MG4 EVs Is This The Revolution We Have Been Waiting for?

Trying2SaveABuck on 20/09/2024 - 19:29

Australia has a new most affordable electric car. The base-model MG 4 has been slashed to $30,990 drive-away …

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2024-mg-4-price-slashed-septem…

This is cheaper then a base model Toyota Corrolla which at time of posting is $36,443

https://www.toyota.com.au/corolla/hatch/prices

The biggest issue i had with EVs was the initial cost but it seems to have hit a point where it is price competitive with ICE vehicles so much so it feels like the tide might finally be turning in their favor in Australia

Now i know for some people these Chinese cars a 'shit boxes' and 'unrealiable' but the fact they are break new price floors every year will mean even legacy brands will need to lower prices to compete at the lower-middles ends of the market

I find it amazing how the cheapest EVs but a few years ago where over 60k its halved in a short period of time and charging and battery technology seems to be 'improving'

So my question is would you buy an EV for your next car if the costs are price competitive with ICE cars?

Poll Options

  • 374
    My Next vehicle will be an EV
  • 147
    I'd consider getting an EV next
  • 84
    I'll stick to ICE vehicles
  • 9
    im not sure
Automotive Electric Vehicle MG

Comments

  • askbargain on 20/09/2024 - 19:29
    -6

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/867446

    why the new post?

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/09/2024 - 19:30
      +12

      i didnt even see that but that is the deal this is more a discussion about the price floor in EV getting lower and lower

      MODs are welcome to close this if they dont think it is appropriate just please dont ban me for offending either EV or ICE lovers lol

  • Bruceflix on 20/09/2024 - 19:42
    +7

    Australia has a new most affordable electric car. The base-model MG 4 has been slashed to $30,990 drive-away

    And a 10 year warranty to boot.

    • derrida derider on 22/09/2024 - 17:54

      Outdated. you can get them for $26,990 - a cool $4k cheaper - now while they are doing a runout sale (a new model is on the way). See eg https://www.autotrader.com.au/for-sale/mg/mg4?sortBy=price&o…

      • supersabroso on 23/09/2024 - 14:59
        +3

        That's a demo with 1,000-2,000km on it already. Not brand new.

    • jrowls on 23/09/2024 - 09:32

      And a 10 year warranty to boot.

      a ten (or other multi-year) warranty is great for peace of mind, BUT… it really needs to come with reliability as well. it's gonna be just as inconvenient for you if your car constantly needs repairs that are under warranty as if they weren't under warranty, particularly with a brand with less penetration. just the cost is less.

      • Bruceflix on 23/09/2024 - 10:22
        +5

        it's gonna be just as inconvenient for you if your car constantly needs repairs that are under warranty as if they weren't under warranty

        Australian consumer law suggests a refund will be on the cards then if that is the case.

        • jrowls on 23/09/2024 - 11:28

          for sure, it's a possibility or even likelihood, but a) what's the threshold, and b) how much extra hassle is that worth?

          is it really a benefit to have a ten year warranty if something goes wrong with your car once or twice a year and it's in the shop waiting for parts? and is once or twice a year enough to argue a refund?

          point is, a warranty is not necessarily a great thing on an unreliable product.

          • Jackson on 23/09/2024 - 22:45

            @jrowls: You can guarantee that whatever the answer to this question, you are 5 times more likely to have issues with the same brands petrol vehicles.

    • cameldownunder on 24/09/2024 - 21:45
      +1

      With so many EV, who is going to service them? Or are they service free ? How much a set of Tyres ? Same as a SUV ? What about parts ? With so many of them, how long the wait at the station.

      And with "Traditionally, the electricity system in NSW has been powered by coal. Coal continues to be the primary fuel source for electricity today, generating almost 80 per cent of the State's electricity." not many are driving clean ….

      Probably cleaner a car with a smaller petrol engine.

      • changyang1230 on 25/09/2024 - 20:15
        +3

        Because coal power generators are a lot more efficient than small internal combustion engines, plenty of source show that

        "coal-powered generator > transmission with some loss > charger with some loss > car battery > kinetic energy (with regenerative braking)",

        is still better in environmental impact than

        "small inefficient internal combustion engine" > kinetic energy.

