Someone stop me from going all-electric

If you can find a buyer for your PIP at 21K, go for it.

 

we recently looked at the BMW i3 as a possible replacement for wife's car, and found out that it had 4 separate battery cells that made up the main traction battery. The best selling point was that if one cell went bad or performed below threshold, then it could be replaced at lower cost. And it had what seemed a good diagnostic suite.

A Leaf has to have entire battery changed.

Don't know anything about the MB battery.

Range will still be affected by heat/ac use.

 

Depends how convenient you find it to rent and how often a "few" times a year is.
Does the Mercedes have quick charge capability? If so, you may not need to rent at all.

Alternatively, a Volt would allow you all electric inside a 40 mile range. Then when you needed it you could drive further on gas. Cost should be the same (24k) or less.
Or, if willing, you could wait to see the second gen electrics which should be hitting the market over the next year or so.

 

The dashboard layout of the first gen Volt is awful.
The second gen is pretty nice, IMO. I would recommend checking it out in the late summer when it arrives.

If your typical daily drive is 20 miles, the Ford energi may also be an option.

Any superchargers or CHadeMo quick chargers on your route?

I think you will see a large step forward in capabilities and prices with the second gen EVs. If the itch to move to EV isn't too bad, I would recommend waiting.

 

Wait 3 months for the 2016 Chevy Volt then!

Tesla Aside, The Kia Soul EV Is US Electric Car Range King

 

if i could do it, i would do it. why would you want someone to stop you?

 

I'd get a Mitsubishi i, which can be ~$8k-$10k all in if you wait around for a deal, and maybe wait to sell your pip until after the car-pool stickers run out.

For the long trips, I'd consider buying a gen II Prius as a second car, and only insuring it when you actually use it. Or maybe throw it on one of those car sharing sites/services and block out the days you want to use it?

 

You need to think about buying cars a little less often, or just throw away the pencil and stop trying to do math, and just admit that you want it because you want it.
Disregard the above if you've already paid for the house, funded retirement and are otherwise debt-free....but generally speaking if you're buying cars every three or four years, why worry about the cost?

3 year old Pips are going for closer to 18 in Caly, which means that you're actually not upside down in your car.....unlike most three-year-old car owners....but it's still not your car. The bank owns more of the car than you do - and if you get the Benz you're going to be going the wrong way.
What makes the Pip a good car is the fact that if you make any attempt to take care of it at all, it will knock down 250,000 miles over about ten years.....or more in your case if you're considering a BEV. You could pay this thing off very quickly and let it start paying you back with it's frugality and reliability....or simply bank the car payments.

Good Luck!

 

It's going to be interesting to watch CA HOV green sticker effect if they run out. If you use HOV, then you gotta get a BEV unless you move pretty darn fast on a PHEV. I would think green HOV stickers gone before Volt2 comes out. if the PiP has green HOV stickers it may retain value farily well while you ponder BEV.

 

Heed this advice. The biggest negative to buying the Benz is that in 2.5 years, you would've had a paid off and very reliable car. Imagine how stress free life can be without a $500 monthly payment. Buying a desirable home where we live in CA is considerably easier when you don't have car payments or student loans. In case, there are people wondering how people can afford to live here without Facebook or Google salaries, it's pretty simple. Pay off debt.

 

OP, from my perspective, you're on the feathery edge, trading in a 2 year old car you're still making payments on, for an upscale, limited-range Mercedes?

 

Hmmm... US$21000 for a base model Plug-in. That seems a bit optimistic, but what is your mileage? FWIW, I paid US$24000 for a top-end model 2012 Plug-in (Canadian Technology Package) with 18000 miles and TCUV a couple of months ago.

Note the Canadian Technology Package is roughly the same as the US Advanced Package with Technology Package upgrade, and that retails for US$38340 in California (plus taxes), minus the I believe $4000 rebate in California. However, since it's a different country, the local sales values will be different.

Anyhoo, a limited range all-electric is not for me.

 

I would look at residual value of current BEVs, a cheap lease maybe: Resale Prices Tumble on Electric Cars - Videos - Boston.com

 

Go for it, especially if your annual gasoline use goes down with the switch.

 

The service manager at the local Mercedes dealer drives a Chevy Suburban.

 

yup, not required to drive the carp they sell.

 

Or can't afford too.

 

not like ford.