is a lot slower).

With all of that said, you will get people approaching you for comments weekly, kids will stop and stare at the door going up and down and now summer is coming the car will be coming into its own

 

[GranTurismoEra]

No OTA. Even though MG claim they will establish it this year on new models including IM5 and 6.

 

[Vader]

WRT the bongs and beeps. I turn the volume down in the settings screen (right screen). I leave them on just in case, but at the limit of hearing them. Not annoying at all then.

When it is raining, you can't stop the water coming in to an open door, but you can remotely open it so that you immediately get in the car once you get there.

I don't hassle the scorers when it comes to height, so I find the screens easy to use and see. If you got used to a single screen out of your line of sight in the Tesla, the Cyberster won't be an issue. You can cycle information in the main screen which is very useful. Like most cars, you just need to get used to it.

I am also in the "love it" category. Best car I have ever had - so much fun to drive. If you dislike attention, probably not the car to get though........

 

[TeslaDriver]

The other recurring bong is exceeding the speed limit.

I have that on, but in [my current / older model] Tesla I can have it at +3 MPH which is about in line with speedo being under by 1-2MPH and me thinking I can get away with 1-over.

As I understand it on modern compliant cars it is strict on speedo number, and consequently very annoying if the speedo is off by a few MPH

But it's the frozen doors during the winter months and when I forget to warm up the cabin ahead of time that bugs me. Some days the windows can be frost free, but they're still frozen.

On doors with frameless windows I put some "Gummi Pflege" on the rubbers. Dunno if that would help ...

Imagine the Cyberster as a older ICE car that happens to be electric

It feels like that won't be important to me in a high-day / holiday car, and that I might quite like some foibles - time will tell. For my daily-driver, I definitely would struggle to move to something less capable.

I am expecting to be able to just "get in and drive", which will be an improvement on my previous, overbred, fun-car ICEs

If you’re coming from a Tesla, be aware that the software is very different in capabilities, night and day different.

Thanks. The fact that my 2019 Tesla still gets updates is a bonus, for sure. Sometimes its pointless (to me) games ... and then grandchildren get in the car and discover they can change the colour of the car on the dashboard display, and put their name on its little numberplate. I definitely had no idea that was any use at all!! ... but OTA benefits range all the way up to a reprogram of the airbags, originally configured based on NCAP compliance testing, then OTA reprogrammed based on real crash data ... in the old days you had to buy a new model Volvo to get that sort of improvement!

navigating to charging stations : a number of improvements over the years. Originally showed locations, then preheat battery for optimum charging speed when you get there (if navigating to one), and now shows the free stall count or wait-time if all busy.

But I still think that WAZE has better traffic info than car's SataNav so I run that on my phone, and just use SatNav on silent for the map

remote app - I do use that to check that the car did indeed charge overnight, and on rare occasions to find where it is parked (a change from wife explaining where she left it to me being able to find it without instructions ... although if she left it in a multi-storey carpark when I get there I know exactly where, but not which floor - 1st world problem)

But despite a decade of Tesla ownership I still do not remember, when paying the bill in a restaurant, to turn on car's climate ready for when we get back to it ... its not for lack of "training"!!

phone unlock - not bothered about that, happy with a key. I've left my phone in the car (on the charge mat-thingie) a number of times and, consequently, the car has remained unlocked. Also car profile always defaults to "principal phone" when we both go to the car and thus mine always wins - even if my wife is setting off for work - seat etc. moves to my position. Good and Bad I reckon. (I think latest models use UWB instead of BLE to know who is nearest to the drivers door)

There are a very few times when I have used phone to open, and start, the car remotely - to allow someone to drive / move the car when I am not physically there. Rare as hens teeth though

But I will miss PIN to drive - I reckon that is a large part of why Tesla's aren't nicked very often.

Performance is equal to a Tesla Model 3 performance

One thing I have found interesting with Tesla is how well the performance models get the power down. My original Model-S was performance, replaced with a bog-standard one (only 3.5s 0-60 !!)

The performance never ever lost traction in a launch. There's a large roundabout near me with traffic lights. First at the lights, taking 1st exit to up-ramp onto dual carriageway. Launch was fine, even in the wet. Astonishing.

The replacement, non-performance, is still very quick, but it scrabbles about.

I'll be interested to see how the GT launch compares. But apart from it being quick, and a few schoolboy moments, I won't routinely need a fairground-ride experience.

M/KW is much lower in the Cyberster, budget for around 2.2M/KW on fast roads in the winter or if you’re in sport mode having fun, so on a 80/20 charge you’re getting around 110 miles or so of range (and charging is a lot slower).

Thanks. That's helpful to know.

I tried ABetterRoutePlanner for a trip that I do; 400 miles, arrive back with 23%.

Tesla 3xstops, 30 mins charging (ie 15 mins charging and 3 x 5 mins faff at each stop)
GT 3xstops, 1 hr charging (also inc. 3 x 5 mins faff at each stop)

Not sure that would bother me, we are used to stopping to charge on longer journeys and frequently we've gone to do some shopping / have a coffee etc. and the car has carried on charging more than needed. But useful to know, thanks

If you dislike attention, probably not the car to get though........

I was thinking of getting a Yellow one ...

I mean ... its a ridiculous purchase - I've had plenty of life crisis purchases already - so might as well not be shy about it.