        Most importantly, most people charge with cleaner-than-pure-coal electricity.

        • cameldownunder on 30/09/2024 - 20:11
          -2

          Western Australia, where in 2022 more than 83 per cent of electricity came from fossil fuels, mostly gas.

          If you plug it in a Non-Solar powered stations, you drive 83 DIRTY.

          If it's better than 8.3L/100km petrol car is no debate here.

          "small inefficient internal combustion engine" > kinetic energy.

          Look at CO2 emission, of say 1.5L engine ….

          • changyang1230 on 30/09/2024 - 23:04

            @cameldownunder: Is there supposed to be a primary source or calculator you were referring to? The part where you referred to 8.3L/100km as the break even point.

      • BlueGlass on 26/09/2024 - 08:37
        +2

        Yeah nah, EVs are cleaner. The ABC has already looked into this.
        I would suggest driving an EV to understand why there is so much hype.

  • Nugs on 20/09/2024 - 19:52
    +7

    Option 5: never bought a new car, likely never will
    .

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/09/2024 - 20:13
      +21

      your 'next car' doesnt have to be 'new'

      • Nugs on 20/09/2024 - 20:18
        -7

        Ok.
        "price competitive with ICE vehicles"
        Any sub $1000 EVs around yet?
        .

        • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/09/2024 - 20:29
          +11

          Any sub $1000 EVs around yet?

          is there any 'new' sub $1000 ICE cars in Australia?

          • Nugs on 20/09/2024 - 20:30
            -4

            @Trying2SaveABuck: "your 'next car' doesnt have to be 'new'"
            So which is it?
            .

            • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/09/2024 - 20:31
              +6

              @Nugs: tell me you dont get the point of this without telling me LMAO

        • SBOB on 20/09/2024 - 20:31
          +5

          Any sub $1000 EVs around yet?

          Whats a sub $1000 ICE vehicle these days? thats about 4 tyres and a rego sticker?

          • Nugs on 20/09/2024 - 20:32
            -6

            @SBOB: The car I drive most cost $400
            .

            • 0FoxGiven on 20/09/2024 - 22:22
              +10

              @Nugs: Ok I'll bite. When did you buy it for $400 (because even shitbox secondhand cars seem to sell for more these days) and how old was the car when you got it for that price?

              Was it like 15 years old when you bought? If so, ye this 30k EV could also probably be worth $400 (adjust for inflation) when it's 15 years old.

              • johnno07 on 21/09/2024 - 21:37
                +5

                @0FoxGiven: Sticking around for the almost-certainly-eye-roll-inducing answer to this question.

              • Nugs on 22/09/2024 - 07:32

                @0FoxGiven: Of course it's a shitbox, it was $400. Bought at pre covid pricing in March 2020 its a 1997 Mazda Metro that was byo battery and rego/transfer was paid upon purchase. Two oldest of our three children were on learners and I wanted a simple manual car for them. Now all three have their own cars it's the family run around. There are still sub $1000 cars around in SA. Daughters boyfriend just bought a registered 2012 i20 for $400 a few weeks ago. It's ratty but drives well.

                The opening question was would you buy an EV for your next car if the costs are price competitive with ICE cars?
                Regardless of what is happening with new EV pricing, those who choose to buy shitboxes or those who can only afford to buy shitboxes are not affected. The cheapest EVs on carsales are a bunch of $8000 Nissan Leaf's.

                I have never driven an EV or a Chinese built car so I can't comment on how they drive any more than I can about a Ferrari. EVs have their place but right now it's not in our fleet. The financials just don't make sense given the low km I drive lately. I also prefer to drive a manual rather than steer an auto
                .

