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Original poster

Second hand electric car advice

26 replies

couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 16:14

My current car is a 2014 Ford Focus and I'd like something similar but maybe a bit smaller, Corsa-sized is OK, electric and perhaps around 5 years old or less. I prefer automatics and was finding half the cars in the search are now electric so it looks like the right time for me to make the switch.

I only have a budget of around £10K for the car and that's pushing it - Am I kidding myself? I've factored in getting a charging point separately.

Most of the second hand cars I've found online have been Nissan Leafs - which look OK. I really don't know.. I just know I don't want to buy a Tesla.
Does anyone have any wisdom to share about which cars are good? Also if you have anything to share about owning an electric car - how different is it - what do I need to know?
Thanks!

OP posts:
PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 26/01/2025 16:17

How do you use your car? Is it largely a runabout for local journeys and you have another family car for long trips or is it the only car in the household to cover everything and you do lots of long journeys etc?

We had an older Nissan Leaf for a while and it was great as a city car but crap for long journeys due to short range. Generally cars with longer range are pricier but I’ve not looked recently so no clue what £10k gets you

Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 16:22

Once a week it will need to do about an hour's drive into Cambridge but mostly it's around town. Long journeys would be once or twice a year at most.

OP posts:
Justsayit123 · 26/01/2025 16:32

Aren’t or haven’t they stopped making the Leaf - not sure but it may impact value and servicing etc

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Cars & vehicles Driving & parking
Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 17:00

Justsayit123 · 26/01/2025 16:32

Aren’t or haven’t they stopped making the Leaf - not sure but it may impact value and servicing etc

Looks like they are planning a 3rd Gen Leaf starting in 2025. Hopefully that will mean the previous generation ones drop in value.

OP posts:
leafyloop · 26/01/2025 20:43

I love my Leaf. My model only has a small battery but it's brilliant for local journeys. Just remember that real life range is impacted by terrain, weather and time of year.

User0ne · 26/01/2025 21:02

We currently have a Renault Zoé as one of our cars. It's 2 yrs old and has a range of about 200miles (in summer; probably 140 in winter). It was 15k from a dealer. You could get a 4yr old one for less than 10k.

We've also had a leaf (with a smaller range).

A couple of things to be aware of:

  • the leafs often have charge sockets which aren't compatible with many public chargers
  • if you want to do longer journeys get a car that can "rapid charge" as not all can and you don't want to be waiting 7hrs for your car.
  • chargers at service stations often have queues so you may be better off leaving the motorway to charge
  • they're all pretty rubbish in snow (if that's a consideration)
  • they don't come with spare wheels as standard and these can be hard to fit into the boot due to the battery space.
  • heated seats and steering wheel is loads more efficient than the heating (and nice to have)
NeonGreenHighlighter · 26/01/2025 21:05

If you like automatics, would a hybrid be an option?

Goodafternoonmillie · 26/01/2025 21:13

We have a second hand electric corsa (cost about 14K) and its been brilliant! I use it for my work journeys and running errands. I work all over the county, my furthest site is 31 miles away and a full charge usually gives about 190 miles. It does go down quicker than that due to the faster roads and things like when its cold outside + having heat on full blast make a difference. I never charge it out and about so far have managed all my journeys in one go and charge at home overnight. For the first few
weeks you will have range anxiety!

SlipperyLizard · 26/01/2025 21:27

I’ve recently bought a 4 year old leaf for around 10k, I love it, the range isn’t amazing (probably 100 miles on a good day) but I don’t need it to be, most of my journeys are local.

Being able to preheat it on cold days is amazing, and it is a much nicer drive than my mum’s auto Ford escort. It also has great gadgets, all round cameras, heated steering wheel & seats, will apparently park itself but not had the guts to try that.

Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 22:46

User0ne · 26/01/2025 21:02

We currently have a Renault Zoé as one of our cars. It's 2 yrs old and has a range of about 200miles (in summer; probably 140 in winter). It was 15k from a dealer. You could get a 4yr old one for less than 10k.

We've also had a leaf (with a smaller range).

A couple of things to be aware of:

  • the leafs often have charge sockets which aren't compatible with many public chargers
  • if you want to do longer journeys get a car that can "rapid charge" as not all can and you don't want to be waiting 7hrs for your car.
  • chargers at service stations often have queues so you may be better off leaving the motorway to charge
  • they're all pretty rubbish in snow (if that's a consideration)
  • they don't come with spare wheels as standard and these can be hard to fit into the boot due to the battery space.
  • heated seats and steering wheel is loads more efficient than the heating (and nice to have)

Thanks for the review. I hadn't considered a Zoe but that sounds ideal. The range is what's scaring me but I rarely go more than 70 miles in one go anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 22:48

SlipperyLizard · 26/01/2025 21:27

I’ve recently bought a 4 year old leaf for around 10k, I love it, the range isn’t amazing (probably 100 miles on a good day) but I don’t need it to be, most of my journeys are local.

Being able to preheat it on cold days is amazing, and it is a much nicer drive than my mum’s auto Ford escort. It also has great gadgets, all round cameras, heated steering wheel & seats, will apparently park itself but not had the guts to try that.

