Buying a used EV? Renault coming back? // QCC #230
Welcome to the Motormouth YouTube channel. I’m Zach. I’m Andrea. This is Questions Coffee and Cars 230. How do you get questions in? Follow along on Instagram at motormouth_andrea. Every Sunday I put a post out asking for questions. Once we gather them, the post is deleted and we start the show. Time now for questions, coffee, and cars. Your questions from Instagram. Is it true Renault might be coming back to the Canadian market? Yes, it’s true. And do you know why Renault is excited about the Canadian market? Do tell. Is because we have Frenchspeaking Canadians and so they feel French speaking Canadians also have common sense. Why would they want a Renault or are they bringing something else? It’s not going to be offered in the US market at this time. And they’re currently analyzing Canada over the US market first because of tariffs of course in the US. But the urban concentration and French speakaking market in Canada appeals to Renault. The Alpine A390 electric crossover is the one model that would come first. And the brand says that they can reach 80% of the population via four cities. Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary. Good luck. That’s what I have to say. Good luck. Well, we all know how EVs are selling right now. And I just can’t imagine why Renault would come with an EV. Maybe if they came with one of their little cars and it was super affordable. This is the way it’s going to go. They should go down to uh Alfa Romeo. Hello. Oh, hi. Yeah. Um, oh, sorry, Bonjour. Uh, I’m wondering how those Alfa Romeo Oh, and the and the Fiats. Yeah, you have Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Like, how do those sell? Oh, they don’t sell. Oh, okay. So, we’re going to bring cars in from France. The lease rates on the Fiat EV are unbelievable right now. Like, one of our colleagues got one for his daughter because it I think it was $99 a month or something. I don’t know if it was that anyway. It’s low. I when we when Jack was thinking about getting a car because he needs it for work. So, we bought a used Chevy Bolt EV um which has been great. I thought, well, maybe we’ll look at leasing a little one of those little 500s. And I didn’t see that deal, but maybe it was maybe they’re back on with it. I don’t know. I don’t know. I I heard Well, yeah, they our colleague got a good deal, but you’re right. Maybe it’s off now. I just don’t see any pathway to success for Renault. I just don’t see it. Me either. Would you recommend leasing a new EV or buying a used one? I know you guys bought a used Chevy Bolt recently and I’m curious to hear how it’s going. I’m looking at the 2024 Ionic 5 Limited and there are so many good used ones in my area for under 30,000 US. There are also good lease deals out there, but I’ve never leased and I’m worried about the dealer might change something on me when I return it. Uh, so I guess being charged something extra. Uh, but for wear instead of just simply wear and tear, you know. Yeah. I mean, I I I wouldn’t be too afraid of leasing. Um, because it’s it’s a closed lease. You know, at the end what the value of the car is. I’m with you on the buying the used one, though, because listen, don’t get a 24. Get a 23. It’d be even cheaper. Like the the problem is it’s what I said before. It’s like trying to catch a falling knife. Yeah. Like you’re catching a falling knife. It’s going down and you’re grabbing it, but it’s continuing to go down. So, uh, yes, get the best deal you can on used, but you’ve got to keep it. You’ve got to keep it because it will continue to depreciate. The Bolt EUV that we bought, first off, we got a screaming great deal on it. It’s three years old. It’s fully loaded. You’ve heard us talk about this before. And our son Jack, it we bought it for him. Uh, he’s paying for the insurance, which is an absolute fortune. in the Porche. Uh, but he doesn’t have to pay for gas. So, that’s what really appealed to Jack and he likes it. He loves all the safety features that are offered in that Bolt EUV. He thinks it’s fabulous. And I can see him, even if he purchased the vehicle himself. He would keep that for a very long time because it gets him from A to B and he’s not a performance uh oriented oriented kid. Yeah. But also, we live he doesn’t care. We live in a city that’s got a very small geographical footprint. Vancouver is not a big city. We’re hemmed in by the ocean and the mountains and it’s a very tight city. Even if you go out to the far reaches of suburbia, it’s not that far. Um, so that car is perfect for this application. If it was living somewhere somewhere else, maybe want something with better mileage. But I think yeah, you know, run the numbers. If if okay, what it sounds