Moving on from Clarity, suggestions?

I say iD4 and RAV4 Prime are both excellent values. If you are OK with a sedan Tesla Model 3 is also excellent. Model Y is a bit expensive right now, maybe they will have a lower price model in a few months.

I did a bit of car shopping recently for a second car and it made me realize how nice Clarity is particularly with huge incentives that you can get in California for example. I also expect Clarity to have the lowest issues out of warranty between all these models except maybe Toyota.

When I bought my Clarity the electric driving was a nice change for the better, but after a while you get used to your car and it doesn't excite you as much, but doing some test drives made me realize this is a great car, particularly ride comfort. I just wish it was a hatchback rather that a sedan.

 

If your commute is that short, I would recommend leasing a Regular Leaf, not the Plus for 2 years. Depending on your state, it could cost $100-$150/m including taxes. Then there will be much more choices to pick from in 2 years. The interior won't be as roomy as the Clarity, but you'll still be able to fit 4 adults. Plus it's a hatchback so it can carry more cargo. It's dang reliable too. Get the SV with Tech Package since it has ProPilot. It works much better than Honda's.

 

For only 20 mi range, could probably buy one of the 2012(?) with loww mileage for $3-5k.


I think one settled on my own replacement for my totaled clarity. Niro EV EX will run me 30.5k with TTL and tax credit. Or $5500 more for premium trim.

 

I can't remember where you live. Are you going to get the optional heat pump? I love the battery-saving heat pump on my compact, sporty BEV.

 

TX, and I haven't decided yet.... seems like premium and the heat pump will have more depreciation if I, say, order a Mach E and trade later this year.

There are exactly 2 dealers within a 1000 miles with the Niro EVs (just over 200 mi from me), they're basically across the street from one another. The one that online reviews looks like could be less hassle only has 2 premiums and one EX, none with the heat pump. The other has 25 total, with several premiums that have the cold weather package. I don't need the heated steering wheel, and rarely is it cold. Not sure if it's worth the 6500 up-front outlay (and maybe $2k extra short-term depreciation, more like 4k if I keep the vehicle longterm).

 

@Jimmy Vo Ha, I wasn't looking at the Leaf, I was telling OP to be aware of the small back seat. I was originally set on getting the new Leaf when it was first announced 4 or so years ago, and even did the preview test drive before it publicly went on sale. The drive was nice, but my wife said the back seat felt claustrophobic to her, so it was eliminated.

I'm not too keen on the Ariya because of the interior. I really don't like touch controls, and I'm not liking the way that all/most of the buttons in the interior of the Ariya will be haptic touch rather than physical buttons. That's why I really really don't like the interior of Tesla vehicles. Similar goes for the VW ID4, though VW seems a bit less extreme in that direction. I really like Mazda's control system, with the physical control knob right in reach of a hand resting on the armrest.

Hoping that Hyundai does not go touchscreen controls for everything on the new IONIQ models.

 

@Kendalf , I test drove the Kona, I like it. But my wife did not like the interior design/color, I personally think it's not that bad. But wife rejected it

 

This thread on the Niro forum is worrisome--even if only for resale value: Consumer Reports Rates Niro Unreliable

 

Do you know about the $2500 TCEQ mail in rebate for buying a plug-in in TX?

 

I had one of the first Claritys (2018-owned 3 years and drove 17,000+ miles) and just traded it in on a Volvo XC40 Recharge (BEV). Here are my reasons:
1. This is a second car (other is Acura RDX) and is used for local drives. I have put less than 1,000 miles on the gas engine (15 gallons of gas).
2. The battery range seems to be decreasing. Initially, I’d get about 50 miles on battery, but now it’s in the range of 40-45. Of course, mileage varies with weather and heater use.
3. An SUV is more practical than a sedan.

I would have loved to get another Honda product; have had Hondas for the last 25 years, but there’s no fully electric CR-V. The Volvo XC40 is a good size, and the range is a bit limited (208 miles EPA), but since I don’t need to use it for long trips, and the electric range is 4-5 times what I had with the Clarity, range is not an issue in my use case.

I’ve had 4 hybrids (2005 Accord 6-cylinder, 2012 ILX, 2015 Accord 4-cylinder, Clarity) and was more than ready for a BEV. Looked at the Tesla Model Y and didn’t like having all the instrumentation on one screen in the middle of the dash or the size of the car. The Audi e-Tron was too pricey. The ID.4 was too new.

