I sold my Audi Q5L for Ideal L6, the real reason is these three points
My previous 2018 Audi Q5L 40TFSI Quxiang Jinbu model with a national VI emission standard had a bare car price of 286,000 yuan (manufacturer's suggested retail price of 382,800 yuan). It was during the special period when the national V emission standard was transitioning to the national VI, which was before the price wars of the past two years, and the terminal discount was quite significant for a batch of car sources.
After using it for 4 years and 7 months, and driving 51,000 kilometers, I finally traded it in to Li Auto for a price of 180,000 yuan.
The bad news is:
Because the Li L6 had just been launched and there was no trade-in subsidy at the time of ordering, I only got back 8,000 Li Auto APP points.
The good news is:
Because the order was locked relatively early, I took delivery of the 2024 Li L6 Max on May 15th, with a total cost of 281,900 yuan (including insurance of 6,100 yuan).If you were to ask me why I decided to sell my Audi Q5L and chose the Li Auto L6 Max in the 200,000-300,000 yuan price range, I have compiled the following three core reasons:
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01
Clarify Needs: SUV + Green License Plate + No Range Anxiety
Clearly, considering the new cars in the 200,000-300,000 yuan price range for the year 2024, there is not only a surge in availability—smart vehicles like the IM Motors L6, Xiaomi SU7, new AITO M5, and so on, are too numerous to list. Many models that were originally priced above 300,000 yuan have also entered the sub-300,000 yuan market through price reductions and adjustments to their battery-as-a-service (BaaS) schemes, such as NIO and AVATAR, and this even includes luxury pure electric vehicles like the BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz EQE, which have also dramatically entered the 200 or 300 thousand yuan market segment.
In a word, there is an abundance of competitors. From a brand and product power perspective alone, choosing Li Auto in 2024 is a more difficult decision than it was in 2023.However, as a practitioner in the automotive industry, I am very clear about my current car purchase needs—SUV, green license plate, range extender or plug-in hybrid.
Firstly, the green license plate is the most core primary element for me to buy or change a car, especially under the current circumstances where I often go out for shooting. Even though my Audi Q5L has an average fuel consumption of only 8.5L/100km over four years, the fuel cost during the morning and evening peak hours can still be heart-wrenching (more than 1,200 yuan per month), and the one day a week when blue license plate cars are restricted in Chengdu will also increase the travel cost.
So, the green license plate is the first requirement.
Secondly, although I have always been more inclined towards the posture and handling of sedans, for a severe patient with lumbar disc herniation, there are really not many sedans at this price that can provide a long time and enough comfort for sitting.
The space and comfort brought by the SUV are my second requirement.The dynamic review of the first launch of the Zhiji L6 was filmed by me. The L6 is one that has truly touched my heart, but I have always been somewhat apprehensive about the range performance and charging convenience of pure electric vehicles during holidays or long-distance highway travel, so regrettably, I had to give up on it.
Range anxiety has made the fuel tank my third essential requirement.
Therefore, considering the above three indispensable needs, the list of options has been further narrowed down. The ones that can be added to the shopping cart are actually just a few models such as the Ideal L6, the new AITO M5/M7, and the Voyah FREE.
02
Choosing a new force: I want both a smart cockpit and advanced intelligent driving.
When I had just locked in the Ideal L6, my family posted a related Xiaohongshu post, and immediately a netizen commented: Trading in an Audi Q5L for an Ideal L6, isn't this a clear downgrade!Those of us who are labeled with the "falling from grace" persona, our inner monologue is: Yes, yes, yes, everything the netizens say is right.
Obviously, I disagree with this statement.
In fact, speaking from the perspective of an entry-level Audi car owner, I believe that most people who have purchased entry-level models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi (BBA) share a common understanding:
Compared to the time when they did not own a BBA product, vanity would still be at play—"Even the lowest configuration, I want to have it";
However, once you have owned it and experienced the current mainstream smart cockpits and intelligent driving, you will start to feel disdain for your entry-level car.Not to hide it from you: my Q5L, not to mention that the assisted driving part is still stuck in the era of cruise control, even the central control screen is small and non-touch, the voice call never responds, and there are hardly any comfort configurations.
All of these are constantly reminding us: the emotional value has been satisfied for several years, the novelty has passed, it's time to change the car.
