Geely E2 Apex, pull the trigger or am I going mad?

[Steamy Tom]

In theory it sounds like a great idea, I had the same idea, then I quickly realised that I could literally buy a "low" milage second hand car for like half the price or less and it be more capable (i.e no range restrictions for example) and drive it for the next 10 years and still come out better on petrol. Your situation my differ a bit though, if you like it go ahead, not the worst idea either way, so long as you see it as a way to scratch the itch and shifting expenses with some possible benefit.

 

[Zuluzebra]

lol I want to see you order a new tyre via uber and have the uber driver look at you like a retard when you expect him to remove the old tyre and fit and inflate the new.

offcourse I expect him to change the tyre while I have a beer which was delivered with my goodyear.

 

[Foxhound5366]

did you even read the description? This is a CITY car that I want to get my wife, Randburg to Sandton...She also doesnt drive at night as we will be together as a family. There won't be any Cape town travel at any time...

Cool your attitude bra. You came into a forum and asked for opinions. Now you're defending your preference aggressively. Which is fine, we've all been there ... just looking for validation. I find it telling that you (asking me if I read the description) didn't respond to my reasonable point that you trying to finance this thing at least partly by having your wife sink her entire petrol budget into it every month (while not saving her a cent) is some hokey relationship maths. But keep going bra, it's a nice car. I hope it's as good as it looks on the tin.

 

[SauRoNZA]

You lost me at your wife paying you…just consolidate your **** and make it a team effort?

How do people raise children like this?

As for the car…DO IT

Maybe just go give the Ora 5 a drive as well first. It comes with a spare wheel if that is a concern for you…for me it’s actually a waste of space but I live in Cape Town.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Updated first post.

I won't go for the white interior. Most likely white car colour, black roof with grey leather interior. This is the one I test drove

I’m surprised to see the white interior on the E2 because I’m yet to see it anywhere locally on the E5 and I won’t buy it without that interior because the dark one just looks like ass.

 

[SauRoNZA]

planned obsolescence? I mean every week a new chinesium of the week arrives, looks flashy has more gadgets than robocop
but long term, after its been paid off and the warranty is gone, what then? or do people just drive them in lease, hand them back and take another, like any BMW or Merc?

cause that would make sense, get rid of them before the problems become expensive to fix.

Funny how nobody asks the same questions of all the Germans that all share the same parts across a hundred slightly diffent models.

The Chinese cars really aren’t any different.

Besides the fact they being electric there aren’t really much parts to start with.

 

[SauRoNZA]

In 15 years not once has my wife had a pap wiel that caused her a "safety concern" (touch wood). Again, the car won't drive to cape town. It's meant for city driving where you are really close to support at any given time. Also, you can literally request a new tyre via uber these days.

100% and when the vehicle’s roadside assistance runs out then your insurance takes care of it.

By and large imagined drama.

I’ve ridden motorcycles for 20+ year travelling every corner of this country and those never had spare tyres either and yet here we are.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Small world moment. A work colleague of mine just got one this weekend and I just sat in it for a quick drive from the charging stations at our work to the main parking. Was impressed. Decent leg room, simple but nice interface. Very silent obviously. Liked the extra storage space in the front under the main bonnet with an OK sized boot.

She was spending just under 3K a month on fuel for her previous vehicle and now estimates even at the premium costs charged at work per KWH (around R8 per KWH) it would cost her around R800 pm. Once she has a DC charger installed at home she can charge from Eskom at Around R3,50 per KWH, and she also has solar that sometimes has spare capacity so she could trickle charge from that for free. Either was she estimates a savings of around R2500 min per month and that just becomes more if the fuel price rises.

I did the math on electric vehicles a few years back and the math did not quiet work out for me however now I am seriously tempted. Especially as it feels like fuel prices are going up with Iran and Russia and their nonsense.

Edit: The math that is outstanding for me is the depreciation costs of the vehicle itself and potential battery replacement down the road. How much is that costing me per month if I am driving for 10 + years.

The reality is that most of the time you’ll never charge the battery from 0-100%.

