€470/month budget – potential EV newbie looking for advice
Hi all,
Looking for some advice as I’m trying to make a decision on my next car and feeling a bit stuck.
Budget: €470/month
- Roughly €22k–€24k purchase price depending on finance
What I’m looking for:
- Ideally a small SUV / crossover, automatic and low mileage
- Something reliable (will be mainly used by my wife in future)
- A bit more premium/luxury feel (I’m 34 and want something luxury feeling)
- Future-proof for starting a family in the next year
Usage:
- Mostly weekend driving, errands, and trips (not used daily for work)
- I do expect usage to increase once we have a baby
Current options:
Option 1: Go EV (VW ID.4 / Skoda Enyaq)
- I love the Skoda Enyaq, but it’s slightly out of budget
- The 2022 VW ID.4 seems to fit better financially
- Big advantage:
- I have charging in my apartment
- Avoid servicing / engine issues (I don’t have a trusted mechanic in Dublin)
My concern:
- I’ve read mixed reviews/issues with pre-2024 ID.4 models (software, infotainment, etc.)
Option 2: Play it safe – VW Golf (Japanese Import)
- I found a VW Golf 1.0 eTSI (Japanese import**)**
- 22,500 km, €24,500, very clean spec
- The rationale is to drive it for 3–4 years, then:
- Upgrade to an SUV
- Hopefully with a bigger budget and better EV options / reliability
- The big downside, it wont have the SUV feel I'm after
- And it comes with Japanese import quirks (insurance, resale, lack of service history)
Other considerations:
- I want to keep saving for a house deposit (so staying within budget is key)
- Would prefer to avoid expensive surprises in the form of EV issues or used car engine problems.
Questions:
- Would you take the risk on a 2022 ID.4 at this price point?
- Is the Golf stop-gap strategy actually smarter given my situation?
- Any other SUVs in the €22k–€24k range I should be considering?
- Any red flags with Japanese imports in Ireland I should factor in?
- For my usage (low mileage, city + weekend), does EV make the most sense?
Appreciate any thoughts and the time taken to read through this long post.
u/Ares037 — 6 days ago
