Prius has been around ten plus years,that would be a suggestion. The Tesla 3 is interesting.

I can't see the positive appeal. If the Benz gets 20 mpg then the cost to commute, no detours, is about $1.13 to $2.00 per day. If there are 264 working days in a year then the expense is $528. If the cost of charging the e-car is free then it would take about 10 years to recapture the cost.

On the other hand, if the $5,000 e-car runs for five years without repairs then you would be paying $84 per month or about $3.00 per day to 'rest' the Benz. That's a subjective judgement. How will you feel about owning a low-mileage 2014 Benz in 2022?

What is the cost of electricity during the summer/winter in your area? I would have an EV tomorrow, electricity is cheap in Texas, but my daily commute is ~100 miles.

quote:

Originally posted by billnchristy:
Wife drives a 17 volt. It's great. She doesn't use a drop of gas all week and we rarely dip into gas on the weekends too now. It has a 50 mile electric range.

Honestly I don't know why these got such a bad PR rap. In my opinion its the real future of the drive train, an electric motor backed up by a gas engine. It gives you unlimited range, which is the number one issue of an all electric car. I think you will see these, or the next version come back in a big way

Either it does or does not make economic/practical sense for you to purchase an EV. No reason for any haters here.

-Kevin

I vote EV but not Smart.
There is at least one here in MQT. And I never see it on a snowy day.

Nothing wrong with owning and driving an electric vehicle.

Having said that, you wouldn't catch me dead driving around in a Smart car.

My wife is wanting an EV in a few years when the kids move out and she just needs to go to work and back (30 mile round trip). I think it would be fantastic for that usage.

I drive too much and haul stuff so I'd never have anything but a truck.

I am appreciating all the replies, folks. I didn't think this topic would generate much interest.

Let me clarify a couple of things. First, I love my Mercedes, and there are probably several days a week that it would make more sense to drive it. Besides, I still consider it my "primary" car.

As for the Smart -- and I say this knowing that I could easily be misunderstood -- I'm considering one because I can purchase one outright for cash without feeling like I'm adding another car to my stable. It would almost be like buying a covered bicycle (without the cardio benefit). It would be my "errand-running" vehicle: a dash around the block to the grocery store, the office commute on days when I know I'm only going back and forth, a run to the Chinese carryout, etc.

I've been doing a lot of reading on these cars. If I was interested in buying a *car*, I'd probably be looking at the BMW i3 (there's BMW dealer almost within walking distance from my office). But a brand-new 2017 i3 runs over $50,000, and that's the opposite end of the spectrum I'm exploring.

You can probably find a used volt in the 10k range. They don't lose range over time like the leaf.

quote:

Originally posted by billnchristy:
You can probably find a used volt in the 10k range. They don't lose range over time like the leaf.

Perhaps. But I think you missed my point: I *have* a car. I'm not looking for another. I'm thinking of adding a "runabout" that I can charge in my driveway as needed, and use for the occasional local errand run.

There are two shopping centers not five minutes from my home. Driving my Mercedes just to the grocery store and back is harder on the vehicle than extended driving, as it barely has time to warm up and get all the fluids moving. That's not an issue with an electric.

The Volt is a hybrid. It's designed to be a daily driver, or a second car for spouse/kids. I'm not looking for a second car. I know it's hard to describe, but I'm attempting to dip my toes in the EV waters before diving in head-first. Maybe in a couple of years I'll trade in the Merc (and whatever else I may have acquired) and land myself a Tesla or BMW.

fpuhan,

I get it. You want a street legal golf cart. Which is basically what a smart car is.

But still. Can't you find a Leaf for around that much? You'll get 4 doors, and an actual trunk.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
fpuhan,

I get it. You want a street legal golf cart. Which is basically what a smart car is.

But still. Can't you find a Leaf for around that much? You'll get 4 doors, and an actual trunk.

I looked at a LEAF at CarMax today during lunch. A 2015 going for $14K. That's more than twice the price of a Smart. Yes, it's a nifty little car, seats four, has a Bose sound system, and is truly a car.

I might.

I've thought about putting half (~$7K) down and financing the remainder over 12-24 months.

But that gets me away from pulling out cash and being done with it. I like your description, a "street legal golf cart." That pretty well sums it up.

Personally I'd stay away from buying one (and far far away from the Chevy).

I'm sure someone here will confirm or call out the following.

Refer to the cars resales values and warranties on the batteries. If i recall accurately, leasees are returning the electrics in such high numbers resale values are very low due to market saturation. Battery warrenties run out at 4 or 5 years and replacement cost is well over 50%of original sticker.

The high-end electrics (Tesla P90D?) with the extremely long battery warrenty are the ones retaining value. The connection is, obviously, battery warrenties and costs associated with replacement.

If you are treating the cost as "dispensable" then go for it. You probably won't retain any value in a few years time, but if you understand and are willing for that as a stepping stone to a possible big ticket EV down the road, have fun!

As for the SMART42 itself... a guy at my range has one. I's funny seeing him pull up in it and then pulling gun cases out of it like a clown car! He never knocks it, and says for the safety conscious, "it's still safer than a bike, and I don't get wet in the rain!". I test drove it and it was surprisingly go kart like... I could see it being almost fun for short commutes, but imagine it would wear thin for longer rides (not a problem for you).

You should probably consider a car built from the ground up to be an EV. The Smart is designed for a gas motor and drivetrain, not EV.

Meh, I'd rather drive a Mercedes everyday. And how much do you even spend on gas per week? $20? Probably less, but even if it's $20, that's only $1000 per year.

So if you buy a $7000 car, that's 7 years for break even, not considering your higher power bill each month from charging.

So, yeah, it'll save wear and tear on a vehicle, but that vehicle (2014 E class) isn't even maintenance heavy, at least in the first 5 years or so. (I know, I just sold my 2009 E class.)

Plus, you will have at least some wear and tear on a 2nd car, which lives outside and has huge batteries.

And though it saves you some gas money, it will take it a long time to do so.

If you plan on keeping the MB long term the plan makes sense.

If you will sell trade the MB in a few years you are just keeping the car nice for the next person.

The MB is setting in the garage depreciating.

Just another way to look at it.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Meh, I'd rather drive a Mercedes everyday. And how much do you even spend on gas per week? $20? Probably less, but even if it's $20, that's only $1000 per year.

So if you buy a $7000 car, that's 7 years for break even, not considering your higher power bill each month from charging.

So, yeah, it'll save wear and tear on a vehicle, but that vehicle (2014 E class) isn't even maintenance heavy, at least in the first 5 years or so. (I know, I just sold my 2009 E class.)

Plus, you will have at least some wear and tear on a 2nd car, which lives outside and has huge batteries.

And though it saves you some gas money, it will take it a long time to do so.

I'm with you...the OP sounds like he is looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist...