The Car Thread ... !

[960design]

I have two teslas. They're both so poor quality for the price.

Sell them both on the used market as the prices are still pretty strong. Purchase new ones at the newly decreased prices: $35,500 for Model 3, $47,500 for Model Y

 

[AustinIllini]

Sell them both on the used market as the prices are still pretty strong. Purchase new ones at the newly decreased prices: $35,500 for Model 3, $47,500 for Model Y

I paid less for the Y and my wife likes it. 3 is going soon.

 

[AustinIllini]

I've heard this from people with 2018 and earlier, not so much for 2019+. So, this is different. The other thing is most people I hear this from are Model S/X owners, not so much from 3/Y. I have heard of issues on delivery that were immediately (or within one mobile/service). I think Tesla invested most of their production into the 3/Y which makes sense.

Tesla has gone from nothing to majority problem free vehicles in just about 10 years. No other manufacture (that I know of) has done that, not even the Japanese brands. In the 70s Honda/Toyota were garbage quality, but by the late 80's-90's they became what they are today (both were founded pre/immediately post WWII). The Korean brands are the same, it took a while to become reliable.

In the US in 2022 Tesla sold more cars than BMW, MB, and Audi. The top selling 2 vehicles in CA for 2022 were Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, knocking off Toyota. CA is the #1 market for cars. For all of these sales, and repeat buyers, it is clear that a majority of Tesla owners are happy with the product.

The best-selling car in California is the Tesla Model Y. Here are the other top models

Two Tesla models are the top-selling new cars in California so far in 2022, a marker of...

www.sfchronicle.com

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Vehicle Registration Counts by State

Doesn't really matter how many cars they sold. Their manufacturing is garbage.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Doesn't really matter how many cars they sold. Their manufacturing is garbage.

If it was in fact "garbage" majority of their vehicles would not be functioning, and sales would take a hit. There would not be return customers who are on their 3rd+ Tesla.

Repeat customers is the definition of verifying if a product is garbage or not... I argue that Tesla's sales, and ever-growing market share is actual proof that your statement is not true. This is not just a biased opinion; it is actual data.

Why did you buy 2, and why does your wife love her model Y if it is "garbage"?

 

[Apple fanboy]

If it was in fact "garbage" majority of their vehicles would not be functioning, and sales would take a hit. There would not be return customers who are on their 3rd+ Tesla.

Repeat customers is the definition of verifying if a product is garbage or not... I argue that Tesla's sales, and ever-growing market share is actual proof that your statement is not true. This is not just a biased opinion; it is actual data.

Why did you buy 2, and why does your wife love her model Y if it is "garbage"?

I wouldn’t say they are garbage. But I think more Tesla’s are sold on the charging network than anything else. Followed by the battery range. Both are excellent.
However the styling, build quality and pricing is all wrong for me.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I wouldn’t say they are garbage. But I think more Tesla’s are sold on the charging network than anything else. Followed by the battery range. Both are excellent.
However the styling, build quality and pricing is all wrong for me.

They are indeed bland looking compared to other EV’s out there and build quality is questionable. I drove a Polestar 2 this week from Leamington Spa down to South Wales and although that was a nice smooth ride, in fact a pleasure to travel in, the interior was very bland and basic. I don’t know why some of these manufacturers can’t inject a bit of flair? A friend of mine bought an Audi e-tron GT through is business and it looks like any other high end Audi inside and that’s where we are nearly all of the time. I was impressed with the Polestar as a vehicle even if it was nearly out of charge by the time I got down here. My company removed the dedicated charging point last year so I ended up reversing up the curb so the lead could reach

 

[Apple fanboy]

They are indeed bland looking compared to other EV’s out there and build quality is questionable. I drove a Polestar 2 this week from Leamington Spa down to South Wales and although that was a nice smooth ride, in fact a pleasure to travel in, the interior was very bland and basic. I don’t know why some of these manufacturers can’t inject a bit of flair? A friend of mine bought an Audi e-tron GT through is business and it looks like any other high end Audi inside and that’s where we are nearly all of the time. I was impressed with the Polestar as a vehicle even if it was nearly out of charge by the time I got down here. My company removed the dedicated charging point last year so I ended up reversing up the curb so the lead could reach

And I just thought my wife had parked it for you!

 

[cyb3rdud3]

They are indeed bland looking compared to other EV’s out there and build quality is questionable. I drove a Polestar 2 this week from Leamington Spa down to South Wales and although that was a nice smooth ride, in fact a pleasure to travel in, the interior was very bland and basic. I don’t know why some of these manufacturers can’t inject a bit of flair? A friend of mine bought an Audi e-tron GT through is business and it looks like any other high end Audi inside and that’s where we are nearly all of the time. I was impressed with the Polestar as a vehicle even if it was nearly out of charge by the time I got down here. My company removed the dedicated charging point last year so I ended up reversing up the curb so the lead could reach

We like our Polestar; 476Hp AWD and have driven it across many european countries in less than a year. Looking at that picture, that model looks like the entry level with no option packs. And yes very bland interior, and I wouldn't have bought one like that. You really need to add at least the Pilot and Plus packs, the seats the interior, the lightning, the sound system, drivers assistance, etc, it transforms it. Still is Skandi chique though.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I wouldn’t say they are garbage.

And this is all I was trying to point out. There is a difference between "there may be issues" and "garbage." If it really was garbage Tesla would not be outselling every other manufacture (in the US). With the volume of vehicles being sold, you would never be able to get a service appointment since all they would be doing is fixing their garbage.

I can schedule an appointment as early as Monday in the app. With my Ram, at the many dealerships around me, it is a minimum of a month wait.

Also, if someone really thought it was garbage, why would they return and buy a 2nd? If I honestly thought a manufacture was garbage, what does it say about me if I went back and bought another? Also, if I could demonstrate the fact that something was "garbage" I can tell you that my wife would be onboard, and wouldn't "love" the vehicle, because it would be costing us time/money trying to resolve the issues...

But I think more Tesla’s are sold on the charging network than anything else. Followed by the battery range. Both are excellent.

I think it is like any other manufacture out there. They do have opportunities for improvement, but those who cry the loudest are those with issues. This is not a true representation of all of all of their vehicles.

My e46 BMW has major design flaws that require routine replacing majority of the cooling system (failed water pumps, expansion tank), auto headlight switches that are ECM paired that have been known to catch the vehicle on fire (if you simply swap it yourself you get a tamper warning on the cluster), badly engineered taillight wiring harness (undersized ground that causes shorting/fires). The headliners all fall off (I spent $1k and my own time removing all interior trim pieces, including the headliner, to have recovered). The sunroof drain hoses are pushed onto the sunroof cassette without anything to hold it on (they get clogged and pop off causing leaks in the A pillar, down to the front floor boards). Oh, and the oil leaks, I spent $$$$ fixing all the leaks. The e46 is one of the biggest selling BMW body styles, and by enthusiasts thought of as one of the best BMW ever made.

My B7 A4 Audi has an interference engine with a timing belt. At the factory they installed the cylinder rings upside down causing blowby on a high compression Turbo engine, causing oil consumption issues (more than 1 quart in 3k miles). It also has a terrible designed Cam follower that you have to check every oil change, since if it wears through, it destroys the Cam lobe, requiring major surgery to repair. There are also known fire issues with the auto headlight switch, causing fires like the e46. All the buttons have a rubberized coating that wear off very quickly. The HID bulbs/ballasts are garbage, I had to replace the bulbs in the 2nd year (you have to do them in pairs because of the color). The OEM coil packs are garbage, so much so that I leave an extra in the trunk (I've had 5 misfires in 100k miles).

My Gen 4 Ram with Hemi, the factory header bolts snap causing cold engine ticks, and a costly repair, that often require welding a nut onto the broken bolt, or drilling out the old bolts. There are known issues with the MDS system that can cause oiling issues and engine damage. The tailgates would drop even when locked, there had to be recall to fix this. When they first came out people were able to take control of the vehicles remotely (another recall), every Ram will have rust issues above the rear wheels on the bed. The 3rd brake light/cargo light gaskets are garbage and leak causing water damage to the interior (water pooled in the rear floor).

These are all google'able issues that are known (I only know them because I owed each of these vehicles).

However the styling, build quality and pricing is all wrong for me.

This makes sense. However, at least here in the US, an entry level Tesla Model 3 is $35k. This is not that expensive, considering the costs of vehicles these days. My Audi was $45k in 2008, my BMW was $40k in 2003, and my Ram was $50k in 2015. A similarly equipped Ram is now $65k. Even Honda/Toyota you would expect to pay $40k for their full-size salons (Accord starts at $27k). So, the Model 3 is in the world of Honda/Toyota now. At least here in the US.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And this is all I was trying to point out. There is a difference between "there may be issues" and "garbage." If it really was garbage Tesla would not be outselling every other manufacture (in the US). With the volume of vehicles being sold, you would never be able to get a service appointment since all they would be doing is fixing their garbage.

I can schedule an appointment as early as Monday in the app. With my Ram, at the many dealerships around me, it is a minimum of a month wait.

Also, if someone really thought it was garbage, why would they return and buy a 2nd? If I honestly thought a manufacture was garbage, what does it say about me if I went back and bought another? Also, if I could demonstrate the fact that something was "garbage" I can tell you that my wife would be onboard, and wouldn't "love" the vehicle, because it would be costing us time/money trying to resolve the issues...



I think it is like any other manufacture out there. They do have opportunities for improvement, but those who cry the loudest are those with issues. This is not a true representation of all of all of their vehicles.

My e46 BMW has major design flaws that require routine replacing majority of the cooling system (failed water pumps, expansion tank), auto headlight switches that are ECM paired that have been known to catch the vehicle on fire (if you simply swap it yourself you get a tamper warning on the cluster), badly engineered taillight wiring harness (undersized ground that causes shorting/fires). The headliners all fall off (I spent $1k and my own time removing all interior trim pieces, including the headliner, to have recovered). The sunroof drain hoses are pushed onto the sunroof cassette without anything to hold it on (they get clogged and pop off causing leaks in the A pillar, down to the front floor boards). Oh, and the oil leaks, I spent $$$$ fixing all the leaks. The e46 is one of the biggest selling BMW body styles, and by enthusiasts thought of as one of the best BMW ever made.

My B7 A4 Audi has an interference engine with a timing belt. At the factory they installed the cylinder rings upside down causing blowby on a high compression Turbo engine, causing oil consumption issues (more than 1 quart in 3k miles). It also has a terrible designed Cam follower that you have to check every oil change, since if it wears through, it destroys the Cam lobe, requiring major surgery to repair. There are also known fire issues with the auto headlight switch, causing fires like the e46. All the buttons have a rubberized coating that wear off very quickly. The HID bulbs/ballasts are garbage, I had to replace the bulbs in the 2nd year (you have to do them in pairs because of the color). The OEM coil packs are garbage, so much so that I leave an extra in the trunk (I've had 5 misfires in 100k miles).

My Gen 4 Ram with Hemi, the factory header bolts snap causing cold engine ticks, and a costly repair, that often require welding a nut onto the broken bolt, or drilling out the old bolts. There are known issues with the MDS system that can cause oiling issues and engine damage. The tailgates would drop even when locked, there had to be recall to fix this. When they first came out people were able to take control of the vehicles remotely (another recall), every Ram will have rust issues above the rear wheels on the bed. The 3rd brake light/cargo light gaskets are garbage and leak causing water damage to the interior (water pooled in the rear floor).

These are all google'able issues that are known (I only know them because I owed each of these vehicles).



This makes sense. However, at least here in the US, an entry level Tesla Model 3 is $35k. This is not that expensive, considering the costs of vehicles these days. My Audi was $45k in 2008, my BMW was $40k in 2003, and my Ram was $50k in 2015. A similarly equipped Ram is now $65k. Even Honda/Toyota you would expect to pay $40k for their full-size salons (Accord starts at $27k). So, the Model 3 is in the world of Honda/Toyota now. At least here in the US.

£45k here which is $54k, so nearly double that.

 

[JT2002TJ]

£45k here which is $54k, so nearly double that.

Yeah, I remember you posting the price difference in the UK. In the US it is much different. Tesla is well within the world of ICE cars. Even the Model Y is within the world of regular compact SUVs.

 

[RSB96]

I present my new car, actually my partner's car.

It is a Seat Ibiza 1.5 TSI 150hp DSG7, in its highest finish with all the extras.

For those of you who do not know it, Seat is a brand originally from Spain that was born during the dictatorship manufacturing models licensed from Fiat, became independent in the 80s and launched its first own model, the Seat Ibiza, and shortly after was bought by the Volkswagen Group. It currently has two brands, Seat and Cupra, a brand that offers more "aspirational" models.

It is a compact model, 4.05 meters long, 1.80 meters wide and 1.45 meters high and weighs about 1250 kilograms. It competes with other models such as the Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, among others.

On the outside, I consider the car is very well proportioned, and I find it quite elegant and sporty, in equal parts.

Inside the truth is that it is one of the best in its segment, with good materials and adjustments. In terms of technology, it has a 10.25" digital instrumentation and a 9.25" central screen with 720p display, which looks very good. It has wireless CarPlay, which is very convenient.

It has sunroof, mixed leather and alcantara seats, heated seats, adaptive LED headlights, and "level 2" assistants, with adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assistant, Travel Assist, which keeps the car centered in the lane, among others. The only thing it cannot carry, due to supply problems is the blind spot.

Dynamically it goes very well, it is a very poised, stable and fast car. This version is lowered and has a harder suspension, so in curves it feels stable and agile.

