real world EVs review

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
There really isn't any reason (except politics and inertia, I suppose) why we shouldn't have a set of worldwide standards (or at least developed nation standards) for safety and emissions. It would make life a lot easier for manufacturers, and it even might help reduce costs.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
It absolutely would, and the manufacturers want it.... but... consumers (and voters) evidently do not.

Me personally, I just want the freedom to choose. If someone wants to drive around in a semi-truck level of powered pickup truck empty every day, go ahead, knock yourself out. I just want a small diesel hatchback. One of those for us is forbidden, and that's dumb.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Not forbidden so much as unavailable. VW didn't stop selling the 1.4T Golf here because of tight diesel emission standards. They stopped selling it because they figured it wasn't profitable enough.
 

Abacus

That helpful B4 guy
Joined
Nov 10, 2007
Location
Relocated from Maine to Dewey, AZ
TDI
Only the B4V left
Once again we’re spoon fed what someone else wants, not what we want. The cars in other countries are so far ahead of the trash we have here it isn’t funny. We settle because that‘s all they give us.
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
There really isn't any reason (except politics and inertia, I suppose) why we shouldn't have a set of worldwide standards (or at least developed nation standards) for safety and emissions. It would make life a lot easier for manufacturers, and it even might help reduce costs.
For a start, our emissions standards are oddball as most of the world has gone with the Euro standards. Then there's the 25% "chicken tax" leftover from the 60s that keeps imported vans and mini pickups like VW's out. Throw in Americans tendency to buy their vehicles by the pound and imagined "need" for AWD and high ground clearance and it's no wonder our vehicles are such an embarrassment. And don't even get me started on the big conventional cab trucks with long hoods when the rest of the world long ago figured out that cabovers are the best layout!
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Cabover trucks only existed here because of regulations limiting length. When those regs were changed cabovers went away pretty rapidly. Talk to some truckers- I'd be surprised if 1% would want to swap their rig for a cabover.
 

03TDICommuter

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2016
Location
So. Cal
TDI
01' NB, 5spd
Just wait until Renault re-enters this market with the Twizy. Game over SUVs.
Saw a few of those in Rome Italy in July. There' an even smaller Citroen EV over there too. Looks like it could drive forward or backward as the front and rear are the same other than swapping the head and tail lights.

Then there's the Ape 50. I wouldn't mind one of those for around town use.
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
A lot of truckers today have never driven a cabover and don't know what they're missing, I've driven both and prefer the cabover. As for length limits, in the EU and China a conventional is legal with a 40 foot trailer, but nobody buys a conventional. In fact, Scania dropped their T series conventional due to low sales.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
At least we are getting one of the Euro truck engines.... Navistar (now owned by VAG, which also owns Scania) is bringing their "new" engine here, which is an existing Scania engine. But yeah, the modern cabovers are pretty neat. Of course, they don't use their highways as much as we seem to for freight movement. Our rail system is another embarrassment ...
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
I like the nostalgia of the old trucks, but would not want to OTR in a COE. Cabovers main disadvantage besides comfort and engine access is the shorter wheelbase is not good for hauling heavy loads. For hauling light loads short distances on cramped roadways, it's probably not too bad.

 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
They'll get there. It will take more than a few days to retrofit the largest charging network in N. America. Tons of vids on YouTube of people charging their Bolts, EV6s, F150 Lightnings, Lucids, Rivians, Nissans, ID4, etc. on the CCS Superchargers. A Rivian R1T pulling 150 kW is the most I've seen so far. No fistfights yet. ;)
With the Bolt and the Spark, I would have to use the space on the other side of the station to be able to charge. I have heard that the new station Tesla's coming out with will have a longer cable.
 

kjclow

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Location
Charlotte, NC
TDI
2010 JSW TDI silver and black. 2017 Ram Ecodiesel dark red with brown and beige interior.
I like the nostalgia of the old trucks, but would not want to OTR in a COE. Cabovers main disadvantage besides comfort and engine access is the shorter wheelbase is not good for hauling heavy loads. For hauling light loads short distances on cramped roadways, it's probably not too bad.

Since we're looking at RVs and still trying to decide if we want to tow or drive, we get to hear lots of opinions on A vs C class. Most come down giving C the advantage in safety in head on crashes and serviceability. I know a cab over semi doesn't have the service issues that a class A pusher does but safety is still an issue.
 

