EV general discussion

VaderDSL said:
Anyone reckon if an electrician/ev installer would be allowed to run ev cable on top of stones but underneath a door sill? Not sure on the rules for ev cable installs. Our incoming supply is to the left of our front door, the driveway is to the right. There is a gap under the front door sill that can accommodate a cable but it would be resting upon small stones, the cable can be secured on the wall either side though.

F0qeuwhm.jpeg
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Mine is the same'ish layout, incoming supply on the right of door, drive on the left. This is how it's installed under the front door.


 
Simon said:
‘but it’s a hatchback ‘

Anyway much more useful than a boot. Couldn’t fit a box in my 3 series the other day but the bigger opening and diagonal load helps a lot.

For the C40 it’s a bit lost in the world of EVs I think
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Well the EX40 certainly has a hatch but Volvo actually call it a SUV whereas the EC40 they call a crossover, so go figure as they are of the same dimensions aside from the swooping roof of the EC.
But a sedan I think we both agree it isn't :)
 
m4rmite said:
Don't laugh, a 1986 mini 850 took 24.9 seconds. And it was only 640kg.
They felt fast as hell.

Cutting edge :)

Austin Mini 850 Specs, Performance, Comparisons

Explore the Austin Mini 850 detailed specs, including 0-60 mph times, horsepower, and handling data. Get all the Info.
www.ultimatespecs.com
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:D my first car was an Austin Metro City 1.0l, positively a rocket at 18s 0-60. Still remember it as the fastest thing on 2 wheels! Can remember trying to hit 100mph in it with me, 2 prop forwards and 2 second row forwards in it after a game in Rochdale! :D:D
 
tamzzy said:
Right all you EVheads (not really petrolheads innit)

Looking to canvass some opinions.
My 440i has a trade in value of about £18k, so I'm not looking to get a car more than £25k

So I've been looking at some options:

Model 3 LR AWD (pre-highland 350bhp 75kwh)
Pros: Tesla, bigger than the Polestar 2, cheapest of the lot
Cons: build quality, ergonomics, most expensive insurance (£850)

Polestar 2 (pre-facelift 402bhp 78kwh)
Pros: best interior, hatchback, same external dimensions as my 440i, average insurance (£660)
Cons: poorer range than the Tesla, servicing might be an issue with limited dealership?, same price as the xc/c40

Volvo XC/C40 twin recharge (pre-facelift 402bhp 78kwh)
Pros: SUV, looks good (esp C40), cheapest insurance (£550)
Cons: Dated infotainment (P2 better), lowest range of the lot, same price as the P2

Anything else / any car I should consider?
My head says P2, my heart says pony up for a highland refresh 3, but my wallet says a pre-refresh 3 :/
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have you driven the polestar 2 much? I did ~700 miles in a few days in one as a rental and could not wait to give it back, the lack of space for the driver was an absolute killer due to the stupid centre console design, look at how little space there is between the wheel and the centre console:

KnTZILa.jpeg


My leg had nowhere to go, it was truly the least comfortable car to drive long distance I've driven including small sports car because of this, very claustrophobic.

The cruise control/lane centering was awful too compared to Tesla and BMWs offering, really eratic and unpredictable. Then the range being different on the nav to trip computer (which is a known quirk) etc.


There's absolutely no way i'd choose a polestar 2 over a facelift model 3 (e.g. 2021 onwards with black not chrome window surrounds), the model 3 is a much better car to drive and nicer place to be IMO once you get over the minimiism, the materials on the facelift model 3 are nicer to touch (e.g. the "suede" on the door cards etc)

Out of interest, what ergonomics do you think are worse? Some things are less obvious, but once you figure out how to customise things it's actually great (e.g. you can set the climate temperature using just the steering wheel dial). The nav/infotainment is properly good too (my main car is an idrive 7 m550i and still prefer the tesla system in my wife's model Y performance for most things).

For me it would be a model 3 LR or performance at thsi price point without a doubt. The highland is a step up again but they're still double the price, so unless you can get one through a work scheme not sure i'd do it!
 
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@rG-tom not tested any yet, just looking at getting one over the next few months to replace my 440i.
And just going by reviews.
Re: ergonomics, I was thinking about the lack of a driver's display and all of it being on the centre console...did you find it hard to adjust? (Esp coming from a 4 series with a HUD)
Also how is the wind noise of the post-21 model 3, I believe they have laminated windscreen but not side windows?
 
