Electric Vehicles: Why aren't they more popular?

[DeadlyVenom]

Salary sacrifice is such a scam! well for me anyway, there are much better deals on select car leasing’s website!

Worst case, if you are worried about maintenance & reliability, you could always get a brand new petrol or diesel in warranty with very little else to be concerned about!

I can’t make any case for an EV remotely.

you can get good deals occassionally. Most of the cars on select you need to put down a 6 months deposit, and then insurance + maintenance. On the Sacrifice Scheme that's taken care off. As an example recently an Audi Q6 was showing up around 200 quid a month cheaper ( + maint and insurance) vs normal leases.

There is a page on tiktok called Vehicle Consulting. Take a look at their vids and when a nice car pops up compare it to your company's scheme.

 

[LordJames]

I visited the dealership for brake pad replacement and brake fluid maintenance. Initially, I was quoted around £340 for the service, which I was prepared for. However, while enjoying the complimentary mocha from their coffee machine, I was approached by a customer service representative who presented a long list of additional repairs, including brake discs and suspension, totalling over £2,000.

The representative claimed this was a discounted price with a dodgy smile, but I declined the additional costs. He mentioned that the brake fluid had already been changed, so I agreed to proceed with that only. He then offered to speak with his manager to reduce the price, but returned with an £1,800 bill, which I also declined.

I left the dealership feeling quite frustrated. I drive a 2016 BMW 2 Series 220d with approximately 70,000 miles on it, and I am quite attached to the car, which is why I have always deferred the thought of replacing it. As I was leaving, I decided to take two complementary cold drinks from their fridge, which made me feel slightly better

Sorry to hear that, its cheaper to buy parts and get them all replaced sometimes instead of messing around with fault finding. Brakes/Suspension are usually cheaper to just replace! Take your car and turn steering (extreme right) and make slow circles while turning do you hear any noises? Repeat the test in the other direction and listen for noises. Get under the car and see if there are any leaks (oil or broken rubber in the suspension) and if none of this is happening your suspension is fine for the time being. Turn the wheel (extreme in one direction), get under the car and look for a leak in the rubber or any sign of leak (repeat in the other direction too):

You can physically look at your brakes through the holes and see how worn out the brakes are and also feel it with your fingers (to see if they are being eaten into). This is an extreme example but in normal cars you can look at your brakes

Of course if you can just take the wheel off then this is what it looks like and it will be clearly visible to you if you need a brake job...just looking at 1 front wheel and 1 back wheel is enough!

Guys,

Please update me on the latest in UK for older car maintenance as it has been a while since I was in UK

UK/Canada:

1. Go to an Independent Car Garage and let them inspect the Car.
2. Get a list of exactly what needs to be repaired and cost
3. Call around to get quotes, always get at least 3-4 quotes
4. Get it done and ask to see the old parts
5. Get your Service History stamped and keep it updated or for Canada (update your Carfax History)

USA:

1. Get your oil changed when the Sale comes at the Dealer and get a report of what else needs to be fixed
2. Buy your Parts at RockAuto (check Amazon too as you may get it cheaper) you need to ask some Brothers on what to buy, for example drilled and slotted discs etc
   1. Parts brand depends on your Car
   2. OEM of 3rd party also depends on your Car and age
3. From Facebook get a Mobile mechanic to install it for you if you don't have a trusted Mechanic but do your research before picking the mechanic
4. Update CarFax and keep it updated for your car.

BMW 2-Series is not a big car but for bigger cars you need serious stopping power so get your brakes updated with thicker drilled and slotted kit specially if you have women, kids driving in inclement weather, you don't want to take chances.

 

[LordJames]

Get Ceramic or Metallic Brake Pads for extra stopping power for your wife and kids etc...

Brand doesn't matter! Its the type which matters...

 

[sweep_shot]

People without a Brain

Whoever designed this should be in a mental hospital.

Retarded design.

 

[shaz619]

you can get good deals occassionally. Most of the cars on select you need to put down a 6 months deposit, and then insurance + maintenance. On the Sacrifice Scheme that's taken care off. As an example recently an Audi Q6 was showing up around 200 quid a month cheaper ( + maint and insurance) vs normal leases.

There is a page on tiktok called Vehicle Consulting. Take a look at their vids and when a nice car pops up compare it to your company's scheme.

