EV's with 300+ mile range?

[GarethC]

New cars don’t deprecate as fast as claimed. Depreciation figures always compare list price, but I’ve always tried to get at least 30% off list. I didn’t get anything near that off my iD4 but could have got 20% off an iD3. Remember the Phaeton? Widely panned for super-fast depreciation. You could buy one new with 60% off list, so in reality the depreciation wasn’t that bad.

I knew you could get decent discounts off new, but I didn't realise they could be that good. Presumably carwow and the like? Thanks for the tip, it gives me another option, which is to monitor the discounts on new EVs. I couldn't stretch to £40k for a new Enyaq, but if I could get even 20% off that I could manage it, especially with Scottish government interest free loans and other cost savings.

Good point re: Tesla's charging network blowing others' out of the water currently. I think this will change quickly though. As national infrastructure projects go, if the government got behind it seriously, I think ensuring plentiful 350kw charging stations on our motorway network would be -relatively- easy. 5 year job rather than 10, so certainly I think this will be 'fixed' by the end of the decade , and 350kw peak charging, as per the new Hyundais and Kias, such that charging stops are 15-20 mins max, to be the standard or better.

[Joeboy]

I did enjoy the France trip video. I had a look at the skoda yesterday but didn't price one up as time got away from me. Interesting on the possibility of off list price.

Again and treading carefully so I don't sound like a mentalist, I am loathe to put much regular trust in Govt or other people to improve/enplace working charging whereas a model 3 like range takes care of that almost completely and we charge at home. A small point yet keeps the experience within our control.

I'll be honest, I think the model 3 is outstanding on paper and i'm sure it will blow me away in reality. How is it as a load lugger, we are back seat down types and carry around all sorts of 2nd hand tat!

Pre test drive I am veering towards Hyundai for body shape to work in our load carrying lives. I also looked at the MG but they just don't have the range I crave. I hope the model 3 has cavernous carrying capacity!

[Mart]

I'd think carefully about the TM3 for load lugging. The capacity is great, but it's a small boot opening, and a fixed rear shelf. The TMY, though roughly the same length and width, has roughly twice the capacity and is a hatchback. RHD models are shipping to Hong Kong (I think), so they may arrive here sooner than I'd assumed when I thought give Berlin a year to get up to speed on LHD models.

Just to be clear, I've put tonnes of stuff in the TM3, and the frunk, and under floor storage in the boot are great, it's just the access which may put you off, so have a good look, ponder, then ponder some more.

[Joeboy]

Cheers Mart, the leaf is ok for load lugging to a point but as I am parsimonious in nature I'm looking for a 40/50k car to be a bit of a silver bullet. Possibly not possible but we'll give it a go. I pity the salesman who meets swmbo for the real negotiations. We both worked for Ford back in the day and she is killer.

[Joeboy]

I'd think carefully about the TM3 for load lugging. The capacity is great, but it's a small boot opening, and a fixed rear shelf. The TMY, though roughly the same length and width, has roughly twice the capacity and is a hatchback. RHD models are shipping to Hong Kong (I think), so they may arrive here sooner than I'd assumed when I thought give Berlin a year to get up to speed on LHD models.

Just to be clear, I've put tonnes of stuff in the TM3, and the frunk, and under floor storage in the boot are great, it's just the access which may put you off, so have a good look, ponder, then ponder some more.

Just had a look at the Model Y, Looks like that could be it. 315 mile range on the dual motor version, built in Germany and order once they've put out the first few thousand.. Thank you Mart, that's what I was looking for. I'll still test drive the Model 3 on Tuesday!

[Stinsy]

I knew you could get decent discounts off new, but I didn't realise they could be that good. Presumably carwow and the like? Thanks for the tip, it gives me another option, which is to monitor the discounts on new EVs. I couldn't stretch to £40k for a new Enyaq, but if I could get even 20% off that I could manage it, especially with Scottish government interest free loans and other cost savings.

I’ve never gotten anything other than average offers from carwow. Drivethedeal and UKcardiscount have always been good. Part of it is about choosing cars that have good discounts and part of it is being patient and waiting for a good deal to come along.

From a recent drivethedeal marketing email:

[Mart]

I'd think carefully about the TM3 for load lugging. The capacity is great, but it's a small boot opening, and a fixed rear shelf. The TMY, though roughly the same length and width, has roughly twice the capacity and is a hatchback. RHD models are shipping to Hong Kong (I think), so they may arrive here sooner than I'd assumed when I thought give Berlin a year to get up to speed on LHD models.

Just to be clear, I've put tonnes of stuff in the TM3, and the frunk, and under floor storage in the boot are great, it's just the access which may put you off, so have a good look, ponder, then ponder some more.

