MG4 in Australia

[Wil Tryharder]

Agnes Water Is alive and open for business. Made the run back to the Sunshine Coast in one stretch yesterday with a quick charge at Childers. Here are the stats.

Hopefully lighter on the way back, all grog consumed.

No wind to speak of.

AC on 90% of the time.

It’s quite hilly to the outskirts of Bundy and then flatter before more hills further south.

80 - 100 kmh for the run to Childers and 90 - 100 kmh for the rest.

Just a couple of delays for works, and one for some back burning ?. We switched off the HVAC and switched to internal air. Pretty impressed that no smoke made inside the cockpit.

Overall the car was rock solid on the trip. Smooth and fun to drive. We were certainly less fatigued after the long runs than the old thumping diesel. Not many EVs further north. Just one Polestar and one Model 3 spotted in Agnes.

The fridge freezer combo on the tow bar rack works really well. Although we did pass through a 2km downpour yesterday and the spray coming off the back was unbelievable. Difficult to tell if it was the rack or the mud flaps I’d fitted a week prior.

For a newbie the lack of chargers causes some stress. Pretty alarming watching the state of charge drop so rapidly from 100%. But when you get to the next stop with 40% plus remaining you calm down a bit. Give it time I guess. Didn’t need the space saver wheel but slept better for having it. For this sort of destination it feels like you a long way from help. That’s no different for an ice vehicle I guess. Queensland roads are dangerous that’s for sure, the MG made it easier to ‘keep up’ with the flow. Although there’s always a loon trying to take a look inside your trunk ?

More country trips to come I’m sure.

 

[Corindikev]

Not long after I got my Essence 64 I did a round trip to Noosa where I have a property. I topped up to 100% overnight and did about 10km round town before leaving. Total distance from Noosa to Corindi Beach was a bit over 500km. I stopped at the BP Pulse at Ballina & topped up to about 80%. I wasn't there long & just had time for a toilet break & grabbed a sandwich. I got home with about 35% left.

Motorway driving was done at the 110 km/h limit plus a few sections of 100 km/h, a bit slower at times on the gateway motorway & Brisbane traffic & the inevitable roadworks at the Gold Coast when I was down to a crawl for about 10km. Just me and my overnight bag in the car & the total for the whole trip was 15.6 kWh/100 km.

 

[Archev]

Agnes Water Is alive and open for business. Made the run back to the Sunshine Coast in one stretch yesterday with a quick charge at Childers. Here are the stats.

Hopefully lighter on the way back, all grog consumed.

No wind to speak of.

AC on 90% of the time.

It’s quite hilly to the outskirts of Bundy and then flatter before more hills further south.

80 - 100 kmh for the run to Childers and 90 - 100 kmh for the rest.

Just a couple of delays for works, and one for some back burning ?. We switched off the HVAC and switched to internal air. Pretty impressed that no smoke made inside the cockpit.

Overall the car was rock solid on the trip. Smooth and fun to drive. We were certainly less fatigued after the long runs than the old thumping diesel. Not many EVs further north. Just one Polestar and one Model 3 spotted in Agnes.

The fridge freezer combo on the tow bar rack works really well. Although we did pass through a 2km downpour yesterday and the spray coming off the back was unbelievable. Difficult to tell if it was the rack or the mud flaps I’d fitted a week prior.

For a newbie the lack of chargers causes some stress. Pretty alarming watching the state of charge drop so rapidly from 100%. But when you get to the next stop with 40% plus remaining you calm down a bit. Give it time I guess. Didn’t need the space saver wheel but slept better for having it. For this sort of destination it feels like you a long way from help. That’s no different for an ice vehicle I guess. Queensland roads are dangerous that’s for sure, the MG made it easier to ‘keep up’ with the flow. Although there’s always a loon trying to take a look inside your truck ?

More country trips to come I’m sure.
View attachment 30200

Loving the stories from a kindred spirit ?

 

[wattmatters]

Motorway driving was done at the 110 km/h limit plus a few sections of 100 km/h, a bit slower at times on the gateway motorway & Brisbane traffic & the inevitable roadworks at the Gold Coast when I was down to a crawl for about 10km. Just me and my overnight bag in the car & the total for the whole trip was 15.6 kWh/100 km.

The good thing about those slow traffic sections is the energy consumption in the EV is so low.

 

[clayton4115]

Prices slashed in Australia for MG4 up to $10k !

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/mg4-electric-price-cut-in-australia/news-story/f95bc0af1d1099e45bc92674ae672d9a

 

[leonkernan]

I'm glad I intend to keep mine for a long time.
I feel for the people who've just bought a 51 recently though.

 

[clayton4115]

Was looking at buying my 77 early next year Feb - April but may bring it forward to this year.

 

[tsedge]

Was looking at buying my 77 early next year Feb - April but may bring it forward to this year.

There's an MG4 mid-life facelift coming, due end of this year / early next.

That could mean some great deals on the old model, or getting the new model with any improvements it offers.

 

[clayton4115]

There's an MG4 mid-life facelift coming, due end of this year / early next.

That could mean some great deals on the old model, or getting the new model with any improvements it offers.

Yes waiting to see the new facelift model, it will be interesting to see what battery sizes come in them.

 

[Coulomb]

Prices slashed in Australia for MG4 up to $10k !

Only until the end of the month and quarter, i.e. 11 days. Ten now as I post.

 

[clayton4115]

Only until the end of the month and quarter, i.e. 11 days. Ten now as I post.

Others will follow and it will be permanent I reckon

 

[BeamingJim]

Prices slashed in Australia for MG4 up to $10k !