                • Dream-cast on 22/09/2024 - 18:58
                  +3

                  @Nugs: If you can't afford more than a $400 shit box then fine but at a learner driver is a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road. They could be safest driver on the road but you can't account for other drivers. Nowadays $8,000 gets you a 2010 corolla and it has most modern safety features. And the added benefit of being a somewhat reliable car that will probably not breakdown which is another safety issue altogether. Paying $8000 for some guarantees of safety is a no brainer to me.

                • Brianqpr on 22/09/2024 - 22:06
                  +1

                  @Nugs: Byo battery, so not $400 then. Do you get it serviced, because I doubt that would be cheap?

                  • Nugs on 23/09/2024 - 09:09

                    @Brianqpr: had a battery from another unreg car.
                    diy servicing; cheap as, only takes 3.5l of HPR10 10W-50 oil and a $5-8 filter every 7500km. I changed the rocker cover gasket for $15 (painted it for extra HP), changed air filter, coolant and gearbox oils for peace of mind (patchy service history) and it's had a set of black friday Pirelli's fitted for <$300. other than that it's just reg & insurance
                    4 years and 40000 trouble free km's since purchase
                    and it's fun to drive (for a FWD econo box)
                    and have a guess which car I used to jump start our interstate visitors crappy MG hire car that had a flat battery after it's headlights were somehow left on for only three hours
                    .

                    • Brianqpr on 23/09/2024 - 09:59

                      @Nugs: Fair enough, obvs helps if you are able to do stuff yourself (most aren't). We had a cheap 20+ year old Corolla as a backup/station car for a few years which never let us down and apart from paint peeling was still good when I sold it. Its still registered so is doing a job for the current owner too.

                • SteveM on 24/09/2024 - 13:09

                  @Nugs: The auto/manual part of the question is interesting to me. Is it that the car doesn't have a clutch? Most EV's on the market are single speed drive so you choose forward or backwards and press the pedal, once heading in the direction you choose, there are no more gears available and when you stop, the motor stops, so there is no need for a clutch to disengage the motor from the gearbox.

                  If it weren't for the option of one pedal driving in some EVs, and therefore auto brake, I would definitely consider EVs as manual transmission

              • cameldownunder on 24/09/2024 - 21:47

                @0FoxGiven: Got my Kia in 2008 for 22K, 16 Years later … worth 4.5K not inflation adjusted

                • 0FoxGiven on 25/09/2024 - 00:57

                  @cameldownunder: Good to know. Got my RAV4 hybrid in 2020 for $38k. 4 years later it's worth $40k+ So things could vary a lot.

                  I'm just refuting @Nugs point on being able to get a 15 year old second hand ICE car for $400 (which was a shitbox without a battery lol) while EVs can't be acquired for that price today. Comparing apples to radios here. The modern EVs are not even that old to know what their value would be 15 years from now. Maybe an old EV with a degraded battery ranging something like 40km (so a comparable shitbox) would not be worth much. Maybe not even $400

            • SlickMick on 21/09/2024 - 22:20
              +3

              @Nugs: Dunno why the negs. I have a friend who got his last car for free, and it lasted him years.

              He was at a servo and the attendant mentioned that the next offer he got on the ute out the front he'd take. So he offered nothing, and the guy signed it over. (The guy is a story teller, but not a liar. Just hard to know how embellished that is.)

              • serpserpserp on 22/09/2024 - 16:42

                @SlickMick: Out of the four cars I have got in my life, they cost me: 1. free (hand down beaten-up bomb from extended family), 2. Dodgy ex-write-off $8,000 Toyota Echo that lasted me 8 years with no repairs. 3. Skoda, brand new, $24,000. 4. $1,500 beaten up bomb.

                There is a lot of value to be had in old cars. However my next cars will be EV's, but the longer I wait, the less i'll pay for them.

                We seem to be in this period where car makers are making more cars than ever. Existing ICE brands are doing ICE/Hybrids/EV's, there are obviously just new EV companies, there is more "units" than ever in the market. Eventually this just means that cars are on a downward spiral for price. The tricky part will be buying one where the underlying company is still around in 5 years. There are a few big ones like VW, Japanese car makers etc. That from a financial perspective are really in a bad way.