like to me is if you’re somebody that flips out of your cars regularly, then leasing would be the way to go. If you’re okay with buying an Ionic 5 and keeping it for a while, then you’ll save more money by buying used. I think that leasing is the only way to go with an EV or buying used. Those are your two options. Unless you want to buy one and let’s say you buy uh a vehicle and it’s $50,000, you’re happy with it. you feel like you’re just going to keep it longterm, then depreciation doesn’t matter as much. Uh, but it’s never going up in price. That is for sure. Curious, when you guys talk about Volvos, most times reliability issues is mentioned. We’ve had three Volvos through the years. Granted, the 2000s, they were all bulletproof. Well, good for you because we pick them up regularly and there’s something quirky. We’ve got, by the way, Andrea, we’re getting a Volvo next week. I know. Um, but I was talking to the guy who books the cars and he said the XC60s and the XC90s are actually very, very good. Um, we’ve had other Volvos we couldn’t even drive away in it because the car wouldn’t unlock. Um, so yes, statistically Volvo’s near the bottom with quality. Yes. And it’s the same with Alfa Romeo. You know, you you look at the stats and reliability is terrible, but when we do an Alfa Romeo, people chime in and go, I love my Alfa Romeo. It’s been totally reliable. And it can be the same with a Volvo or a Volkswagen. Yeah, Volkswagen is really hit and miss. And the people who have problems are pulling out their hair and it’s the same with Volvo. So, I want people who own a Volvo to chime in with their success stories, but also the people who have owned Volvos in the past and their unsuccessful stories. And you’re going to get uh a bit of both. You could get that with any brand, but yes, I don’t know. All I can tell you is our own experience picking up brand new press vehicles that have little things going weird with them. And it has happened with Volvo more than any other brand. And that’s the honest truth. There was one there was one time we were going to get a Polestar, which was owned by Volvo when Polestar first came. They couldn’t deliver the car cuz the car wouldn’t start. Then we were going to get another Volvo. This is an EV. Car wouldn’t unlock. So, we just said that’s it. We’re not picking it up. It had to do with the key card and getting locked to each other. It wouldn’t start. There were a lot of issues. And we’re not going to drive it away. and then get it home and then we can’t get in it. So, that’s just our an I and there’s I remember years ago when I would be going through the menu and I couldn’t get it like it’s just stuff that happens. JD Power and uh Consumer Reports that both of them don’t give Volvo great scores. Uh so, it’s up to you. You know, some people reliability is not number one on the on their list. Volvo makes great cars in the way that they are refined. They offer some excellent power trains from uh plug-in hybrid to 48vt mild hybrid systems. And their interiors are beautiful. Like I get into a Volvo and not only are they comfortable, the cabin is well insulated. It’s a great luxury experience. Stereo. Amazing. Amazing stereo. Bowers and Wilkins, right? That stereo is I that right near the very top. It’s excellent. So, it depends what your motivation is. Do you think a hybrid is a good idea if you plan to keep the car for 13 plus years given that the hybrid battery will likely need replacing? That is not true. Specifically, Lexus, UX, or NX or Toyota brands. Can I tell my story again? Go for it. So, when the Prius was first introduced, the first one, the ugly one, um there was a guy here in Vancouver who took one and made it a cab. He started driving cab, yellow cab, and he drove around on that. And then Toyota in Japan found out there was this crazy guy in Vancouver who had taken a Prius and put it in a taxi fleet. And they bought the car off him and shipped it back to Japan and ripped it apart. They gave him a free car and that guy ended up turning the whole fleet of um cars in Vancouver that are taxis into Prius. And that has spread around the world where Toyota hybrids. So you speak to the guys who own these cabs and they can get a million kilometers out of one battery. So your UX for 13 years, no problem. And remember, there is a warranty on the battery of 10 years. Uh and you know, you always have to remember with these electrified vehicles, the hybrid has the smallest battery. So, even if you have to replace that battery at some point, it’s going to cost a whole lot less than a plug-in hybrid that has a 17 plus kilowatth battery or a pure EV where you’re up at 85 plus kilowatt hour batteries. So, I think with hybrids, they would be your safest bet of all