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/mg4-electric-price-cut-in-australia/news-story/f95bc0af1d1099e45bc92674ae672d9a

This convinced me to finally go ahead (having been a long time lurker in these forums). I signed for the Excite 51 today. I was hoping for a discount on this as they were only discounting the NMC versions before now. The WA $3500 rebate on top makes it an even better deal.

 

[clayton4115]

This convinced me to finally go ahead (having been a long time lurker in these forums). I signed for the Excite 51 today. I was hoping for a discount on this as they were only discounting the NMC versions before now. The WA $3500 rebate on top makes it an even better deal.

Nice! our QLD government had a $6000 rebate but that was all used up a few weeks ago.

 

[decrep]

This convinced me to finally go ahead (having been a long time lurker in these forums). I signed for the Excite 51 today. I was hoping for a discount on this as they were only discounting the NMC versions before now. The WA $3500 rebate on top makes it an even better deal.

Good one, adds to the Perth crew

 

[Corindikev]

A facelift MG4 is due in early 2025 so the big price cuts are probably designed to move existing stocks before the new updated model appears.

There are still some ICE vehicle brands discounting MY22 models by a lot so this sort of thing is common especially when the market is fairly flat as it is now.

 

[wattmatters]

A facelift MG4 is due in early 2025 so the big price cuts are probably designed to move existing stocks before the new updated model appears.

There are still some ICE vehicle brands discounting MY22 models by a lot so this sort of thing is common especially when the market is fairly flat as it is now.

Had yours a year now. How has it been?

 

[ozzz]

Prices slashed in Australia for MG4 up to $10k !

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/mg4-electric-price-cut-in-australia/news-story/f95bc0af1d1099e45bc92674ae672d9a

O well at least I got a rebate and saved heaps on fuel in the last 11 months driving my 51.

 

[ozzz]

Had yours a year now. How has it been?

Absolutely no problems, only wish it had air con vent in rear area.
Only done one long trip from Wollongong to Sydney so did a top up at Campbell town (charge fox ) $7. I average 12-14 kWh per 100km, drive in eco and use cruise as much as possible.

 

[Corindikev]

The only issue I have had is the rear undertray bulge which was fixed in January. Also a new windscreen a week or so back after a stone chip turned into a crack. Other than that It has been superb. I have only done 2 long trips in the past year which cost about $80.00 in fast charging costs. All the rest has been at home from my 7kW EVSE from solar, free power from my energy supplier & a bit in the early stages of off peak power.

While the software is not as slick as Teslas or BYDs it works and there are no complaints. There are things I would like but that is not a criticism as I didn't know about those things when I bought the car. The biggest whinge from owners seems to be LKA & I had a few issue initially but I now never turn it off & just drive accurately. I use OPD in city driving & it's excellent as is TJA in town.

The one thing though that stands out is the EV driving experience & the MGs handling. I test drove a Tesla model 3 & found it nowhere near as good to drive, & I did not like the centre screen & no indicator/light/wiper stalks and it was a car with a boot. Give me a rear door & fold down rear seats any day. I've done nearly 16,000km & can't detect any tyre wear yet though there must be some.

 

[wattmatters]

Also a new windscreen a week or so back after a stone chip turned into a crack.

Was there any issue getting a replacement?

I haven't checked under mine for the rear tray bulge for quite a while, I probably should. If I find a bulge I'll book it in for the fix and I'd be tempted to get them to do firmware updates (even if it costs a bit) as I suspect that might help with a few of the annoyances.

I'll hit 12 months a bit later in the month and by then will have circa 14,000 km on the dial. It's been generally very good car. Performance is good, handling is good, comfort ride wise is good. Seats are not that great and I've had an annoying creak in mine pretty much from new. Wife enjoys driving it.

Having the home charging all set up has been excellent. Just plug it in and my system manages it all automagically and is so cheap it's criminal. Like you most of my charging at home is either free energy or using our excess solar. Been a good month for solar! Lots of sun.

The wireless adapter for CarPlay (CarlinKit 5.0) has also been rock solid after a bumpy start. Once the settings got dialled in it just works. I tend to just have it on Waze nav app, but on the highway we will often play music. If by myself then a podcast.

The sound system is just adequate but it would be nice if it were a little better. And one addition I would like is front/rear dashcam. Still tossing up on getting a space saver spare tyre kit.

LKA is still pretty twitchy for me, there are a few spots where it will trigger perhaps 2/3rds of the time for no reason. One is as you go over a crest on shoulder-less bit of Waterfall Way. Not had a false trigger on the emergency braking for a while.

My rear right side tyre loses pressure just a little faster than the others, not bad by any stretch, it's more the others maintain pressure while rear right is more of a normal pressure loss rate. I use one of those portable Ryobi battery powered inflators. Works well.

I have a few long drives coming up this next couple of weeks so I signed up for a month of Tesla membership as I know the amount of fast charging I'll need to do makes it worthwhile.

I charged the car to 100% today for a drive tomorrow (down Taree/Forster way) but had to do a run this afternoon which dropped it back a little. I do want to take a look at the new superchargers in Taree but time may get the better of me and a Thrumster top up might be more likely.

I am going to try something tonight I've not done before as an experiment - put the granny charger on to do a scheduled charge overnight which will use my home battery. It needs about 6 kWh. I set it up from the car and my Home Assistant tells me it is programmed ready to start charging a bit later this evening. Not a normal charge process, just an experiment. I can't use the normal EV charger for that as it does not draw from the home battery side of our supply (which is how I want it - it should only need to use excess solar or scheduled charging for super off-peak).