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here we are awake at 5am again lol. unable to sleep so trawling through the suv sized options and previous cars considered.
the renault symbioz esprit alpine has reduced in price to 393 wpms. thats the middle option but gives you electric seats and tailgate heated seats and steering wheel so all the nice to haves and a decent mpg. the drawback was the door entry shape i want to recheck and see if i can find a comfortable wa in/out.
the cupra formentor v2 has gone down to £343 and was a suprise comfortable sit test, v2 gives you all the nice to haves as well. its drawback is the 40mpg which given the plunge in my mileage isnt a deal breaker now as i cant see my mileage increasing unless you know jobs going for a 66 year old. i do like the styling i know its a bit marmite.
the quashqai 1.5 e-power n-connector £347 wpms, ap has remained pretty steady the last couple of quarters it lacks some of the nice to haves heated stuff for winter.but is a nice place to sit.
the mg zs and hs trophy are the bargain pricewise they have all the kit but there was just something about the cockpit that didnt click hopefully the test drives on the 24th will put that to bed.
citroen c3 aircross max the ap went up to £627 so is above what i am comfortable with but the cockpit and test drive comfort keep it on my list along with the budget option of the c3.
mini countryman electric monochrome remains on the list as the sit test was so good like putting on old slippers lol. just a question of can i get my head around the charging. and the 0ap is very tempting.
i am going to go to chesterfield at 10.30 as most of these dealers are on the same street.
ive booked mini and mg test drives so will do the same for the others and see if there are any deals to be had.
sensible head says one of the hybrids but the mini and the cupra were nice places to sit and are tempting.
i may even risk waiting to see if the citroens come down next quarter, being very selfish i could order something this quarter and change next if prices come down although i am not too comfortable with that.
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@kezo they are be.ev 59p or monthly sub 4.99 gets you 49p or 9.99 a month gets you 39p.
@Rosyrash, i tried it last time around when i got the juke it just didnt fit really.
Charging 50kWh per month pays for the £9.99 subscription. Ideally, you want to be charging significantly more than that to actually feel the savings. The gamble is whether it proves value for money given your current reluctance to go out often.
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
Tech specs: 2026 Mini Monochrome 64.6kWh useable – miles/kWh 3.6–3.9 / 262-286miles (WLTP combined)
Based on Real World of 3.5 m/kWh or 225miles per 64.6kWh
£0.59 x 64.6kWh = £38.11 or 17p per mile.
With £9.99 subscription-
£0.39 x 64.6kWh = £25.19 + £9.99 subscription = £35.18 0r 15,6p per mile
50mpg Hybrid based on current Esso prices here £5.72 gallon (£1.26l)
£5.72 x 4.5 gallons = £25.74 0r 11.5p per mile
In the real world, even if you got 3.5 miles per kWh throughout the seasons for ever 225 miles it is costing you an extra £10 minimum to run an EV, given a small hybrid like the Juke will do more the 50mpg locally and the larger MG HS hybrid will do 50mpg locally.
Add to that, the inconvenience of having to sit and wait for an EV to charge away from home. During the busy periods, what if the chargers are being used (another coffee and top from cotton traders ontop😂) or if the chargers are out of use, have you a backup plan for the potential to need to use another charging site at times in comparison to a 5-10 min refuel and how far a tank of fuel would take you even if feeling unwell. Alot to think about!
Likely hood of a local council DFG grant for driveway?
current low mileage is an issue i have half heartedley considered just not renewing a lease and not having a car for a while. trouble is that then brings in rachaels vat and insurance tax so if i am going to comit it needs to be sooner rather than later.
the petrol countryman 1.5 c classic costs £327 and 86/week which is £1000 over the 3 years more than the electric monochrome which is 0 ap £81.46/week.
so even at 59p i reckon i will gain with the electric ignoring any dobbies/cotton trader costs.
the council have said the grass between my boundary and the road is an amenity so cant be taken up. even though the only amenity it provides is as a toilet for 2 old biddys dogs whose owners refuse to pick up after them.
current low mileage is an issue i have half heartedley considered just not renewing a lease and not having a car for a while. the petrol countryman 1.5 c classic costs £327 and 86/week which is £1000 over the 3 years more than the electric monochrome which is 0 ap £81.46/week. so even at 59p i reckon i will gain with the electric ignoring any dobbies/cotton trader costs.
If your dead set on a mini of some kind and write the others on the list off, then yes you are right, but if your sill considering the others with below £100 AP then opposite would be true.