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tamzzy said:
@rG-tom not tested any yet, just looking at getting one over the next few months to replace my 440i.
And just going by reviews.
Re: ergonomics, I was thinking about the lack of a driver's display and all of it being on the centre console...did you find it hard to adjust? (Esp coming from a 4 series with a HUD)
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It took a little bit of getting used to but actually i'd rank it this way now i'm used to it (i've driven ~13k miles in it?):

1) HUD best obviously
2) quite high centre screen with speedo top right
3) normal speedometer where the wheel blocks most of the dash unless you look under it

I have no issues at all with where the speedo is and only found it odd for perhaps the first ~3-4 times i drove it. Now it's completely second nature switching between it and the HUD on my m550i.
 
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tamzzy said:
I did see a 2021 model 3 LR AWD for £19000. Only has 38000 miles on the clock. Very tempted and the cost to change is minimal
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Yours is the f36 right? I used to have an f36 440i and my wife getting the MYP is what made me get rid of it, the tesla was just better to drive in every way, no brainer swap IMO other than the engine.

If you had an m440i g26 then it'd be a bit harder but even still.

Is a model 3 performance much more? Only looks like a few k from a glance:


Based on the photo with actually smart summon enabled, that one has enhanced autopilot too which was a £3.5k option

At least on the model Y, the performance drove a lot better than the LR so we went for that. It was only very slightly more harsh but it felt a lot more controlled with it.
 
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rG-tom said:
have you driven the polestar 2 much? I did ~700 miles in a few days in one as a rental and could not wait to give it back, the lack of space for the driver was an absolute killer due to the stupid centre console design, look at how little space there is between the wheel and the centre console:

KnTZILa.jpeg


My leg had nowhere to go, it was truly the least comfortable car to drive long distance I've driven including small sports car because of this, very claustrophobic.

The cruise control/lane centering was awful too compared to Tesla and BMWs offering, really eratic and unpredictable. Then the range being different on the nav to trip computer (which is a known quirk) etc.
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Which is fun, as I’ve had mine for two years and find the enclosed space quite nice - lots of places to rest my arms etc.

I agree with the lane auto-steering though, it’s not as great as my old 2016 E Class - the distance keeping in traffic is fine though.

Not sure what the issue with the nav range you’re talking about is though - it integrates seamlessly with the in-built Google Maps which constantly updates the estimated charge at destination based on how you’re driving at the time.
 
Penfold101 said:
Which is fun, as I’ve had mine for two years and find the enclosed space quite nice - lots of places to rest my arms etc.

I agree with the lane auto-steering though, it’s not as great as my old 2016 E Class - the distance keeping in traffic is fine though.

Not sure what the issue with the nav range you’re talking about is though - it integrates seamlessly with the in-built Google Maps which constantly updates the estimated charge at destination based on how you’re driving at the time.
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Maybe i'm bigger, but when i had cruise control enabled there was nowhere for my leg to go if i didnt want it on the pedal (this was a LHD one), and it was really uncomfotable. I typically put my foot flat ont he floor with my knee to the right of the wheel which is impossible with that centre console!

The range thing was that trip computer on the binnacle didn't match google map's range, it just felt amateur hour that the systems didnt talk properly.
 
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Penfold101 said:
Which is fun, as I’ve had mine for two years and find the enclosed space quite nice - lots of places to rest my arms etc.

I agree with the lane auto-steering though, it’s not as great as my old 2016 E Class - the distance keeping in traffic is fine though.

Not sure what the issue with the nav range you’re talking about is though - it integrates seamlessly with the in-built Google Maps which constantly updates the estimated charge at destination based on how you’re driving at the time.
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How tall are you? I also found it cramped
 
For reference i'm 6'4 so not small, but the polestar is hardly a lamborghini or a fiat 500 and i shouldn't have issues driving it. I've droven absolutely loads of cars and this is the only one i can think of where i've had that issue, and it's almost entirely due to the raised centre console
 
rG-tom said:
For reference i'm 6'4 so not small, but the polestar is hardly a lamborghini or a fiat 500 and i shouldn't have issues driving it. I've droven absolutely loads of cars and this is the only one i can think of where i've had that issue, and it's almost entirely due to the raised centre console
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The rear head room isnt really any good for tall people. its a weird proportioned car tbh
 
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