I am not sure if the gap is that much wider, I think the salary sacrifice discount ought to be much wider, if you go through every nook & cranny I could swear there wouldn’t be too much difference.

 

[shaz619]

Sorry to hear that, its cheaper to buy parts and get them all replaced sometimes instead of messing around with fault finding. Brakes/Suspension are usually cheaper to just replace! Take your car and turn steering (extreme right) and make slow circles while turning do you hear any noises? Repeat the test in the other direction and listen for noises. Get under the car and see if there are any leaks (oil or broken rubber in the suspension) and if none of this is happening your suspension is fine for the time being. Turn the wheel (extreme in one direction), get under the car and look for a leak in the rubber or any sign of leak (repeat in the other direction too):

You can physically look at your brakes through the holes and see how worn out the brakes are and also feel it with your fingers (to see if they are being eaten into). This is an extreme example but in normal cars you can look at your brakes

Of course if you can just take the wheel off then this is what it looks like and it will be clearly visible to you if you need a brake job...just looking at 1 front wheel and 1 back wheel is enough!

Guys,

Please update me on the latest in UK for older car maintenance as it has been a while since I was in UK

UK/Canada:

1. Go to an Independent Car Garage and let them inspect the Car.
2. Get a list of exactly what needs to be repaired and cost
3. Call around to get quotes, always get at least 3-4 quotes
4. Get it done and ask to see the old parts
5. Get your Service History stamped and keep it updated or for Canada (update your Carfax History)

USA:

1. Get your oil changed when the Sale comes at the Dealer and get a report of what else needs to be fixed
2. Buy your Parts at RockAuto (check Amazon too as you may get it cheaper) you need to ask some Brothers on what to buy, for example drilled and slotted discs etc
   1. Parts brand depends on your Car
   2. OEM of 3rd party also depends on your Car and age
3. From Facebook get a Mobile mechanic to install it for you if you don't have a trusted Mechanic but do your research before picking the mechanic
4. Update CarFax and keep it updated for your car.

BMW 2-Series is not a big car but for bigger cars you need serious stopping power so get your brakes updated with thicker drilled and slotted kit specially if you have women, kids driving in inclement weather, you don't want to take chances.

Great post, I don’t do the work myself usually but all good points.

I think even if he isn’t hands on, if he can do a bit of troubleshooting, go to a trusted garage, then you can just get the parts yourself & pay for labour.

I normally just let the indie charge me for parts & labour, it’s way cheaper compared to a dealer, unless there’s a specific performance bit I want which I’ll source myself. For things like hydraulic fluid flush etc I get that myself and also things like coolant, most garages wont go to the nth degree but you can get to them to a point where the steps are straightforward and they are happy to do what you want exactly.

 

[LordJames]

Time Magazine Study:

This was in the 1980s. Time Magazine bought a brand new Dodge and gave it to a woman Journalist to drive across America. Every few hundred miles they taught her to reverse the spark plug cables (put 2 in 4, 3 in 1 etc) and then take the car to a Mechanic due to misfire.

By the time she reached California, the car had cost (something like) 6 times the price of the original vehicle in repairs. Some Dealers had even changed the Car Lighter 3 times, 1 dealer charged her $800 for Car lighter saying its a system change and its connected to her Engine and Car Lighter is causing the engine to misfire!

She had the whole engine changed, transmission changed, brake system changed, suspension changed etc.

Only 2-3 Mechanics caught the actual issue and 2 didn't charge anything, something like that.

 

[Technics 1210]

Salary sacrifice is such a scam! well for me anyway, there are much better deals on select car leasing’s website!

Worst case, if you are worried about maintenance & reliability, you could always get a brand new petrol or diesel in warranty with very little else to be concerned about!

I can’t make any case for an EV remotely.

Salary Sacrifice, for a car in London, is a massive scam.

I work in London, and preferred to be paid extra every month than have a car through a lease. The extra £500 or so, went straight into Gold!

Whats the point in London? I prefer the Tube/Bus when travelling in London anyway!

But you make a good point, that driving an EV through a company lease scheme is a preferable option to buying an EV (new or 2nd hand), because I wonder if those who drive an EV through a lease, would buy an EV from their pocket? The answer is overall a resounding no.

Even the Uber drivers of London have started to complain, because hybrid will be phased out by TfL for Uber qualification.

