Two years ago, I purchased a new 2014 FFE for my wife to use as her daily driver. She drives 50-55 miles per day, 5 days per week. We also use the car for running errands, visiting friends/family, etc. If the trip is within the car's range, we use it. We now have 42,000 miles on the car.
Overall, the car has been fantastic. My wife and I both enjoy driving the car, and have been impressed with electric over gas. The 76 mile range was initially not a significant factor for us as all of our typical trips are within that limitation. Her daily commute is mostly interstate, and she sets the cruise on 65. She does not limit heat or AC use at all. She keeps the car cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
When we were shopping, we had narrowed the field down to the FFE, Mazda 3, or Chevy Cruze diesel. I paid $30,000 for the FFE minus $7,500 credit = 22,500. The Chevy would have been a couple thousand more, the Mazda would have been about the same. The Chevy was never a real contender because my wife didn't like it. So ultimately the choice was between the FFE and Mazda. The Mazda advertised about 30 mpg.
Now the downsides...According to KBB, my FFE is only worth $8,700. A Mazda 3 would still be worth $15,300. That's a huge negative on the FFE, and I'm sure my already worthless car will be even more worthless now that the Bolt is here and the Tesla 3 is just around the corner.
Last winter, my wife made it home from work with 6-10 miles remaining on several occasions. Those days were extremely cold for the SE, with temps in the single digits. Like I said, she doesn't ride around with the heater turned off. We've already seen a significant drop in actual range as the battery ages, so I believe this winter will be the first time she'll be forced to limit her heat usage. We are now also forced to take the "slow" way to visit family. We used to take the interstate, but now have to use country roads to stretch the range enough to make it without having to charge before coming home. If the battery fades as quickly between 40,000 to 60,000 miles as it did from 20,000 to 40,000, the car will be virtually unusable for my purposes within another year, maybe two. I'll still have a payment for one year after that.
After running all the numbers (fuel savings, oil changes, electricity costs, chargers, etc etc) I've lost about $4,600 by purchasing the FFE instead of a Mazda 3. If I lived somewhere that had expensive utility rates, it would be way way worse. Considering that I bought the car to save money, I have to say that I regret buying the FFE. I should have leased or just bought a gasser.
Luckily for me, my wife is planning to quit her job next year, so the FFE will become a grocery getter and not much else. I should be able to make the car work, with several limitations, for many years to come, and not have worry about resale value. We'll drive it until the wheels fall off. Had she stayed at work, I'd be looking at a new car in a year or two and taking a big loss on the FFE.
I hate to say that the FFE has turned me off to electric cars, but it kind of has. Unfortunately, battery fade has already caused us to alter our driving habits, and within a year we'll have to take my gas burner on many of the trips we use the FFE for now. A car shouldn't depreciate faster than a new computer or iPhone.
Overall, the car has been fantastic. My wife and I both enjoy driving the car, and have been impressed with electric over gas. The 76 mile range was initially not a significant factor for us as all of our typical trips are within that limitation. Her daily commute is mostly interstate, and she sets the cruise on 65. She does not limit heat or AC use at all. She keeps the car cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
When we were shopping, we had narrowed the field down to the FFE, Mazda 3, or Chevy Cruze diesel. I paid $30,000 for the FFE minus $7,500 credit = 22,500. The Chevy would have been a couple thousand more, the Mazda would have been about the same. The Chevy was never a real contender because my wife didn't like it. So ultimately the choice was between the FFE and Mazda. The Mazda advertised about 30 mpg.
Now the downsides...According to KBB, my FFE is only worth $8,700. A Mazda 3 would still be worth $15,300. That's a huge negative on the FFE, and I'm sure my already worthless car will be even more worthless now that the Bolt is here and the Tesla 3 is just around the corner.
Last winter, my wife made it home from work with 6-10 miles remaining on several occasions. Those days were extremely cold for the SE, with temps in the single digits. Like I said, she doesn't ride around with the heater turned off. We've already seen a significant drop in actual range as the battery ages, so I believe this winter will be the first time she'll be forced to limit her heat usage. We are now also forced to take the "slow" way to visit family. We used to take the interstate, but now have to use country roads to stretch the range enough to make it without having to charge before coming home. If the battery fades as quickly between 40,000 to 60,000 miles as it did from 20,000 to 40,000, the car will be virtually unusable for my purposes within another year, maybe two. I'll still have a payment for one year after that.
After running all the numbers (fuel savings, oil changes, electricity costs, chargers, etc etc) I've lost about $4,600 by purchasing the FFE instead of a Mazda 3. If I lived somewhere that had expensive utility rates, it would be way way worse. Considering that I bought the car to save money, I have to say that I regret buying the FFE. I should have leased or just bought a gasser.
Luckily for me, my wife is planning to quit her job next year, so the FFE will become a grocery getter and not much else. I should be able to make the car work, with several limitations, for many years to come, and not have worry about resale value. We'll drive it until the wheels fall off. Had she stayed at work, I'd be looking at a new car in a year or two and taking a big loss on the FFE.
I hate to say that the FFE has turned me off to electric cars, but it kind of has. Unfortunately, battery fade has already caused us to alter our driving habits, and within a year we'll have to take my gas burner on many of the trips we use the FFE for now. A car shouldn't depreciate faster than a new computer or iPhone.