J_dude

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2020
Location
SK Canada
TDI
2003 1.9l “Jedi”
Cabover trucks only existed here because of regulations limiting length. When those regs were changed cabovers went away pretty rapidly. Talk to some truckers- I'd be surprised if 1% would want to swap their rig for a cabover.
Yeah, I talk to/work with a lot of truck drivers every day as part of my job, and I’ve only seen a total of two COE rigs roll through our yard in the two years I’ve been working in this position. They tell me the ride quality really suffers when you’re sitting right over the axle too.
 

gearheadgrrrl

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Location
Buffalo Ridge (southwest Minnesota)
TDI
'15 Golf DSG, '13 JSW DSG surrendered to VW, '03 Golf 2 door manual
The best riding truck I've ever driven was a tie between a White low cabover and a Freightliner FLC 112 conventional with a Mercedes cab. The worst riding truck I've drive was a tie between a Mack MR low cabover and a Freightliner Business Class conventional with the same Mercedes cab. The cab location is just one factor in many that determines ride quality.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
I was gonna say, the cab/sleeper itself has its own suspension system. The modern Euro trucks are pretty good, they can blast through the Dakkar Rally at high speeds with cab over trucks. I think the Freightliner Argosy was one of the last big ones available here.
 

El Dobro

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
NJ
TDI
2017 Bolt EV Premier, 2023 Bolt EUV Premier
I suspect Rivian isn't making much money on those. I've seen a couple around, too.

I think that's a great EV application if the range is adequate for the van's service area.
See them just about everyday around here.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Sounds like Rivian is chipping away at their backorder of 100k+ orders for the R1T and R1S. I imagine demand will outstrip supply for at least a couple more years.

 

Daemon64

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Location
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
TDI
2022 Polestar 2 BEV - Current, 2021 Q5 55e PHEV - Retired, 2015 Q5 3.0 TDI - Retired, 2013 Golf TDI - Retired
*update* Road tripped the C40 this weekend 220 miles each way. Range around 208 miles total, usage approx 364 w/mi. Outside temp 51, and 46 respectively.

EA -
first stop 5/6 chargers in use, SOC 52% EA rate of charge 100kw not bad. Charged to 84% - Gen 2 EA hardware.
2nd stop - 4/4 charges used SOC 22% had to wait 25 minutes for charger, EA rate of charge 145kw good charge session up to 86% SOC
3rd stop - 4/6 chargers used 2/6 broken, SOC 11% - waited 45 minutes before getting chargers, 135kw rate for first 7% and then 154kw and great charging session, up to 81% SOC. Gen 3 350kw chargers.

The takeaway for me is that getting above freezing Temps really helps things. The demand for these chargers is very strong there were decent queues all things considered, and still some hardware acting up / broken.
 

Zak99b5

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2021
Location
Albany NY
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
A 220 mile trip should take around 3:45 ish. Adding in a mandatory charge stop, plus having to wait 25 minutes (on average) before being able to charge as you did, seems pretty inconvenient. How long were the actual charging sessions, 20 to 30 minutes?
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Just for some ICE contrast, I drove my MKIV Wagon to CT yesterday to pick up some wheels I found on FB Marketplace. Round trip was right around 300 miles. IBW had traveled 500 miles on its current fuel fill, but I decided to give the trip a shot. Worst case I'd have to stop for fuel.

I didn't. Trip down and back took about 4 hours, with the cruise set at 78 MPH most of the way. I filled it when I got home, it took 16.6 gallons after 799.8 miles total on the tank. 48.2 MPG And I didn't have to stop during the drive in either direction. I had other things I wanted to get done yesterday afternoon so not having to spend time charging (or waiting for a charger) mattered.