The 1.5 TSI engine is very elastic, offers its maximum torque from low turns, which added to the dimensions of the car, makes it a fairly fast car.

My parents-in-law have the first Ibiza I mentioned at the beginning, so I took some pictures of them together.

So I hope it will give us many joys and experiences together.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I present my new car, actually my partner's car.

It is a Seat Ibiza 1.5 TSI 150hp DSG7, in its highest finish with all the extras.

For those of you who do not know it, Seat is a brand originally from Spain that was born during the dictatorship manufacturing models licensed from Fiat, became independent in the 80s and launched its first own model, the Seat Ibiza, and shortly after was bought by the Volkswagen Group. It currently has two brands, Seat and Cupra, a brand that offers more "aspirational" models.

It is a compact model, 4.05 meters long, 1.80 meters wide and 1.45 meters high and weighs about 1250 kilograms. It competes with other models such as the Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, among others.

On the outside, I consider the car is very well proportioned, and I find it quite elegant and sporty, in equal parts.

Inside the truth is that it is one of the best in its segment, with good materials and adjustments. In terms of technology, it has a 10.25" digital instrumentation and a 9.25" central screen with 720p display, which looks very good. It has wireless CarPlay, which is very convenient.

It has sunroof, mixed leather and alcantara seats, heated seats, adaptive LED headlights, and "level 2" assistants, with adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assistant, Travel Assist, which keeps the car centered in the lane, among others. The only thing it cannot carry, due to supply problems is the blind spot.

Dynamically it goes very well, it is a very poised, stable and fast car. This version is lowered and has a harder suspension, so in curves it feels stable and agile.

The 1.5 TSI engine is very elastic, offers its maximum torque from low turns, which added to the dimensions of the car, makes it a fairly fast car.

My parents-in-law have the first Ibiza I mentioned at the beginning, so I took some pictures of them together.

So I hope it will give us many joys and experiences together.

Enjoy. Isn’t it basically a Golf with a bit of styling changes? Certainly shares a few similarities.

 

[RSB96]

Enjoy. Isn’t it basically a Golf with a bit of styling changes? Certainly shares a few similarities.

Well, actually the Seat/Cupra Leon is the equivalent of the Volkswagen Golf, since they are equipped with the MQB Evo platform.

This is based on the MQB A0 platform, which is the platform for B-segment models of the Volkswagen Group. Therefore, the Ibiza would be the equivalent of the Volkswagen Polo.

Although originally the platform is the same, the A0 is limited in certain aspects, for example, in electrification, since it cannot be equipped with mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines. Nor can it be fitted with a multi-link rear axle or an electric parking brake.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Audi A1 / VW Polo / Seat Ibiza / Skoda Fabia. All effectively the same car/platform. Just different market positioning and branding and different options, ownership experience.

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

I drive an 11 year old Volvo Xc70. Everyone keeps out of my way.😃

 

[AdamNC]

Been a fun month car wise.... On February 28th we were going out for my birthday dinner. We were in our 2020 Civic and got rear ended hard. Insurance said it was fixable. Body shop kept finding more and more damage. Ended up being totaled. So we finally got everything settled on Friday. Went to look at the new Accord EX. They only had 3 all were red and we just didn't like it. My wife saw the new 2023 CRV. So we drove it and really liked it. It's a LX AWD. So far we are really enjoying the higher seating and view. It's a very smooth ride. Color is very nice. Meteorite Grey.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Been a fun month car wise.... On February 28th we were going out for my birthday dinner. We were in our 2020 Civic and got rear ended hard. Insurance said it was fixable. Body shop kept finding more and more damage. Ended up being totaled. So we finally got everything settled on Friday. Went to look at the new Accord EX. They only had 3 all were red and we just didn't like it. My wife saw the new 2023 CRV. So we drove it and really liked it. It's a LX AWD. So far we are really enjoying the higher seating and view. It's a very smooth ride. Color is very nice. Meteorite Grey.

View attachment 2183957View attachment 2183958View attachment 2183959

I’ve owned 2 mk4 CRV’s and thought they were great cars, I just wish the mk5 came in a diesel otherwise I would have had a third. Enjoy your new car, looks lovely

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Audi A1 / VW Polo / Seat Ibiza / Skoda Fabia. All effectively the same car/platform. Just different market positioning and branding and different options, ownership experience.

I leased an Audi A4, and LOVED IT! I was so over mileage at the end of the lease, but that's another story.

I saw a VW model car with the same body shape. I mean, the same back end, the same side look, and mostly the same front look too. I was surprised. I went to the dealer and saw one on theirlot and it was unlocked. As expected, it wasn't the same inside, and no AWD Quatro system. But the US manufacturers do the same thing. It's weird to see it, but makes some sense...