That range isn't great. I have to go about 50 miles to work once a aweek so would maybe need to charge while I'm there

OP posts:
Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 22:49

Thanks. I wonder if a Corsa might be a bit small. I know I said small but is the boot space OK?

OP posts:
Original poster
couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 22:50

I would rather just go full electric while I have the chance.

OP posts:
SlipperyLizard · 27/01/2025 09:01

couchparsnip · 26/01/2025 22:48

That range isn't great. I have to go about 50 miles to work once a aweek so would maybe need to charge while I'm there

Show quote history

The Zoe has a longer range, but is a smaller car and I needed a decent boot size, the longer range also makes the Zoe more expensive and I didn’t want to spend more than £10k as my journeys are almost all local.

nowtygaffer · 27/01/2025 09:06

I have a 3 year old Hyundai Ioniq and love it. It's probably bigger than you want but has a parking camera so very easy to park.

friskybivalves · 27/01/2025 09:17

I hate our Ioniq 5 with total ferocity. It is astonishingly wide and the steering lock is so pathetic it actually struggles sometimes to get round basic corners if another vehicle is in the other lane. Yes - great range and all the toys but parking is like trying to get the latest aircraft carrier with all the tech into a tight dock at Portsmouth Harbour.

LegoLandslide · 27/01/2025 09:55

friskybivalves · 27/01/2025 09:17

I hate our Ioniq 5 with total ferocity. It is astonishingly wide and the steering lock is so pathetic it actually struggles sometimes to get round basic corners if another vehicle is in the other lane. Yes - great range and all the toys but parking is like trying to get the latest aircraft carrier with all the tech into a tight dock at Portsmouth Harbour.

I also have one if these and hate it with a passion. It's so unwieldy and it beeps and pesters me constantly! And the staff at our local Hyundai garage are breathtakingly rude.

Pleased to meet another hater! It is my partner's company car so we had no choice.

I do love being electric though and I can fit all the kids in it plus the kitchen sink which helps.

However probably out of OPs budget.

friskybivalves · 27/01/2025 10:13

@LegoLandslide OMG the beeping and the endless bloody nagging. It also sees imaginary perils and slams on the brakes in an emergency stop on a clear road when I'm doing a dangerous, er, 20mph max. We are getting shot of ours this October and I CANNOT wait. Our local Hyundai garage closed down (agree on staff - plus endless blooming requests to bring it in for a software update that require them to have it all day and ooops it's not ready so can you come back tomorrow because the new maps haven't downloaded) so our nearest is now miles away.

Heaven knows what we will get next but even though we can fit three across the back, two dogs in the boot, and I did once plug my Dyson into the socket into the rear seats to sort a hair crisis before a wedding... it will NOT be another ioniq 5. And breathe.

LegoLandslide · 27/01/2025 12:28

@friskybivalves mine only emergency brakes when I'm reversing, I can live with that at least. But yes, we have 2 years 8 months to go and I'm going to replace it with the smallest thing I can find!

And yes - oops its not ready but you can have a courtesy car for free? Just £20 per day for insurance and I can't tell you how long we'll keep yours . . .

Original poster
couchparsnip · 28/01/2025 21:02

Yes the Hyundai tank is definitely out of our budget!
I am not a great parker so this would be a nightmare!

OP posts:
MerelyPlaying · 28/01/2025 21:16

I have a Leaf, and I absolutely love it. In fact, I like it so much that when my car was written off in an accident just before Christmas, I bought another one.

The 40kwh battery will do around 120 miles, more in hot weather and a lot does depend on your driving style, if you do a lot of motorway driving you either need to keep to 60 or accept that you’ll expend a lot more energy. I reckon to get 3.5 miles/kw but I can get 4 if I’m careful.

A lot of people are put off the Leaf because if you use public charging, it takes a Chademo charger and there are fewer of those around. However, I have had no problem public charging, like any EV you have to forward plan. I do most of my charging at home.

I had a 2012 Ford Focus and the EV is a dream to drive after that. I didn’t even have parking sensors on my old car, now I have cameras, lane detection etc (although two of my favourite things are the heated steering wheel and seats 😄).

There’s a Facebook group called Women Drive Electric which I recommend, you can ask questions without having things mansplained to you. There are also brand-specific groups but I find them less friendly.

I’ve honestly never regretted buying my car, I would never go back to an ICE.

nowtygaffer · 29/01/2025 08:16

couchparsnip · 28/01/2025 21:02

Yes the Hyundai tank is definitely out of our budget!
I am not a great parker so this would be a nightmare!

Mine is the Ioniq, not the Ioniq 5 which is much bigger and much more expensive. I paid £11.5 k only 15k miles on it

friskybivalves · 29/01/2025 11:23

couchparsnip · 28/01/2025 21:02

Yes the Hyundai tank is definitely out of our budget!
I am not a great parker so this would be a nightmare!

I also find the windowsills incredibly high. Can barely see out of the bugger. But maybe a smaller ioniq is the answer. Range is superb but everything else is catastrophic.

Bjorkdidit · 29/01/2025 11:29

If you're literally only doing a journey longer than the range twice a year, you could plan the charging time and extra cost into the journey if possible otherwise hire a hybrid/small petrol as a one off.

Carriemac · 29/01/2025 11:31

I have the bmw i3 and it's amazing