If you have considered the ins and outs that that come with relying on public chargers 100% of the time, why not go with the Monochrome, based on the fact you like Mini’s – something to think about!
yes ive not written the mg’s off yet i will wait for the test drive and i reckon it will come down to the one that puts a smile on my face and hopefully get me out a bit more. the juke and quashqai realistically will need to be the n-connecta trim i think the tekna is way off on the qq and more than i would want to pay on the juke for just the heated bits really. unless tommorrow blows me away weather permitting they would just be the like for like swap although the qq e-power is tempting in its own right its just the spec that is a little lacking.
the basic c3 and the monochrome both made me smile and that was without getting into the minis go kart settings etc.
as you say its the leap to electric thats the question, does it create problems unnecessarily but can they be overcome? i doubt i would let the battery go below 20% so that would give me 40 miles easily in an emergancy and i cant see me needing to go further than that at short notice, hospital return is max of 20. all relations within that.
@kezo those numbers look optimistic to me. A car that’s regularly used for short trips, EV or otherwise will always be less efficient although the EV losses are somewhat reduced over driving an ICE that rarely gets to warm. I’d honestly expect 2.8-3.0 miles/kWh over a year if it’s mostly 1-3 mile trips.
I know that going to charge isn’t a fantastic idea and going where there’s something tempting around could be worse, our local best rate chargers were right beside KFC and a budget restaurant as well as a Costa. The costs of a charge wasn’t horrendous but when you add lunch or drink it quickly hits the wallet harder than we now get charging overnight.
Personally, the prospect of long term charging away from home isn’t one that would appeal to me. Not so much because of the cost, finding the right chargers plus subscription could make it viable, even if it’ll never compete with the dirt cheap home charging, but the time or additional costs. Going to charge effectively takes an hour out once every other week and if you add in wondering around a garden centre or, worse, eating out more often and the whole costs just get horrid. The novelty definitely wears thin, I was relieved when our charger went in, mainly because it meant no more running off for an hour because we’ve a few hospital trips coming up.
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
as you say its the leap to electric thats the question, does it create problems unnecessarily but can they be overcome? i doubt i would let the battery go below 20% so that would give me 40 miles easily in an emergancy and i cant see me needing to go further than that at short notice, hospital return is max of 20. all relations within that.
I think to know whether going electric will create unnecessary problems (wrong word), depends on many factors such, as your health now and going forward, having to go out in bad weather or during winter eventually piss you off, it becomes a chur and therefore you stop using the car to its potential and you end sitting at home, among many other factors you need to think hard about. Anothing point, is the 64kWh has only gone on sale this month, so there no winter data out there and EVdatabase has no information, so in winter using the heating and all other electricall items, you wouldn’t use in summer may mean under 200 miles in the real world and therefor 20% battery could be half of what you expect. Thinking aloud I might have an idea charging at home, but will look into it first.
Would having a C segment car such as the HS hybrid with memory / easy entry exit seats and seats that are generally more comfotable than the class below, along with more open space, make you feel more likely to want to get up and go out? @ajn reported 50+ mpg and comfier seats than his previos Volvo and may be worth speaking with post test drive.
The C3 remember is not full hybrid like the Juke, the Aircross is along with a potential deal.
Have you considered other forces charities now the auto grant has been taken away?
Alot of thinking to do mate for you to come up with the right decision, but your be a braver man than me if you go electric lol.
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@kezo those numbers look optimistic to me. A car that’s regularly used for short trips, EV or otherwise will always be less efficient although the EV losses are somewhat reduced over driving an ICE that rarely gets to warm. I’d honestly expect 2.8-3.0 miles/kWh over a year if it’s mostly 1-3 mile trips.
Thats why its important you mop up behind me😂
As for Hybrid, they are typically at there best on slower roads. The Juke does 50mpg easy and my gas gussling PHEV in hybrid mode depleted ev range gets 50mpg to and fro with daughter and 35mpg on a run.
Hows the weather?
@kezo those numbers look optimistic to me. A car that’s regularly used for short trips, EV or otherwise will always be less efficient although the EV losses are somewhat reduced over driving an ICE that rarely gets to warm. I’d honestly expect 2.8-3.0 miles/kWh over a year if it’s mostly 1-3 mile trips.
Thats why its important you mop up behind me
As for Hybrid, they are typically at there best on slower roads. The Juke does 50mpg easy and my gas gussling PHEV in hybrid mode depleted ev range gets 50mpg to and fro with daughter and 35mpg on a run. Hows the weather?We do really well mopping up behind each other.
As an example, I get around 3.2/3.3 over the whole life and I’d say 99% of my driving is within a 10 mile trip and 90% will be driving to somewhere within 3 miles. Others easily get much nearer 4 overall and 4.5 in summer (when I’m happy with 3.8) just because they’re driving to work each and every day.