EV will never take off if because it means the death of the petrodollar. This is a fact. Japan, UK, USA, and even Europe, all had electric cars on the roads, before the discovery of oil in the ME - the rest is history.

 

[Technics 1210]

@shaz619 I had a 2000 Honda Civic, 2 door, 2 Litre, lowered, with sounds, spoiler, and it was black in colour. It was my KNIGHT RIDER. I had custom bling too - Blue LEDs underneath, and the KITT red phaser light under the hood, but enough to show off when needed!

That b@st@rd Sadiq Khan forced me to sell it due to the ULEZ expansion into zones 4, 5, and 6.

I hate the guy with a passion.

My Knight Rider was my fortress of solitude.

 

[shaz619]

@shaz619 I had a 2000 Honda Civic, 2 door, 2 Litre, lowered, with sounds, spoiler, and it was black in colour. It was my KNIGHT RIDER. I had custom bling too - Blue LEDs underneath, and the KITT red phaser light under the hood, but enough to show off when needed!

That b@st@rd Sadiq Khan forced me to sell it due to the ULEZ expansion into zones 4, 5, and 6.

I hate the guy with a passion.

My Knight Rider was my fortress of solitude.

Sadiq Khan is a piece if crap for that, in London you don’t get to drive around much anyway as you said, but most people who do have car, it’s usually their pride & joy for the weekends, imagine being charged the moment you start your car! That’s beyond pathetic, and even worse when these classics are somehow not ULEZ compliant, their carbon footprint is much lower then all the newer cars which are made

I’ve read about Londoner’s having to sell legendary cars such as the BMW E30 as a result, the only option is getting storage outside the ULEZ zone but in big city’s the cost is probably high and you don’t feel comfortable doing that for the greed or ignorance of the leadership!

Just on that alone I would never vote for him, what an absolute waste of sperm, sorry about that Honda, don’t make them like the 2000’s anymore!

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Electric cars are a scam for Dimmies. Stay away. Their mileage is terrible. I had a "top brand" electric car for all of 4 days before I ran into all kinds of problems.

 

[Technics 1210]

Sadiq Khan is a piece if crap for that, in London you don’t get to drive around much anyway as you said, but most people who do have car, it’s usually their pride & joy for the weekends, imagine being charged the moment you start your car! That’s beyond pathetic, and even worse when these classics are somehow not ULEZ compliant, their carbon footprint is much lower then all the newer cars which are made

I’ve read about Londoner’s having to sell legendary cars such as the BMW E30 as a result, the only option is getting storage outside the ULEZ zone but in big city’s the cost is probably high and you don’t feel comfortable doing that for the greed or ignorance of the leadership!

Just on that alone I would never vote for him, what an absolute waste of sperm, sorry about that Honda, don’t make them like the 2000’s anymore!

Here’s the thing.

It would have costed me £12.50 a day to keep my Knight Rider on the road.

I’m like, if the skank mayor is serious about cutting emissions, then why bloody offer the choice to pollute the enviroment at a cost of 12.50 a day!

This is making my blood boil as I type.

 

[shaz619]

Here’s the thing.

It would have costed me £12.50 a day to keep my Knight Rider on the road.

I’m like, if the skank mayor is serious about cutting emissions, then why bloody offer the choice to pollute the enviroment at a cost of 12.50 a day!

This is making my blood boil as I type.

Have you followed the Youtuber Brown Car Guy? he’s from London and has been protesting this for so long, it’s just a cash grab for the doofus khan, and don’t get me started on his scrap scheme!

 

[LordJames]

Have you followed the Youtuber Brown Car Guy? he’s from London and has been protesting this for so long, it’s just a cash grab for the doofus khan, and don’t get me started on his scrap scheme!

Average age of car in UK is 10 years?

Its 12 1/2 years in US and obviously with much higher mileage too.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

But you make a good point, that driving an EV through a company lease scheme is a preferable option to buying an EV (new or 2nd hand), because I wonder if those who drive an EV through a lease, would buy an EV from their pocket? The answer is overall a resounding no.

Agree with this. I have a normal car and electric through work. No chance I would buy an electric outright because Ive heard too many stories of the crazy depreciation and when things go wrong they go very wrong. I can't take it to my usual uncle mechanic coz he ain't touching it.

