ë

[John Bilko]

So I did it.
Yes, I bought a used  ë Berlingo.

Plus, I kept my 2013 diesel so yes, I run two Bingos.  This one is a Flair.

This opens up a bag of questions.

I'll try to forestall as many questions as I can.

I am not a save the planet person and in general not enthusiastic about EVs.

My 2013 recently cost me an arm and a leg because of the dreaded DPF.  Also, broken springs thanks to the ***** roads here.  It is what I call low mileage at 80000 and I bought diesel hoping the engine would last me literally for the rest of my life.......don't ask!!   So I have a lot of dosh invested in my 2013 and a lot of time as regular followers will know.  I had to get a good few things but for example I got alloy wheels with a spare because the steels were in a disgraceful state even when I bought it.  Wheel trims did it.
However, one advantage of it is the very low road fund and cheap insurance.  But there is a better reason perhaps but more of that later.  So I have kept it........it is a keeper!!

I decided I wanted a non PF car for short trips so I got an Ignis.  I had one before about 7 years ago and it is lovely but I missed driving the 2013 so much that I was driving it  too much.

So the Ignis went and I got an ë Berlingo (this diaeresis is a pain and totally unnecessary) and defo not because of "global warming".

Range has to be a problem for others but I kept 2013 for longish runs.  Local dealers won't have them because of the range issue.  Fortunately I do only about 1000 miles per year so my EV does not need charging often and when I do charge it I can charge it overnight.

I have had it for a week and I am loving it.  However, it is just a shopping trolley and is just like my cell phone but with wheels and my mobility scooter but much much bigger. 

There are things I miss like door mirrors that retract and this one does not have satnav.

[Leonberger]

So I did it.
Yes, I bought a used  ë Berlingo.

Plus, I kept my 2013 diesel so yes, I run two Bingos.  This one is a Flair.

This opens up a bag of questions.

I'll try to forestall as many questions as I can.

I am not a save the planet person and in general not enthusiastic about EVs.

My 2013 recently cost me an arm and a leg because of the dreaded DPF.  Also, broken springs thanks to the ***** roads here.  It is what I call low mileage at 80000 and I bought diesel hoping the engine would last me literally for the rest of my life.......don't ask!!   So I have a lot of dosh invested in my 2013 and a lot of time as regular followers will know.  I had to get a good few things but for example I got alloy wheels with a spare because the steels were in a disgraceful state even when I bought it.  Wheel trims did it.
However, one advantage of it is the very low road fund and cheap insurance.  But there is a better reason perhaps but more of that later.  So I have kept it........it is a keeper!!

I decided I wanted a non PF car for short trips so I got an Ignis.  I had one before about 7 years ago and it is lovely but I missed driving the 2013 so much that I was driving it  too much.

So the Ignis went and I got an ë Berlingo (this diaeresis is a pain and totally unnecessary) and defo not because of "global warming".

Range has to be a problem for others but I kept 2013 for longish runs.  Local dealers won't have them because of the range issue.  Fortunately I do only about 1000 miles per year so my EV does not need charging often and when I do charge it I can charge it overnight.

I have had it for a week and I am loving it.  However, it is just a shopping trolley and is just like my cell phone but with wheels and my mobility scooter but much much bigger. 

There are things I miss like door mirrors that retract and this one does not have satnav.

I have had my e Berlingo for three years now, and still love it. I have done 21,000 miles, so fairly low mileage, and always charged at home, or (occasionally) on another private charger.

The only issue is range anxiety: We also have a petrol car, so on our few (maybe four or five times a year) long trips we use that. We really don’t need to, because public charging is now much easier than it was, but not having used public chargers I have shied away. I need to change that.

Otherwise it has been great, becoming part of the family in a way that only my old Defender was ever able to manage.

[John Bilko]

I have had my e Berlingo for three years now, and still love it. I have done 21,000 miles, so fairly low mileage, and always charged at home, or (occasionally) on another private charger.

The only issue is range anxiety: We also have a petrol car, so on our few (maybe four or five times a year) long trips we use that. We really don’t need to, because public charging is now much easier than it was, but not having used public chargers I have shied away. I need to change that.

Otherwise it has been great, becoming part of the family in a way that only my old Defender was ever able to manage.

My son in law runs an E Peugeot.  He has a bit of charging anxiety when he visits.  He warns me about the problems of charging  and where I live there are no fast chargers plus he tells me it can be very expensive as well as time consuming.  This was part of the reason I retained my diesel Berlingo. I had bought the Ignis for local trips but it turned out to be a mistake and the road fund for it was too much (as it is for the EV).  I think you do the right thing in using the petrol car for longer trips.
Interestingly I have had several Shoguns and I still miss having one to this day but the EV Berlingo is a close second especially since it is higher than the 2013.
Do you find maintenance is economic such as services etc?

[evdama]

I had range anxiety with my first car-an Austin A40
I had to carry a gallon of oil around
Amid the blue smoke it must have been consuming more oil than petrol.

[Mark604]

I had range anxiety as a student.
Could I afford enough petrol to get home at the weekend so my mother could do my washing and I could have decent meal.
My dad would always slip me a fiver though when I left so that was good.

[Leonberger]

I have had my e Berlingo for three years now, and still love it. I have done 21,000 miles, so fairly low mileage, and always charged at home, or (occasionally) on another private charger.

The only issue is range anxiety: We also have a petrol car, so on our few (maybe four or five times a year) long trips we use that. We really don’t need to, because public charging is now much easier than it was, but not having used public chargers I have shied away. I need to change that.

Otherwise it has been great, becoming part of the family in a way that only my old Defender was ever able to manage.

My son in law runs an E Peugeot.  He has a bit of charging anxiety when he visits.  He warns me about the problems of charging  and where I live there are no fast chargers plus he tells me it can be very expensive as well as time consuming.  This was part of the reason I retained my diesel Berlingo. I had bought the Ignis for local trips but it turned out to be a mistake and the road fund for it was too much (as it is for the EV).  I think you do the right thing in using the petrol car for longer trips.
Interestingly I have had several Shoguns and I still miss having one to this day but the EV Berlingo is a close second especially since it is higher than the 2013.
Do you find maintenance is economic such as services etc?

Considering how little there is to do, I thought that the Dealers were expensive, but stuck with them until the warranty expires later this month.
I will be pleased to be able to go elsewhere, though I will have to find out whether my normal garage (which is excellent) are able to do everything necessary on an EV. They specialise in Maserati and are often have Ferraris in the forecourt, but happily deal with my wife’s Fiat 500 and loads of other ordinary family cars!