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WHAT GOOD VALUE LOOKS LIKE
As car buyers, we’re caught in the (im)perfect storm of seemingly being overcharged for electric cars to recoup manufacturers’ investment costs or similarly overcharged for combustion cars because they’re less attractive to build, due to government legislation and as manufacturers understandably turn their investment to EVs (acknowledging supply chain issues, inflation etc). Add to that the fear of sharp depreciation in EV values, due in part to rapid improvements in battery technology, and similarly in ICE cars as they become marginalised. It’s no wonder many are on the fence about buying new cars.
Illya Verpraet’s suggestion that at £50,000 the Honda Civic Type Ris unaffordable (‘Game for a laugh’, 26 February) was well made. It is indeed expensive – but is it that pricey comparatively? Flick a couple of pages back and you find that the Cupra Born VZ – an undoubtedly inferior car (unless it has to be an EV, which isn’t my point here) – is only £5000 cheaper. Factor in the likely much greater depreciation of the Cupra and the Honda looks amuch better buy than it or any of the other cars in your EV hot hatch test.