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So....the electric car. How would it stack up financially and slot into every day life. A question not many on here have probably asked including myself, until Nissan contacted me with the offer of a 4 day test drive foc. Thought why not, got to be interesting if nothing else.
The car itself, surprisingly good. Full leather, heated front AND rear, Bose sound, nav etc etc. very tec.
To drive is strange. Any one who's ever driven a golf buggy will get it, smooth take off, no gears just seemless. Quicker than I thought, pulled a higher speed up the big hill outside work with 4 of our mechanics in it than most rep mobiles would have. Steers and stops well, not sporty just very competent. Anyone who I've taken out has been very surprised.
Range, the big question. I was pushing on more than the average leaf driver, book says 124 miles, I found 90 to be realistic. I'm sure I could eek out more, but would be boring.
The 2014 on models have a different type of heating and power system that means it doesn't suck power from the battery, in the early ones apparently the heater etc sucked a lot in the winter.
It takes 3ish hours to charge at home, costing £1.80 or so, or free from a public station, which takes the same time. I found Belfast good as you automatically got the best spaces in town free. There's also 15 rapid charge stations dotted about which gives a full charge from empty in under 30 minutes.
For bigger journeys....take another car lol. But if you had to it could easily be done with a small bit of planning.
Cost. With a bit of leg work and if your prepared to travel you can find one for £150 per month over 24 with 1 payment down. There was £99 deals but they're off at the minute apparently, internet rumours state they may be back at the end of the quarter. So basically if you use over £50 per week on fuel it is worth looking at.
Overall I was a lot more taken with it Thani thought. Very relaxing and surprisingly fast to drive, and there was something very satisfying about knowing you were not using any petrol. I only live 6 miles from work, and have other cars, so for me it could work. Will I? Can't answer yet, but if the £99 deals come back I'd be tempted, and not for 'green' reasons, because it would make financial sense and because as a motoring enthusiast it is a completely new experience.
Let the abuse begin.
So....the electric car. How would it stack up financially and slot into every day life. A question not many on here have probably asked including myself, until Nissan contacted me with the offer of a 4 day test drive foc. Thought why not, got to be interesting if nothing else.
The car itself, surprisingly good. Full leather, heated front AND rear, Bose sound, nav etc etc. very tec.
To drive is strange. Any one who's ever driven a golf buggy will get it, smooth take off, no gears just seemless. Quicker than I thought, pulled a higher speed up the big hill outside work with 4 of our mechanics in it than most rep mobiles would have. Steers and stops well, not sporty just very competent. Anyone who I've taken out has been very surprised.
Range, the big question. I was pushing on more than the average leaf driver, book says 124 miles, I found 90 to be realistic. I'm sure I could eek out more, but would be boring.
The 2014 on models have a different type of heating and power system that means it doesn't suck power from the battery, in the early ones apparently the heater etc sucked a lot in the winter.
It takes 3ish hours to charge at home, costing £1.80 or so, or free from a public station, which takes the same time. I found Belfast good as you automatically got the best spaces in town free. There's also 15 rapid charge stations dotted about which gives a full charge from empty in under 30 minutes.
For bigger journeys....take another car lol. But if you had to it could easily be done with a small bit of planning.
Cost. With a bit of leg work and if your prepared to travel you can find one for £150 per month over 24 with 1 payment down. There was £99 deals but they're off at the minute apparently, internet rumours state they may be back at the end of the quarter. So basically if you use over £50 per week on fuel it is worth looking at.
Overall I was a lot more taken with it Thani thought. Very relaxing and surprisingly fast to drive, and there was something very satisfying about knowing you were not using any petrol. I only live 6 miles from work, and have other cars, so for me it could work. Will I? Can't answer yet, but if the £99 deals come back I'd be tempted, and not for 'green' reasons, because it would make financial sense and because as a motoring enthusiast it is a completely new experience.
Let the abuse begin.
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