of the electrified vehicles. And the studies that come out year after year after year for categories of vehicles, hybrids are the most reliable um year after year after year and then it goes down from there and and and electric cars are at the bottom of they’re moving up now because the technology especially the software is getting better. So that is just peace of mind. So I wouldn’t have a hesitation for a minute about buying a Toyota Lexus hybrid and driving it for 13 years. What you do have to pay attention to is the little 12volt battery that opens the doors and starts the car. That has been a bugaboo for Toyota and Lexus. So, make sure that you drive it enough that the battery the little small battery staying charged. And it’s a problem for other brands as well, not just Toyota Lexus. But if you do not drive your hybrid, it’s hard to keep that 12vt battery charged and topped up. So, if you aren’t driving uh that much, you could always trickle charge it. that has been super helpful. Some brands have a reset button for that 12volt battery, so you can still drive the vehicle. Toyota doesn’t have that. Um, so people who have a UX especially have reported problems with the 12volt battery, but that’s not the drive battery. The drive battery, no problem. No. Do you think the slate truck will ever hit the roads in Canada? The slate truck? Yeah. Well, so right now it’s only for the US market, but they are going to launch it in the US first. And then they’re going to take a look at the Canadian market and go from there. So Slate’s the little pickup truck that’s um like a little kit car. You buy it plane and then you can do things to it after making you can buy a kit that turns it into an SUV. Um all those sorts of things. Interestingly, Andrea, I saw an article on Scout. So Scout and Slate are not the same thing. Scout is an old name, like a Jeep name from years ago that Volkswagen Group has bought the rights to Scout and they’re going to bring back some vehicles into uh the North American market as sort of SUVs. Um all EV, they said, guess they’ve changed their mind. They’re going to go to hybrids. Great. So, they’re going to bring in probably the EVs, but they’ve also said they’re they’re pivoting and moving to hybrids. So for the US market, slate should come towards the end of 2026, but nothing yet for Canada. Hopefully, yes, we will get it as well. Saw a review of the Toyota Yeris Cross hybrid. Think the reviewer was in Asia. Yeah, I’m sure. Any chance Toyota will bring the Yeris Cross hybrid to North America. I miss having a small car that’s easy to park and fun to bop around in. The problem with smaller vehicles is that they can’t price them low enough. And then people start saying, well, why would I pay this much for this smaller vehicle when I can just move to the next category for only a very small amount more and get more of a vehicle? So, the last two times we’ve been in Japan, both Andrea and I at separate occasions have been walking down the street and spotted this car and go, “That’s really cute. that I bet you if that was sold in North America it would sell really well. Then we walk around the back and it’s a Yarus cross. Both times that happened. It’s cute as a button. Absolutely agree with you. I’m with Andrea though. Are they going to be able to bring it in and have it sell for cheaper than the Corollos? This is the same issue they have with midsize pickup trucks. When you start looking at Colorado and Canyons and Rangers and Tacomaomas and when you start adding in all the features that you want in your midsize pickup truck, well, you you can get the fullsize pickup truck often for less. So, that’s the issue. But it sure looks good. It’s cute. It’s really well styled. But it’s not going to come because of the price point. It’s just not We’ve talked to Toyota about this. not specifically about the Yeris crossover uh but about smaller vehicles and it just doesn’t make good financial sense. So also also that vehicle if it was developed for uh the Asian market would have different uh crash tests and emissions. So maybe was never ever engineered to go anywhere other than those markets. Leasing a 2025 4Erunner Limited in December of 2025. Okay. No offer, nothing. So, I guess you don’t have an offer yet. You’re thinking about it. Does that make sense or should I wait for the 2026 model though? Checked with dealers and expect time is from 4 to 6 months. Please suggest I’m confused. Well, can you get a 2025 4Erunner right now? Is it sitting there? I think that’s what he’s saying. It’s like so there’s no offer on it because they don’t need to give you an offer on it. No. So, I What? So, what you’re saying is it’s a 25 that is weeks away from being one year old. Get it now or wait for the 