Hi all,
I have a Ford Fiesta (09 plate) I'm looking part exchange for a newer vehicle and I wanted advice with regards to the specific type of vehicles I should consider. I estimate my Fiesta in part-ex would be worth £4.5k and I'd like to spend less than £3k on top of that.
This car is for short journeys around my local area - my typical day is 20 miles of travel; occasionally, I go further, but never more than 50 miles a day in it. We use my wife's car for journeys longer than that, and its better for handling the kids (we have 2 little ones and are likely to have a 3rd). Ideally, I'd be able to take 3 kids in the back around my folks when I visit them (about once per week - its nearby) so I'd like something with a big enough back to handle 2 or 3 car seats.
Because of the range, I have thought about getting an electric vehicle - there is a second hand Zoe E (13 plate, 23k miles) for sale at about £6300 not far away and my work has charging stations that are free to use. However, I have concerns over EVs. 1) Deprecation - with the 13 plate, I think the worse of that is probably over; 2) Batteries - as far as I'm aware, most EV batteries are guaranteed for 8 years - with this Renault, that'd mean 5 years of being alright if something does go wrong; but after that, I might have a massive bill to replace the battery as none of the big car companies seem to give me any idea of battery replacement costs. 3) Range in future - If I change job, I might have to drive further, and charge at home only. 4) Servicing (& MOTs?) - I don't live in a big city or anything and I'm alittle concerned over finding someone locally to service an EV (and the cost when I do - if their the only game in town, they'll fleece me).
So, I have also thought about Hybrids - however, I have the same concern over servicing, but I think their better supported (?). Also, do they actually get any better mileage than a diesel or petrol?
Finally, I was thinking of returning to petrol - the issues with diesel emissions has me worried the bottom might drop out of the diesel market, plus with current and likely prices for fuel, petrol seems to be the cheaper deal.
I guess, what do people think about the current state of the market? Is electric worth the risks? Are hybrids good? Or should I go with the known imperfections of petrol?
I have a Ford Fiesta (09 plate) I'm looking part exchange for a newer vehicle and I wanted advice with regards to the specific type of vehicles I should consider. I estimate my Fiesta in part-ex would be worth £4.5k and I'd like to spend less than £3k on top of that.
This car is for short journeys around my local area - my typical day is 20 miles of travel; occasionally, I go further, but never more than 50 miles a day in it. We use my wife's car for journeys longer than that, and its better for handling the kids (we have 2 little ones and are likely to have a 3rd). Ideally, I'd be able to take 3 kids in the back around my folks when I visit them (about once per week - its nearby) so I'd like something with a big enough back to handle 2 or 3 car seats.
Because of the range, I have thought about getting an electric vehicle - there is a second hand Zoe E (13 plate, 23k miles) for sale at about £6300 not far away and my work has charging stations that are free to use. However, I have concerns over EVs. 1) Deprecation - with the 13 plate, I think the worse of that is probably over; 2) Batteries - as far as I'm aware, most EV batteries are guaranteed for 8 years - with this Renault, that'd mean 5 years of being alright if something does go wrong; but after that, I might have a massive bill to replace the battery as none of the big car companies seem to give me any idea of battery replacement costs. 3) Range in future - If I change job, I might have to drive further, and charge at home only. 4) Servicing (& MOTs?) - I don't live in a big city or anything and I'm alittle concerned over finding someone locally to service an EV (and the cost when I do - if their the only game in town, they'll fleece me).
So, I have also thought about Hybrids - however, I have the same concern over servicing, but I think their better supported (?). Also, do they actually get any better mileage than a diesel or petrol?
Finally, I was thinking of returning to petrol - the issues with diesel emissions has me worried the bottom might drop out of the diesel market, plus with current and likely prices for fuel, petrol seems to be the cheaper deal.
I guess, what do people think about the current state of the market? Is electric worth the risks? Are hybrids good? Or should I go with the known imperfections of petrol?