James Ruppert: is it time to re-evaluate electric cars as used buys?

Back to the electric thing. The best reason for buying the Renault models is that they offer good value. A Twizy is just a quick golf cart, but not as practical. For a Zoe, buy yourself a 2013 Dynamique with 40,000 miles for £5995. It’s cooler than a Nissan Leaf and cheaper, as you pay similar money for a 2012 car with over 100,000 miles. 

Obviously, I’m not convinced that electric cars fit every buying scenario, but spending not much more than £5k on a small hatch – be it fossil-fuel engined or something you charge up – might just work.

What we almost bought this week

Mitsubishi Galant 2.0 GLS

Unless they’ve been thoroughly refurbished, most 33-year-old cars are showing their age. Not this 55,000-mile Galant, though, which has only ever known a heated garage. Shame it’s not the Turbo version but, at £3995, it makes a tempting oddball: smooth, reliable and looking a bit like a poor man’s Audi 100.

Tales from Ruppert’s garage

Porsche Cayenne, mileage - 100,800: We were powering aboard the Flying Pig recently when, inevitably, we had to stop for more fuel. On the way back from the kiosk in the dark, I could see that something was missing. It turned out to be the offside fog-light glass. The bulb was still intact and it worked. Half the glass had gone, presumably on the M25, M11 or, most likely, somewhere stony. To avoid the bulb getting busted, I used some leftover Yuletide clear packaging as protection. Initial replacements seem to be fairly pricey from the official channels – around £100 at the moment. There are alternatives…

Reader’s ride

Honda CR-V: Our old mate, car dealer Bradley Mitchell, is always picking up interesting stuff: “Had to send you this CR-V. Bought it a few days ago, a dreadful noise coming from underneath, for peanuts. Turned out to be the tyre. Chucked a part-worn on for £25 and it drives brilliantly. I smoked it around for two days just to be sure it was okay and, I have to say, I’m a fan! It’s deceptively rapid, lovely and smooth, and you’d never guess it’s done 157k. It’s incredibly roomy and the packaging inside is genius. What a great winter smoker for £1800!”

Readers’ questions

Question: After a lifetime of new cars, I’m considering buying used. Is manufacturer approved the gold standard? Ken Chalk, London

Answer: It should be but we have enough experience of them to know that all that glitters is not gold. For example, a few months after buying it, an acquaintance realised his approved used 65-reg Volkswagen  Scirocco had been painted, a fact the dealer should have declared (the car was its former demonstrator, so the salesman would have known). It was missing its parcel shelf, too, which reminds us to check that removable parts such as the shelf, cupholders and storage covers are present, since scavenging parts for used stock can tempt some. John Evans