New electric offerings confuse me

[Deschodt]

I kinda like electric cars as appliances, leased 2, hoot to drive...

But I don't understand why nobody's dethroned Tesla yet. Honestly I drove and rode in some where you could almost see daylight at the door seal, or see the hinges on the trunk due to misalignment. They have good OS, decent tech, but their design IMO is crap inside and out (what car person likes no dash? or that "daffy duck hit a low wall" front bumper).

And yet...
Vw is releasing boring boxes, we only get the ID4 (the E-golf v2 was more fun and is gone)

Audi is releasing $100-140K cars - I guess my salary was unaware of that level of inflation

Porsche is releasing something $$$$ with a front end that looks like a a skull with no one pedal mode or controllable regen - why?

Kia/Hyundai are releasing cheap feeling crap with regen paddles (???) and odd noises, not super pretty either

Ironically, Ford is doing a decent job with the Mach-E but it's too small as an SUV it kinda is, and too high as a wagon, oddly...

Lucid is doing great tech (smaller motors, more efficient) but their cars look alien, cost 6 figures, and their stock is tanking... I don't understand why a big manufacturer swallowed their price and bought Lucid for example, and attempted to make a nice sporty "Car" instead.. There is a market for something nice and sporty under 100K, isn't there ?

[Steve Carlton]

There's quite a few offerings now, with a ton to follow in the next year or two. From https://insideevs.com/ :



I like the e-tron (had one), Jaguar, i3, Polestar 2 (have one), Taycan (especially Cross Turismo), and the XC40/C40 Recharge.

The upcoming F-150 Lightning looks like it'll be a hit. I put a refundable deposit on the Fisker Ocean just in case- it's supposed to be the VW Beetle of EVs at $37,499...

[Scott R]

I’ve driven most everything in your list, add a Fisker Karma. The Tesla is just nice to drive in comparison. Have I put with problems? Sure. Leaky sunroof, broken door handles, broken window regulators, trim and alignment issues, well it goes with the territory. But it could be worse, I could be a GM owner right now.

This is the passenger A pillar on my new Model Y, the Ranger is supposed to fix it on the 17th, but that’s doubtful.

[Chocaholic]

What’s wrong with it?

[ErVikingo]

I own an eTron. Had a taillight module replaced (recall) all else not a single issue. Would prefer a longer range and cleaner brake pads (ha ha ha). I mostly do regen braking via paddles, wife uses brake pedal.

Car is solid, somewhat fast and full of nice features.

Now don't count on the MyAudi app to work. Last time it was able to connect to my car was in Jan 2020...

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Scott R

This is the passenger A pillar on my new Model Y, the Ranger is supposed to fix it on the 17th, but that’s doubtful.

What are we looking at here? Looks okay...other than the fact that there's an enormous blind spot, but that's just the design.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

What are we looking at here? Looks okay...other than the fact that there's an enormous blind spot, but that's just the design.

This side has a gap at the top, the picture doesn’t do it justice. The drivers side fits perfect no gap.

[aschen]

I think tesla does have some legitimate technology advantages in batteries, motors, and automation. Its hard to build a quality car at scale though, they should team up with toyota.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Scott R

This side has a gap at the top, the picture doesn’t do it justice. The drivers side fits perfect no gap.

That gap on my 996 was horrendous. I took it off and twisted it....now it's snug. But mine was not under warranty.

[1990C4S]

Tesla has created a following, sort of like Apple.

The iPhone is not perfect, probably not the best, but users love it.

I think Tesla is overvalued for a buy-out. They could however contract manufacturing to Magna, and concentrate on design and software.

[Steve Carlton]

Magna makes good stuff in Austria, including the upcoming Fisker Ocean.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/magna-apple-can-build-car/#:~:text=But%20Magna%20is%20an%20especially%20intr iguing%20supplier%20because,BMW%2C%20and%20Toyota% 20badges%2C%20to%20name%20a%20few.

[GH85Carrera]

This is the choice of the deep pocket folks.

[gacook]

Until they offer much better range, I've got no interest in all electric vehicles. I've owned a hybrid (2, if you count the wife's), and they were OK. I'm LOVING my diesel Silverado, though.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by gacook

Until they offer much better range, I've got no interest in all electric vehicles. I've owned a hybrid (2, if you count the wife's), and they were OK. I'm LOVING my diesel Silverado, though.

Same. I am not opposed to electric but until I can recharge from empty to full in close to the time it takes to fill up with gas, on nearly every street corner in the USA, I will probably stay away. I am open to hybrids until then, but having owned one PHEV I did not feel like my driving style was good for it.

[stealthn]

I’ll let you know tomorrow as I am scheduled to have an afternoon with a Taycan. I would love a Cross Turismo but my wallet wouldn’t. Depends what you mean by dethrone, Tesla has the distance but not the drivers sole, Rimac has the performance but at stupid pricing, all the bigs will have a bunch coming out, the next 5 years will be interesting.

[Steve Carlton]

Tesla's new roadster will be interesting, along with everything else. Put off until 2023 at the earliest due to the chip shortage. Estimated at $200K.




From 3 years ago, Jay Leno in the old and new roadster, plus the Model 3:

[Deschodt]

that's sorta my point though, the cheapest non ugly non sucky and decently built would be the $46K polestar...Then it jumps to $70K for speed but blah looks. Stuff you really want 100-140K ! Jesus !

I wish VW had redone the E-golf with a tad more range and power, like a GTI->GTE - kept it just around $40K for the mere mortals, I think that would have sold a lot more... I used to pay $125 a mo for my E-golf and I miss that thing, it was well built, quick on aftermarket wheels too...

Still I'm shocked nobody's beaten TEsla at it yet, or bought Lucid's tech (smaller, lighter than Tesla) and stuck it in their cars...

[1990C4S]

Beat Tesla how? They have a very good battery set-up and good software. How do you leapfrog them?

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Beat Tesla how? They have a very good battery set-up and good software. How do you leapfrog them?

Whoever gets solid state batteries into mass production will win. Many players in that race. Estimates are we will see them in 2030-ish. Don't forget we have 100+ years of ICE development. Electric, if it sticks without government mandates, will take decades to be widely viable.

Regardless how you feel about electric cars, as car guys/gals, we can all agree that electric cars have stopped the conversation about mass transit, defunding road construction/expansion, etc in the USA. Regardless of how it's powered the personal vehicle will continue in the USA for the foreseeable future.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Beat Tesla how? They have a very good battery set-up and good software. How do you leapfrog them?

You make a nicer car. No door gaps, better finish and paint, nicer look... The Etron GT from Audi being a good example, except it's 100-140K - gasp...

I'm just surprised nobody else did a Model3 priced car, just prettier and possibly with a real dash, I think it would sell a LOT. Quality wise a lot of my work buddies have bought Teslas and while impressed by the power they are quite often at the shop and less impressed by the quality of the car, so there's a market for a more experience manufacturer... But the VW group for instance, who has $ to buy Rimac, seems to have focused on $$$$ and performance or economy boxes (ID4). No middle ground. I think it's a missed opportunity.. Nobody's done an enthusiast's car for affordable $.