Electric does have its benefits if you can get a good deal, live in a house with easy parking ( it would be nightmare to charge in most homes where you have on street parking).

 

[sweep_shot]

@shaz619 I had a 2000 Honda Civic, 2 door, 2 Litre, lowered, with sounds, spoiler, and it was black in colour. It was my KNIGHT RIDER. I had custom bling too - Blue LEDs underneath, and the KITT red phaser light under the hood, but enough to show off when needed!

That b@st@rd Sadiq Khan forced me to sell it due to the ULEZ expansion into zones 4, 5, and 6.

I hate the guy with a passion.

My Knight Rider was my fortress of solitude.

I have a Honda Civic 2016 currently. I have been driving it for the last 6-7 years.

It is much better than retarded EVs.

 

[hks222]

I have a Honda Civic 2016 currently. I have been driving it for the last 6-7 years.

It is much better than retarded EVs.

True.

By the way, these EV rear wheel drive cars seem very scary - the instant push is very voilent.

 

[sweep_shot]

True.

By the way, these EV rear wheel drive cars seem very scary - the instant push is very voilent.

I see.

I read on the news one guy died in an EV because there was a malfunction.

 

[JaDed]

Go for it, in terms of Tesla: super quiet , great for city drive, the auto drive feature costs about 100$ or something a month.

The newer Model Y is also very quiet on concrete roads which was an issue before.

I don’t understand the love for traditional cars esp for average folks that just need it for city drive.

 

[Technics 1210]

Not one electric car qualifies for Labour’s £3,750 discount.

Not a single driver will be eligible to receive Labour’s flagship £3,750 electric vehicle (EV) grant, analysis shows.

The net zero scheme, which was announced in mid-July, begins making payouts to manufacturers from this week.

However, only 22 car models are eligible for the grant, but none of them qualify for the full headline subsidy. Drivers of vehicles including the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra Electric instead receive a smaller payment of £1,500.

Just two EVs – Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Nissan Leaf – are likely to be eligible for the full grant but neither is currently on the market.

DT

 

[ElRaja]

loads of points i wanted to answer to so ill do it in one post..

1. why have a car in london? old parents, potential emergencies, and living on the periphery of the city. also unless you driving into zone 1, driving tends to be quicker door to door.
2. electric cars are full of problems? ive had one for over two years, no issue. i know two friends who have had electric cars for longer, and apart from a squeeky spring on a tesla, no problems.
3. why salary sacrifice? honestly its a no brainer, given how much tax i pay i will scrape back any penny i can from the government. as a comparison my polestar 2 years ago was £750 on a lease, i pay around £450 for mine with no upfront payment (average over the term has been around £500. all salary sacrifice is not the same, the highest quote i got was nearly £900, so you have to shop around.
4. ice vs electric? this is a non-argument, if you understand that both serve different purposes (at the moment).
5. electric is a fad, conspiracy, partly true, but the real conspiracy is that china could not compete with ice car manufacturers so put all its eggs in the electric basket to blow global car makers out the water, if your bet against electric, your betting against the smartest minds in china

i consider myself a proper petrolhead, all my dream cars are ICE cars, but ignoring electric because they dont invoke the same emotion wont make a difference, they are here to stay. @RizwanT20Champ which car did you have, what issues did u face, so i avoid it when i look to get another one

 

[DeadlyVenom]

loads of points i wanted to answer to so ill do it in one post..

1. why have a car in london? old parents, potential emergencies, and living on the periphery of the city. also unless you driving into zone 1, driving tends to be quicker door to door.
2. electric cars are full of problems? ive had one for over two years, no issue. i know two friends who have had electric cars for longer, and apart from a squeeky spring on a tesla, no problems.
3. why salary sacrifice? honestly its a no brainer, given how much tax i pay i will scrape back any penny i can from the government. as a comparison my polestar 2 years ago was £750 on a lease, i pay around £450 for mine with no upfront payment (average over the term has been around £500. all salary sacrifice is not the same, the highest quote i got was nearly £900, so you have to shop around.
4. ice vs electric? this is a non-argument, if you understand that both serve different purposes (at the moment).
5. electric is a fad, conspiracy, partly true, but the real conspiracy is that china could not compete with ice car manufacturers so put all its eggs in the electric basket to blow global car makers out the water, if your bet against electric, your betting against the smartest minds in china

i consider myself a proper petrolhead, all my dream cars are ICE cars, but ignoring electric because they dont invoke the same emotion wont make a difference, they are here to stay. @RizwanT20Champ which car did you have, what issues did u face, so i avoid it when i look to get another one

Point number 5 is bang on. I've said the same things, and we don't even get the best of the chinese market here.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Go for it, in terms of Tesla: super quiet , great for city drive, the auto drive feature costs about 100$ or something a month.

