The Car Thread ... !

[vipergts2207]

I do not have enough knowledge of electricity to say if you are right or wrong, but how is the grid supporting all the current and growing electronic products?

As for charging points, you should be charging at home more than at charging points. Those are for traveling.

The average US home uses over 28 kWh of electricity per day. The average driver drives 30 miles a day which corresponds to almost 7 kWh hours of electricity per day. Based on this math electricity consumption would increase by around 25%. I assume some production
sources would need upgraded to handle that increase, and certainly electricity rates would go up.

Yes, they are silent, but any good vehicle, electric or not, should have some sort of pedestrian awareness software. And I wish they would come with a noisemaker to sound like a muscle car. That would be cool.

Ugh, I hate fake stuff like that. Some cars pump fake engine audio through the speakers when you hit the gas. To me that kind of stuff is in the same realm as upbadging. I’m glad that when I mash the pedal down in my car I’m hearing the real thing, even if it is only a V6 and not that gorgeous American cross-plane V8 burble.

 

[senseless]

When you say "minor cost increase", what do you mean? The cost to purchase one or the cost of ownership? (fuel, maintenance, etc)

The current Accord hybrid option adds only $1500 to the purchase price. That does downgrade the 19" wheels to 17" and finance rates are slightly higher, but the hybrid purchase cost is still way less than it used to be. I'm seeing a lot of hybrids on the road these days; not so much EVs.

 

[JohnR]

The average US home uses over 28 kWh of electricity per day. The average driver drives 30 miles a day which corresponds to almost 7 kWh hours of electricity per day. Based on this math electricity consumption would increase by around 25%. I assume some production
sources would need upgraded to handle that increase, and certainly electricity rates would go up.



Ugh, I hate fake stuff like that. Some cars pump fake engine audio through the speakers when you hit the gas. To me that kind of stuff is in the same realm as upbadging. I’m glad that when I mash the pedal down in my car I’m hearing the real thing, even if it is only a V6 and not that gorgeous American cross-plane V8 burble.

Don't get me wrong...I think the Mustang GT or any of the upgrades (Shelby, etc) have an awesome sound. I would love to have one, but the practicality of owning one is not in my wheelhouse anymore.

What I find funny is that, this is basically a tech board here, and you guys brag about having the latest Apple products, but when it comes to cars, it's like I'm living in the past.

I see a lot of Tesla's on the road compared to even a year ago. I see the Bolt occasionally and the Prius is around a lot. I guess since I am a Tesla fan boy (there, I went ahead and said it )I notice them a lot more than others perhaps? Also, I follow a lot of Tesla owners on Twitter and I pepper them with questions.

EV and hybrids aren't the answer to the long term energy usage. I don't know what is, but the one thing that I love about Teslas is the features about them: Sentry mode, autopilot, update over the air, lower cost of ownership (no belts, oil, gas, transmission fluids, etc), and I'm sure there are other reasons that I can't think of. It makes driving a ICE vehicle feel like a dinosaur. A doctor at my work drives a Bentley and I look at it and think...damn, he paid over $200,000 for that car and it's stuck with what it has unless he pays someone to add features.

A performance model of any of the Tesla's can beat (just about) any car out there off the line. I can't afford one, and I am not one into racing, but I love watching the videos.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Don't get me wrong...I think the Mustang GT or any of the upgrades (Shelby, etc) have an awesome sound. I would love to have one, but the practicality of owning one is not in my wheelhouse anymore.

What I find funny is that, this is basically a tech board here, and you guys brag about having the latest Apple products, but when it comes to cars, it's like I'm living in the past.

I see a lot of Tesla's on the road compared to even a year ago. I see the Bolt occasionally and the Prius is around a lot. I guess since I am a Tesla fan boy (there, I went ahead and said it )I notice them a lot more than others perhaps? Also, I follow a lot of Tesla owners on Twitter and I pepper them with questions.

