DorsetDC wrote: ↑Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:21 pm
I have been a very happy owner of a Golf R for the last 5 years and before that two GTIs for a similar time and am now looking for a replacement. Another R? as I still love driving but I’ve now reached the grand old age of 70 so the excitement of power is no longer top of the list. Yesterday went to my local VW dealer and test drove a Max ID.3 and I was very surprised with the instant response of the engine, the handling on our less than wide and potholed Dorset roads, and the ride which is much better than the R, the only downside was the silence which meant I could hear every word my wife was saying and had to respond accordingly
. I am now pondering what to do, if I go for the ID3 I would go for the Tour as I need the extra range to go to London and back without a charge, as I am still working as a (quite nice) estate agent and we have recently had applicants coming down from London and the Home Counties in their EVs who arrive at the Service Stations only to find the charging stations already occupied. I know this is a rather stupid question to ask on the ID.3 forum but if you were in my position, what would you choose, I must admit I am leaning towards the ID.3 which surprises me.
As someone who's had a strong of performance VWs, including a 2015 Manual Golf R.in Lapiz Blue, with Pretoria wheels, I don't really miss petrol.power. I loved my Golf.R, but unless.you were wringing its neck above 5k revs, it didn't feel particularly quick (except off the line) - the price you pay for refinement and comfort on a modern car. Although it definitely is, the 204ps ID3 doesn't feel much slower with that immediate pickup of torque that an EV has, and like the R - no tramping (unlike my string of VW performance diesels and 2 Polo GTIs).
The press and any of the YouTube amateur reviewers have given it a rushed overview, claiming its been built on the cheap vs the likes of the Golf. I had the opportunity to do a good comparison last week when I had a courtesy e-Golf for a week. When you look closely,only the top 4" of the Golf's door card is the soft, rubbery plastic, therest of itis quite hard. The ID3's door card is marginally harder for the top half, and a little less gard for the bottom half. That doesn't really matter unless you like stroking plastic anyway. Other small details like door seals etc are better on the ID3. The reviewers seem to equate a lack of buttons to cost cutting, but everyone's going that way, the MK8 Golf has the same treatment. Minimalist doesn't necessarily scream cost cutting. The Golf GTD/GTI/R sports seats look better for sure, but theID3 isn't declaring itself a hot hatch, even though it's quicker than a GTD.
The ID3 handles very well as an 1800kg lump, with its very low centre of gravity, it handles much better than the e-Golf.
I liked the ID3 so much, we chopped in our 2019 Polo GTI and bought a second one. When you're charging at home it's costing about 1.5p a mile on Octopus GO tariff. It will be more like 10p a mile on most 50kWh chargers out and about though.
Realistically in the Summer, 100-5% charge will get you about 210 motorway miles or about 240 miles around the doors (30-50mph).