ICE Vehicles: General topics

[bunnspecial]

Thanks @quagmire for your extensive write-up and thoughts.

I can't refute your points about Tesla having the best infrastructure and most advanced technology now. As much bad as I've said about Tesla over the years, that's definitely not something I've ever disputed.

Performance even on "standard" models is ridiculous too.

I'm mixed on the whole lack of dealer model. On one hand, the whole "Here's what I want, here's my money, done" is very appealing to me. My last two car purchases were used private party because I hate dealing with the sales arm of dealer that much.

Dealer service departments are definitely a mixed bag too, but at the end of the day there's a Ford/Chevy/Chrysler/Toyota/Honda etc dealer on almost every corner. When you need warranty work, getting it fixed is usually a matter of a day or two at most(save the oddball one like when my mom's Cadillac Catera years ago went in for service and they had it for 3 weeks doing warranty work related to Dexcool corrosion-I think it got a new set of headgaskets and a replacement of most of the cooling system) and if they don't fix it, they have to keep dealing with it until it's right.

I'm going to be interested to see what happens when the other big automakers really get fully into EV production. I know a lot have committed, but it's still only a portion of their sales. Like you, I'm not sure if Tesla will make it when that happens.

@DT I'm looking forward to your assessment too. I know you and I have talked about Tesla a fair bit.

I actually do find their products really interesting. I'd give them a bit of a pass on things like QC issues if it weren't for the fact that I find a lot of the rabid fanbase insufferable.

 

[SuperMatt]

I really like what I’ve seen of the Ford Mustang EV… but I don’t need a new car right now. Perhaps in another 5 years I will be looking, and I’m excited to think of what will be available then.

 

[SuperMatt]

Here’s a nice video dispelling some myths about EVs:

 

[quagmire]

Thanks @quagmire for your extensive write-up and thoughts.

I can't refute your points about Tesla having the best infrastructure and most advanced technology now. As much bad as I've said about Tesla over the years, that's definitely not something I've ever disputed.

Performance even on "standard" models is ridiculous too.

I'm mixed on the whole lack of dealer model. On one hand, the whole "Here's what I want, here's my money, done" is very appealing to me. My last two car purchases were used private party because I hate dealing with the sales arm of dealer that much.

Dealer service departments are definitely a mixed bag too, but at the end of the day there's a Ford/Chevy/Chrysler/Toyota/Honda etc dealer on almost every corner. When you need warranty work, getting it fixed is usually a matter of a day or two at most(save the oddball one like when my mom's Cadillac Catera years ago went in for service and they had it for 3 weeks doing warranty work related to Dexcool corrosion-I think it got a new set of headgaskets and a replacement of most of the cooling system) and if they don't fix it, they have to keep dealing with it until it's right.

I'm going to be interested to see what happens when the other big automakers really get fully into EV production. I know a lot have committed, but it's still only a portion of their sales. Like you, I'm not sure if Tesla will make it when that happens.

@DT I'm looking forward to your assessment too. I know you and I have talked about Tesla a fair bit.

I actually do find their products really interesting. I'd give them a bit of a pass on things like QC issues if it weren't for the fact that I find a lot of the rabid fanbase insufferable.

I think Tesla will make it when it happens. The product is there and as long as that doesn't slide, everything else should be a relative easy fix. The biggest challenge is probably building out their service centers/showrooms to where it isn't a chore for people to go to one and relieves their existing ones workload. From what I gather, before the Model 3 and thus the big boom in demand, Tesla's service was top notch and people raved about it. The deterioration occurred the moment volume started to skyrocket and the existing places just couldn't keep up.

Another issue that adds to the centers workload is how Tesla does deliveries. With only 2 factories currently, when it comes to at least the US the first two months of a quarter things are relatively quiet and deliveries are sparse. Then the last month comes and boom the service centers are doing 180 deliveries a day. Imagine the chaos that creates. This occurs because the first two months, Fremont at least focuses production on European spec models to ensure they can be shipped and delivered to Europe by end of the quarter. Then they shift to US spec production. Now when their Texas and Berlin factories come online, that should relieve that pressure point and should spread deliveries out more. And more service centers further reduces the deliveries the existing ones are expected to handle. When I was picking up my Model 3, there was a constant stream of Tesla's coming out of detailing for deliveries later that day. They are swamped. But they need to improve on the identified areas in order to survive. I believe they will, but we shall see.