          • md333 on 21/09/2024 - 17:55

            @SBOB: You don't want too many tyres in that price range, because you have to pay to dispose of each tyre when it dies. (made the mistake once of checking my $300 car came with a spare).

        • taki on 22/09/2024 - 13:47
          +2

          Sub $1000 horses?

    • No ONE on 24/09/2024 - 13:24

      you mean 'brand' new!

    • Hardlyworkin on 20/09/2024 - 21:28
      +11

      ev is in, jv is out!

    • pegaxs on 20/09/2024 - 22:48
      +12

      *yawn*

      You really need to get some new material, jv.

        • pegaxs on 20/09/2024 - 23:03
          +12

          I can… but ironically, what you are espousing, is not the truth.

            • pegaxs on 21/09/2024 - 08:01
              +8

              @jv: Haha, yeah, nah, it’s not.

  • Drakesy on 20/09/2024 - 21:30

    We're still getting slaughtered on pricing compared to what they're retailing at, from memory the BYD Atto is retailing at the equivalent of $30k in China vs $44k here.

    • rodericb on 21/09/2024 - 10:12
      +1

      Yeah, one could see it that either someone is funding these price cuts or the people who bought them earlier were getting a bit of a shafting. With reference to my last point, yeah companies can charge whatever they like etcetera etcetera but if we are in a climate emergency then it smells a bit like profiteering. At least Tesla sometimes points at manufacturing or supply chain efficiency improvements to justify price reductions… Or it's to move old inventory.

      Curiously I haven't seen any news articles screeching about the second hand values of these MG cars like we saw when Tesla dropped their prices.

      • miicah on 22/09/2024 - 15:08

        The QLD EV rebate just ran out, so people before were paying about this much as well.

        • Frederico Z on 24/09/2024 - 13:36
          +1

          The price of any thing subsidised by government will increase by the value of the subsidy.

          The reverse does not necessarily apply. <wink>

      • infinite on 24/09/2024 - 22:15

        Thankfully we aren't in a climate emergency though, so it's kind of irrelevant in that regard.

    • taki on 22/09/2024 - 13:52

      Different systems + relative to their currency/incomes. They had to upgrade their safety as here we have killer 4WD/Utes "cowboys" roaming that makes us more vulnerable.

  • Clickbait on 20/09/2024 - 22:02
    -3

    Chinese Economy is screwed.
    They are dumping stock here

    • altomic on 20/09/2024 - 23:59
      +8

      yes, selling a product to a market is "dumping". your comment wins the gold star for moronic comment of the day

      • pegaxs on 21/09/2024 - 08:05
        +14

        And even if they are dumping cars here, it’s a mutually beneficial win-win arrangement…

        They get to get rid of EV’s and we get cheap EV’s. I welcome their fire sale.

        • Sinnerator on 22/09/2024 - 07:41
          +2

          so…. who's going to 'honour' that 10yr warranty???

          • Lichen6420 on 23/09/2024 - 08:46
            +2

            @Sinnerator: Is there anything to suggest MG will not be around?

            Dumping / offloading excess stock cheap is a win when there is no domestic industry to protect.

            • infinite on 24/09/2024 - 22:19
              -1

              @Lichen6420: MG have a shocking reputation with honouring their own warranty.

              They have a company policy currently for example, where they won't honour any warranty claim from outside MG dealer servicing.

              There's also a good number of car parts not covered by the warranty, either.

              • youfnc on 25/09/2024 - 19:29

                @infinite:

                They have a company policy currently for example, where they won't honour any warranty claim from outside MG dealer servicing.

                The pathological liar is back!

        • fantombloo on 21/09/2024 - 13:11
          +4

          The second sentence was probably unnecessary but the first said plenty.

        • johnno07 on 21/09/2024 - 21:43
          +1

          I don't believe saying "your comment is moronic" is an ad hominem attack. Saying "you're a moron" for the purpose of disproving your statement would be.

      • rumblytangara on 21/09/2024 - 17:58

        Well, at least username checks out.

    • elgrande on 21/09/2024 - 08:28
      +6

      Only thing they are dumping are stocks in Telsa.