The newer Model Y is also very quiet on concrete roads which was an issue before.

I don’t understand the love for traditional cars esp for average folks that just need it for city drive.

There are some really good deals for Tesla, I was tempted but Elons meltdowns put me off.

 

[LordJames]

loads of points i wanted to answer to so ill do it in one post..

1. why have a car in london? old parents, potential emergencies, and living on the periphery of the city. also unless you driving into zone 1, driving tends to be quicker door to door.
2. electric cars are full of problems? ive had one for over two years, no issue. i know two friends who have had electric cars for longer, and apart from a squeeky spring on a tesla, no problems.
3. why salary sacrifice? honestly its a no brainer, given how much tax i pay i will scrape back any penny i can from the government. as a comparison my polestar 2 years ago was £750 on a lease, i pay around £450 for mine with no upfront payment (average over the term has been around £500. all salary sacrifice is not the same, the highest quote i got was nearly £900, so you have to shop around.
4. ice vs electric? this is a non-argument, if you understand that both serve different purposes (at the moment).
5. electric is a fad, conspiracy, partly true, but the real conspiracy is that china could not compete with ice car manufacturers so put all its eggs in the electric basket to blow global car makers out the water, if your bet against electric, your betting against the smartest minds in china

i consider myself a proper petrolhead, all my dream cars are ICE cars, but ignoring electric because they dont invoke the same emotion wont make a difference, they are here to stay. @RizwanT20Champ which car did you have, what issues did u face, so i avoid it when i look to get another one

There are some really good deals for Tesla, I was tempted but Elons meltdowns put me off.

Tesla is the least reliable Use car in America considering records for the past 5-10 years, its a bag of junk for the amount of money which is being paid for it.

Tesla Is One Of The Least Reliable Used Car Brands: Consumer Reports

Several owners of older Model S EVs reported battery and drive unit replacements. Meanwhile, Lexus and Toyota are at the top.

insideevs.com

Not only its unreliable, its quality is getting worse over the years, not better and it is admitted even by Tesla owners

J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Slumps Overall, Tesla stays 4th from last

Tesla dependability declined (242->252 issues per 100 vehicles), but same goes for the industry overall (186->190). Consequently, Tesla stayed 5th in rankings, though it's not officially counted for whatever reason. I do agree that Lexus/Toyota are the best in class. By far...

teslamotorsclub.com

As I said Hertz kept on insisting that I rent a "Tesla" and they are badly built, unreliable and noisy, abject junk for the money Elon is asking for them.

Rickety doors, chassis and noisy suspensions. Drive a Tesla and drive a Lexus and you know the difference

 

[IAJ]

Norway has the highest proportion of electric cars relative to its total number of vehicles and there are no issues. Many cars have range from 500-600 and that is more than enough and with charges available all over the country you really don’t need anything else.

I myself have among other 2 Nissan Leaf’s. One with 24 kWh battery and the other with 62 kWh, enough for my purposes.

 

[LordJames]

Norway has the highest proportion of electric cars relative to its total number of vehicles and there are no issues. Many cars have range from 500-600 and that is more than enough and with charges available all over the country you really don’t need anything else.

I myself have among other 2 Nissan Leaf’s. One with 24 kWh battery and the other with 62 kWh, enough for my purposes.

Leaf is reliable car and leads the way in quality.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars/n26158

Tesla is junk!

 

[Mamoon]

HEVs are fantastic and they have become super popular in Pakistan, EVs are about to take off in Pakistan as well.

There’s a lot of pessimism over EVs in this thread but it clearly has its benefits, although the skepticism overs its deprecation is quite common.

However, in the future, EV batteries will become very cheap to the point that the depreciation factor will be significantly reduced, plus it has almost no running maintenance costs because you are not running an engine (no oil change, etc.)

 

[Technics 1210]

Norway also has the least proportion of population too, at least 1/12th that of UK. Which is why Norway have a great pension system too etc, you have less people in Norway.