2026 is going to be four to six months. Yes. If if you don’t care about waiting, I would just wait for the 2026 model. If you need something now, then the 2025 just makes sense and the dealer doesn’t care because if you don’t buy the 2025, someone will buy it and they’ll pay full rate for it. My question is regarding what I see in the consolidation of trims within quite a few models within the German brands. I recently bought a 2026 Audi S3 and where there have been three trims before, there’s now only one. What is your take on this trend? So, you’re in the US because in Canada, three trims are still offered on the S3, but I’m assuming it has to do with tariffs and they are picking what is selling. So they’re offering one trim. It’s the same with the Q3. In the US, there’s only one trim offering, whereas in Canada, still more trims available. Yeah, it’s tariffs. They’re basically looking at where they can bury um the most amount of the tariff in the cost of the car, and it’s probably going to be the high-spec one. So yeah, this is the problem you have. It’s like these tariffs are attacks on people, and that’s basically what it is. And all Audi’s are not made in the US. They’re made elsewhere. So you’re going to pay tariffs on that. The Q5, I believe, is made in Mexico, but same thing, Terrace. Yeah. Currently have a Volvo S90 with 160,000 miles on it, driving it till it bites the dust. So here’s a here’s a Volvo owner who’s quite happy, I guess. uh still going at 160,000 miles. Currently looking at an XC60 or a BMW X3. Which would you choose? Could you also recommend a non-luxury option that would ride just like either of those? Well, a non-luxury option is not going to ride like Well, you you would the Mazda CX-5 does have a pretty dynamic kind of feel to it. That’s one of your faves, Andrew. I’m surprised you didn’t jump on that one right away. Oh, because he has the XC60, which doesn’t offer an engaging drive. See, I disagree because the XC60 is Austrian XC60 in there, which I would think that you’re going to get the European drive, but more more plush. Yes, it’s definitely tuned for comfort, that Volvo XC60, which I like. I like it’s very good. The X3 more engaging, especially if you get that inline six. So, I’m not sure which one you’re looking at. Yeah, the other thing is uh BMW massive difference when you get sport packages. It’s one of it’s the one brand I find where the sport packages really make a difference. Wheel and tire sizes also make a big difference. So try those ones out. Um by the you know if you’ve got a comfort level with Volvo, then run back to them and see what kind of deal you can get. Yeah. If if you weren’t already in the Volvo family, we would be doing our whole conversation from earlier about Well, we about Volvo. We’re not quite sure, but but yours is going strong. Now, if you’re looking for refinement and quietness of the cabin, which Volvo offers, you could move in the non-luxury category to something like a Kia uh Sportage Hybrid or a Hyundai Tucson hybrid. They are definitely comfortable and refined. the hybrid uh not as much the gas model, but it still doesn’t have the driving dynamics of the XC60, but very very quiet in the non-luxury class. And then I would say for engagement with the X uh 3, if you’re looking for specifically a sportier drive, then the CX5 uh would be the option for Mazda. I don’t know. I just don’t love the look of the new X3. I mean, I like the inline 6. It’s fantastic, but I just something weird. I saw I’ve seen them around town with their their lit up front grills. And I’m like like I don’t I just don’t I just don’t get it. I just don’t like the look. I just don’t think BM BMW’s kind of lost its way in my opinion. The interiors are just not what they used to be. Yeah. Like I feel like they’ve got all the tech, but they’re missing that luxury feel that Volvo is still doing. Um, so I’m kind of leaning towards the XC60 myself only because I don’t mind the comfort level of the Volvo and I love their interiors. I think they do a really beautiful job. All right, Andrea. How do you get questions in for Questions Coffee Cars? Well, follow along on Instagram at motormouth_andrea. Every Sunday I put a post out asking for questions and once we gather them, the post is deleted and we start the show. Thanks for watching. Bye-bye.
This is a Motormouth couple car video answering your questions from Instagram, like:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Thoughts on Renault coming back to North America?
2:36 Buying a used EV?
5:30 Volvo’s and reliability?
8:26 Hybrid batteries last?
11:21 Slate coming to Canada?
12:29 Will Yaris Cross come to N.A.?
14:23 No discount on 2025 4Runner?
15:21 Less model trims available?
16:29 XC60 or BMW X3?
