Electric cars

[jrb]

The incentives are certainly not what they used to be to buy an electric car, but I’m still going to buy one when the time comes to change my current diesel car, which to be honest is soon, as my car is falling apart, bar the engine, which I have had serviced every MOT. My car has done 126,000 miles. The radio isn’t working. The tail gate isn’t staying up. There are rust patches all over the car. The paint work is bubbling and flaking, etc.

Anyway.

The 1st Manchester Motor Show is on the 10th of January at Manchester Central. Tickets are free. Click on the link below for details of the events and how to get free tickets.

Manchester Motor Show | 10 January 2026

The very first Manchester Motor Show is here, Saturday 10 January 2026, Manchester Central · Free Entry

manchestermotorshow.co.uk

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

I see that EVs are now getting dragged into the congestion charge in London. Fair enough I suppose - they might be running on magic environmentally friendly electricity, but they still add to volume of traffic (congestion).

 

[tweety]

My son in law recently changed his company car from a Skoda Octavia to a Byd Seal plug in hybrid, he calculated that he's saving £200 per month on tax and the ability to charge at work.
It's an impressive car for £35k, but I'm not sure I'd like to own one out of warranty.

 

[Blue Since 76]

The incentives are certainly not what they used to be to buy an electric car, but I’m still going to buy one when the time comes to change my current diesel car, which to be honest is soon, as my car is falling apart, bar the engine, which I have had serviced every MOT. My car has done 126,000 miles. The radio isn’t working. The tail gate isn’t staying up. There are rust patches all over the car. The paint work is bubbling and flaking, etc.

Anyway.

The 1st Manchester Motor Show is on the 10th of January at Manchester Central. Tickets are free. Click on the link below for details of the events and how to get free tickets.

Manchester Motor Show | 10 January 2026

The very first Manchester Motor Show is here, Saturday 10 January 2026, Manchester Central · Free Entry

manchestermotorshow.co.uk

Definitely not Manchester's first motor show - I went to one at Central (GMex as was) in the 80s. Can't remember the exact year but the MG Maestro was the star attraction.

 

[jrb]

Definitely not Manchester's first motor show - I went to one at Central (GMex as was) in the 80s. Can't remember the exact year but the MG Maestro was the star attraction.

That's correct mate.

They should have called it Manchester's first electric car show.

It is what it is.

It's worth a look around, especially as entry tickets are free, and I'd like a bit more info about electric cars in general before deciding to buy one or not.

 

[crooky]

That's correct mate.

They should have called it Manchester's first electric car show.

It is what it is.

It's worth a look around, especially as entry tickets are free, and I'd like a bit more info about electric cars in general before deciding to buy one or not.

What do you want to know?

I'm sure the collective here will give you a proper answer rather than some biased grifter trying to sell you one at the show.

 

[BlueNomad]

An EV is the almost perfect car, IF you have the infrastructure to support it!

Do you have Level 2 charging access? If not, are you going to install it?

What’s your daily drive? Max? Min? If it’s less than 200 miles, you’re golden! If it’s less than 60 miles, you probably don’t even need a Level 2 charger!

What’s your electric “equivalent” for mileage versus petrol? Is electricity actually cheaper? If not, is the total cost, including maintenance, cheaper?

Do you have emissions or environmental motives? If so, how do you “value” those?

How do you feel about supporting the Chinese EV market? Musk? Or, is there a vehicle that is made by someone, or in some locale, of which you approve?

For me, we had 10 yrs experience with an Opel Ampera before we transitioned to a Model Y (pre-lunatic phase Musk), and are currently debating what to replace the 150,000 mile, 13 year old Ampera/Volt with.

There are a slew of new plug-in hybrids like the Ampera/Volt, some of which get 50 miles of EV use before they kick into hybrid mode.

However, with Trump’s anti-EV stance and the now rapid depreciation of EVs, it almost seems criminal NOT to buy a late model EV!!

The current Honda Prologue/Acura ZDX EVs are based on the new GM Ultima platform, with a Honda body and switchgear overlay, and can be had for 50% off new. There’s a 2024 with 300 miles on it (dealer demo??) going for about $30,000, which is an absolute steal!

We are trying to wait until after the Chicago Auto Show in Feb, where my wife can sample the vehicles we are looking at, before making a choice, but I’m finding it hard not to buy an Acura ZDX right now!!

And, lastly, LOVE the Model Y, but just can’t stomach putting more money into Musk’s pocket, esp knowing $200M+ of it helped put America in this predicament!

 

[Thaksins Love Child]

An EV is the almost perfect car, IF you have the infrastructure to support it!

Do you have Level 2 charging access? If not, are you going to install it?

What’s your daily drive? Max? Min? If it’s less than 200 miles, you’re golden! If it’s less than 60 miles, you probably don’t even need a Level 2 charger!

What’s your electric “equivalent” for mileage versus petrol? Is electricity actually cheaper? If not, is the total cost, including maintenance, cheaper?

Do you have emissions or environmental motives? If so, how do you “value” those?

How do you feel about supporting the Chinese EV market? Musk? Or, is there a vehicle that is made by someone, or in some locale, of which you approve?