You’ll do small top ups from 80% and up which means you don’t even need a massive amount of solar to run for free.

Someone people bring their petrol logic into it thinking they need to empty the thing because they don’t realise they now have a petrol station at home.

Which also means unless you literally don’t have a wall socket at home close to the car you’ll rarely need a public charger.

 

[Kolmogorov]

I’m surprised to see the white interior on the E2 because I’m yet to see it anywhere locally on the E5 and I won’t buy it without that interior because the dark one just looks like ass.

Quite a few E2 and E5's with white interiors at dealers in the Cape. Getting a demo E5 with a white interior, against my better judgment - there will be a permanent supply of cleaning cloths in the car.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Quite a few E2 and E5's with white interiors at dealers in the Cape. Getting a demo E5 with a white interior, against my better judgment - there will be a permanent supply of cleaning cloths in the car.

I’m convinced they use the same photos for different listings and they are all the navy interior.

Guess I’ll have to phone and ask.

 

[Kolmogorov]

I’m convinced they use the same photos for different listings and they are all the navy interior.

Guess I’ll have to phone and ask.

The Thorpe dealers do that...very irritating. Just visit a dealer, there's bound to be some on the floor.

 

[robinsonia]

It makes sense for a second car. Not great as a primary unless you don’t mind hiring a car to go on a road trip.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The Thorpe dealers do that...very irritating. Just visit a dealer, there's bound to be some on the floor.

Ja, but then I might buy one.

 

[SauRoNZA]

It makes sense for a second car. Not great as a primary unless you don’t mind hiring a car to go on a road trip.

There’s this thing called planning.

But also a “road trip” is not zooming from Cape Town to Johannesburg in one sitting, it’s an adventure across multiple days.

I pretty much never drive more than 250km in a day on any trip.

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

In 15 years not once has my wife had a pap wiel that caused her a "safety concern" (touch wood). Again, the car won't drive to cape town. It's meant for city driving where you are really close to support at any given time. Also, you can literally request a new tyre via uber these days.

Sure, but this is SA. You are welcome to take this risk, but I will not buy a car that does not have a spare:

Lacking a spare wheel in an Electric Vehicle (EV) poses significant security and operational risks in South Africa. While automakers omit spare tyres globally to reduce vehicle weight, save space for large battery packs, and maximize driving range, the unique realities of South African roads make this a distinct hazard.

 

[GrootBaas]

Sure, but this is SA. You are welcome to take this risk, but I will not buy a car that does not have a spare:

Lacking a spare wheel in an Electric Vehicle (EV) poses significant security and operational risks in South Africa. While automakers omit spare tyres globally to reduce vehicle weight, save space for large battery packs, and maximize driving range, the unique realities of South African roads make this a distinct hazard.

I suspect those in Cape Town have a very different experience of South African roads than those in other areas of the country.

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

I suspect those in Cape Town have a very different experience of South African roads than those in other areas of the country.

The reality is that Cape Town roads are just as dangerous as any other roads in SA. The N2 between Somerset West and the city is probably the most dangerous road in the world. "Viva DA! Together you pay more!"

 

[The_MAC]

@Zuluzebra - I noted you had/have the Fortuner, I assume it was used for some kind of off-roading or at least high-clearance scenarios?

That is my current predicament, I off-road a bit (4-6 times a year) and pull a offroad camper, an small EV is obviously not going to work, not even a SUV, it would have to be a EV/Hybrid-bakkie, but then the price range is off the charts.

 

[airborne]

I suspect those in Cape Town have a very different experience of South African roads than those in other areas of the country.

Cape Town has some of the dodgiest roads in South Africa, there's many roads I have to drive on that I would absolutely sht myself if I had a break down on, being stuck without a spare in those areas could be very sketchy.

To be fair even if I had a spare wheel I would always default to using tire inflation products like Tyreweld rather than the spare to minimise time spent stranded and exposed, then go to a tyre shop and have the puncture professionally attended to, the spare tire is only if there's an outright tire loss from road debris or similar which is an extremely rare situation but it can happen.