 

[Bug-Creator]

I leased an Audi A4,

I saw a VM model car with the same body shape.

Kinda sad that you don't have SEATs over there. They took the old A4, extended the hood to meet new safety rules, and called it a day .... erm the "Exeo".

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Kinda sad that you don't have SEATs over there. They took the old A4, extended the hood to meet new safety rules, and called it a day .... erm the "Exeo".

And GM once put a fake spare tire outline on the trunk of one model just to charge more for essentially the same cheaper model in their other brand. Yeah, silly. I remember laughing out loud whenever I saw one of those. And cringing whenever I saw the VW A4 bastardization. It was like they blasphemed the memory of my love for that car. (Quattro was like driving on rails in winter. No 'slip sliding away' ever!)

And 'VW' is corrected to VM? I usually like spelling correction, but sometimes it goes just way too far..

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Nice Seat. Reminds me of a Citroen I owned once.

Not sure why exactly, but, am a bit perturbed that in my Mustang I don't have a steering wheel with the flat bottom as standard. Yet, a Seat does. Ugh...

The older one almost looks like a VW Rabbit. Hmm... (Spell check almost got that 'VW' again🙄)

Never knew Seat was a brand.

And on seats, I'll never buy a Mercedes ever again. Loved the car I had, but the whole thing was a disaster. The next to last insult was the seat blowing a spring on the right cheek. *BOING* and I'm sitting off center. The last insult was the transmission blowing up. That was after having a new engine installed when it went on a drinking binge, swilling cases of oil before it was replaced. Quality? Not that I saw😕...

 

[bunnspecial]

And GM once put a fake spare tire outline on the trunk of one model just to charge more for essentially the same cheaper model in their other brand. Yeah, silly. I remember laughing out loud whenever I saw one of those. And cringing whenever I saw the VW A4 bastardization. It was like they blasphemed the memory of my love for that car. (Quattro was like driving on rails in winter. No 'slip sliding away' ever!)

Do you possibly mean the Lincoln Mark series cars with the spare tire "hump."?

If so I wouldn't call it silly. It's a design language common to all the Mark series models and traces back to the days when there actually was a spare tire mounted back there. The spare tire hanging off the back of the car is so associated with the design that it's often called a "Continental Kit" when added to modern cars.

By the Mark VIII(1990s) the tire hump had become a lot more obvious but again was still part of the design. I think there had been an uproar if it had gone away.

The Lincolns carrying the "Mark" branding were always 2 door "personal luxury coupes" and with no direct comparison to other models. The 1990s Mark VIII, which was the last of them, was an extended version of the RWD platform used for the Thunderbird of the same age(the other two Lincoln cars were FWD Taurus-based for the Continental and RWD body-on-frame Panther platform for the Town Car). The Mark VIII also had some interesting and novel for the time features like air suspension that would automatically lower the car above 60mph for better aerodynamics. Both it and the Continental had a system that I'm not aware of being in any other car before or since-the memory seat/mirrors could be tied to the key fob used to unlock the car so that if two people regularly drove the car, everything would move into position based on the fob used to unlock.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Do you possibly mean the Lincoln Mark series cars with the spare tire "hump."?

If so I wouldn't call it silly. It's a design language common to all the Mark series models and traces back to the days when there actually was a spare tire mounted back there. The spare tire hanging off the back of the car is so associated with the design that it's often called a "Continental Kit" when added to modern cars.

By the Mark VIII(1990s) the tire hump had become a lot more obvious but again was still part of the design. I think there had been an uproar if it had gone away.

The Lincolns carrying the "Mark" branding were always 2 door "personal luxury coupes" and with no direct comparison to other models. The 1990s Mark VIII, which was the last of them, was an extended version of the RWD platform used for the Thunderbird of the same age(the other two Lincoln cars were FWD Taurus-based for the Continental and RWD body-on-frame Panther platform for the Town Car). The Mark VIII also had some interesting and novel for the time features like air suspension that would automatically lower the car above 60mph for better aerodynamics. Both it and the Continental had a system that I'm not aware of being in any other car before or since-the memory seat/mirrors could be tied to the key fob used to unlock the car so that if two people regularly drove the car, everything would move into position based on the fob used to unlock.

No, it was a smaller car. Reading your reply, I do remember a GM (possibly) car that had the 'hump', and actually had the spare tire in there. There was a model from someone who faked it...

 

[Bug-Creator]

Never knew Seat was a brand.

Short history:
Started making older FIATs (similar to Lada and Polski-FIAT), did the original Ibiza with a Porsche developed enginge, got bought by VW and turned into their budget-sporty brand.