This may come as a surprise to many of you who have for years been reading about my many old cars (my youngest is 29 years old), but I want to buy a new car. Maybe not a brand new one, but one from the last decade. I’ll get into the reasoning behind why I no longer want to solely drive old junkers, but it really doesn’t matter because I’m stuck. Logical or not, I feel that if I buy the EV I want today, it may be obsolete in a few years, and if I buy an ICE today, it may be…obsolete in a few years. Here, allow me to explain.
Here are the two cars I’m debating purchasing:
- A 2023 Jeep Wrangler JL Sport 6spd (a vehicle I helped engineer)
- A 2015 BMW i3 (also an engineering masterpiece)
I’m considering purchasing one of these machines because the 405 here in LA is a monster that swallows small old cars, and my large-ish Jeep J10 is just too thirsty for the $5/gallon gas. Plus, I’m realizing that having a new-ish car can help socially. It’s really not about me having a commute and needing reliability, because my cars are actually quite reliable (especially the J10), it’s really more about me growing up a little bit.
To be honest, I really want to buy a BMW i3, because I want to practice what I preach, which is that people with commutes should drive EVs if they can, since the real joy of ICEs — the joy of driving (especially a stick shift) and listening to a nice exhaust note — is often lost during a boring commute, anyhow. Plus, as an engineer, I consider the BMW i3 to be a fascinating machine, with its carbon fiber body mounted to a frame, propelled by an EV powertrain with a battery that can be topped up by a motorcycle engine-derived motor that BMW calls a “range extender.” Here, you can learn more:
The problem is, a used i3 costs $15,000. This isn’t horrible, per se, but I’m not convinced that it won’t be worth less than $5,000 in five years — and that’s a lot more depreciation than I’d like to deal with. I say this because if, in five years, we can all get used Chevy Bolts that offer 250+ miles of range for $10 grand, then why would anyone pay anything near that for an i3 with only 75 miles of EV-only rage?
I realize I’m making a big assumption that we’ll be able to get high-ish-range EVs for cheap in five years, but it’s really not that big of a stretch. The Chevy Bolt only costs about $26,000, and after a $7,500 federal incentive, it can be purchased, in theory, for under $19,000. That’s dirt cheap, and the Bolt won’t be the only machine in the coming years to offer that kind of smoking hot deal.
Will the i3 be left in the dust? Will my $15,000 purchase seem foolish? It’s already starting to look foolish in the context of that Bolt deal I could get today (again, in theory).
That brings me to the Jeep Wrangler JL. ICEs aren’t going away for good anytime soon, and when I said “obsolete” in my first paragraph, I really didn’t mean technically obsolete. I just mean obsolete to those on the market for a new car. If I buy a JL today, especially here in California, will it depreciate like crazy in the next five years as more people have EV options, as EV infrastructure grows, as EV incentives ratchet up, and as fuel prices remain high (and possibly increase — again, who knows?).
Honestly, both of these purchases seem high risk if I care about depreciation. A Bolt less so, since it’s an EV and offers decent range.
It’s a tough time to buy a new car. At least, for me it is, though maybe I’m overthinking things. Maybe depreciation is just part of owning a new-ish car, though as someone who’s never bought a car that has depreciated, I’d like to own something that, at least from a basic technological standpoint, won’t be outdated in a few years. Maybe the problem is that the two cars I’m considering are already outdated.
Surely I’m not the only one facing this dilemma?
[Writer’s Note: I think the solution to EV hesitation is that if you can charge at home or at work and would like an EV, buy an EV that you like for other reasons than its powertrain. Think of it like buying a performance car: The AMGs, M cars and Corvettes of ten years ago can’t keep up with their modern equivalents in a straight line, but they’re generally more tactile, lighter, and simpler. The BMW i3 is outdated as an EV but it’s a cool feat of engineering with innovative construction, a lovely interior, and a funky form factor. The Ford Mustang Mach-E will likely be outdated in a generation but its inclination towards oversteer is fun and its buyer might love its styling. The Tesla Model 3 will eventually be outdated but it has a huge aftermarket community, good packaging, and the Supercharger network is an incredible feat of infrastructure. Every car eventually becomes outdated, but the great ones give us something to love once the new car smell wears off. -Thomas Hundal]
Get a Bolt.
David Tracy……literally the only person ever to cross-shop an i3 and a Wrangler.
i3s (s from Sport) is a great car. It feels like you’re in one of those dutch boats that trawl/tucker the canals in the Netherlands at 5Km/h with a pretty drunk party of people enjoying a Sunday “float”. But it’s still sporty enough in the curves, better balanced than the (newer) electrical Mini (I test drove both). I wouldn’t bother looking for one with the range extender, once you have an electrical car you’ll think different and you’ll find yourself topping the car naturally.
But leaving the difference in drive aside, the i3s has a great entertainment system, if you like to organise your offline music library (with album artwork) on a hard drive. On the negative side, I’m a big bony guy and the chairs in the i3s were a bit too tight on my bottom.
