MG4 EV advice for newbie

Sadman76

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Norfolk
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MG4 SE LR
Hello all,

Looking for owners of MG4s to offer some experience both positive and negative to convince me that a good salary sacrifice offer through work for a 2023 used long range with 6000 miles on the clock is worth a punt as I've never been convinced by EVs!

I cover around 10000 miles a year with at least 2 x 400 mile round trips each year to visit family. Just me, the wife and a seven year old.

Would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision. Thanks.
 
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Once you drive one you’ll be convinced. They are much more refined than petrol cars and have instant power without having to wait for the engine or gears to respond. They are way nicer to drive in traffic, especially if you turn on one pedal driving.

If you can get a smart charger installed at home and switch to an EV tariff they are incredibly cheap to run. I’ve got an Ohme charger and have Octopus intelligent GO for my electric tariff and it costs less than £5 to do 200 miles.

To drive the MG4 is similar to a VW ID.3 and way nicer than the Astra electric. Petrol cars seem almost tractor like to me now when I drive them.

Trips longer than the range of the car take a little bit more thought but 400 miles in a long range should only require one or two 30 min stops on a rapid charger. Some of the technology like lane keep assist can be a bit annoying but you can turn it off at the start of each journey.

If I were you then find an MG dealer and get a test drive but there is no way I’m going back to petrol for my daily driver.

One of my favourite things about driving electric is on a frosty morning you can turn on the heating from the app and get into a warm defrosted car and drive straight off. In the summer you can turn the air conditioning on with the app and get into a nice cool car!
 
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On my second EV and will never go back to an ICE car.
I echo what has been said above.
A 200 mile one way trip will only need one top up stop in the SE SR. I recently did a trip to Dorset from North Wales and only required one stop in the X Power which has similar range.
Also take into account your commute and how you are going to charge at home.

Im sure others will be along with their views.
 
I do around 10,000 miles per year, and regular long distance trips to visit family. I have no regrets, the MG4 is a great car. Rapid charging on long trips is not a problem, just requires a little planning, but there are several apps that help with that.

I get to the end of a long journey, and I don't feel tired. The car is effortless to drive, and has a decent range. Only thing that lets it down is the software. The infotainment can require a regular reboot. However it's only a press and hold of the home button to reboot it, so not a big deal.

Customer service from MG also isn't great, although there are some good dealers/service centres out there, I'm lucky to live near a good one.
 
We love our LR Trophy after 15,000 miles / 15 months. Just come back from a 500 mile round trip (5 hrs each way), charged once half way each way at a public Tesla charger and both times the car was ready before we were finished eating. Topped up at the destination.

Basically it is just miles better than driving ICE. Yes, long distance requires a bit of planning but it pretty trivial with apps like ZapMap and doesn't take me long. Charging at home off peak gives me 250 miles for £5.
 
Hello all,

Looking for owners of MG4s to offer some experience both positive and negative to convince me that a good salary sacrifice offer through work for a 2023 used long range with 6000 miles on the clock is worth a punt as I've never been convinced by EVs!

I cover around 10000 miles a year with at least 2 x 400 mile round trips each year to visit family. Just me, the wife and a seven year old.

Would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision. Thanks.
I do 10k a year with three of four trips over 400 miles, sometimes over into Europe, and I’ve got the standard range.
I've not had issues finding chargers except for when in north Wales.
 
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Hello all,

Looking for owners of MG4s to offer some experience both positive and negative to convince me that a good salary sacrifice offer through work for a 2023 used long range with 6000 miles on the clock is worth a punt as I've never been convinced by EVs!

I cover around 10000 miles a year with at least 2 x 400 mile round trips each year to visit family. Just me, the wife and a seven year old.

Would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision. Thanks.
I wouldn't worry about the milage of an EV, at least in terms of the battery (and there is no engine to worry about with it, just an electric motor which is relatively simple).