For me, we had 10 yrs experience with an Opel Ampera before we transitioned to a Model Y (pre-lunatic phase Musk), and are currently debating what to replace the 150,000 mile, 13 year old Ampera/Volt with.

There are a slew of new plug-in hybrids like the Ampera/Volt, some of which get 50 miles of EV use before they kick into hybrid mode.

However, with Trump’s anti-EV stance and the now rapid depreciation of EVs, it almost seems criminal NOT to buy a late model EV!!

The current Honda Prologue/Acura ZDX EVs are based on the new GM Ultima platform

I had a pre lunatic model 3 and loved it. Changed for a Skoda Elroq in September. A good car but I miss the features of the M3.

Charge for free at work and do less than 10,000 miles per year. Also a company car so costs next to nothing in tax. Definitely works for my situation.

 

[Blue Since 76]

That's correct mate.

They should have called it Manchester's first electric car show.

It is what it is.

It's worth a look around, especially as entry tickets are free, and I'd like a bit more info about electric cars in general before deciding to buy one or not.

Had an electric car for about 18 months and wouldn't go back to ICE as long as I can charge from home. Bought 2nd hand and almost 4 years old and only thing it's needed is rear brakes as they corroded from lack of use - VW has gone back to rear drums because they are used so little.

I never liked automatics when I'd had one as a hire car, but having an EV is different and I wouldn't want to go back to a manual unless I was buying a sports car/hot hatch to enjoy at the weekends. And that's without all the toys EVs have a tendency to have - you'd have to peel my heated steering from my warm, dead fingers.

Have done a few longer trips to Newcastle, plus Wembley last season and never had any issues with public charging (and we've not got a Tesla which would make it even easier). Total cost of those trips can be similar to ICE but every other trip is a lot cheaper - we've averaged 4.2 miles/kWh over all seasons and about 30% motorway, which at 7p/kWh is about 1.7p/mile, whereas an ICE would be about 10-15p, depending what mpg you'd get.

All depends on being able to charge from home and the sorts of trips you'd be doing, but as 2nd hand EVs are so available now with lots up to 5 or 6 years old, most people should be able to find one that works for their lives and that makes economic sense compared to the alternatives

 

[tweety]

Just a word of caution for anyone thinking of owning one out of warranty. I had a Toyota Prius which is a hybrid, it's 25 year old technology yet hardly anyone knows how to fix them even now. I'm sure the same will apply to EVs.
An acquaintance recently had a problem with his car where he was only able to charge it at home. The fault was fixed under warranty by the main dealer who told him the price would have been £5500 out of warranty. Ouch.

 

[jrb]

What do you want to know?

I'm sure the collective here will give you a proper answer rather than some biased grifter trying to sell you one at the show.

It doesn’t matter what a biased grifter or sales person says to me, I won’t be leaving with an electric car. I’m not ready to buy an electric car just yet. I’ve seen lots of videos on Youtube about electric cars. And followed this thread. I have a few models in mind. Going to the car show gives me the opportunity to ask some questions, and to also look around other electric cars that I haven’t thought about looking at. And it’s an afternoon out in town.

 

[jrb]

Had an electric car for about 18 months and wouldn't go back to ICE as long as I can charge from home. Bought 2nd hand and almost 4 years old and only thing it's needed is rear brakes as they corroded from lack of use - VW has gone back to rear drums because they are used so little.

I never liked automatics when I'd had one as a hire car, but having an EV is different and I wouldn't want to go back to a manual unless I was buying a sports car/hot hatch to enjoy at the weekends. And that's without all the toys EVs have a tendency to have - you'd have to peel my heated steering from my warm, dead fingers.

Have done a few longer trips to Newcastle, plus Wembley last season and never had any issues with public charging (and we've not got a Tesla which would make it even easier). Total cost of those trips can be similar to ICE but every other trip is a lot cheaper - we've averaged 4.2 miles/kWh over all seasons and about 30% motorway, which at 7p/kWh is about 1.7p/mile, whereas an ICE would be about 10-15p, depending what mpg you'd get.

All depends on being able to charge from home and the sorts of trips you'd be doing, but as 2nd hand EVs are so available now with lots up to 5 or 6 years old, most people should be able to find one that works for their lives and that makes economic sense compared to the alternatives

Thanks.

I’m leaning towards 2nd hand from a main dealer with extended warranty as part of the price. I appreciate I will pay more than buying privately, but I won’t take a risk buying privately, even though the car will be cheaper.

 

[Blue Since 76]

Thanks.

I’m leaning towards 2nd hand from a main dealer with extended warranty as part of the price. I appreciate I will pay more than buying privately, but I won’t take a risk buying privately, even though the car will be cheaper.

Bought ours from a dealer, albeit they sold a different brand. Risks are basically same as for any car, where it's always going to give some protection to buy from a company.
A lot of the cars have pretty extensive warranties on batteries and motors - I suspect there would always be a lot of hoops to try and claim, but if they're offering a warranty of say 7 years or 100,000 miles on every car, I'd feel pretty confident they should be ok.
As ever, once you've chosen a make/model, see what things pop up on forums as potential issues - of the newer models, only one I've heard has a poor reliability record is the MG4, but I don't think even that is the battery and motors, it's more normal car parts and infotainment system