Saw my first factory made EV today.. - Page 2

Xringer · 06-07-13, 07:10 PM

My wife told me there are no Tesla dealerships.. Today, I Googled up this..

The American Spectator : The One Good Thing About Tesla

So, I guess you rich Texas Oilmen won't be getting that fancy new Tesla..

Mikesolar · 06-07-13, 07:53 PM

If Tesla wants to market that way, it is up to them although who does what little servicing there might be?

Either way, that American Spectator website is scary.

Xringer · 06-07-13, 08:39 PM

Heck, you can buy Ebikes and Escooters online, why not an EV?
It's not like the car salesman racket (AKA Stealerships) is going suffer any great loss of commissions..
With the amount of luxury EVs being sold, it's peanuts..

Yeah, it is scary. I didn't think about it until now.
I really don't like the idea of being put on a list.
My tax guy is pretty careful. But being on a very low fixed income,
I'm not eager to hire a tax lawyer to keep the IRS off my back.

Xringer · 08-30-13, 10:49 PM

Spotted two more today. The new model Smart Car was unhooking and leaving,
but the Chevy Volt was still hooked up..

Mikesolar · 08-31-13, 05:33 AM

I haven't seen the electric Smart yet. I had a 06 diesel Smart which they don't import any more and I have seen a few Chevys and Teslas are around.

Canada used to have its own marketing depts for Benz and VW but now that they are under the US marketing, we have less access to diesel cars and to manual transmissions.

I we are trying to get as much economy as possible, why wouldn't VW import the 3 cyl Polo or the other EVs available in Europe and push that big US market rather than buy into the "must have big engine and auto tranny" mentality that exists here.

Too much for my little brain

SimpleManLance · 08-31-13, 08:13 AM

I get to see volts and sparks everyday at work. Working at General Motors Proving Grounds allows me to see all kinds of cool things. the Spark is a little to small for me. I love the volt, i wish i could afford to drive one. I cant justify having a car payment to drive 11 miles to work everyday. Even though i could charge the Volt off the solar charging stations they have around the grounds for free. My 25mpg Subaru forester does good for now and i will be getting my Honda cl100 back up and running to drive when its nice out.

Xringer · 08-31-13, 09:11 AM

the "must have big engine and auto tranny" mentality

It might not be what the public is demanding. What it might be, is lazy car makers marketing.
They ask:
What kind of car do Car people buy? (People who buy new cars every two or three years).
Can we keep increasing the price on this type of car, for higher profits?
Can this type of car also be used as an idiot proof rental car?

When I look at the MPGs on some of these new cars, I wonder if only rich people are buying them.?.
Then it came to me.. People who buy cars for their looks/fashion statement, really don't give a lot of consideration to costs.

I know why my kid has a BMW XDrive. It's the coolest lookin ride that can climb the steep hills at her home.
No Subaru or Toyota AWD for her!

Mikesolar · 08-31-13, 09:23 AM

If Americans were given the option of small turbo diesels and manuals, I think more would adopt them. When truck drivers see me hauling around 3 tons of material behind my VW (2.4L diesel, not turbo), they shake their heads. They don't believe it but if the opportunity were there, they might take it.

They have no option so most don't even know the stuff exists.

Makers will increase the cost of a vehicle regardless of what powers it, thats just business and I don't think vehicle warranties are the same when the rental business gets a car. I doubt the makers could afford it.

You are right tho, it is all about bling.

SimpleManLance · 08-31-13, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

the "must have big engine and auto tranny" mentality

It might not be what the public is demanding. What it might be, is lazy car makers marketing.
They ask:
What kind of car do Car people buy? (People who buy new cars every two or three years).
Can we keep increasing the price on this type of car, for higher profits?
Can this type of car also be used as an idiot proof rental car?

When I look at the MPGs on some of these new cars, I wonder if only rich people are buying them.?.
Then it came to me.. People who buy cars for their looks/fashion statement, really don't give a lot of consideration to costs.

I know why my kid has a BMW XDrive. It's the coolest lookin ride that can climb the steep hills at her home.
No Subaru or Toyota AWD for her!

Its all about the image of having "money".