EV and hybrids aren't the answer to the long term energy usage. I don't know what is, but the one thing that I love about Teslas is the features about them: Sentry mode, autopilot, update over the air, lower cost of ownership (no belts, oil, gas, transmission fluids, etc), and I'm sure there are other reasons that I can't think of. It makes driving a ICE vehicle feel like a dinosaur. A doctor at my work drives a Bentley and I look at it and think...damn, he paid over $200,000 for that car and it's stuck with what it has unless he pays someone to add features.

A performance model of any of the Tesla's can beat (just about) any car out there off the line. I can't afford one, and I am not one into racing, but I love watching the videos.

That’s because we are all holding out for an car!

 

[JohnR]

That’s because we are all holding out for an car!

An Apple car would be cool, but are they or aren't they building one? Or are they making the autonomous software for one? And you think Tesla's are expensive...wait until (if) Apple ever comes out with one. I can see the models now: car, car pro, car+, car mini

 

[Apple fanboy]

An Apple car would be cool, but are they or aren't they building one? Or are they making the autonomous software for one? And you think Tesla's are expensive...wait until (if) Apple ever comes out with one. I can see the models now: car, car pro, car+, car mini

I’d not be buying one. I’m quite happy with my Golf for the next few years.
Adaptive cruise control is so much better than standard cruise control I had to put up with on the hire van on Friday.

 

[AustinIllini]

I do wonder if the Model 3 is a good purchase right now what with Tesla's future in question. They're hemorrhaging money.

They would have been wise to become a battery company and actually make money.

 

[JohnR]

I do wonder if the Model 3 is a good purchase right now what with Tesla's future in question. They're hemorrhaging money.

They would have been wise to become a battery company and actually make money.

Their stock may be low and their first quarter was a loss, but give it time, they will be cash positive by the end of the year. Even worse case scenario they go bankrupt, I would bet that there are companies/people ready to buy it up. There's just too much technology there to go to waste. Apple would come to mind.

 

[0388631]

I'd sooner expect MBZ, BMW and VW group to swoop in and make a three way purchase.

 

[AustinIllini]

Their stock may be low and their first quarter was a loss, but give it time, they will be cash positive by the end of the year. Even worse case scenario they go bankrupt, I would bet that there are companies/people ready to buy it up. There's just too much technology there to go to waste. Apple would come to mind.

Apple isn't what Tesla needs. Tesla does technology well. They don't do building cars well. They would wind up in the best position if they were bought by an Auto maker. I would assume the only ones who could pull it off would be GM, Toyota, or VW. VW might be the best solution longer term with Toyota a close second.

Tesla needs a company with existing international build sites where they can build Tesla's for the cheapest price. VAG probably is the best shot. They can take their Wolfsburg, Ingostadt, and Hungarian factories and dedicate some percentage of them to make Model 3, Model Y.

 

[0388631]

Apple isn't what Tesla needs. Tesla does technology well. They don't do building cars well. They would wind up in the best position if they were bought by an Auto maker. I would assume the only ones who could pull it off would be GM, Toyota, or VW. VW might be the best solution longer term with Toyota a close second.

I could see Toyota as the next reliable option after the German trio and their subsidiaries.

 

[AustinIllini]

I could see Toyota as the next reliable option after the German trio and their subsidiaries.

That's definitely a possibility, too. I'm not sure if Toyota has a strong enough position in Europe, but the same goes for the Germans in Asia.

 

[senseless]

The Audi E-tron looks really impressive. It's going to give Tesla some serious competition in the high end space.

 

[0388631]

That's definitely a possibility, too. I'm not sure if Toyota has a strong enough position in Europe, but the same goes for the Germans in Asia.

Europe's one of Toyota's biggest markets, as is Asia for the Germans. Best case the portfolio is bought up, used privately for a few years and then put forth for anyone to use and improve on at their own discretion. No requirements.

 

[AustinIllini]

The Audi E-tron looks really impressive. It's going to give Tesla some serious competition in the high end space.

I think Tesla and the newly growing enviro-automotive journalism segment has cemented the "range is king" narrative.