If the battery can do at least 1,000 cycles then that is 1,000 multiplied by your range. For a long range what is that 250 miles so a 250,000 mile expected battery life. Now that cars have big batteries most batteries are going to outlive the car.

As others have said, have a go at driving one. I tried one at "fully charged" and got one a few months afterwards. Most people love it.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, much appreciated. The offer is for a Camden grey trophy spec and watching reviews and reading lots it looks like a good deal though octopus.
My only concern is the reliability as I've read some horror stories, and the practicality as a family car coming from an estate diesel!!!!
 
It's not as practical as an estate, but it's practical enough. With one kid in the back, you can split the rear seat and gain some volume, or invest in a roof box.

I'd rather not summon the reliability-fairy at this point ?
 
My only concern is the reliability as I've read some horror stories
You will always hear horror stories on cars, no matter what the brand. However the decision is yours alone.
I would suggest having a test drive, as others have said. You can then check its practicality and experience an EV for the first time.
 
It's not as practical as an estate, but it's practical enough. With one kid in the back, you can split the rear seat and gain some volume, or invest in a roof box.

I'd rather not summon the reliability-fairy at this point ?
Thanks, I've read that you can't fit roof bars?
 
Some people have fitted them, and have had this Okayed by their insurance providers.

Only the ER and X-Power are officially rated for a roof load (50 Kg)
 
Some people have fitted them, and have had this Okayed by their insurance providers.

Only the ER and X-Power are officially rated for a roof load (50 Kg)
Thanks, looking to carry 3 bikes so should be within limits. Might check with insurance company first!
 
Got my August 23 phase 2 trophy in December with 900 miles on the clock.
It had to go in for an infotainment upgrade to R46 due to bluetooth dropping out in the first couple of weeks.
I haven't had to bother the dealer since and the car is now approaching 6000 miles.
Even lane keep assist is not a major issue and no worse than i have experienced in other cars.
My last 930 miles has averaged 4.3 miles pkWh. This includes a run down to London and back, Silverstone and the North Norfolk coast, plus my daily commute.All of this, done without using public charging.The cost for this mileage works out at around £17.00 on Inteligent Octopus Go.
I also came from a diesel estate and this is my first EV. So far i have no regrets.
As others have suggested, go for a test drive and be impressed.
 
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Update....

So the insurance has approved the roof rack meaning I can carry the much used bikes and use the top box on the odd occasion meaning I've signed the paperwork for a 2023 trophy (phase 1) for delivery by August.

Thanks for your replies and fingers crossed ? everything goes ok ?

Know doubt I'll be back asking lots of questions ?
 
Hello all,

Looking for owners of MG4s to offer some experience both positive and negative to convince me that a good salary sacrifice offer through work for a 2023 used long range with 6000 miles on the clock is worth a punt as I've never been convinced by EVs!

I cover around 10000 miles a year with at least 2 x 400 mile round trips each year to visit family. Just me, the wife and a seven year old.

Would appreciate any advice to help me make a decision. Thanks.
Our family have two 2023 MG Trophy Long Ranges.
My brother's had a fault with the CCU but was promptly fixed by the dealer (Eric Stead of Sheffield). Otherwise they have proved to be 100% reliable. We both use our cars every day.
My brother has been to Newquay twice in his and every weekend we both complete round trips to the east coast. No problems. I've now covered 5000 miles and my brother 10,000 miles. We don't economy drive and enjoy their performance. When fully charged the range can be over 300 miles in the summer (above what MG states is its maximum of 270). I can get between 4.8miles per kWh to 5.3miles per kWh on a journey of around 220 miles and still have 31% of my battery left. On a standard tariff it costs me £5.60 for the above trip. Around Sheffield I have experienced over 7 miles per kWh.
We've sold our ICE cars ( 2017 ST3 Ford Focus and BMW 330ci) and as they're so expensive to run and relatively unrefined.
We are both thoroughly pleased with them.
I run mine in Eco mode on long journeys and Normal mode for around town.
 
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