I think it’s a no-brainer, David. Go with the Jeep. The mainstream use of the internal combustion engine might be going the way of the dinosaur, but I think it’s going to happen quite slowly. Slower than most people think. In Europe, and other wealthy, technologically advanced countries, the ICE might disappear faster than the glaciers but in a third-world country – like the one I live in – the internal combustion engine is going to be around for decades to come. I’m 50 years old and there’s a probability that I will never own an EV, unless it’s one I cobble together in my garage…
A gas-powered car won’t truly be obsolete for a long time, no matter what journalists say. Plus long term it’ll be a lot more serviceable than any EV. That and the ability to just put gas in and drive up the coast on a moment’s notice, can’t really beat that.
“Risky”? “RISKY”?!?!
X-)
Electric, BMW, California, fun, lane splitting, commuter, CE 04. (-;
I was so close to buying an i3 until my wife said the magic words “what about a convertible?” Never thought with a family I’d ever hear that and I jumped on it.
I immediately did the math to find that I could get one and still come out with more money in my pocket each month vs. the increased price to buy an i3 despite LA gas prices. I only commute to an office once every couple weeks and maybe drive 5 miles a day on the days I’m home.
But the i3 seemed like a fantastic, quirky little car, and with a range extender will get you where you need to go unless you’re road tripping.
We should talk! I owned and i3 REx for a couple of years and currently have a JL 4xe which is in the process of being lemon-lawed and that I’m thinking of replacing with a JL 2-door Sport 6MT.
Couple thoughts on the BMW – wheels are a pain bc of the particular size and cost. Also, electronics fritzed me out a couple of times (luckily I was leasing it). Otherwise it’s quite zippy and fun to drive.
On the JL, I’ve read that the Sport is the trim that depreciates the least of them all. It’s actually a pretty savvy financial move to get one (within the understanding that cars aren’t investments at all). Also, mods/working on it will be a lot easier than virtually anything else on the road. JLWranglerForums is a trove of info on it which is also a fantastic resource to have.
Just pull the trigger on the Jeep, already! How many people can say they had a hand in engineering the car they own? Very few. That should be a huge source of pride. I say this with a hint of jealousy as a mechanical engineer who wanted to work in automotive, but followed a different path, never getting the chance to put my fingerprint on something like that. Now is the time!
Call California’s bluff and buy the new ICE Wrangler while you still can. NIMBY interests will ensure that the massive infrastructure upgrades required for full EV adoption won’t happen on schedule anyway. You deserve it!
“Plus, I’m realizing that having a new-ish car can help socially.”
Someone is looking to dive head first onto the LA dating scene. Tread carefully-lots of crazies out there.
I mean, does DT really want to find a lady who doesn’t see the beauty in a rusty Jeep J10?
“All new cars drive the same (and better than used cars),” said my dad, who was born in 1919. I didn’t always agree with the old man, but that was good advice.
You’ve have enough used cars, David. Makes no difference if a car is five years old or 30. It’s still used.
Buy the new Jeep. It will be a new experience for you and you can’t go wrong with a new car.
In the battle of the heart vs the head, always go with the heart. Get the Jeep. They’re legendarily depreciation averse, and its not like you of all people are going to be looking for a new car in 3 or 4 years. In 10-12 years the depreciation “is what it is” at that point, but by then you wont care because you’ve had 10-12 years of top off, trail riding good times with a Jeep in one of the very best places to have a Jeep
Do you actually have a commute? I know you moved to LA for work, but do you drive to an office?
Whatever, I don’t think you should be too concerned with depreciation, as you will likely keep this car a long time. I did have a thought about the jeep – as others have said, it is your baby, and having one from new would be special. With future CA emissions rules, it may be easier to have an ICE that has spent its whole life in CA. I’ve often thought of your crusty old jeep-style of jeeping as completely removed from modern jeeps
Having owned a hybrid Highlander and driven lots of miles in Prius for work, I think hybrids only make sense as a PHEV like the I3. The range extender makes it FAR less detrimental than the short range. it seems you want the I3, but feel like you should have JL.
I just re-read the article and noticed you didn’t even ask “what should I buy?” and I am not about to tell you what to do, just my own musings on the topic.
I just noticed ads in the article for the first time (maybe you should buy the GR Supra)- I am so happy they didn’t block the text, or shake the screen around after loading, or shout at me. Good stuff!
I have a coworker who says you don’t have to enjoy your car, and I couldn’t possibly disagree more. My commute isn’t bad – 45 minutes – but I truly enjoy everything I drive, and that’s a big part of what makes that commute tolerable, and sometimes enjoyable.
(Also, growing up is overrated. No, seriously, it is.) If I were in your commuting situation, I would probably be looking for an electric car. Sure, they’ll probably reach a point where they’re rendered obsolete as quickly as a mobile phone, but if you find one that’s cool (and that maybe has batteries that can be replaced without totaling the car), that might be the route to go. On the other hand, I frequently drive a ’21 JL, and it’s an absolute blast. The mileage may not be ideal for your situation, but it’s no worse than the other Jeeps I drive. Plus, you get *waves.* Do electric car drivers wave at each other?
