VW ID.3

I wouldn’t limit yourself to matrix headlights. Last years pro performance are good spec and don’t have them. Standard leds are v good too. V3.5 is the latest software but you should be looking at v3.2 onwards.
Budget for a charger also if you can get one installed at home. Picked up my ID3 last month and am happy with it.

Very much so. From what I’ve been told, the Zappi charger works best with solar so that’s what I went for. Had it installed last week and going fine so far. I think someone mentioned here earlier that there was an uptick of ID3 sales in June/July 3 years ago so you might see more coming on the market soon.

If I ever get solar I'd utilise exporting to the grid for 24c and charge the car for 7c on the energia EV plan.

would not bother with the HUD but that's a personal choice (I've mine disabled), brilliant car overall, but v3.2 software is a must before you buy. good luck!

and re. home charger, I would honestly just go with a 'dumb' (non-solar surplus) charger, just charge using low night\off peak rate and export all metered surplus.

There were just shy of 1,000 ID3’s registered from Jan to August 2021, with 340 being registered in July 2021 alone, which was the highest ID3 sales month of the model, the key question is, how many of those, will keep the car, with the 3 warranty ended, and is not extendable. I’d take a guess, that a high proportion of those are either PCP or company cars, there could be some bargains available if there is a big offload.

I was on the phone to a VW main dealer to make a viewing appt to look at the few ID.3’s for sale there.
Asked the salesman about the different HP’s (145 vs 204) in relation to ICE cars, couldn’t tell me the difference in terms of power or performance, and when I asked about the battery, told me I’d be better off with the smaller battery size, because the bigger one is heavier and so wouldn’t have as much range! 🤔🤷

It’ll be an interesting test drive tomorrow, I’m likely to come back as confused when I come back as when before I go!

they are mostly clueless. Take everything they say with a pinch of salt. And consider buying privately a car still in warranty. It’ll save you a few grand. There’s no real advantage to buying used from a main dealer.

That weight issue will be rectified in the 5 seater ID3 GTX version, they made some design changes, its mentioned on one of the GTX reviews.

yes, forgot about this applies to Pro S also, well spotted.

My Id.3 is gone a week, handed it back to VW finance, only way I could get rid of it, no additional milage penalty despite already being about 20,000 Kms over the limit.

Absolutely no dealer would take it, not even the VW dealer where I got it, they said they have too many electric cars new and 2nd hand and can't sell them, all the other dealers said they won't take EV as trade in.

The finance company said there are a lot of people handing back their id cars, I was told this by more than 1 person in the finance company.

I was offered 11-15 K max from the many dealers I contacted and decided to hand it back under the half rule, I had approximately 20,900 left to pay and no charge for additional mileage.

VW finance were great to deal with and God bless that half rule !

Anyway, I will get the train from Carlow - Dublin in a while and pick up a 2020 Kia Cee'd 1.0L Turbo Petrol Manual with 27,000 Kms, I had test driven it and the i30 a few weeks ago and a Kia Stonic and loved them. The much lighter cars were so much nicer to drive and instantly noticeable.

19,500 is the cost of the Cee'd, a far more sensible sum to spend on a car and I love the fact it's far more basic with less tech and not dependent on software and screens, never again, I love the interior too and the analogue instrument cluster and I really forgot how good it is to drive a petrol manual after so long !

After 9 years EV driving, it's the end of the road for me!

Has to be the daftest move in history, the shine will soon wear off after the first few of many visits to the petrol pumps. Petrol manual are an absolute pain in the hole to drive especially around town, you'll have a pain in your bollox changing gears. At least with an EV you had the option to fix your fuel costs on a yearly basis, with this car you're at the mercy of every little ripple in the market. Did you get a loan to buy the Kia? I had a 1 litre manual VW Taigo for 2 days when my car was being repaired, a truly horrible yoke I had to put €20 petrol into it when I returned it. €20 gives me more than 2 weeks driving in my EV.

I also hope you haven't made a mistake MadLad. I remember you saying you commute daily, with free charging sometimes at work place. The Petrol 1L is unlikely to be economical unless driven with care. And price to buy second hand you will save little if anything.

Wishing you the best for the future and hoping you still show up here..

Highest offer I got was 20k. Stopped looking after that. I’d say we will keep ours.

One of the more bonkers moves made on boards! But each to their own