The Alpine A290 is a hoot. I test drove an R5 to replace a leggy Abarth 500.Yep, still want one.
Drove the Renault 5, it’s great especially at £25k on the road. That’s almost 2/3rds cheaper than a Buzz…
Can’t believe it’s come to this.
I’m considering a Renault over a Volkswagen.
The ID Buzz should’ve been payday for VW. They got greedy and now their main market is looking at Kia’s and French stuff, and most of it is impressive and cheaper.
Yes.....originally the EV9 as it ticked all boxes but its Fugly..... and a tough sell....to be point I cant even be asked to take a test drive. But I watch it as an exercise on how not to do things......We barely use our Cali for camping and as I would miss the interior size and versatility of a van, am now finding myself interested in the KIA PV5!
With a 7 year warranty and extremely cheap compared to the ID Buzz, I intend to go and take a look when it is released in a few weeks time.
Im a massive VW fan but they really are f@cking things up lately.
The car range is dismal. The Transporters a Transit. Time to look around at other brands.
Anyone else been interested in the KIA? I can see a factory camper on this platform in a few years time.
What made you choose the R5 over the 190? Yes, it has to be blue (luckily, looks great). I sat in a 110 are was really impressed, perhaps enough to take one over a Boxster. The 290 has great street presence.The Alpine A290 is a hoot. I test drove an R5 to replace a leggy Abarth 500.
I thought I would visit the standalone Alpine dealer in Bristol near Renault just for completeness when I was signing on the R5.
The 290 is so much more car and more solidly built (separate production line to R5, like BMW Alpina), much nicer interior.
The closest EV I have driven to an ICE experience. I am sold.
I liked the ID Buzz. But aside from being a diehard VW splitscreen fan, I couldn't justify the price.
The Alpine A290 is a hoot. I test drove an R5 to replace a leggy Abarth 500.
I thought I would visit the standalone Alpine dealer in Bristol near Renault just for completeness when I was signing on the R5.
The 290 is so much more car and more solidly built (separate production line to R5, like BMW Alpina), much nicer interior.
The closest EV I have driven to an ICE experience. I am sold.
I liked the ID Buzz. But aside from being a diehard VW splitscreen fan, I couldn't justify the price.
We barely use our Cali for camping and as I would miss the interior size and versatility of a van, am now finding myself interested in the KIA PV5!
With a 7 year warranty and extremely cheap compared to the ID Buzz, I intend to go and take a look when it is released in a few weeks time.
Im a massive VW fan but they really are f@cking things up lately.
The car range is dismal. The Transporters a Transit. Time to look around at other brands.
Anyone else been interested in the KIA? I can see a factory camper on this platform in a few years time.
A290 is a much more engaging drive.A friend of mine has the Alpine. It’s a grey colour. I think it looks cool, but it’s another £10k on top of the R5.
He’s pretty happy with it.
Not sure it’s worth the extra splash of cash., when the R5 looks so good in standard form.
Quite fancy the blue with some gold alloys![]()
I keep eyeing R5 GT Turbos
I chose the A290.What made you choose the R5 over the 190? Yes, it has to be blue (luckily, looks great). I sat in a 110 are was really impressed, perhaps enough to take one over a Boxster. The 290 has great street presence.
I was sceptical. I had a hybrid for tax reasons (business car). This was also business & budget led as you can write the value down against tax year one blah blah yawnIsn’t it a bit telling that people like these cars not because they’re leccy but because they hark back to something more desirable?
I’ve still to pop my EV cherry.
I may even like them?
I’m trying to un-see that now!!! You could’ve warned us first!I've only ridden in one EV back in the mid 90's in California. The GM EV1 a car that could only be leased and probably the progenitor for all the EV's today. It was a hoot, but didn't leave me wanting more....... I bought an aircooled Porsche 911 (993)
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Yeah wasn't going to win any beauty prizes. It was ALL about aero. I can see where the fugly Hyundai Ioniq 6 got its design inspiration.I’m trying to un-see that now!!! You could’ve warned us first!
Do yerself a favour, test drive a 2 to 4 year old Mini Cooper SE (leccy) ……… much cheaper and truck loads of smiles for miles!! We love ours, it’s fast and drives like a Cooper should!…… and bonkers cheap to runIsn’t it a bit telling that people like these cars not because they’re leccy but because they hark back to something more desirable?
I’ve still to pop my EV cherry.
I may even like them?
I’m the worst EV customer.Do yerself a favour, test drive a 2 to 4 year old Mini Cooper SE (leccy) ……… much cheaper and truck loads of smiles for miles!! We love ours, it’s fast and drives like a Cooper should!…… and bonkers cheap to run![]()

I agree, which is why I only spent 12k on the Mini. It’s a win win for me, cheap to run, fantastic fun to drive, and zero emissions. What’s not to like!?I’m the worst EV customer.
I work at home so have no need to drive every day.
I don’t have £30k to tear up and throw away.
A life long petrol head and 25 years working in motorsport.
I have several vehicles to choose from if I need to or want to drive somewhere
I get it on some levels, nice quiet easy fast motoring but its just so far down my priority list it’s just never gonna happen.
I was hoping the EV revolution was going to be super cheap fun funky cars along the lines of the Twizzy but so far all it’s done is swap ICE for volts and added a 70s Italian car depreciation curve.
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