to be honest if your budget can stretch to the ionic 5 ultimate, that is the most fully loaded car on the scheme in my opionion. if you have another 900 you can add the tech pack that features Remote Smart Park Assist (RSPA), Parking Collision Avoidance (PCA), Automatic flush door handles, driver seat position memory function and relaxation seats on both driver and passenger seats. if range is more you thing and its not to low the ionic 6 premium is the right one to go, its only second to telsla globally for efficency. the nissan in evolve trim is pretty much fully loaded, but even advance trim is good.. there are some good options on cars at the moment but the price is steep. the ionic 5 ultimate does have a lot though and the cooling seats really do help in the summer (i dont have one a friend does) i have tried the ev6 and loved the power, but a 8 month old demo with 6k on it should not be rattling (noises) like it was so it was 100% crossed off.
I look at the kit on the Ioniq 5 Ultimate and a lot of it is useless to us. If we travel any distance, then there’s 3 of us, so the reclining ‘relaxation’ seats are going to cause a lot of problems to who ever is in the back. I don’t like the Ioniq’s door handles, maybe the automatic ones are a little better? The Ev6 was under equipped for what it costs, I was hoping Ford were going to follow everyone else and drop the Select’s price and add the better version but they just dropped £100, which is a shame, it has the best doors for getting in/out. The Nissan Ariya Evolve is the expensive option, enough range and plenty of equipment, including the complete memory adjustment for steering wheel, mirrors and seat. Something perfect if there’s potentially multiple drivers. The Q4 felt too high for us, the IDs too poor quality and were uncomfortable.
Only you can say how much money your willing to put towards an AP! Afterall its your private business however, there will be plenty of memers willing to help with spec’s of what each car has and how they felt on a test drive or just sitting in it but, even then what suits one may not suit another, so equally choosing a car is personal to you. As for putting a hefty AP down this time doesn’t necesarily mean you will have to maintain that level of spend in 3-5 years time. As manufacturers bring out more EV’s, the possibilty of more Chinese EV’s on our roads them may drive prices down, as battery csts fall fall, its highly likely by then EV prices would have reduced somewhat by the time you come to renew. From my perspective and as far as I understand you have been happy overall with your current ZS, only wishing it had better range for your longer journeys nor do Iclass you as a car snob? With that said do you really need to put such a large APdown on a new car, when cars like the ZS long range or similar aren’t a million miles from the higher rang vehicles on the scheme will probably be capeable for yourneeds. That said I’m not one to preach how much one should put down and its ones business and nobody elses. I wish you and others all the best in your search/s and hearing your chosen choices ?
Thanks mate, it’s not about snobbery, although I appreciate your comment, it’s kind of a magpie type of thing with lots of shiny toys to play with (all of which could go wrong). The base Skoda is sufficient for our needs, although heated seating and steering wheel is useful for a passenger with spine issues and a driver with arthritis in hands as well as knees. Everything else is partially very useful and justifiable as necessary or else just shiny toys I could probably survive quite happily without (being honest). I keep swinging from expensive right through to base Skoda and all the way back again.
The next car needs to be bigger, to solve the problems we’ve encountered with the ZS. Range is one and boot size is the other (amongst a few quality issues that you’d expect from a Chinese budget product) but the main thing is that as my legs degrade my ability to get in and out when the door just opens far enough now would be a real problem. Having something like the Skoda or the Nissan would enable easy access even at the point where I can barely bend the legs.
The money this time comes from the ZS, it’s mine and can be used to fund whatever car I want/need, it’s just whether I can justify the expense on the shorter ranged car with more toys or the longer ranged one with a few toys added. I may find that test drives completely alter my plans and I end up in the Ioniq, who knows?
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.
Mark