In UK there are approx 25 Million drivers, 5 times that the population of Norway, and I'm not even including drivers who have 2 cars.

The UK infrastructure is not fit to distribute water, gas, electricity as it is, and we have dreams of generating electricity (either importing energy or through fossil fuels).

EVs are sold on the basis of a con in the UK, that con is clean energy, net-zero, and tax breaks - someone finally realised it is more damaging to the environment when generating that much electricity to support EVs.

Heck, UK government can even get HS2 right.

 

[Technics 1210]

Oh another thing, that monstrosity of a London Mayor has plans to not only increase the 20 MPH zones in London, but now he wants to reduce the speed limit to 10 MPH in parts of London.

Forget EVs, walking or cycling will be your best bet soon!

 

[gazza619]

Oh another thing, that monstrosity of a London Mayor has plans to not only increase the 20 MPH zones in London, but now he wants to reduce the speed limit to 10 MPH in parts of London.

Forget EVs, walking or cycling will be your best bet soon!

Thank God I left London 8 years ago!

 

[gazza619]

Leaf is reliable car and leads the way in quality.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars/n26158

Tesla is junk!

Have you ever driven a Tesla or a Leaf? Why do you think Leaf is high in quality?

 

[LordJames]

Have you ever driven a Tesla or a Leaf? Why do you think Leaf is high in quality?

Driven both and relatives have both but both are different cars.

The Nissan Leaf is a smaller, cheaper car with less range (about 100 miles before 2019 models) and slower charging. But it’s built better, more reliable, and has been around longer, so most of the issues are already worked out. There are plenty of used Leafs on the market too. If you just need a daily commuter, can charge overnight, and want something affordable that lasts, the Leaf makes more sense.

The Tesla, on the other hand, has more range and size, but is known for poor build quality and low reliability. If budget isn’t a concern and I wanted a family EV, something like a Polestar (in the US) or a BYD (outside the US) might be a better choice.

But ULEZ isn't an issue for us so not happening for the foreseeable future. We get used (older) Leafs really cheap here so I may buy one for kids to go to university if the current car dies because their university is within range.

I have already shared the reliability links.

In the US, Teslas are very popular among Indians (just like Hondas used to be), while at mosques you’ll mostly see Toyotas like the Camry. Hondas tend to have higher repair costs, which is why Toyota is more common among Arabs, Pakistanis, Afghans, and Turks, while Indians lean more toward Teslas and Hondas.

Why Indians are obsessed with Teslas? | Misc. - Blind

Genuine question, I live in the bay area and 80% of Tesla drivers I see here are Indian. Most Indian coworkers in my team talk about how they want to buy a Tesla all the time. Is there a secret behind this or it’s just my bubble?

www.teamblind.com

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaLounge/comments/1hjmsdw/teslas_and_south_asian_indians_in_the_usa

TikTok - Make Your Day

Indians are financially savvy but not mechanically inclined. Toyota Camry is basically a Kitchen Appliance, no fun but it will run forever!

 

[shaz619]

Norway also has the least proportion of population too, at least 1/12th that of UK. Which is why Norway have a great pension system too etc, you have less people in Norway.

In UK there are approx 25 Million drivers, 5 times that the population of Norway, and I'm not even including drivers who have 2 cars.

The UK infrastructure is not fit to distribute water, gas, electricity as it is, and we have dreams of generating electricity (either importing energy or through fossil fuels).

EVs are sold on the basis of a con in the UK, that con is clean energy, net-zero, and tax breaks - someone finally realised it is more damaging to the environment when generating that much electricity to support EVs.

Heck, UK government can even get HS2 right.

For those that actually run EV’s today in the UK, I’d love to know if they are making significant savings when you consider what we pay for electricity compared to the rest of Europe.

 

[sweep_shot]

Go for it, in terms of Tesla: super quiet , great for city drive, the auto drive feature costs about 100$ or something a month.

The newer Model Y is also very quiet on concrete roads which was an issue before.

I don’t understand the love for traditional cars esp for average folks that just need it for city drive.

Can you take an EV for a long drive? I have heard horror stories.

Also, it takes a long time to charge an EV. It is inconvenient.

As of now, I prefer traditional cars.

