Why are people buying electric cars?

[gman]

I previously said there could be parts issue with the lesser well known brands, I'm going to retract that now after realizing Chery, Omoda, Lepas, Jaecoo, Delivan Freelander iCAUR brands are all part of Chery International. The group produced 2.8 million vehicles in 2025, that's not some tiny little car manufacture.

Also, if anyone thinks build quality could be an issue, Chery has had a joint venture in China with JLR since 2012, building the Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport and various models of Jaguar. (OK Evoque might not be the best example of a quality build)

None of the JLR products in gerneral are synonymous with build quality. There's also independent garages and mechanics not only being hesitant to work on Chinese cars, but possibly unable due to diagnostics software lacking, lack of repair manuals and data, EV training for them etc.

If they keep pouring their cars into the UK then it will of course all come in due course, but the possible increase from 10% to 45% tariffs might slow things down.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I'm getting 15k max out of my tyres.

We just replaced the front tyres on Mrs. Mariner's Citroen C3 Aircross. Bridgestone Turanza 5s dropping below the legal limit on the edges (There's a place where she pulls out going to work in the morning turning left and it's hard to avoid wheelspin) at 18,000 miles. I used the same turning on a daily basis and went through 3 1/2 sets of tyres in 90K miles. The rears on her car are OK but probably won't make it past 25K, so not a tyre with longevity at it's core.

I've replaced them with Pirelli Cinturato P7s - they seem quieter, steer a little better and have a slightly more comfortable ride.

 

[JohnMcL7]

Much as I like my ICE car, I do enjoy driving Mrs Nod's EV - spectacular acceleration and hugely reduced cost per mile.

This is something I've been noticing and quite interested in since I was reading a general discussion (not on an electric car forum) and there were a number of people who commented they liked the electric cars just for the way they drove. We have an electric coaches here now (from a company called Ember) and I've been really impressed by how smooth they are especially in stop/start traffic. I've been put off by electric cars by over the top defenders and the fact that the high price and low fuel was of no use to me when I don't use much fuel.

I'm hoping to get a test drive in a VW ID7 because the two year old ones are a similar price to Octavias, Superbs and Corollas but they're a really good spec and 280bhp. My 2011 Mazda6 is due into the garage again to look into another exhaust leak (supposedly it sitting around a lot is bad for the exhaust), the exhaust heat shield has fallen off again and there's a headlight levelling arm which seems to have come apart (£450 part). It's been a great car and extremely reliable which is what worries me about replacing it however it is getting old now to the point where it's not great to drive and with the amount of corrosion underneath so I'm questioning when to give up on it and move on.

 

[gman]

We just replaced the front tyres on Mrs. Mariner's Citroen C3 Aircross. Bridgestone Turanza 5s dropping below the legal limit on the edges (There's a place where she pulls out going to work in the morning turning left and it's hard to avoid wheelspin) at 18,000 miles. I used the same turning on a daily basis and went through 3 1/2 sets of tyres in 90K miles. The rears on her car are OK but probably won't make it past 25K, so not a tyre with longevity at it's core.

I've replaced them with Pirelli Cinturato P7s - they seem quieter, steer a little better and have a slightly more comfortable ride.

Thanks, rub it in why don't you...

 

[gman]

This is something I've been noticing and quite interested in since I was reading a general discussion (not on an electric car forum) and there were a number of people who commented they liked the electric cars just for the way they drove. We have an electric coaches here now (from a company called Ember) and I've been really impressed by how smooth they are especially in stop/start traffic. I've been put off by electric cars by over the top defenders and the fact that the high price and low fuel was of no use to me when I don't use much fuel.

I'm hoping to get a test drive in a VW ID7 because the two year old ones are a similar price to Octavias, Superbs and Corollas but they're a really good spec and 280bhp. My 2011 Mazda6 is due into the garage again to look into another exhaust leak (supposedly it sitting around a lot is bad for the exhaust), the exhaust heat shield has fallen off again and there's a headlight levelling arm which seems to have come apart (£450 part). It's been a great car and extremely reliable which is what worries me about replacing it however it is getting old now to the point where it's not great to drive and with the amount of corrosion underneath so I'm questioning when to give up on it and move on.

The ID7 would be a fine EV replacement for my current car and has been on my radar for a while. It ticks a lot of boxes.