I am also willing to give them a pass on QC items because overall the car is freaking awesome. My issues are small and truth be told, all of my vehicles had to go back to fix some small stuff from the factory. I think the difference is the issue with Tesla was discovered upon delivery while the others popped up within the first month or so which didn't hamper the new car excitement on delivery day.

I try to not let the brands fanboys hamper my experience with said brand. As for every hardcore Tesla fanboy that makes every other vehicle sound like a POS, there is another that does a crappy thing( key the vehicle, roll coal, etc) just because it is a Tesla.

To shift gears a little bit..... The Tesla has made me up my car washing game. I picked up a Karcher K1700 electric pressure washer, some upgrade parts for said pressure washer( new hose, handle, and wand), a foam cannon, a water deionizer, and just now picked up a Metrovac Air Force Express for drying the vehicle. We shall see how it goes. I tried it out( sans Metrovac) on my dads Cadillac and I was impressed.

 

[DT]

@quagmire

Holy shit, I have my VIN and a delivery date for tomorrow through the end of the week. Hahahaha, WTF??

 

[quagmire]

@quagmire

Holy shit, I have my VIN and a delivery date for tomorrow through the end of the week. Hahahaha, WTF??

Hahaha.... Congrats!

Welcome to end of the quarter push. Performance models seem to be more readily available than the Long Range. Also looking at past quarters, this isn't unheard of. A lot of people ordered the car in March and got a VIN one day later. Can't wait for pics or you going to request to unpair the VIN and push out delivery?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

@bunnspecial: I recall that you are something of a fan of older cars (as am I).

However, I don't know whether or not you have ever come across Steph Hoy, who writes (and posts - on Twitter and YouTube among others) with the handle idriveaclassic; the cars she reviews are mostly 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, cars, though she has reviewed a few from the 90s, and a few from the 30s and 40s.

Again, the cars are mostly British, though some others (American, Italian, Swedish, French) have also featured.

Well worth a look, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

 

[bunnspecial]

However, I don't know whether or not you have ever come across Steph Hoy, who writes (and posts - on Twitter and YouTube among others) with the handle idriveaclassic; the cars she reviews are mostly 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, cars, though she has reviewed a few from the 90s, and a few from the 30s and 40s.

Again, the cars are mostly British, though some others (American, Italian, Swedish, French) have also featured.

Thank you! I had not come across her, but a quick look and pull up of her blog showed a picture with three Morris Minors across the top. She's already off to a good start in my book!

I do like older cars, but British is really where my interest and passion goes, even though I appreciate everything.

 

[DT]

Can't wait for pics or you going to request to unpair the VIN and push out delivery?

We’re just going to press on, I mean, it’s the plan anyway, so another 20-30 days I don’t think would change things - in fact, with the rainy season upon us, having another AWD car, that’s roomy, has good visibility is better sooner than later (since we pretty much just want to keep the top off the Jeep)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thank you! I had not come across her, but a quick look and pull up of her blog showed a picture with three Morris Minors across the top. She's already off to a good start in my book!

I do like older cars, but British is really where my interest and passion goes, even though I appreciate everything.

Personally, I love her videos; they are very well informed (her research is both enthusiastic and impressive, and serves to place a car within its historic socio-economic context), warm and kind (to and about the owners of the cars she drives and reviews), and invariably interesting, and I must say that I love the fact that it is also possible for a respected car enthusiast (who specialises in old cars) to be female, as well.

Anyway, do enjoy.

 

[DT]

Yeah, the Tesla Fanboys, ugh, it was almost enough to put me off of the vehicle, but being a fan-but-not-blind-fanboy follower of Apple, I guess I have a decent perspective on how to mentally manage that.

Service is a little bit of a concern, we'll see how that plays out, we have a service center if it was something that couldn't be done onsite about 35 miles away, so not too bad - but does the timing/handling of issues in general is where issues may be present - I guess there's a little "luck" involved

For EVs in general, I kind of just made the leap, it went from yard tools, to the 4xe, to having a nice home charger setup, so, OK, why not? The 4xe has the same 97% full tank I put in 4 weeks ago, with ~200 miles of driving since that's 99.8% electric. It kind of shook things up for me.

