Your questions answered: Should I buy a new BYD or a second-hand Tesla?

We kick off this week’s carsales mailbox with an interesting question about whether to buy new or used with an EV.

With so much talk about soft resale values with electric cars, it’s certainly a hot topic, and is indicative of healthy reader interest in EVs.

Another carsales reader is interested in looking at a used EV to act as a home battery.

Plus, there’s the search for a new luxury SUV, the pros and cons of buying a boutique EV from overseas, and some issues with a car’s key fob.

Question:

Answer: The age-old question of whether to go new or used. Obviously, the biggest depreciation hit with a new car is when you drive it out of the showroom, so if you can avoid that it’s a big win to the bottom line.

And, obviously, the negative with buying used is that you may not be able to choose the colour or options you want – and it can be difficult to ascertain the history of the car.

That said, there’s no shortage of second-hand Tesla EVs on the market and plenty of them are near-new. So it should be very easy to find one that is as close to a new car as you can get, while obviously being cheaper than buying a new one (remembering that there’s no negotiating on prices with a Tesla, or a BYD for that matter).

And, obviously, prices of used Teslas will take a hit due to the recent price drops of new ones, something that hasn’t flowed through to all the online listings yet (the sellers will figure it out when they stop getting enquiries).

One other thing to note with a Tesla is the sub-standard warranty. The factory coverage is just four years and 80,000km (Australian Consumer Law may help you with some things beyond that). So if you’re looking at one with relatively high kilometres then it may be close to running out of warranty.

Still, with all that said, given the plethora of Teslas currently for sale and the ability to dodge that first year of depreciation we’d be sticking a used Model Y above a new Atto 3.

Also remember the Model Y has more space, better performance, better tech and the ability to utilise the entire Tesla charging network.

Question:

Answer: Theoretically yes, but there’s currently a challenge with the regulation of so-called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

While it’s technically capable for the Nissan LEAF to feed back into the grid, most of the grids in Australia haven’t yet given it regulatory approval (some parts of South Australia are the exception).

And it’s likely you’d still need to be on the grid to be able to ensure a reliable electricity supply.

As for when that regulatory approval will be granted, it could vary across the country and could still be some time away; various experts had expected this to have been sorted years ago.

Also be aware of the limitations of the LEAF. Early versions had poor battery degradation. The current LEAF (model code ZE1) that came out in 2019 is the one with the V2G capability.

Question: I am into my third Audi SQ5 2020 model and need to roll over to a new vehicle and lease. I have loved the Audi but think it’s time to think about something else (and the current SQ5 is the same as what I have) and wonder if you could provide any suggestions?

Thinking of the BMW X5 M styling, Mercedes GLC, Lexus? I think all the cars I am looking at are over the luxury car tax threshold so taking an EV is not advantageous from an FBT discount perspective but open to a hybrid as an option. I am looking to trade in the Audi and was hoping for an $80K changeover. – Rosanna

Answer: Just because you can’t get the FBT exemption doesn’t mean you should rule out all EVs. Yes, you’ll often pay more for them up front but there are significant running cost advantages with servicing and keeping them mobile.

One to stick on your list would be the upcoming Porsche Macan EV. It’s a terrific car to drive, albeit pricey. Even in Macan 4 guise it’ll be quicker than your SQ5 and if you want to splash out on the Turbo then it’s one of the fastest SUVs ever created. Plus, it has lashings of Porsche dynamic brilliance and a terrific cabin.

Otherwise, you could sneak into the entry-level BMW iX3 to leverage the FBT exemption (you’ll have to crunch them on dealer delivery fees to just slide in under the threshold, but word on the street is that dealers are helping out with that).

If you’re convinced a hybrid would work better, then the Lexus NX 450h+ is a great place to start. But… Lexus currently isn’t taking orders because they can’t build enough. Speak to a dealer to see if they’ll give you an idea of when they might open the order books again.

Question: Just thinking about buying a Nissan LEAF and I wondered about the battery life. I know they seem to have a 10-year warranty but is there an expectation that they last many years past the warranty – like a petrol/diesel vehicle does? I need a range of 200-250km if possible. – Stuart

Answer: Most EVs come with an eight-year battery warranty, usually covering 160,000km of driving. Some stretch to 10 years and Kia stops at seven years.

Either way, you’ll have plenty of factory warranty coverage on the high-voltage battery. And just like an engine is designed to last way beyond its warranty period, so too is a battery pack.

Batteries in EVs are designed to last the life of the car. And just as with a 10- or 20-year-old petrol car it would not make sense to replace a failed engine, it’ll likely be the same with batteries (remembering that no one can say for sure what a replacement battery will cost a decade or two from now).

So, with all that in mind, don’t stress about battery longevity. Early indications are that it’ll probably outlast the car.

That said, early Nissan LEAF EVs had a terrible reputation and would lose their ability to hold a charge. The newer ones are faring better.

But don’t lock yourself into a LEAF. An MG4 is a much nicer car, for example, and is sharply priced. You could also look at a BYD Atto 3, which has some deals going at the moment.

Question: I’m having an intermittent issue with a 2023 Mitsubishi; the vehicle fails to unlock with the keyless system. I can unlock it with the physical key but this is not how it’s supposed to work. Happened twice now but seems to fix itself after a couple of days, although the second time the car failed to start.

The dealer cannot find a problem. A friend had a similar issue with their Mitsubishi. Do you know if this is becoming a common issue? – Paul

Answer: We haven’t heard of it being a common problem, nor had Mitsubishi when we contacted them. They’ll be looking into your car specifically to see if there’s anything that can be done.

Is there something nearby that could be providing interference? And we’re assuming you have replaced the batteries in the key fob?

The car is obviously still under warranty so we’d be making it Mitsubishi’s problem. If it persists then insist on leaving the car with them so they can experience it, and ask for a loan vehicle.

Brand-new cars can have issues, but it’s how they’re dealt with that makes the difference.

Question: I have seen a car called the Carice EV on their website and love it. Do you know if it might come to the Australian market? – Maryclaire

Answer: Wow, we’d never heard of Carice. It’s one of the hundreds of boutique car-makers dotted around the world that manufacture in tiny volumes.

So don’t expect them ever to have a dealer presence in Australia – or anywhere, for that matter.

It’s a brand that caters to those looking for a retro-styled electric roadster. And it’s essentially a purchase online deal, again in very low volumes.

So assuming they manufacture them in right-hand drive it’s the sort of thing you’d potentially be able to bring here.

With anything like that, though, keep in mind that they can be difficult to sell once you decide you’ve had enough. There aren’t many people lining up to buy a second-hand Carice…

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