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
i admit the juke hybrid hasnt missed a beat over the last 2.5 years and even with my odd mileage and short trip length its over 50mpg easily.
the c3 aircross cabin and seats are definateley a step up and sizewise the c3 aircross seems bigger certainley more comfortable although a bit wallowy in corners the juke a bit more assured.if the rep can get the increased ap closer to zero then its a lot more attractive.
the minis are a real step up in build quality and the seats seem to suit my issues not as soft as the citroens but more comfortable on b roads and poor minor roads round here than the formentor. the formentor electric seats def a nice to have as you can even adjust whilst driving. but the car set up is definately more boy racer so inherently firmer and the road imperfections transmit more than any of the others so far. although i have to say quite fun.
the qq and mg test drives will be interesting as the qq e-power is interesting and the mg kit is on paper attractive. the disadvantage is that the qq doesnt have heated anything like my present juke and the uplift to tekna trim is huge for the qq and for the juke it takes the ap over 500. unless a deal can be made although vertu the local dealer arent reknowned for deals.
the chicken compromise would be to go for the mini countryman 1.5c classic for £327 86/week. 46mpg.
but you lose hud,heated seats,steering wheel etc and over the 3 years is a thousand pounds more but no hassle with charging.
well 6 months ago i would never have thought i would have this choice and these problems lol.
thanks both for all the tips and advice.
very interesting test drives today in the juke tekna hybrid and the quashqai n-connecta the 2 exact models i am looking at. snow on the ground making the twisty bits interesting. the 360 camera and other camera bits like seeing the kerb down the side etc very cool. the tekna trim in the juke is definately a step up the display the cameras and the heated stuff. the sound system with bose in the headrest is worth the upgrade alone.
the n-connecta quashqai is good would i pay over 1k to get the tekna no i wouldnt. the seats are comfy the drive system is excellant. only stuff missing is the heated stuff.for more room and a cool drive system its cheaper than the juke tekna hybrid.
a lot to be said for better the devil you know lol
i will crunch some numbers this afternoon and give an update.
i have costed each option over the 3 year lease:
citroen c3 max 0 ap £81.46/wk is £12707.76. but its mild hybrid and the smallest buut still comfortable but a no.
citroen c3 aircross max 627 ap £86/wk total £14043.00 comfy right size but a bit wallowy. maybe.
mini countryman monochrome £0 ap £81.46/wk £12707.76 all the toys but electric. not yet i dont think.
mini countryman 1.5 c classic £327 ap £86/wk £13743.00 no heated seat/wheel. has elec tgate maybe.
nissan juke hybrid tekna £597 ap £t/a £14013.00 + any increase in allowance etc. maybe.
nissan juke hybrid n-connecta £227 ap £86/wk £13643.00 like for like swap but they have upgraded screens etc. maybe
nissan quashqai e-power n-connecta £347 ap £t/a £13763.00 + any increases in allowance. uper 360 camera etc but no heated stuff maybbe.
ok there is £1000 approx between the cheapest option and the most expensive in terms of 3 year cost but the cheapest the mini electric will cost more in fuel being unable to charge at home and the 2 most expensive will save fuel as they have the best mpg.
so really there isnt much in it 300per year cost wise.
the juke tekna has all the toys and a great sound system with the headrest speaker the camera system is excellant and its been fine the last 3 years in n-connecta trim is it worth 370 for the upgrade i would say yes.
is it better than the quashqai e-power n-connecta ? ok no heated screen,wheel or seats but amazing camera system good power system definateley more poke and comfy.much more room which may be needed??
the petrol mini lacks the hud,heated seats,screen and wheel.but has elec tailgate and is well put together and comfortable but only 40 odd mpg well behind the hybrids.
the c3 aircross is the most expensive but is beaten allround by the juke tekna which is only 30 cheaper but will cost more when increases in allowance are taken in years 2 and 3.
logical choice i think is the nissan juke hybrid tekna it has the nice to haves even though the heated stuff is only used 2 months out of 12, the camera and sound system are worth the extra on their own. so unless the mg’s super impress me its going to be a bumble bee coloured juke hybrid tekna next. with the mini and quashqai a close second.
Just a thought about the heated bits and bobs….I have the Ariya EV and the heated bits are great in the cold and wet and frosty conditions. Whack them on and the car windscreen and rear screen defrost themselves and the steering wheel is lovely and warm along with the heated seats.
The wife has a Juke Tekna which has the heated bits apart from the heated steering wheel and when I went out the other morning to get her car warm for her, it was very noticeable how cold the steering wheel felt at -2. I know she put gloves on but some people don’t necessarily like wearing gloves when they drive.