 

[Caved12]

I rented a Tesla for a couple of weeks and didn’t enjoy it. The regen braking takes a bit of getting used to, and I hated having to control everything through the big screen. For the price, the car felt pretty ordinary. Another thing I noticed was the range, if you drive even slightly aggressively, the battery drains much faster and you don’t get anywhere near the advertised mileage. To maximize it, you basically have to drive like your grandma.

Charging wasn’t cheap either about $35 for a full charge back in 2022, plus all the waiting around. That said, it’s still cheaper than filling up on gas, so there is that advantage. I drive a Mazda CX-9 and love it, and I wouldn’t trade it for a Tesla. But I know this is the future, especially once gas prices shoot up.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Congratulations Gazza bhai on your new Electric car. May you have countless happy & safe miles on it.


On a lighter note, here’s a top review on EVs by renowned motor enthusiast Raja Gujjar bhai

 

[Suleiman]

Gotta say that new Prius has to be one of the best glow ups in car design history…

Pretty much a mini Camry of current gen which is also a great buy.

Remember when Camry’s, Civics etc in the mid 2000s looked a rung below the luxury class vehicles, now they appear at the same level.

 

[sweep_shot]

Oh another thing, that monstrosity of a London Mayor has plans to not only increase the 20 MPH zones in London, but now he wants to reduce the speed limit to 10 MPH in parts of London.

Forget EVs, walking or cycling will be your best bet soon!

10 MPH!!!!!

How can people drive slow like that? That's grandma level driving. LOL.

 

[gazza619]

For those that actually run EV’s today in the UK, I’d love to know if they are making significant savings when you consider what we pay for electricity compared to the rest of Europe.

I had a conversation with a colleague yesterday about the Mercedes EQB 250 7-seater. He has been participating in the salary sacrifice scheme for about a year now and pays approximately £500 per month. This amount also covers insurance and any maintenance expenses, which is quite convenient.

One interesting thing he mentioned is that he charges his car during off-peak hours at home, and a full charge costs him just £3.50. On average, he spends around £10 per month on charging, which is a significant saving compared to the £180 he used to spend on petrol each month. However, he did note that the car's range could be a limitation, as it has a maximum range of around 270 miles. For longer trips, he needs to use external outlets, which cost him £40 for a full tank.

Overall, he recommends the car, although he pointed out the range issue. It's worth noting that the newer EQB models might have a slightly better range.

 

[JaDed]

Can you take an EV for a long drive? I have heard horror stories.

Also, it takes a long time to charge an EV. It is inconvenient.

As of now, I prefer traditional cars.

I took one from GTA to Montreal, charging is annoying but incase of Tesla it gives a you a plan for how long to charge at every station, I didn’t follow it as I took longer breaks but still really good, as that plan changes based on how much you charged.

It’s definitely inconvenient on a longer drive but i don’t see why city drives should be impacted, hardly once an year would we take a drive more than 300 miles, even in that case for Tesla the charging stations are present in North America.

 

[JaDed]

Gotta say that new Prius has to be one of the best glow ups in car design history…

Pretty much a mini Camry of current gen which is also a great buy.

Remember when Camry’s, Civics etc in the mid 2000s looked a rung below the luxury class vehicles, now they appear at the same level.

I have a camry but i don’t think anything beats a Kia now, the crossovers are just amazing.

I can buy a car and considering I’m not a fan of driving i really want to buy the new Model Y or lease a kia crossover.

 

[LordJames]

I took one from GTA to Montreal, charging is annoying but incase of Tesla it gives a you a plan for how long to charge at every station, I didn’t follow it as I took longer breaks but still really good, as that plan changes based on how much you charged.

It’s definitely inconvenient on a longer drive but i don’t see why city drives should be impacted, hardly once an year would we take a drive more than 300 miles, even in that case for Tesla the charging stations are present in North America.

Doesn't work.

In a car with family (stuff, food, etc) kids with multiple devices charging etc, the range of a Tesla drops to 70% or below and this is from experience.

 

[JaDed]

Doesn't work.

In a car with family (stuff, food, etc) kids with multiple devices charging etc, the range of a Tesla drops to 70% or below and this is from experience.

It did even for us, but it keeps updating the plan , the plan is not static either.

 

[LordJames]

​

It did even for us, but it keeps updating the plan , the plan is not static either.

