New Renault 5 vs anything else new.
Hi, for context, not in the UK but all my experience with cars is there and this sub seems very knowledgeable.
After several years of no car since leaving the UK I'm looking at finally getting something and am fairly convinced to get an EV. Primarily for commuting a 20 to 25 minute drive, mixed urban/fairly short motorway stretch.
Prices and availability are unfortunately much worse, largely due to insane taxes, often looking at 80% more.
The 5 was initially launched at something like 42,000 if I convert, and it seems as though they didn't sell very many, so now it looks like it's about 5-6k off. Not seen one used yet.
Used my potential options are
500e
Corsa/e208
Mini SE
Born/id3
Ioniq 28/38
Megane etech
Not so sure about the 500e, feels more style over substance but one of the few small evs that was imported officially so there's a few around.
Corsa/e208. The 208 is a good looking car, i just read very mixed things, there aren't loads of these around, mostly from 2021 to 2023, would probably cost half the r5.
Mini se(prev gen) : tempting, but the asking prices are just way too high to justify, especially with the short range.
Born/id3: technically never imported but there's a few around anyway, probably bigger than what I need/want. Would be looking around 25k, unsure what they would have cost new but likely heavily depreciated.
Ioniq: not many around, quite a bit bigger than what i need, potential a lot of car for the money.
Megane etech: very few around as never officially imported, i found a few comments from local fb groups saying to avoid as servicing is a headache. (Not seen this said about the vw cars even though it's the same issue, possibly because it's similar enough to id4 which is imported).
The most obvious is the e208 (being and actual b segment) but i read very mixed things. The id3/born is already golf tier which i could live with but generally prefer small cars.
The 5 is tempting but buying a new car feels over the top, especially when prices are so inflated, but they are inflated for used as well, possibly even more so.
Is the Renault 5 really that much better? I know it has won all the awards and plaudits but forking out that much for one seems excessive, still.