Swapping the A2 for a BMW i3 - thoughts please

Have tested 5 different i3s, several other EVs and PHEVs including latest leaf. Fundamentals of physics such as Aerodynamics remain valid. Yes there's a bigger (and slightly heavier) battery pack version now but not a lot else.

What did shock me was the residuals last year I almost bought a 64 top spec Rex but thankfully didn't. Auctions last September were artificially high, now even auto trader has £15k examples. One wonders what the end of lease 60ah ones will sell for in the coming months. Hyundia have a reasonable EV saloon coming up.

Think I'll wait till River Simple get their production model together. Hugo owns am a2 1.2
 
Birchall said:
Hi Paul

Sorry for all of these questions, but are they also "no charge" for use, I have heard that many charging points are free, is that true?

Steve B
Click to expand...

I have found that most are free. It all depends on your local area and council.

My council car parks have free charging bays that includes free parking for three hours. As long as you are plugged in and charging or you will get a ticket

Morrisons, Asda, Dobbies, etc are also free here, although the bays are mostly blocked by lazy ICE owners if they are located near to the entrance.

In 8 months i have spent £6 on public charging.

If you will be using Ecotricity quite a bit, i would suggest getting a quote to swap to their gas/elec as you will get 52 free 30 min charges per year, or 104 15 min ones (i think) It is only worth swapping over if the quote is similar to what you are currently paying.


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ecoangel said:
Have tested 5 different i3s, several other EVs and PHEVs including latest leaf. Fundamentals of physics such as Aerodynamics remain valid. Yes there's a bigger (and slightly heavier) battery pack version now but not a lot else.

What did shock me was the residuals last year I almost bought a 64 top spec Rex but thankfully didn't. Auctions last September were artificially high, now even auto trader has £15k examples. One wonders what the end of lease 60ah ones will sell for in the coming months. Hyundia have a reasonable EV saloon coming up.

Think I'll wait till River Simple get their production model together. Hugo owns am a2 1.2
Click to expand...

EVs are like mobile phones, outdated within a year and are best leased rather than purchased at this moment in time.

You may find some bargain first gen i3's in the next year or two.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk
 
manhattan$ said:
If you will be using Ecotricity quite a bit, i would suggest getting a quote to swap to their gas/elec as you will get 52 free 30 min charges per year, or 104 15 min ones (i think) It is only worth swapping over if the quote is similar to what you are currently paying.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Unfortunately I can't swap to them, I applied but because we have an economy 7 tarrif they can't handle that ???

Strange how if you have an economical electricity set up and Ecotricity type of company can't handle it !!!

But iot sounds like it wil be economical enough without it.

Many thanks for the info.

Steve B
 
"Stop moaning, put the tdi in storage, walk around naked and do your bit to help the planet. "

One of my favourite quotes so far on here :)
 
I didnt fella, but the deals are changing all the time. Having a aftermarket one fitted for £170 this coming week (site survey is today) 7KW type 2
 
Just had the call now. My i3 is getting delivered on Monday.

One thing I like about leasing a car like this is that you can never be sure of the exact spec until it arrives.
Yes I have been told the basic spec of this car and it will not be less than that spec. But from previous leasing experience I do know that occasionally you do get some extras that were not mentioned. Never less, but sometimes more.

So I am looking forward to Monday.

My A2 was taken out of storage yesterday, straight to my "body shop/paint guy" to have the tyre clearance resolved (it JUST catches over speed bumps) and while he is doing that he is removing the rust from the new discs (especially in the grooves) and tidying that up (the rust looks awful even though it is just surface rust).

Then when he has finished that it is off to Duxford on Sunday, then back into storage. The next day the i3 arrives.
Petfect (accidental) timing.

Steve B
 
Hi Andy,

My misses drives a Nissan Leaf since a half year and she never wants to go back to the A2............and I must admit: Driving electric is car driving 2.0.
Quiet, smooth, torque of a V6.......never visit a gasstation......:cool:
If you don't need an huge range and you can charge at work and home this is perfect transport, you want get disappointed!

I'm driving the A2 now, had to overhaul the head, 8 leaking exhaust valves............runs fine now.
 
Just sold my A2 yesterday and confirmed collection of i3 on Ist October. Great lease deal in the end from "drive electric" / Fleetdrive.
Deal was for top spec i3 already on order to the company but not assigned. In Fluid Black too. Deal was for 24 months with £3600 deposit and £250 per month. This saved me £5.8 k on my previous order with BMW. The contact came from here in another post. Contact at Fleetdrive is:
Vicky Reed
Fleetdrive Management Ltd
Tel 01628 899720.

Now in the workshops being prepared. Sad to see the a2 go but I know its to a fellow A2OC member and a good home
 
So a update guys since I started. Is thread a few months ago -

I'm collecting my car this afternoon. - photos to follow of course and I'll be keen to share my driving experience with you all too.

Just a few things -

1. Just to echo what some of the other members have said on here - fleetdrive is the company I used and in particular Vicky Reed is the contact which Iv posted about in a separate post (guys just FYI, if you do go with fleetdrive because of the forum - please let Vicki know for the best deal available )

2. My A2 ID being prepped ready for sale - Iv posted it in the forsale section so please take a look if you or anyone you know is looking for a top spec, pampered A2 TDI.

I must admit I'm going to miss A2 ownership but am keen to keep being part of the forum and adding value on here if I can. I think there are a few of us now making the swop so it would be great to see a i3 subsection on here.

Much love guys

Andy




Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
It has arrived!!!

Even the guy who drove it to me from Brighton was amazed at it (his first drive)
Also he had covered 80 miles (mostly motorway) and it is showing as 75 miles left in the batteries, so that is not bad!

It will take me about a day to read the owners manual and have a play with the toys.

I already have it connected to my watch and so I can prewarm it of a morning etc. and it now can receive and send emails too ( only to be used when parked of course)

It has 19" wheels and they look great, but I was hoping for the 20" wheels (I wanted the wheels to be larger than the ones on my A2 but they are the same size (apart from the i3 ones being so skinny)

I had to drop the guy off at the station and the drive was even better than I remember from the test drive, super quick off the line or 50 to 70.

Off to browse the user manual and then take some pictures.

Steve B
 
Best of luck with your new i3 and the sale of your former pride of place A2, Andy. Look forward to the pictures of your new car and hearing of your immediate and short-term thoughts and latterly a long-term verdict.

Good to have you sticking around too.

Cheers,

Darren
 
Great news too Steve; look forward to the pictures later too and your verdict. Is this an i3 take over bid of A2OC... ;)
 
Top Tip.

If your leasing your I3 - don't forget GAP insurance - it covers you if (which their often is) a Gap Between what the insurer would pay out on A TOTAL LOSS claim, and what the finance company want back -

The best deal I could find was with the company below and it cover you for 2 years


bb74a42887827d2a5d550fe1447236be.jpg



Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
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