Just had a look at the Model Y, Looks like that could be it. 315 mile range on the dual motor version, built in Germany and order once they've put out the first few thousand.. Thank you Mart, that's what I was looking for. I'll still test drive the Model 3 on Tuesday!

Hope this doesn't sound like backpeddling, but the TM3 is great, tons of space, the boot goes so, so far back, but the access, and angles are 'saloon limited'. I remember when we went from an Astra to a Meriva about 20yrs ago, what a difference.

I've seen a revue of the TMY v's ID4 in the US, and that also suggested 2x the space in the TMY, so presumably (I'm making assumptions) the ID4 is similar to the TM3 in volume, but again, probably more practical.

I watched this vid from Fully Charged last week doing a fast review of the TMY, and it was really useful to see it side by side with a TM3. All the extra size is in the height, and whilst it's only about 10% larger volume, that all ends up as additional space.

Also worth being patient with the TMY, since it's supposedly as cheap to build as the TM3 (US made) due to production improvements in the newer factories. So maybe, if demand can be met in Europe, then the price will come down, especially since imported cars currently have extra shipping and import duties on them ...... but perhaps wishful thinking.

I've almost convinced Wifey that she wants a TMY (trade in the TM3) for her birthday in a year or so's time.

[Joeboy]

I'm in the middle of watching this video



and will be onto your one once i've got thru my morning work list (What time is it)! There is a good side by side of the boots.

All the way back in our cars we have preferred storage space to performance although we've had a few 2 seaters too. The Model Y will be more in keeping with our lifestyle. I won't quite become a fanboy yet but cannot miss in these videos how far ahead they (Tesla) are in terms of what a car should be and let's not just settle for modifying the old tat that ICE offered. Obviously the temptation is to order one and travel to Berlin to pick it up, make it a holiday coming back via bipping around Europe for a bit.

Aye, that'll do! Irony being i'll fund this off the back of an ongoing offload of my oil shares (boo hiss) so that is in its own way quite cool.

I had literally no awareness of the Model Y until this morning..

I am happy to go into standby mode as the Leaf has and is excellent, no hardship at all. Will be interesting to see if there are further battery capacity dev's between now and UK launch.

[nowty]

I'll be honest, I think the model 3 is outstanding on paper and i'm sure it will blow me away in reality. How is it as a load lugger, we are back seat down types and carry around all sorts of 2nd hand tat!

This was / is my only concern with the TM3.

My ford focus practically always had the rear seats down and I filled it with gardening waste, building materials, soil, rubble, my and my mates paraglider, etc. I assumed the TM3 was a hatchback when I ordered it.

However, most of my building work is complete, I now pay for the council garden waste collection service. Long items like timber and copper pipes should still fit as the back seats can still go down. So the storage issue wont affect me as much going forward as it would have in the past.

Just watched this video and it does seem to allay most of my main concerns in terms of lugging stuff about.

[dan_b]

Late to this fast-moving thread!

Have had my TM3 almost 2 years and 19,000 miles now, which included a 2000 mile road trip to the French Alps last summer. Since then, they've improved the efficiency (heat pump) and increased battery capacity (in the Long Range) so 2021 models are even more capable range-wise. And again as mentioned many times, the Supercharger network is absolutely peerless - they are located everywhere, the stalls are numerous at each site, they are reliable, they are ridiculously simple to use, and they get you back on your way much faster than you might realise. The TM3 is a hat-full of fun to drive too - it's fast but it also handles extremely well if you like chucking cars into corners at pace.

As Mart mentions, it is very much a saloon car though - the boot is not a hatchback, so that does limit the size of what you can put in the back of it - although with the rear seats folded down it is a big load space - it just has that opening restriction. You can't get a fridge in there, but I've often put two bikes in the boot with the back seats down, and of course you can always get a roof rack as well.

Tesla expects to sell even more Model Ys than 3s given it's a decidedly more "SUV" like shape and size, and has the hatchback flexibility. However, as already mentioned, Tesla has given no date for when the UK can expect to receive them. The original plan was for all European 3/Y sales to come from Tesla Berlin, but this factory hasn't started making whole cars yet and may not do so for some time, and also the intention was for the Berlin factory to start making the Ys with the new 4680 structural battery packs and the new front and rear megacastings - both of which are significant engineering changes from the existing being built in California and China - essentially a taller TM3 under the skin.

If you are prepared to wait, then by all means wait for the Y, but if you'd rather jump in a bit sooner, you won't be disappointed with the 3.
Speaking of which, make sure to use a Tesla Referral Code when you do place an order - you get 1000 miles of free Supercharging Credit (as does the person who referrs you!).