Electric Cars

[Vagus]

Specifically the Renault Zoe.
Does anyone have one? If so, would you care to share your opinion about it? We’re considering buying a two or three year old one.
Thanks.

[Hymie]

A colleague said he was looking into buying a second hand Zoe but found that the fitted batteries are on a ‘finance scheme’, so the vehicle owners do not own the battery, but are paying Renault for the privilege of running the car.

For this reason he rejected the idea of buying one – although given the recent improvements in battery technology and their longevity, later models may not be so encumberanced.

[Buenchico]

Owner reviews here:
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/renault/zoe/owner-reviews

I think that I'd be put off by its poor (i.e. zero!) safety score though:
https://www.parkers.co.uk/renault/zoe/review/

That gets a mention here too:
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/renault/zoe

. . . and here:
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renault/zoe

[Dagman]

Hi Vagus, I don't have any experience of them but I check cars out on Arnold Clark where there's usually a good review by Jonathan Crouch, like this... Open page, scroll to bottom to watch video..
https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/renault/zoe/65kw-dynamique-nav-q90-40kwh-5dr-auto-hatchback/2018/ref/arnds-u-50024

[gingejbee]

If you value your own safety, you may care to look at this....

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/12/popular-small-electric-car-gets-zero-stars-for-poor-protection-in-crash-tests/

[douglas9401]

Whatever you do Vagus, don't ask for input when buying chefs knives.

[Vagus]

Actually Hymie you can either lease the battery or buy it, these days. It actually works out cheaper to buy it, and whether you lease or buy it, once the guarantee period of the battery is finished, you have to buy a new one yourself anyway as and when it conks out.
We’d read all the stuff about safety, which if I’m right, seems to be more about the safety of someone you may bump into rather than your own safety as the driver. Could be wrong though.
Thanks for all the comments, always interested in others opinions (even those about chefs knives ;o) )

[gingejbee]

^No, Euro NCAP ratings are based on the safety of adult and child passengers, vunerable pedestrians and safety equipment.
Getting a "zero" rating in a modern car is rather disturbing, tbh.

[Buenchico]

>>> We’d read all the stuff about safety, which if I’m right, seems to be more about the safety of someone you may bump into rather than your own safety as the driver. Could be wrong though

As I read it, it has a great deal more to Renault having actually removed several of the airbags that were originally present in the model. That would definitely worry me!

[Vagus]

Thanks everyone, food for thought.