So for me at this stage, I care more about the comfort and intelligent experience inside the car, rather than the opinions of others outside the car.
At the same time, in terms of vehicle positioning, the Ideal L6, which belongs to the mid-to-large SUV category, is neither an upgrade nor a downgrade compared to the Audi Q5L. It is a choice that leans more towards the general trend at the same price.
The reason I firmly choose the new force is also because, although new energy vehicles generally have more complete configurations, the intelligent cockpit experience of the new forces is still better than the new energy products created by the vast majority of traditional car companies.Taking the ideal L series products as an example, I noticed that before the L6, it had the rudimentary form of a large AI model. For instance, when you ask some relatively tricky (and practically meaningless) questions, such as how a certain car model or brand is, or which is better between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, it would provide you with a preliminary introduction or comparative rhetoric.
The L6, on the other hand, essentially possesses the capabilities of a large AI model. It can also complete tasks like writing a story, which is clearly a capability and feature that new car products should have in 2024. More importantly, I don't want to buy a car only to find that the intelligent cockpit is outdated after a year.
In the classic words of netizens: I may not use it, but you can't not have it.
Additionally, the Li Auto L6 only comes with the hardware foundation for LiDAR and advanced urban NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) features in the Max version. The main reason I chose to spend an extra 30,000 yuan to upgrade to the Max version is that, as an automotive media person, I have not yet owned a car with such advanced driving features. Naturally, I have a certain attachment and desire to experience whether the current mainstream advanced driving features can truly change the daily travel experience.
Lastly, the new forces do not carry too much or too heavy a "self-brand" label, and their positioning as high-end or not is quite ambiguous. Their emotional value may not match that of traditional luxury brands, but at least in terms of brand tone, they meet the needs of mainstream users. My wife is a case in point; she does not perceive Li Auto as a low-end brand at all.03
Accustomed to Audi, "Making No Mistakes" is the Right Answer
For my family and me, we might be used to the relaxed and unhurried driving pace of an Audi, so when we were choosing a car this time, we also leaned more towards finding a similar model.
Later, my colleague's description of my choice of the Ideal L6, I think it is quite accurate—making no mistakes.
Just like many consumers who will more or less understand the current sales and reputation of the target model when choosing a car, both the Ideal brand and the L6 itself can be considered a "making no mistakes" choice.Firstly, as the fourth model in the ideal L series, the L6 stands out for its balanced craftsmanship, material quality, product stability, and the iteration of its in-car system. It has also been tested in the market, ensuring that it does not become a guinea pig for a completely new brand or model.
Secondly, with less than 1000km driven at present, if we were to evaluate it from a "car reviewer's" perspective, the L6 is rather unexciting to drive. Particularly during lane changes or on high-radius curves, one can distinctly feel the body roll and a sense of swaying, akin to being on a ship.
However, it must be acknowledged that in terms of basic ride comfort, it meets standard expectations, neither exceptional nor disappointing, aligning with the habits and anticipations of most average drivers. It is easy to handle and fits its current price point (of course, I believe it will likely become even more affordable in the future).
The performance of the infotainment system is also on par. The accuracy and fluidity of voice interactions are commendable, and the UI design and functional layout of the screen do not require a steep learning curve. While it may not be astonishing, it is also far from being frustrating or overly challenging to use.
Comparing it to my previous Q5L, in terms of the infotainment system, I can only say that one is in the sky and the other is on the ground—a comparison that clearly puts Audi at a disadvantage.Jia Shi Summary
In general, after a week of driving the Ideal L6, my impression of it is essentially in line with my expectations before purchasing the car: it's a well-rounded vehicle.
It doesn't have any particularly outstanding selling point, but it gives you a sense of balance, volume, space, configuration, and driving comfort that is just a little bit above the standard line in every aspect... It doesn't make mistakes and captures the needs of the vast majority of ordinary drivers and family users very well.
Moreover, compared to the Ideal L7/L8/L9, the Ideal L6's size is less stressful for most young family users when entering and exiting garages or parking.
If you ask me, as a user, what is my biggest suggestion for Ideal Automobile at present? Without a doubt, it is that there are too few items available for purchase in the Ideal APP store.Up to 8000 points, and still unable to find suitable products for redemption, it's really quite embarrassing. Honestly, I suggest that Li Xiang could learn from NIO's approach.
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