What Car Did You Drive Before Going Electric

[AzuraMOYK]

I’m currently driving a BMW X4 M40i, which, in non-BMW speak, is a crazy fast, slightly awkward-looking 3.0L petrol-powered SUV. I know, I know… boo me all you want!

But seriously, I’ve been thinking about switching to the electric side and cleansing myself of my polluting ways. When I’m not racing from one red light to the next, I actually enjoy cruising through the city in adaptive mode, where the stop-start tech turns off the engine for some quiet. It’s made me wonder if I might actually be craving an electric car.

I don’t drive much—maybe 200 miles in a day once a month, but most of the time, it’s just short trips to the store or weekend drives. Since I work from home and have a second car, my driving habits aren’t too demanding.

So, I’m curious:

• What car were you driving before you switched to electric, and do you miss it?
• Would you ever consider going back to fossil fuel, or are you fully committed to EV life?

 

[Dutchi3]

I still have a diesel Vanagon, love it, it is an oldtimer now. But daily driving is electric.

 

[eNate]

• What car were you driving before you switched to electric, and do you miss it?
• Would you ever consider going back to fossil fuel, or are you fully committed to EV life?

I've been a wagon guy since the mid 90's. A pair of Subaru Legacy wagons, followed by a Ford Flex (technically in wagon territory), an Acura TSX sportwagon, and finally an Audi allroad.

From the practicality standpoint, downsizing to the i3 was a compromise.

But I still own the Flex (it mostly sits), and I manage to carry plenty of unusual stuff in the i3, road trip in the VW ID.4, and would replace the Flex with an EV – a Kia EV9 or VW Buzz – should it ever make financial sense to do so.

I can't imagine ever again owning any sort of ICE variant.

 

[mfogarty]

I currently have both the 2020 i3 and a 2021 M235i GC. Before that I had a Focus RS.

 

[Clanduncan]

For the 25 years previous to owning my i3 I drove small diesel cars (various Corsas, Fiestas, and Citroen C3's), for the economy they would get, i.e. anything from 65-70 mpg (in the UK), which gave me a range of up to 700 miles per tank. Useful when commuting 500 miles a week, and at a cost of around 8-10p/mile depending on diesel costs.
Now I pay only 2-2.5p per mile for electric, when charging at home.
Like 'eNate' I can't imagine going back to any sort of ICE vehicle now.

 

[millybuzzin 63]

Currently drive a bmw i3 rex 2017 before I had a bmw 225xe so absolutely love the i3 so no way back for me.also I have a 1989 ford escort rs turbo in my garage had it for 20 years now 😀 love it 😀

 

[ksnax]

Had a Ford Flex and 2002 Miata. Thought I would never sell both of them. I only miss the Miata 4-5 months per year, and I haven't missed the Flex at all since selling it last year now that I have a utility trailer figured out for the i3. But I am now kinda hosed if we get any serious snow and I need to go somewhere. (But I rarely NEED to go anywhere.) No regrets aside from no more convertible.

 

[drcarrera]

A Mk7 Golf R was the car we swapped for our i3. We still have two petrol cars, though - an AMG Merc for longer journeys and a McLaren.

 

[JamesInLondon]

For the last 35 years I have been a Mercedes owner; going all the way back to W113 280 SL 'Pagoda'. My two most recent cars were an A124 E320 convertible and a R230 600SL

 

[SSi3]

2010 328xiT 6MT