  • this is us on 20/09/2024 - 22:04
    +5

    No option "I already have an EV"?

    • md333 on 21/09/2024 - 17:56

      Your next car can still be an EV even if you've already had several.

      • this is us on 22/09/2024 - 11:53
        +1

        Not necessarily… And I'm not saying "several".

  • coffeeinmyveins on 20/09/2024 - 22:28
    +2

    will mean even legacy brands will need to lower prices to compete at the lower-middles ends of the market

    Not really.

    Can't compare the build quality of an mg to an established brand

    There's more to cars than just four wheels.

    Having that said these price drops are pretty crazy. I didn't think we'd see this onslaught of EVs and it will be interesting to see how the infrastructure meets this demand

    There's no chance we can get a mass adoption of EV with our current grid

    • verio on 21/09/2024 - 10:39
      +2

      Aside from Tesla, other manufacturers (see Polestar, Kia, Hyundai, Ford, etc) are not dropping prices for EVs. They can't compete based on the price alone and prefer not to even try.

      • scotty on 21/09/2024 - 14:13
        +1

        … other manufacturers (see Polestar, Kia, Hyundai, Ford, etc) are not dropping prices for EVs.

        But you are right, majority of the current EV "deals" are Chinese brands. Even the Telstra Model 3/Y in Australia were all made in their Shanghai plant.

        • pegaxs on 21/09/2024 - 17:37

          Fiat also dropped the price on the 500e last month from $52,500 + ORC to $49,990 drive away. A saving of about $6k once you factor in ORC. (And with Fiat selling next to none of them because a $50k pocket car is a joke) I would expect much steeper discounts on the 500e come end of year and Fiat announcing they are going to stop making them and shipping them to Aus.

          • Always 2020 on 22/09/2024 - 11:53
            +2

            @pegaxs: Fiat 500e should be selling for $13990 driveaway no more to pay.

    • surg3on on 23/09/2024 - 08:56

      I own a byd. Poops all over the ford I owned previously

      • coffeeinmyveins on 23/09/2024 - 08:58
        -3

        Weird flex but ok. We were talking about MG.

        • surg3on on 23/09/2024 - 09:02
          +1

          MG and BYD are in that family of 'cheap chinese'

  • brendanm on 20/09/2024 - 22:29
    +3

    I don't have an issue with EVs, but I sure wouldn't be buying a Chinese one.

    • pegaxs on 20/09/2024 - 22:52
      +5

      Good luck with that then, when most of them are Chinese made or contain Chinese made batteries from either CATL or BYD.

      And the Chinese dumping these things for almost cost price is going to obliterate the legacy car makers and when they all go out the back door and die a slow death, you may not end up having any choice on where your car is made. $25k for a brand new BYD/MG/Geely/Zeekr/whatever, or $68k for an inferior euro shitbox that still contains a majority of their parts made in China.

      • brendanm on 20/09/2024 - 23:56

        I don't really care of they have Chinese made batteries. The rest of it is made poorly. I also don't really care if other manufacturers use chinese made parts, with proper oversight the Chinese can make good parts.

        • May4th on 22/09/2024 - 09:06
          +5

          have you actually sat in some of the chinese premium EVs? it's a new world and legacy makes have been asleep at the wheel too long

          • brendanm on 22/09/2024 - 10:07
            -2

            @May4th:

            chinese premium

            Lol

            • May4th on 22/09/2024 - 10:18

              @brendanm: that's what the legacy manufacturers including Elon Musk said about BYD, and look at them now. go and sit in a Denza or Nio, not these firesale MGs - the first to export is always the bottom of heap bargain basement stock, and you'll see

              • brendanm on 22/09/2024 - 10:24
                -2

                @May4th: No thanks, I've had enough experience with Chinese cars, and products in general, I know exactly what it will be like.