The performance is nuts, __and__ it's a 4-door, and AWD, so its pretty roomy, and safe, and inexpensive to operate - to the latter, if we assume an 85% efficiency with a home charger, and a $0.10/KwH cost, that's about $9.65 to "fill it up", and that's, being a little more conversative, ~275 miles (rated at 315). so about $0.04 a mile. vs. the GT which is getting about 16MPG (where / how, I do most of my driving), with 93 being ~$3.30/gallon, about $0.20 a mile.

I mean, the all in on a BEV is a kind of a big step, but I think our vehicle pairing will be just about perfect. Both being able to run off a home charge, but one also being able to run off good ol' pump gas as needed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And, @bunnspecial: Ian at hubnut (he and Steph give each other a shout out) is also very good on old British cars, and another mutual friend of theirs - this time specialising in caravans (though he also owns some of the cars that have been featured on idriveaclassic) - is NotAnotherWhiteBox.

 

[DT]

I'm also shopping this, as my plan is to go a little "tuner" on the TM3

These are fantastic wheels, and they've introduced something new, modular aero covers

(Same wheel with the covers between each spoke section ...)

 

[DT]

Happy Father's Day to me ...

 

[bunnspecial]

And, @bunnspecial: Ian at hubnut (he and Steph give each other a shout out) is also very good on old British cars, and another mutual friend of theirs - this time specialising in caravans (though he also owns some of the cars that have been featured on idriveaclassic) - is NotAnotherWhiteBox.

I have interacted with hubnut some on another forum.

He has an Invacar, and a good friend of mine has one also. The video of him driving his Invacar at 70mph is...alarming...to say the least. I remember talking to him a fair bit also when I bought my Marina as he had one at the time also.

 

[bunnspecial]

Yeah, the Tesla Fanboys, ugh, it was almost enough to put me off of the vehicle, but being a fan-but-not-blind-fanboy follower of Apple, I guess I have a decent perspective on how to mentally manage that.

That is a good point and something I've thought about a lot too.

I'm definitely in the same category as you with regard to Apple. I use Macs unless I have no other choice, collect Macs, and use Apple products for all of my other needs. I definitely like Apple products, but I'm not afraid to say when I think they messed something up.

On a different forum, I put together something of a review of my M1, but in an on-going thread concluded that I'd made a mistake by getting an 8gb model and opining that I thought it was a poor choice on Apple's part to make that the base model. The way one person reacted, you would have thought I'd called his wife fat and his kids ugly on the premise that "You don't seem to get that Macs need less RAM than Windows." That was an...interesting...discussion and reminded me of just how bad Apple fanboys can be.

 

[quagmire]

Just got the car back from the detailer. Got the entire front end, mirrors, side rockers, and full trunk in Xpel wrap. Then ceramic coating on top and on the rest of the vehicle not covered in PPF.

 

[DT]

Looks great.

Any ownership experiences to share? Issues? Magic?

I was chuckling the other day about how radically different this move is for me:

Orange >> Dark Silver
Black interior >> White interior
Convertible >> Hardtop
2-Door >> 4-Door
V8 >> Electric
2WD >> AWD
8" display >> 15" display

(You had some of the same)

I ordered, and it's sitting right here, a Spigen screen protector, it's this one:

Amazon.com: Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector [Glas.tR EZ FIT] Designed for Tesla Model 3 / Y Dashboard Touchscreen - Crystal Clear

Amazon.com: Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector [Glas.tR EZ FIT] Designed for Tesla Model 3 / Y Dashboard Touchscreen - Crystal Clear

www.amazon.com

Tempered glass, has a slick applicator frame - Spigen products are usually outstanding.

 

[Huntn]

After 2 months at the dealer, got my 2012 Fiat 500 back with a new/rebuilt engine for $100. It runs great. The short explanation is that I bought a lifetime warranty for this car, and the engine failed with 50k miles on it.

not my image​

 

[DT]

After 2 months at the dealer, got my 2012 Fiat 500 back with a new/rebuilt engine for $100. It runs great. The short explanation is that I bought a lifetime warranty for this car, and the engine failed with 50k miles on it.

Oh, nice. This was the situation where the dealer was saying if X was damaged / needed replacement during the warranty work, __you__ would have to pay (or something to that effect)?