If the car choices are between one with and one without and you are struggling to choose if almost everything else is similar, I would go for the one with the heated steering wheel and bits every time.
As we age gracefully, I find creature comforts are important and always use heated seats/wheel throughout the winter months, I wouldn’t have a car without them now.
With cars now having virtual cockpits, with digital speedo’s, your current speed is just a glance way and not far out of your peripheral vision and much easier to see than the old analogue dials we have managed quite well with for 40+ years I question whether a HUD is strictly necessary and what you don’t have, you don’t miss. My current car has an HUD, yet I still look where I’ve always looked and wouldn’t miss not having one.
Is the Juke Tekna better the the QQ N-Conecta really depends on how you look at. The Juke has all the creature comforts, the QQ has extra space and better power delivery both of which are nice to have, but misses out on those all important creature comforts!
An interesting proposition will be when you test drive the MG’s or in this case the ZS, which gives you the creature comforts of the Juke, very similar space of the Qashqai with similar HD 360 camera, power etc etc. The ZS also goes a step further and allow you to pre-starting climate to cool or heat the cabin ahead of journey along with pre-heating seats for cold mornings all from the APP whils’t sill in the house however it doesn’t get Bose speakers in the headrests. All in all could be best of both worlds, with the HS taking it a step further.
https://www.mg.co.uk/sites/default/files/2025-02/MG_ZS_Hybrid_Brochure_Feb_2025.pdf
Back to the Mini Monochrome, there is the possibilty of a 20m granny cable (£300) and D Line EV Ultra cable mat for across the pavement (£60) 20mm thich and aproved my most LA’s now (you’d have to check). It would be slow charging 2kW hr but 24hrs would be enough to not rely on public charging.
Subtle😳😄
Given there’s pretty much no difference financially, it’s down to which car you prefer to be in.
If I’m speaking out of turn I apologise but…. Given you’ve barely gone out in months, I’d be looking for something that both meets your needs and adds that little bit of excitement. The last thing you need is a car that makes going out feel like a chore, it’ll have exactly the opposite effect from the freedom a car is supposed to offer you. As much as I have a pro EV reputation, it’s not the car for you in your circumstances, if there’s one on your list that could encourage you out just a little bit, I’d be jumping at that one.
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
@kezo ooh thats interesting i will check with the council as 90% of the distance to the car would be grass with practically zero traffic at any time, the pavement only has foot traffic daylight hours max 10 people per day. where i sit at my desk i look out to the car so i see everyone lol. i will have to check distance 20m may be short. doing a couple of overnight 9pm-9am charges would limit the foot traffic to almost zero.
mark, i think at the moment the deciding thing is the headrest speakers its much better than the sound in the other cars and the cost to upgrade them would be huge. the need for more space hopefully will be a long way down the line with luck and decent physio. plus if push comes to shove if it gets that bad one advantage with motability is they will let you change mid lease if necessary. as you say electric is just that step beyond at the moment although kezo’s granny lead could be interesting. even just 8 hours overnight would help and not be a major inconveniance. but that maybe for next time if i am still around lol.
also people have been known on a fairly regular basis to drive over the grass/paths to park near their bungalow to unload shopping and other stuff.sometimes they are there for several hours. once a week overnight may be doable lol.
I ran my ZS (45kWh battery) off a granny for years. It’s slower and doesn’t fit with the uber cheap EV tariffs but it’s still a lot better than public charging. If you’re running cable of a public accessible area you’ll need to put something suitable over it to prevent tripping.
It’ll severely change your calculations too, you’ll be halving running costs and taking away the necessary trip to a charger.
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
A rough estimate would be around 30kWh but would it be 8 hours? If you plug in at 9pm and unplug at 8am, it’s 11 hours which should exceed 40kWh. You need to make sure all plugs, cables and sockets are more than capable of running at 12amps for 10+ hours at a time, loose connections will spark and be a huge problem, any unnecessary resistance in connections will generate heat and that can melt plugs to sockets before you know it’s a problem. I used a 15 amp outdoor extension lead with a good circuit breaker in a brand new wall socket and I was still renewing the lead every 18 months or so. I’m sure @kezo can recommend minimum specs for the electrics you need.
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
There’s much higher charging losses on a granny, you don’t get all the watts you use…and they typically charge at 10a, not the 13a you assume. So you’d get 2.3kw per hour before losses, probably lucky to see 2kw after losses, or 16kw supplied for a spend of 18.4kw.
7kw chargers also have losses, but they are a bit less and not so noticeable as a much lower % of overall consumption.
Plenty of data on this on Speak EV.
In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out.
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