Who’s going to Tesla after their current TDI?

[pkhoury]

And the Kia Soul EV, or is that discontinued?

Kia Soul EV? The Kia Soul HAS NO SOUL. I hate to imagine an electric variant!

 

[tikal]

Kia Soul EV? The Kia Soul HAS NO SOUL. I hate to imagine an electric variant!

Ok, but for some reason I see it everywhere in our area (the gasoline version).

 

[kjclow]

I think I see a lot of souls becasue the are unique and stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[El Dobro]

And the Kia Soul EV, or is that discontinued?

They still make them and there's a guy in the neighborhood that has one.

 

[bwilson4web]

Of course you might 'piss off' a Tesla owner by getting a Lucid Air.

Bob Wilson

 

[turbobrick240]

The 2021 plug in hybrid Golf GTE looks like it may suit some here well. With roughly 40 miles of battery range and the same power and good looks of the GTI, I know I'll take one for a test drive when they show up at the local dealership. It could be both a great daily driver and road trip vehicle for folks not quite ready to spend $35k+ on a Model 3.

2021 VW Golf GTE: Check Out The Plug-in Hybrid Hot Hatch In Action | Carscoops

The new Volkswagen Golf GTE has 242 HP and a 37-mile all-electric range

www.carscoops.com

 

[Matt-98AHU]

Being that I'm a cheap-ass and refuse to pay someone else to work on my cars, coupled with the fact that Tesla is very stingy about allowing outside shops and individuals to buy parts along with being cagey in releasing service information, I think I'm going to opt out.

I'll stay with brands that are friendlier to the DIY and independent repair shops.

BEV development is also at a stage a lot like early smart phones, where the rapid development of new hardware and software will quickly outdate old models and the only proper way to address this is to upgrade to the new model, where I can find justifications with certain older internal combustion engine cars that they're cheap enough to buy and repair and are interesting enough, I can justify keeping them much longer and can modernize certain aspects of them 'just enough' to work for me.

I'm going to keep burning dinosaurs for the foreseeable future until development stabilizes more, BEVs prove themselves to be reasonable to own with age, as I also can't see myself ever buying a new vehicle of any kind when I know certain used cars are very cheap to purchase and address some of the neglected maintenance and keep them going for a long time.

But that's the mindset of a mechanic who can fix everything on their own vehicle. I refuse to allow Tesla to diminish my ability to repair my own vehicle and I infact somewhat despise them for even attempting to do so.

Which is a shame to say, because I like many of the features they've been pioneering, the performance, the range, the ever improving charge times and being made in the U.S.. All things to admire for sure. But when they go all draconian with repair information and parts access, I feel like giving them a giant middle finger.

 

[turbobrick240]

If you've ever watched Rich Rebuilds attack a flood or otherwise damaged Tesla battery pack with his toolbox of kitchen cutlery, you can kind of see where they are coming from. A lot of shadetree mechanics are pretty clueless when it comes to safety when working with high voltage equipment.

The good news is that with the rapidly growing adoption of EVs, aftermarket parts manufacturers are sure to get in on the action. Hopped a curb and bent a control arm on your brand new Tesla? No problem, the aftermarket will have a more reasonably priced and easily accessible replacement.

 

[Rob Mayercik]

Being that I'm a cheap-ass and refuse to pay someone else to work on my cars, coupled with the fact that Tesla is very stingy about allowing outside shops and individuals to buy parts along with being cagey in releasing service information, I think I'm going to opt out.

Wouldn't that fall under the Magnusson-Moss Act (cannot deny warranty coverage for owner-performed maintenance if they can document the maintenance was done), or am I thinking of another law?

At the very least, sounds like an entertaining "Right to Repai" lawsuit in the making if they annoy the right person...

 

[kjclow]

Of course you might 'piss off' a Tesla owner by getting a Lucid Air.

Bob Wilson

That's another car I won't be buying. Starting price of $90K.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Wouldn't that fall under the Magnusson-Moss Act (cannot deny warranty coverage for owner-performed maintenance if they can document the maintenance was done), or am I thinking of another law?

At the very least, sounds like an entertaining "Right to Repai" lawsuit in the making if they annoy the right person...

Tesla has not allowed any aftermarket suppliers or any repair chains to service their cars. All mechanical service is done by Tesla. All bodywork is completed by shops they've authorized, and there aren't a lot of them. Not having a dealer network must make control of the process easier.

