WHEELER Dealers host Mike Brewer has urged drivers in the market for a second-hand EV to pick up a “very classy” Volkswagen model.
In a video for Car Dealer Magazine, the motoring guru said drivers shouldn’t be put off by the idea of buying a used electric motor – but should do plenty of research beforehand if they’re worried.
Mike said: “Lots of people may be put off going to buy a used electric car because of the stories out there about battery technology.
“You should really research before you go and buy a car, but it’s not that difficult.”
One particular electric car that the Wheeler Dealers’ star picked out as a good, relatively affordable option is the Volkswagen e-Golf – which unsurprisingly is the EV variation of the iconic Golf model.
Specifically based on the regular Mk7 Golf, the e-Golf – built to rival the likes of the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe and BMW i3 – has nearly all the same advantages as the regular Golf.
That means it’s still great to drive, well equipped and spacious inside, although it has a slightly smaller boot than the standard Golf, and it doesn’t quite offer the best in its class when it comes to range compared to other EVs on the market.
That said, Mike couldn’t find any fault with it, saying: “Volkswagen is a great company, they do some amazing cars and they pumped lots of technology into this e-Golf.”
On the specifics, he said: “It’s got great residual value, excellent build quality, a very classy image, it’s roomy inside, good to drive.
“It’s even quicker than the petrol and diesel Golfs, which is fantastic if you’ve got that sort of boy racer inside you!”
On looking for an e-Golf with the highest possible range, he said: “Early cars managed around 125 mile range, later ones are about 180-mile range, so look out for a later model.”
Of course, perhaps the biggest advantage of buying an e-Golf is simply familiarity and brand reassurance.
The Golf model is synonymous with quality and is backed up by decades of improvements with every new model that’s released.
In that sense, the e-Golf seemingly does everything as well as any other Mk7 Golf – it even looks and drives like one.
As Sun Motors’ Rob Gill wrote when he test drove an e-Golf back in 2017: “It looks tidy, like a normal Golf, except for one small thing — there’s no poo chute at the back.
“Even the charging socket is hidden behind the normal fuel filler cap.
“It’s subtle and understated and means you can go about your business quietly and efficiently under the radar.”
Better yet, second-hand examples of the e-Golf can be bought for under £10,000.
We found a 2018 model with just over 40,000 miles on the clock for £9,750 on CarWow’s website.
This comes as Mike reveals a modern classic sports car that he said he would buy right now if he only had a budget of £5,000.
And elsewhere, drivers are just realising that switching off a common feature found in most new cars can boost their AC and save on fuel.