“Will the i3 be left in the dust . . .”
Yes. Get the Bolt and a good front seat cover.
Go with the Jeep! It will definitely hold its value. There are plenty of folks who will be buying secondhand ICE cars for the foreseeable future. And recall that only California (and maybe another few states) is phasing out the sale of new ICE vehicles in 2035. I can see ICE sales continuing past that in lots of places as well, particularly the more rural states. My prediction, based on nothing but anecdote and guesswork, is that ICE vehicles will be a regular sight on our roads well into the 2040s, maybe longer. The average car on American roads is around 12 years old right now. What I’m getting at is if you buy a relatively new Jeep now, I don’t think it’s going to plunge in value anytime soon.
Buy the Jeep! You have a personal connection with it and that will make it more special for you to keep.
EVs are fine as appliances, but I don’t think I’d want to find out how well they hold up over time. Electronics and batteries degrade over time, it’s not the kind of car I’d want to buy and hold.
Haven’t yet considered purchasing an EV, though I will look into the Grand Cherokee 4xe when I look for my next Jeep in a couple years. Though I’m leaning towards a GC Summit w/ the regular V6 (my current WK2 GC has the 3.6, and it’s been fine).
I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that I think PHEV is the way to go for the vast majority of folks of at least the next 10-15 years.
– EV technology and infrastructure has come a long way in the last decade, but the range/anxiety issues that exist with pure EVs won’t go away any time soon.
– ICE cars will likely get more and more expensive to run, but they’re not going away any time soon, and if synthetic fuels become a viable option, that will likely extend the useful life of ICE cars already on the road (including PHEVs).
– PHEVs are a mediocre compromise in a lot of ways, but in my opinion they’re the best option to get through the lengthy transition from a pure ICE world to a pure EV world.
Definitely agree on PHEVs being the way for most folks. My work commute is 26 miles so we bought a 2015 Fusion Platinum a few years ago. It’ll go 10-15 miles electric, which took my commute mileage from 23 to between 65 and 80 mpg, less if I’m running A/C or heat.
It’s comfortable, handles well, has decent looks, and saved a ton of money on gas.
David, I get where you’re coming from with these two choices, I do.
However, neither really suits your needs. The i3 is an oddball and you will likely not enjoy BMW dealer visits (and you won’t even get a chance to use your German language skills there). Yes, it’s funky and weird, and is technologically neat, and I personally like the large wood/wood-like swath of the dashboard. But the tire options aren’t great, and if you want a weird range-extending EV, I’d lean towards a Mazda MX-30 instead. Or a Ford C-Max Energi.
The Jeep is neat, but the engines still have issues, you (probably) won’t want to take a shiny new car off-roading so it being a Wrangler is overkill, and if you do take it off-roading if/when something breaks, repairing it might not be covered by the warranty, and will be massively more expensive than what you’re used to. Also, manuals are no fun for commuting, even in something small and light like a Miata.
Given that you’re loving in an apartment. I expect your EV charging options will be limited. So I would say you should leverage your connection with Galpin and explore something like a used Mustang Mach-E. It can be charged whenever you visit the dealership, maintenance and range aren’t issues, and it puts another pony in your stable so you can focus on getting the classic red Mustang up to snuff.
Or – as I mentioned earlier – the C-Max Energi would be much cheaper but still offer plug-in and range extending capabilities.
By commuting I mean the hellacious stop-and-go gridlock that Socal and NYC are famous for. Miatas can be great commuters, and I personally commuted to college in a stick-shift Mazda 626 that was a hoot (and 42mpg average per tank to boot!).
I did enjoy your typo in your second paragraph: “Given that you’re loving in an apartment.”
Or maybe you know something about David that we don’t 😉
Doubt, tbh, but I suspect this move is partially an attempt to address that!
Did you price in the cost of gas? That’ll make the i3 look pretty cheap! The five years you’ll have it will save a lot of money.
I say this, but I know you’re buying the Jeep and that this is all theater.
Maybe. An i3 and a beater jeep that is focused on makes more sense than a new jeep that works and one that’s never optimized.
I may be way off base here as I’m just starting to enjoy my first cup of coffee, but reading between the lines, it sounds to me like you really want a Chevy Bolt. Maybe see if you qualify for the tax credit and then spend the extra few thousand on a new Bolt.
Otherwise, go for the Jeep. When I lived out there, I wrote manuals and packaging copy for the Little Tikes company. As such I got to be involved with the design meetings of new products and felt that same sense of pride (even if I was one step removed). When my kiddo was born he was innundated with Little Tikes stuff, including a bounce castle that we still use today (he’s 12).
I’m going through the exact same calculus, but with slightly different variables. I’m buying a new car next winter, and I think an EV makes a world of sense. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing on the market that comes close to meeting my fringe needs (I live in the mountains above Denver, and need all the traction aids (lockers, etc.) just to get to the grocery store sometimes. At present, there are no options with any form of electrification at all save maybe Rivian, but they’re astronomically priced… The only options south of $60K are little city cars…