I suspect at some point they're not going to be able to meet demand for repairs and will have to let aftermarket suppliers make parts and independent shops make repairs.

 

[turbobrick240]

There are aftermarket parts available for Tesla vehicles. https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2019/03/12/tesla-oem-repair-procedures-available-to-everyone/

 

[tikal]

Of course you might 'piss off' a Tesla owner by getting a Lucid Air.

Bob Wilson

You can also 'piss off' your family or your common sense budget practices for buying a vehicle that your should not due to its cost.

It really does not matter if is a $$$$ BEV or a $$$$ ICE truck/SUV/etc that you want buy really do not need. Don't take a loan and buy what you can afford. Keep/maintain your current vehicle, especially if is an efficient TDI.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

There are aftermarket parts available for Tesla vehicles. https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2019/03/12/tesla-oem-repair-procedures-available-to-everyone/

That link shows that some procedures are now available, doesn't mention parts. And Model 3 procedures are blocked, it says.

 

[Pat Dolan]

I can't even begin to imagine the end of ICE engines, as they are used in so many forms of transportation - forms that will not likely ever be battery powered. I can see gasoline going by the wayside, but not diesel. If I was a commuter (and THAT is an environmental disaster by its very nature) I might consider one of these new, fancy golf carts, but I don't so I won't. Our JV partners built a bunch of charging stations for a chain of fuel stops spread over half the country. Someone thought to buy an E-Golf so staff could pull into the stations during installation and sow their face driving a plug-in. LMFAO when I found that they had to pull it on tow dolly behind an F350 diesel since there wasn't enough range in the E-G to go from place to place.

Finally: do you have ANY idea of how much resource waste and pollution are involved in making LiPo batteries? OR, what happens to them when they are physically damaged?? NO WAY my family is riding in any vehicle with that crap involved. Finally, being in the electricity business, there is no where near enough excess capacity for daytime charging on any large scale (but at the cost of spewing out emissions from a displaced thermal generating site, a fair number could be charged at night at home.

 

[turbobrick240]

Not many EVs currently use a LFP battery chemistry. The base Model 3 made in China does use CATL's new LFP chemistry/architecture. Energy density is lower in LFP, but cycle life is excellent. And they don't contain Cobalt.

There are dozens and dozens of aftermarket wheels, rotors, brake pads, and suspension components for Tesla's. I think we're mostly just regurgitating falsehoods we've heard about there being a complete lack of aftermarket part availability.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Apparently steering parts (ball joints, tie rods) are available. One of our suppliers, Sidem in Belgium, is making them, and I'm sure there are others. No struts, shocks, or brakes in the aftermarket, yet, however, as far as we know. And I doubt the super fancy low resistence wheel bearings are available from anyone other than Tesla.

 

[turbobrick240]

If you Google Tesla Model 3 brake rotors, you'll find a nice selection of aftermarket parts. Same with the pads. I'm not sure who makes the OE shocks/struts but Bilsteins are available. As far as wheel bearings go, I doubt Tesla manufactures them. So those are likely available from skf or whichever bearing manufacturer makes them.

ETA: https://evtuning.com/products/tesla-model-s-and-x-wheel-bearing-hub-assembly-1027170-00-a

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I wonder if those meet the same friction specs as the OE bearings. As I understand it the low resistance of the OE bearings is a significant contributor to range.

 

[turbobrick240]

Not sure about the exact coefficient of friction numbers on those aftermarket bearings, but it has to be a lot better than a shot bearing assembly that needs replaced. But you're right that Tesla has made iterative improvements to things like bearings, tires, motors, and even by using Brembo monoblock brake calipers- all in pursuit of better efficiency. It turns out that improving efficiency is a much cheaper(and better) way to add range than just adding bigger batteries.

 

[bwilson4web]

When I slid into a curb, I picked up the replacement bearing at the Tesla Service Center and replaced them myself. I've already installed lighter rims and Bridgestone ECOPIA tires on the rear. I'll replace the front tires when they get closer to the wear bars.

Bob Wilson

 

[turbobrick240]

Tesla's "battery day" is coming up next Tuesday. Elon says it will be insane, so I think we should expect that some truly paradigm shifting advances will be announced. It's probably a good time to buy shares right now. I would be buying if my stock portfolio wasn't already tremendously overweight in tsla.

One of the changes appears to be to the size of the cylindrical cells. From 18650, to 2170, to the newest format that appears similar in size to a "D cell" battery. Hopefully the new chemistry has lots of Nickel, because I recently made a speculative investment in a Canadian Nickel mining outfit.