The Audi E-tron is for those who want an electric Audi. It's not really a Tesla alternative. It's a better day to day car than any Tesla based on luxury, but it's not a better electric vehicle overall.
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Europe's one of Toyota's biggest markets, as is Asia for the Germans. Best case the portfolio is bought up, used privately for a few years and then put forth for anyone to use and improve on at their own discretion. No requirements.

I guess personally I think Toyota might be the best to neuter Tesla. But yeah, your point is a good one.

 

[0388631]

I guess personally I think Toyota might be the best to neuter Tesla. But yeah, your point is a good one.

It's funny you say this actually. Recently I either read or heard or watched a report of Toyota doubling down on hybrids over electrics.

 

[AustinIllini]

It's funny you say this actually. Recently I either read or heard or watched a report of Toyota doubling down on hybrids over electrics.

That's probably not a good long term choice.

Honda and GM are teaming up on electric tech. That's a good move. The big German brands are getting heavily involved in Formula E, which is also a good move. Companies like Mazda and Subaru worry me. I don't think they have the ability to keep up with the major players. Honda would be in that group but they had the foresight to get with GM to work on power plants together.

 

[0388631]

That's probably not a good long term choice.

Honda and GM are teaming up on electric tech. That's a good move. The big German brands are getting heavily involved in Formula E, which is also a good move. Companies like Mazda and Subaru worry me. I don't think they have the ability to keep up with the major players. Honda would be in that group but they had the foresight to get with GM to work on power plants together.

Mazda is always an afterthought for buyers. As is Subaru. Then again you and I live in drier regions of the US where a Subaru simply isn't needed.

Maybe Honda can teach GM a thing or two about hassle free component positions that don't take hours to reach.

 

[realtuner]

A few pics of the new SUV I got for my wife. Can you guess what it is? Make is easy...


Front dash climate control.

Second row climate panel.

Third row climate panel.

And the obligatory dig at the Tesla Model X, which is horribly equipped for the price they charge. Here's the second row climate panel.

 

[2298754]

A few pics of the new SUV I got for my wife. Can you guess what it is?

Easy. BMW X7

Post more pictures of the car!

 

[AustinIllini]

So, speaking of the Model X, here's Top Gear's comparison between the Model X, Audi e-tron, and Jaguar I-Pace.

Basically, range goes to Tesla, battery infrastructure goes to Tesla, literally everything else (what makes a car a car) goes to Audi. The e-tron is a masterpiece of a car.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/big-reads/ev-test-audi-e-tron-vs-tesla-model-x-vs-jaguar-i-pace

 

[0388631]

Oh gosh, I haven't watched Top Gear since the first come back with ginger Evans. I still haven't watched TGT. There was an e-tron video posted a while back on here, I want to say, of a press car version. I was impressed. The Porsche electric is still greenlit, right?

 

[realtuner]

So, speaking of the Model X, here's Top Gear's comparison between the Model X, Audi e-tron, and Jaguar I-Pace.

Basically, range goes to Tesla, battery infrastructure goes to Tesla, literally everything else (what makes a car a car) goes to Audi. The e-tron is a masterpiece of a car.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/big-reads/ev-test-audi-e-tron-vs-tesla-model-x-vs-jaguar-i-pace

Not unexpected. Musk spends too much time on things that don’t matter. Like insane 0-60 times or overcomplicated Falcon Wing doors while leaving actual features that people need.
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Easy. BMW X7

Post more pictures of the car!

Supposed to be sunny tomorrow, so I’ll try to snap something nicer than sitting in the garage.

 

[0388631]

Oh shoot, X7? I read AU's post as X5. I have not seen an X7 in the wild yet. Looking forward to those photos. Any chance of it parked to another car to show the extra size difference?

 

[AustinIllini]

Oh gosh, I haven't watched Top Gear since the first come back with ginger Evans. I still haven't watched TGT. There was an e-tron video posted a while back on here, I want to say, of a press car version. I was impressed. The Porsche electric is still greenlit, right?

Yes. Ultimately, Porsche and Audi will share the same electric platform.
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Easy. BMW X7

Post more pictures of the car!

Seconded or ban