My EV journey to the i4

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 12:20 PM, Benarsenal said:

Good choice. i4 is a nice car.

Never considered Audi e-tron GT? Jin sexy leh 

function over form...insai is bare basic...and dash meh...

[Strat]

On 5/5/2023 at 11:22 AM, RadX said:

dun say liao....the i5 out soon.....nbz

can always change to i5 when tyres lau hong  and  need to patch llor ..

[Thaiyotakamli]

Bro global warming take MRT😆

[Ct3833]

On 5/5/2023 at 12:08 PM, Soya said:

No 400k no talk. Some even say got 450k then open mouth....

 

Radx got steep membership discount🤣🤣

Edited May 5, 2023 by Ct3833

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 2:07 PM, Thaiyotakamli said:

Bro global warming take MRT😆

 

On 5/5/2023 at 2:07 PM, Thaiyotakamli said:

Bro global warming take MRT😆

Same same.. use elec😂😂

 

heck I go bhutan stay la global warming 😂

[Ganwb79]

Ioniq 6 seems like it should be coming soon based on love letters I am getting, when you get that itch.. 

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 5:06 PM, Ganwb79 said:

Ioniq 6 seems like it should be coming soon based on love letters I am getting, when you get that itch.. 

based on what I tried, still

missing that “feel” that I’m getting from the i4

[Daniu82]

On 5/5/2023 at 5:08 PM, RadX said:

based on what I tried, still

missing that “feel” that I’m getting from the i4

Hyundai how to fight with BMW? Confirm not itchy one. 

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 6:09 PM, Daniu82 said:

Hyundai how to fight with BMW? Confirm not itchy one. 

Eqe would be closest and that is in terms of comfort 

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 8:28 AM, Daniu82 said:

@RadX Boss, next is to show us some photos and talk about the car performance and features. Things you like and don't like about the car. 

Nothing to really not like abt it now that the “range anxiety” has setteld

 very refined, quiet and as how all bmws should handle, with precision. I do 99 bends daily and can take the bends confidently as moderate speeds. Best thing is it’s a silent killer on all fronts.
 

A cbk can be beside me trying to edge me on and I jus hv to slowly egg the acc and I’m gone..

 

being used to RWD all this while helps in understanding the dynamics as well as the capability of the car. Seems 90% of the folks in the i4 forum feel the same. Many have come from Teslas and see the difference on all fronts

[RadX]

On 5/5/2023 at 8:10 AM, Voodooman said:

Thanks for sharing.  The list is longer than I expect. 😀

I stand corrected 

 

it was u who requested… so when changing 😂😂

[Wolfverine]

On 5/5/2023 at 6:59 AM, RadX said:

As requested by @Volvobrick

Started even before I got the GLC Coupe.  Was already looking at the Tesla for that first bite in EV, BUT a few things were not in order: 1. Infra, 2. Nascent stage and tech on all fronts, 3. Limited models to compare

 

2 years later, after much shopping and research, with the infra much improved, I went for it.  These were the contendors:

 

1.  Tesla

Would have settled for it save for it being commonplace like the Rolla and not having a dedicated showroom (now have) put me off.  Also, the feel and overall façade of the T3 was a put off.  Literally an iPad on wheels

 

2. Ionic 5

This was also on the radar but there were limited units on the road and somehow, the design and cues just did not fit in.  I could see how it had an appealing design, but was quickly taken off the list.

 

Then, I went upmarket and here were the contendors:

 

3. Taycan

Loved it at first sight, test and what was given. It had that oomph and all and was close to making the cut, but then my senses got to me…to pay $600/$700 plus k for that……into the bin.

 

4. EQC 400

Sure getter for me.  Loved the design cues, overall feel, and with the GLC, it had the same feel as I was used to.  Almost plonked for a used on, with 14k on the odo, but someone beat me to it.  Fate, I guess.........

 

5. EQE 400

Went down a couple of times to have a look, but unit was not homologated as yet, and no test units avail, and then when the price was revealed, too hefty a tag for me.  This would be my go to in future

 

Then, the GLC got grumpy and I had the tyre blowout🤑..bitch…that was a sign.  Car was already listed for sale, and had a few offers, but then this particular dealer (deals with EV only) sent me a msg.

