Used car price observation and a recommendation.

[WarGamer]

Last edited Sat May 29, 2021, 01:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Last year I made the plunge into EV's.

Did I spend $40k on a Bolt or $60k for a Tesla?

No!!

I can afford those cars, but I just wanted to put a toe in the water so to speak.

My wife bought a 3 year old BMW a couple years ago, off lease.

BMW's depreciate horribly, her car was $50k new and she bought it for $25k, 3 years old with 26k miles.

So I've had my eye on the BMW i3, specifically the REX model which has a little gas powered generator and 2 gallon gas tank to power the motors/charge the battery when your battery die. Technically you can keep fueling the generator and have unlimited range, 150 miles EV only. The engine does NOT drive the wheels, it's purely a generator producing juice for the electric motor.

So... $45k new for a 2018 and I got mine, fresh off a 24 month lease for $18k with 32k miles.

So I keep a look out on the local BMW dealers websites and have noticed that the same car runs $22-24k now.

Anyway, wanted to give the highest recommendation for the i3. It's going out of production this year so I think you'll see more of them at a good price once this bubble bursts.

Also, they're made with sustainable materials, the door panels are made of recycled bottles and non-endangered sustainable wood trim.

Here's a stock pic

Oh and they're super quick, agile and roomy inside. Park onenext to a Mini Cooper and it dwarfs the Mini, it's not a tiny car!!

EDIT: another note, only buy the post 2017 model with the 94aH battery... much better range than the pre-2017. Also available without the little 650cc engine/generator... as a pure EV.

[MerryHolidays]

1. BMW now has tons of PHEVs

The i3 was cute, but it's not for everyone. PHEVs are a realistic way to go until we have EV charging stations throughout the US, including in non-metro areas on interstates and freeways/highways.

[SunSeeker]

7. When my lease on my EV runs in October of 2022, I'm getting a PHEV.

I really tried and wanted it to work, but the charging infrastructure is just not there yet, and at the rate we're going, it won't be for at least another 10 years. I've had it with range anxiety and the lack of freedom to go whenever and wherever I want in my car. I had that freedom with my old gasoline car, and certainly would have it with a PHEV. EVs are great if you have a gas/PHEV car as a second car. I can only have one car.

[msfiddlestix]

11. what does the PHEV stand for?

[MerryHolidays]

12. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle n/t

[msfiddlestix]

15. omg. thanks, should have had another cup of coffee. didn't register, obviously.

[Drum]

2. Kick, recommend, and bookmarking!

[Pinback]

3. Thanks -- I'm starting my research.

A friend has an i3 and loves it, so it’s a contender. Never thought I’d be considering a BMW! I used to think of Beamers as the prototypical Yuppie car.

[nocoincidences]

4. Used Beemer.

Hmmmmmm. Interesting.

[dawg day]

5. I feel more comfortable with that sort of hybrid

Just in case-- you can always gas up to get another 20 miles.

I'll look for this kind of car next time.
I'm so not a BMW type, though...

[ForgoTheConsequence]

6. We only buy union made.

Cool little car, though.

[caraher]

8. Nice tip

Five years ago I bought a first-generation Chevy Volt. Nothing close to the electric range you cite for the BMW (32-44 miles, depending on season - range is worse in winter). Certified pre-owned for about $13k.

I can't imagine anyone paying for a brand new car these days.

Also, in general with used EVs, you do want to check out battery droop. Newer models are likely much better than when I was shopping, but early hybrids and EVs like the Leaf could sometimes suffer significant degradation in battery performance. In fact, when I got the Volt I had considered buying a used Prius, and when I took a test drive it seemed like the gas engine was running more than I expected. Turned out the battery was shot and a new one, at the time, would run several thousand bucks from the dealer!

I also know someone who happily drives a low-range Leaf. She got it cheap and it gets her to work and back.

[Sherman A1]

9. Thanks for the tip

Much appreciated.

[genxlib]

10. Question

How much range does the 2 gallon tank add? How often would you need to fill it to keep moving on a longer trip?

[WarGamer]

17. with the 650cc generator running, it gets 38mpg.

So maybe 80 miles? After the EV battery runs out.

[Klaralven]

13. Why do "BMW's depreciate horribly"?

[marble falls]

16. I like that guy. Fortunately the BMW I want is the model the Bader-Meinhof gang used, BMW2000 ...

... or a 3.0. and equally fortunately - I could never afford one.

[d_r]

14. Be careful when you

Buy used evs because the older generation batteries degrade, make sure you look at the charge and range on the screen and do the math, don't rely only on the original published numbers. If you have short commutes a used ev can be an incredible deal.


ETA. If you look at the big used car websites like CarMax and carvana there are lot of used BMW i3, Nissan leaf, does focus ev, Chevy volt, Chevy smart ev for sale cheap because leases have run out. Really good deals be ause those cars have lowered ranges than today. Bit remey to research battery for each year and to look at the screen on that particular car to check the battery degradation. Battery tech improved so older leafs for a same has much less. A used 2013 might have only 30 miles per charge left. The Ford focus only had like 70 to start with before 2017 and that could be down to 50 now with battery degradation, same with Chevy spark ev which is so fun to drive. If you have a short commute can be very good deal but so your research and do not expect the sales people to know anything about it