                Not sure how I would even go sit in a vehicle that we don't get here anyway 🤷‍♂️

                • May4th on 22/09/2024 - 19:55
                  +2

                  @brendanm: well I guess if you already know I guess that won't ever change for you will it

            • mrdeal13 on 23/09/2024 - 09:40
              +1

              @brendanm: All of your comment history is miserable passive aggressive-ness. I would assume you don't have many friends with a personality like yours.

              • brendanm on 23/09/2024 - 09:46
                -1

                @mrdeal13: I'm not sure how saying that something is a shitbox is being passive aggressive?

                As you've gone through all my posts, I'll now assume you are my friend ❤️

                • mrdeal13 on 23/09/2024 - 10:34

                  @brendanm: My deepest apologies! *Most of your comment history is miserable passive aggressive-ness

                  Of course I'll be your first friend. Can you promise to be a bit more positive/cheerful though? Thx

                  • brendanm on 23/09/2024 - 10:54

                    @mrdeal13: I can't promise that sorry, it's what I've built my entire persona on. A lot of people would be very disappointed.

                    I know we will remain besties though 🫂

        • Roman Sandstorm on 23/09/2024 - 16:14

          @brendanm

          The rest of it is made poorly.

          Genuine quesiton: are you talking about this specific model? Or do you mean all of the lower-cost Chinese EVs?

          Because the reviews I have read, both professional ones, and user experiences, don't seem to talk about them being 'made poorly'. Certainly, there are references to 'lack of refinement', 'bizarre' or unconventional interiors. And maybe not having the appointments of Euro EVs. But I don't think many people compare, or expect to compare low-cost Chinese EVs with a Lexus (or… whatever… enter your preferred quality car maker…).

          When I hear 'made poorly' I think of Ladas, or Austin Kimberleys, or early Hyundai Excels. Are the current Chinese EVs like these? Are all of the owner and professional reviews a part of a giant conspiracy? Are they paid to only report the positive?

          • brendanm on 23/09/2024 - 17:03

            @Roman Sandstorm: I'm talking all Chinese cars in general. "Lack of refinement" is made poorly. Drivers aids that don't work is made poorly. An engine/trans combo that couldn't pull a sailor off your sister is made poorly.

            No reviews are going to say it's "made poorly" as they drive it for 5 minutes, they don't own it for 3 years.

            • May4th on 23/09/2024 - 17:23

              @brendanm: says someone who freely admits they haven't actually seen any Chinese cars outside of the very limited selection we have in Australia that caters to the cheap and value seeking crowd, and admits their bias that nothing will change their mind, but feels like they add value to discussions about things have very limited knowledge about

    • Cluster on 21/09/2024 - 00:54
      +1

      It's quite difficult buying a non Chinese EV in Australia. You either go for the niche brands, or everything else is made in China. Including the Tesla 3. All China made.

      • brendanm on 21/09/2024 - 06:57
        +10

        China made is not the same as China owned.

        • Euphemistic on 21/09/2024 - 07:07
          +4

          This. Chinese can make whatever you want. The history of chinese branded vehicles in Aus is that they are built down to a price. Plenty of other chinese made top quality goods around, but you pay for them.

          • brendanm on 21/09/2024 - 07:54
            +2

            @Euphemistic: Correct, they can. When left to their own devices they generally (not always) make cheap crap, with no regards for quality.

            • Euphemistic on 21/09/2024 - 09:33

              @brendanm: Absolutely. They mostly compete on price and aim to profit from quantity of sales, not sustainable practices.

              However, I think they are stepping up their game with cars. Aiming to be a global dominator and that requires a combination of reasonable quality and price.

              • dachosenone on 23/09/2024 - 14:22

                @Euphemistic: All they care about is the initial sale, not the serious warranty issues or parts in stock.

                Dont tell me they care about the consumer, when every other week they drop the price. In addition to the massive depreciation, what about the poor guy, who in some cases, paid thousands more only a few months ago?

                • May4th on 23/09/2024 - 14:29

                  @dachosenone: I've driven mercs and they aren't much different..they don't give a toss about you once the payment clears, they used to pretend to care but now they just treat all customers with disdain, good luck if you have to take it back, and that's likely to be often

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join