I did not reply, but 2 weeks later, I did reply and then voila:

 

6. i4 EV40

There was a unit avail for me to take, but was beaten to it.  Not disheartened, I waited and then just after the blowout, dealer called me that he had the Portimac Blue unit and was to come in later.  COE went up (105k) and I thought, there goes the price.  Lo and behold, price maintained.  Did a visit, and he allowed a test, and I placed my deposit on the spot. Car only has 1.4k on odo.  Used for mgt to test, I was told

 

Collected the car after my Iceland trip, and there was a poignant note to this,  as when I was in Iceland, I truly saw the effects of global warming.  Right before my eyes, I saw a breakoff of an iceberg from the Glacier and to me,  Global warming is real… so that kinda edged me on.  May be a mall part, but still a part, although some may say EV is another MotherEarthFUGGER ahhahaha

 

So to end it all, those going on this journey, these would be your considerations on the EV choice:

1. Price – this is clear.  Has to fit the pocket.  Savings downstream are massive, but capital costs upfront.  Look at BYD, they are promising

2. Charging – study the charging infra around your area.  My area has no shortage of charging at all and suits my lifestyle

3.  Range anxiety: This WILL be an issue, but will be gone after a week or so.  Car can go to low 20% and still have range of 100km.  Same as ICE

4. Savings: Somewhat negated by road tax BUT still save abt $3k/annually as monthly charging is around $150 vs Petrol previously $500...ccb PAP

That’s all I have to say for now, but as and when I do have any inputs, I will add on. 

 

Others, please feel free to chime in.

 

For charging and sites lobang, go here: 

 

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your ride!

The road tax structure on EVs is something that no mortal can understand but the occasional free charging adds on to help cushion the road tax (thanks for sharing the free charging info on your other site 👍).

[RadX]

On 5/6/2023 at 6:55 PM, Wolfverine said:

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your ride!

The road tax structure on EVs is something that no mortal can understand but the occasional free charging adds on to help cushion the road tax (thanks for sharing the free charging info on your other site 👍).

No worries

 

when buying?😂😂

[Mkl22]

On 5/6/2023 at 6:55 PM, Wolfverine said:

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your ride!

The road tax structure on EVs is something that no mortal can understand but the occasional free charging adds on to help cushion the road tax (thanks for sharing the free charging info on your other site 👍).

It is to hoot to make sure that when people change to an equivalent EV, the state does not lose out in terms of petrol tax.  And since already adjusting, just pad it up a bit to add some buffer. 
As the old man said, what’s wrong with getting more money. 😂

Edited May 6, 2023 by Mkl22

[Theoldjaffa]

On 5/5/2023 at 5:06 PM, Ganwb79 said:

Ioniq 6 seems like it should be coming soon based on love letters I am getting, when you get that itch.. 

ya I like that car. Hope it’s priced attractively.

 

[Erwin123]

The i4 e40 is a very nice drive. I liked the heads up display a lot, the frameless windows are cool and hopefully they don't cause any long term problems. BMW also gives you you a lvl 1 charging cable FoC with their cars? 

In the end, I needed a family car and i4 is best for single driver, rear seats rather cramped due to low headroom and transmission tunnel. I am probably more of a i5 customer than an i4 customer but i5 probably only out 2024 and by then who knows what the COE will be.

In the end got a dual motor SUV instead. Feels like driving a fast bus compared to the i4, but I appreciate the extra space. Body roll of EV is really less than regular SUV - the heavy batteries do make a difference.

Edited May 7, 2023 by Erwin123

[Voodooman]

On 5/8/2023 at 12:04 AM, Erwin123 said:

The i4 e40 is a very nice drive. I liked the heads up display a lot, the frameless windows are cool and hopefully they don't cause any long term problems. BMW also gives you you a lvl 1 charging cable FoC with their cars? 

In the end, I needed a family car and i4 is best for single driver, rear seats rather cramped due to low headroom and transmission tunnel. I am probably more of a i5 customer than an i4 customer but i5 probably only out 2024 and by then who knows what the COE will be.

In the end got a dual motor SUV instead. Feels like driving a fast bus compared to the i4, but I appreciate the extra space. Body roll of EV is really less than regular SUV - the heavy batteries do make a difference.

Model Y, dual motor? That is very different drive from the i4 but maybe faster. 

With the heavy batteries, my friend said almost car like, agree or you still prefer an EV sedan?

[Lethalstrike]

On 5/6/2023 at 7:18 PM, Mkl22 said:

It is to hoot to make sure that when people change to an equivalent EV, the state does not lose out in terms of petrol tax.  And since already adjusting, just pad it up a bit to add some buffer. 
As the old man said, what’s wrong with getting more money. 😂

LTA added AFC on top of the already marked up road tax for EVs. AFC is to make back the lost petrol excise duties, as explained by Heng Swee Kiat in his budget before his runway ran out. 

Net net the amount u saved in servicing and petrol, you pay it back in depreciation (cause EEAI & VES makan from PARF) and higher road tax. 

Only in Singapore u kanna penalized for driving a zero exhaust emissions VES A1 230hp EV, and pay more road tax than a VES C1 230hp 2.0L turbo petrol. 

 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Lethalstrike