Some further test drives:
Audi Q4 Model test driven: Dual Motor S-Line. It’s not available on scheme but it’s all they had to test drive. Seats were initially comfortable and the car is, as you would expect, very well put together. Screens both easy to read sport steering wheel was ok but I’d rather not have that annoying flat spot on the bottom. Drives very well, incredibly powerful on some rather big hills. Ride is comfortable but you feel bumps straight through your spine. With all the adjustments available on the seats, including electric lumbar adjustment, you should be able to find somewhere comfortable. I couldn’t find anywhere I’d live with for 2 or 3 hours straight.
Mustang Mach E. Model test driven was the AWD version of the premium, the same seats as the tech pack. This is a fast car and it wants to go quickly. The seating position and steering wheel adjustment is excellent. It really is a car that wants you to enjoy it. However, there are a few niggles. There’s a fake engine sound in the cabin, in anything other than whisper mode it’s there. Why buy an electric car and then insert false engine noises? Makes little sense to me and it’s only really noticable to my deaf ears when you put your foot down. Which effectively makes it just before the blue lights approach you from behind and take your licence back to Swansea. The brakes were harsh. Maybe because I’d also found the 1 pedal mode but when you take your foot off the go pedal the car starts to slow at a rather leisurely pace and picks up as you get slower, so there’s times when you want to tap the brake just to take some speed off quickly. That’s the time when, even if you’re gentle with it, the car thinks emergency stop and we’re all leaning forward. The suspension does a great job at convincing you that the huge and heavy monster can go around any corner quickly, I’m guessing there’s a point where you’ll end up in the hedge with the car screaming in laughter. However the price for that sporty suspension is a visit to a chiropractor after every long journey on less than perfect roads. Between getting thrown forwards with braking and bounced around with the suspension, I was actually grateful to give it back.
That leaves me with the choice of the only car I honestly felt regret at having to give back, the Ioniq 5. Fortunately, since the test drive Hyundai have been kind enough to add a lot of options, including high spec AWD and the range topping Namsan. The car with everything, including heat pump, digital mirrors and a huge sunroof, the Namsan is 2 grand more than the Ultimate with tech pack but, currently, the available stock at the docks were all Ultimates with both Tech Pack and Heat Pump (a £950 extra) or Premiums or Namsan Editions. So, with the heat pump halving the difference and not being refundable should anything go wrong, it wasn’t a hard decision to go big.
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