 

[TeslaDriver]

One thing I have thought of:

The "% Charge on arrival" in Tesla is very accurate, I appreciate that (given that EV is a low-range vehicle) and it takes into account altitude change, temperature and wet/dry conditions etc

(Assuming I am not driving like a loon)

How does Cyberster compare? I read of many EVs as having "Guess-o-meter" which seems to me to be pants in this day and age, no shortage of computing power to do a decent calculation

 

[Briann]

I love the car, but there is a lot to hate. But everytime you feel the wind in your hair, you forget why you were angry.

Forget everything you know about software and how it helps you, this is not that car. The app is hardly any better.

Small but annoying problems:

1. Parking sensors. When you put it in reverse, it still beeps because of the sensors in the front (I can’t recall my last car that was this dumb)
2. In Android Auto: it doesn’t switch to day/night if the circumstances don’t change while you drive. Example when it is dark when you enter the car, the theme stays daytime. But when daytime it does switches if you enter/leave a tunnel.
3. No auto dim mirror: Not even mentioning the side mirrors, but the centre rearview. Some owners don’t mind, but at this price point it should be standard (or an option).
4. Subwoofer: If’s there for show only (although an update has changed this for some owners)
5. OTA: others have already stated this: but it doesn’t work
6. The screens: the two on the side are hard to see (luckily the right one is useless by default)

 

[TeslaDriver]

Parking sensor ... I can’t recall my last car that was this dumb

Hehehe! Noted, thanks.

No auto dim mirror: ... at this price point it should be standard

Agreed.

Thank you. I don't think any of those are deal breakers, but its surprising (and I think of MG as being ahead of the curve in EV-terms)

 

[TeslaDriver]

Ah ... one more point please:

Regen

I have read of cars with "Choose a level of regen"

Tesla only has "On"

I've never had a problem with it. I lift off as much as I think I want and if slowing down too much / not enough I feather the throttle accordingly (or press the brakes).

I've never driven an EV with different levels of regen (but I've read of people who say they like it), and I just think "Can't folk just use their right foot to feather the Regen?"

That will be something for me to check at Test Drive (booked for Friday - exciting ) but any opinions on Regen would be appreciated.

I had a test drive in a performance Volvo and I asked about Regen:

"Regen not available in performance mode Sir"

Performance Mode Range was atrocious. So basically you would have to only choose performance mode when you knew you would need it ... I have no idea why Volvo had only been able to get software to do one-or-the-other

 

[tarbat]

Regen

I have read of cars with "Choose a level of regen"

Tesla only has "On"

I've never had a problem with it. I lift off as much as I think I want and if slowing down too much / not enough I feather the throttle accordingly (or press the brakes).

It is one thing that annoyed me on the Cyberster, where increasing and decreasing regen were both on the same paddle. I'd forget whether the last time I pulled the paddle I was going from 1 to 2 or from 3 to 2, and so couldn't predict what level I was about to select.

Let me explain how I use regen levels. I sort of use them like a manual gearbox. When approaching a roundabout or corner, or on tight twisting roads, I'll increase regen to make the accelerator pedal more responsive to engine braking. But then I decrease regen on long straights, etc. as I don't like full regen on all the time as that makes the accelerator pedal too sensitive to engine braking and so needs far more accuracy in controlling it than with no regen on.

 

[TeslaDriver]

Thanks. Sounds like I need to try the regen to see what I think.

 

[CybersterWatcher]

Worth noting:

One pedal drive has a single, unchangable regen mode.

If you want regen changing then you can’t have one pedal driving.

I personally leave it in one pedal drive and use the flappy paddle to flick between comfort/sport modes (it does feel great to come around a corner in comfort mode, spot a gap, stick it into sport using the paddle and then blasting off)

Re:Guess-o-meter the Cyberster isn’t great but you quickly understand how many miles you’ll get out of your battery given the average m/kw you’re doing, so not an issue.

 

[TeslaDriver]

If you want regen changing then you can’t have one pedal driving.

I personally leave it in one pedal drive

I will find it interesting to compare. I'm very happy with one-pedal-driving, and very rarely use the brakes, hopefully I'll find the same with Cyberster

(it does feel great to come around a corner in comfort mode, spot a gap, stick it into sport using the paddle and then blasting off

Thanks, that is definitely something I, too, could enjoy

 

[Briann]

Yes I prefer this one-pedal to the one in Tesla (i've had a 3 and X). Foot off the pedal doesn't mean that you bump you head into the wheel but it is very controllable

 

[Vader]

1. The screens: the two on the side are hard to see (luckily the right one is useless by default)

Depends on how tall you are and how far back you sit. For me, it is almost completely visible (which of course infers that some of it is blocked). The right screen is your 360 camera, and very useful when parking. I set the star (programmable button) to the camera. I personally switch to the 3D view and rotate to the area I am concentrating on. The left side of the right screen is a numerical distance meter to the back wall. I consider this very useful indeed

 

[TeslaDriver]

Any questions for me to ask when I go to have a look at one tomorrow? Unless I encounter some unexpected showstopper then I am expecting to buy it ... they need 3 or 4 days to prep it before I can have it (no idea what that entails, sounds like a fair chunk-of-change for whatever they are doing ... )

Software version to latest perhaps?

Battery health check - not sure I'm that bothered about EV batteries, particularly MG, nowadays, but if its got a test might as well know what my starting point will be

Tyre wear (its done 5,000 miles)

Any suggestions would be welcome, thanks.

is the dealer likely to move on price? Its was the lowest priced one in Autotrader (which says "£1,500 below market average"), so I figure the price is already acceptable ...