Although I’ve only had the Volvo for a few days, I’m impressed with the build quality and performance. 402 hp with 486 lb-ft of torque and 4 wheel drive provides amazing acceleration.

Having Google power the car’s infotainment system is a mixed bag so far. I’m not used to having to go to different apps for sources, rather than just using a steering wheel control to select the source, but of course, Google Maps is great and the big center screen provides a good view.

The cameras are great, giving excelent visibility when parking or manuvering in tight spots...360 degree coverage and high definition. This is one of the Clarity’s shortcomings; the backup camera sucks, and there are no front parking sensors.

In summary, I enjoyed having the Clarity but wanted to move to full electric and the XC40 seemed to be the best way to go. Got the first one at the dealership and was able to close on new year’s eve, so I’ll get the tax credit this spring.




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Much thanks! Reviewing the terms now.

I was aware of this last time with the Clarity purchase(but there were 0 remaining allocations for electric when I purchased in June '19).
It looks like there's 100s of allocations left though, but with Jan 7 submission deadline in Austin. So it looks like I'd have to hand-deliver the application. (And also definitely buy something Monday or Tuesday), which should be feasible for Jan 6 (I'm ~100 mi away from there) unless there's something else strange needed in the application that won't be met. (Like if the title paperwork from the dealer won't be available yet.. not sure.)

Hmm... $2500 I think pushes me to the higher trim Niro EV otherwise I need to work out capital gains taxes on a few $k from the Clarity that was totaled.

It looks like there's not a clawback period or limit 1 over program years either, but still looking over terms.

 

I too am looking at this vehicle but am concerned about Volvo quality. I am disappointed in the dark interior options and don't care for the dual color exterior. I initially thought I wanted the Tesla Y but I just don't like the looks of it. Perhaps you can share a 1 or 3 month review of your Volvo EV?

 

Glad I told you about it in time. You'll need to submit 2 original copies of the form. You can include the title application which they print the same day you buy. Also take a pic of the front and back of your check and include with your submission.

 

Capital gains on an insurance claim?

I’m not a CPA and I don’t play one on TV.

 

Looking at the details more... it looks like it requires a 12month ownership period. So I think if lose it if I traded in later next year. Not sure how clawback are handled they aren't spelled out, just says the applicant agrees to own and paste the vehicle for 12 months, and the contract only ends after.

However, looks like I can still claim for my Clarity I purchased last June... If I can pull togetger the documentation. Fark me though, maybe not since the contract ends the later of 45 days after application or 12 months. I don't know if that disqualified it because it won't be personal for another 45 days... Any help parsing would be great. Misread dates. Had to be after sept 2019, so I was 3 months early for the new period

You're required to reduce the cost basis by any rebates (such as the fed/other rebates).
Insurance payout is an involuntary conversion. (They're buying it from you. It's forced because you didn't "choose" to sell it...) If the payout is more than the cost basis, then you have to pay taxes on the profits.
You are allowed to buy a replacement within 2 tax years and transfer that deficit to the new vehicle's basis cost instead. Even without the fed rebate, the ins. payout was slightly over my purchase price.

 

Just rebates? The Fed incentive is a tax credit.

 

IRS 8936 instructions:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i8936--dft.pdf

"Basis Reduction
Unless you elect not to claim the credit, you may have to
reduce the basis of each vehicle by the sum of the
amounts entered on lines 11 and 18 for that vehicle."

 

There’s no way I’m going to read that.

 

That is for business use, not personal. Form is confusing in that regards. If you had the Clarity as a business asset that you were depreciating and not as personal property, only then does the cost basis come into play.

 

Wow, I missed that actually. Thanks!
"
The credit attributable to depreciable property (vehicles
used for business or investment purposes) is treated as a
general business credit. Any credit not attributable to"

I still have to technically report a small profit (~$1300), but much easier to shoddy it to the new vehicle.

I hate being cheap. I think I have nixed the Niro EV in favor of a 2020 Niro PHEV EX despite its shortcomings (crappy power). I found one locally and got the dealer to ~$2.5k under cost. That works out to a net cost equivalent to $22.7+TTL = $24.2k. That's including TX 2.5k though that I may have to pay back if I trade in.

I should be able to get more than 22.7k trade in value if I do order a Mach E and trade in.

A 2019 niro phev EX with 10k mi shows $20k clean trade in currently