I am however surprised at how many GM employees are driving junker gas savers or a new volt to work everyday. But GMPG(which is in BFE acording to the city folk) has a lot of people coming from the other GM buildings in the city to the proving grounds to do their testing. So they commute a lot.

When someone says they have a volt everyone is always surprised. They ask how do you you like it, which everyone ive talked to replys with"i love it". its kinda the same thing when someone owns the new corvette there.

Two cars on the opposite end of the spectrum getting the same responses from the same people. I think they would like to own a volt but they don't think it is practical for them.

ATLleaf · 09-08-13, 08:07 PM

I have a LEAF, and in our city we have over 100+ chargers, including the one in the pic above (solar powered)

06-07-13, 07:10 PM	#11
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	My wife told me there are no Tesla dealerships.. Today, I Googled up this.. The American Spectator : The One Good Thing About Tesla So, I guess you rich Texas Oilmen won't be getting that fancy new Tesla.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

06-07-13, 08:39 PM	#13
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Heck, you can buy Ebikes and Escooters online, why not an EV? It's not like the car salesman racket (AKA Stealerships) is going suffer any great loss of commissions.. With the amount of luxury EVs being sold, it's peanuts.. Yeah, it is scary. I didn't think about it until now. I really don't like the idea of being put on a list. My tax guy is pretty careful. But being on a very low fixed income, I'm not eager to hire a tax lawyer to keep the IRS off my back. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

08-30-13, 10:49 PM	#14
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Spotted two more today. The new model Smart Car was unhooking and leaving, but the Chevy Volt was still hooked up.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

08-31-13, 08:13 AM	#16
SimpleManLance Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South-East MI Posts: 58 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	I get to see volts and sparks everyday at work. Working at General Motors Proving Grounds allows me to see all kinds of cool things. the Spark is a little to small for me. I love the volt, i wish i could afford to drive one. I cant justify having a car payment to drive 11 miles to work everyday. Even though i could charge the Volt off the solar charging stations they have around the grounds for free. My 25mpg Subaru forester does good for now and i will be getting my Honda cl100 back up and running to drive when its nice out. __________________ Jack of all trades, master of none. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-31-13, 09:11 AM	#17
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	the "must have big engine and auto tranny" mentality It might not be what the public is demanding. What it might be, is lazy car makers marketing. They ask: What kind of car do Car people buy? (People who buy new cars every two or three years). Can we keep increasing the price on this type of car, for higher profits? Can this type of car also be used as an idiot proof rental car? When I look at the MPGs on some of these new cars, I wonder if only rich people are buying them.?. Then it came to me.. People who buy cars for their looks/fashion statement, really don't give a lot of consideration to costs. I know why my kid has a BMW XDrive. It's the coolest lookin ride that can climb the steep hills at her home. No Subaru or Toyota AWD for her! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

06-07-13, 07:53 PM	#12
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	If Tesla wants to market that way, it is up to them although who does what little servicing there might be? Either way, that American Spectator website is scary.

08-31-13, 05:33 AM	#15
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	I haven't seen the electric Smart yet. I had a 06 diesel Smart which they don't import any more and I have seen a few Chevys and Teslas are around. Canada used to have its own marketing depts for Benz and VW but now that they are under the US marketing, we have less access to diesel cars and to manual transmissions. I we are trying to get as much economy as possible, why wouldn't VW import the 3 cyl Polo or the other EVs available in Europe and push that big US market rather than buy into the "must have big engine and auto tranny" mentality that exists here. Too much for my little brain

08-31-13, 09:23 AM	#18
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	If Americans were given the option of small turbo diesels and manuals, I think more would adopt them. When truck drivers see me hauling around 3 tons of material behind my VW (2.4L diesel, not turbo), they shake their heads. They don't believe it but if the opportunity were there, they might take it. They have no option so most don't even know the stuff exists. Makers will increase the cost of a vehicle regardless of what powers it, thats just business and I don't think vehicle warranties are the same when the rental business gets a car. I doubt the makers could afford it. You are right tho, it is all about bling.

09-08-13, 08:07 PM	#20
ATLleaf Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 16 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have a LEAF, and in our city we have over 100+ chargers, including the one in the pic above (solar powered)