Of course, if I drove an EV I probably wouldn't be trekking all over New England buying old car parts. So there's that.
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Just for some ICE contrast, I drove my MKIV Wagon to CT yesterday to pick up some wheels I found on FB Marketplace. Round trip was right around 300 miles. IBW had traveled 500 miles on its current fuel fill, but I decided to give the trip a shot. Worst case I'd have to stop for fuel.
I didn't. Trip down and back took about 4 hours, with the cruise set at 78 MPH most of the way. I filled it when I got home, it took 16.6 gallons after 799.8 miles total on the tank. 48.2 MPG And I didn't have to stop during the drive in either direction. I had other things I wanted to get done yesterday afternoon so not having to spend time charging (or waiting for a charger) mattered.
Of course, if I drove an EV I probably wouldn't be trekking all over New England buying old car parts. So there's that.
But what wheels did you get?! Something rare or cool that was worth the drive??
 

Daemon64

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Location
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
TDI
2022 Polestar 2 BEV - Current, 2021 Q5 55e PHEV - Retired, 2015 Q5 3.0 TDI - Retired, 2013 Golf TDI - Retired
A 220 mile trip should take around 3:45 ish. Adding in a mandatory charge stop, plus having to wait 25 minutes (on average) before being able to charge as you did, seems pretty inconvenient. How long were the actual charging sessions, 20 to 30 minutes?
1st stop was: 15:30 of actual charging
2nd stop was: 48:45 of actual charging
3rd stop was: 33:25
and when we got home we left it on a level 2 for around: 8 hrs to get it back to where it was when we left.( we only let it charge to 78% SOC )

So context we left w/ 100% SOC -- did a quick fill up to get us to an EA close to our destination as there was no convenient level 2 in the area think like 15 miles from where we were staying( we were traveling friday ) so we had to get the car up to enough SOC where we could leave on sunday and pick up a charger halfway ), we then left on sunday with a small amount of local driving we had done so we left the 2nd EA stop w/ 86%, and by the time we left sunday morning left with 76% SOC, went down to 11% to get to the same charging station we stopped at for the 1st stop. Then when we got home we had around 24% SOC, so decided to leave it at a local LVL 2 ( the price per kwh is .17 vs our house is around .295 right now )

And to second what you're saying YES - It is not convenient at all. Which is why when my lease is up I'm going to find myself a GSW, and we will keep an electric for 200/mi or less round trip trips.

You know using the diesel for what it is great for long distance hauls, and keeping the emissions equipment super happy, and using the electric for most solid local and charging on mostly level 2
 
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Daemon64

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Location
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
TDI
2022 Polestar 2 BEV - Current, 2021 Q5 55e PHEV - Retired, 2015 Q5 3.0 TDI - Retired, 2013 Golf TDI - Retired
Depends on what you call rare and cool. Something I wanted: OE 15s for my GSW.
Indigo,
Do you have the 205 16's on the car now? How do those do for Fuel Efficiency and/or traction on a strong take off? I'm looking to get an SEL when i get er, but I know that comes w/ 18's which I absolutely don't want, 17's or 16's mostly I know the 17's will likely ride a little nicer due to a little more sidewall, but was considering the 16's and was curious how they drove for strong "launches" and or fuel efficiency. I know those are 2 different things, but trying to figure out of the 225's in a 17 are even needed, or if the 205's in the 16's are more than enough, but give a decent bump in MPG.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I really can't say: I just looked at Fuelly and I've driven that car about 1,700 miles since the beginning of 2020. I have Michelin Defenders on it now, which are a high mileage tire without great traction. The mileage benefit is most certainly lost on me, at least with this car.

If I were concerned about grip and handling I'd go with aftermarket 16s with 225/50-16 tires. That way you get the combo of tread width with a taller sidewall than 17s. That size worked great on my MKIVs when I used to track them. You just need to be sure to get a 7" wide rim.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Are those going to be dedicated winter rims? Looks like they've got some decent Blizzaks on them.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I'm throwing those tires out. Two or them are shot. I've been transitioning my cars to all seasons with snow ratings. I've got Michelin Cross Climates on my Wagon and Nokian WR G4s on the Golf. Might do Nokians on these, too, since the Michelins have gotten a lot more expensive since I last bought them. That's one of the things I like about 15s: tires are cheap.

I'm hoping to use the GSW a little more this year. I feel bad about not driving it at all.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The 15s last longer, too.

Pro tip: any NCS TDI guys, if you can find a set of the 15" aluminum Jetta Hybrid wheels, they are extra light and look good on the car (all the NCS TDIs came with 16" aluminum wheels as standard, save for the 2015 Value Edition, which got steelies/ugly hubcaps)
 
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