 

[Mozambiquer]

You can also 'piss off' your family or your common sense budget practices for buying a vehicle that your should not due to its cost.

It really does not matter if is a $$$$ BEV or a $$$$ ICE truck/SUV/etc that you want buy really do not need. Don't take a loan and buy what you can afford. Keep/maintain your current vehicle, especially if is an efficient TDI.

Good advice!!! You follow Dave ramsey? Lol? ?
For reals, I'm not ever planning to get a Tesla... Vw has enough electrical things... I don't need more!

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Dave Ramsey didn't invent that idea. It's been around a lot longer than him.

 

[Mozambiquer]

Dave Ramsey didn't invent that idea. It's been around a lot longer than him.

I know that. I was taught that way before I knew about Dave ramsey.

 

[pkhoury]

Being that I'm a cheap-ass and refuse to pay someone else to work on my cars, coupled with the fact that Tesla is very stingy about allowing outside shops and individuals to buy parts along with being cagey in releasing service information, I think I'm going to opt out.

I'll stay with brands that are friendlier to the DIY and independent repair shops.

BEV development is also at a stage a lot like early smart phones, where the rapid development of new hardware and software will quickly outdate old models and the only proper way to address this is to upgrade to the new model, where I can find justifications with certain older internal combustion engine cars that they're cheap enough to buy and repair and are interesting enough, I can justify keeping them much longer and can modernize certain aspects of them 'just enough' to work for me.

I'm going to keep burning dinosaurs for the foreseeable future until development stabilizes more, BEVs prove themselves to be reasonable to own with age, as I also can't see myself ever buying a new vehicle of any kind when I know certain used cars are very cheap to purchase and address some of the neglected maintenance and keep them going for a long time.

But that's the mindset of a mechanic who can fix everything on their own vehicle. I refuse to allow Tesla to diminish my ability to repair my own vehicle and I infact somewhat despise them for even attempting to do so.

Which is a shame to say, because I like many of the features they've been pioneering, the performance, the range, the ever improving charge times and being made in the U.S.. All things to admire for sure. But when they go all draconian with repair information and parts access, I feel like giving them a giant middle finger.

Sadly, that reminds me in some ways of Apple, though they're not as draconian as Tesla is. But I'm in the same boat as you, along with the fact that I didn't find the Tesla particularly comfortable, either. But maybe the Model 3 is different from the P120d I rode in...

 

[turbobrick240]

Efficiency is the name of the game:

Tesla Tells Us How It Keeps Beating Nearly Everyone in the Range Game

We visited the Tesla factory and learned how the EV maker exerts control over every aspect of the vehicle to maximize efficiency.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[showdown 42]

I might buy a E vehicle, if I needed a go around town car. I have a beast Touareg v6 diesel drive each yr fro NE to swfl 1500 miles. with lots of crap in the car. It takes 2 tanks of fuel to make the trip. Think about it My first stop for fuel is in South Carolina. Where you be in a Tesla on the same trip in Washington DC for an hour to fill up.Then in south Carolina to fill up for ar least an hour. Nooo thanks ,I'll just power my way on down the line. The EVsare fine for around town grocery trips but for towing 7000 lb trailers and going on real trips Not Yet if ever. BTW if you are using the car for around town driving who cares what the mileage is, I have a great VW Beatle convert that gets 30MPGs and is a fun around town car. I guess I don't care about EVs

 

[gulfcoastguy]

I put a deposit down on a VW Id4 First Edition last night. They are running about $10,000.00 less than a Model Y, have an instrument and cargo layout that I like better, can use Apple Car Play, have voice controls, are eligible for the Federal tax credit of $7,500.00 , have free charging at Electrify America stations for the first three years. Delivery is in the first quarter of 2021. If I lived in California I could get it in December 2020.
Not everything is perfect, I could do without a white steering wheel though that is only on the First Editions. I guess I'll be back here more often.

 

[bwilson4web]

I put a deposit down on a VW Id4 First Edition last night. ...

Excellent!

I started a thread about the ID.4 being sold out. I think the moderators would be wise to make a "VW Electric Vehicles" sub-forum. This would be a great place to collect earlier, current, and new EV threads specific to the VW family.

I'll be waiting for the EV version of the VW MicroBus. No, I won't be the first in line but I sure will be looking close.

Bob Wilson