Yes, it does but doesn't take away the extra time and thought into the process. Its Summer here and we drove up and down throughout US and Canada and couldn't have done it in a EV and because it was Highway miles the Hybrid wouldn't have been efficient either.

So Technology is not there for us but yes for a single person driving back and forth from car or Soccer Moms, yes.

Electric Car Story:

Someone in the family is studying in a Medical School and his Parents bought him a Nissan Leaf and in the family WhatsApp group he was going all about the environment and the Merits of the Car etc.

His Grandfather had a heart attack so the entire family rushed 350 miles away to see him, he arrived in his father's old Mustang and not the Leaf.

When asked why he said, "It wasn't fully charged and my mind wasn't working and I didn't want to worry about Charging and stopping so jumped into Dad's Mustang and just drove! I didn't want to think about Charging".


​

 

[JaDed]

​

Yes, it does but doesn't take away the extra time and thought into the process. Its Summer here and we drove up and down throughout US and Canada and couldn't have done it in a EV and because it was Highway miles the Hybrid wouldn't have been efficient either.

So Technology is not there for us but yes for a single person driving back and forth from car or Soccer Moms, yes.

Electric Car Story:

Someone in the family is studying in a Medical School and his Parents bought him a Nissan Leaf and in the family WhatsApp group he was going all about the environment and the Merits of the Car etc.

His Grandfather had a heart attack so the entire family rushed 350 miles away to see him, he arrived in his father's old Mustang and not the Leaf.

When asked why he said, "It wasn't fully charged and my mind wasn't working and I didn't want to worry about Charging and stopping so jumped into Dad's Mustang and just drove! I didn't want to think about Charging".


​

Those are extreme cases, and not every car is for everyone and definitely not giving examples of leaf or Bolt.

I’m someone that hates driving but being in Texas absolutely no option, I would love the self driving feature, people do it all the time between the major cities here(very flat and boring route).

I do think Tesla brings in something for many folks but not for everyone.

 

[Technics 1210]

Electric cars plummet in price twice as fast as hybrids.​

Used electric vehicles have plummeted in price almost twice as fast as hybrids, analysis shows.

Values for fully battery-powered cars are “falling relentlessly”, while other fuel types show resilience.

A new electric car bought for £40,000 would be worth just £19,600 after two years. In 2022, the residual value would have been a much healthier £35,200.

Demand for second-hand hybrids is growing as motorists seek a more sustainable form of transport without the need to rely on the UK’s patchy charging infrastructure.

Car marketplaces report that used hybrids are proving to be the fastest-selling vehicles this year.

DT

 

[Technics 1210]

Porsche axes plans to build electric car batteries as demand collapses.
​

Porsche has scrapped plans to build its own electric vehicle (EV) batteries after collapsing demand from drivers.

The German carmaker announced that it will wind down operations at its production subsidiary Cellforce and refocus the division on research and development instead.

Oliver Blume, chief executive of Porsche and parent company Volkswagen Group, said: “Porsche will stop pursuing the production of its own battery cells due to reasons of volume and a lack of scale.”

Porsche confirmed the overhaul would lead to job losses, but it said that some workers would be transferred to PowerCo, a separate battery start-up owned by Volkswagen.

The IG Metall union previously said that around 200 of Cellforce’s almost 300 workforce would be laid off.

DT

 

[gazza619]

@LordJames @ElRaja @Technics 1210 @Suleiman @Caved12 @shaz619 @Mamoon @KingKhanWC @DeadlyVenom @sweep_shot

What are your thoughts on Kia EV cars? They come with 7 year manufacturer warranty. Therefore if someone were to get a two year used old car, you would still have 5 years warranty left.

 

[Caved12]

@LordJames @ElRaja @Technics 1210 @Suleiman @Caved12 @shaz619 @Mamoon @KingKhanWC @DeadlyVenom @sweep_shot

What are your thoughts on Kia EV cars? They come with 7 year manufacturer warranty. Therefore if someone were to get a two year used old car, you would still have 5 years warranty left.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Kia’s electric vehicles, especially when it comes to reliability and the warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. While I haven’t driven any of their EVs myself, I do have long term experience with Kia as a brand.

Back in 2012, I bought a Kia Optima 2.0 turbo brand new, fully loaded with a panoramic sunroof and all the features available at the time. I was genuinely surprised by the overall quality: the materials, controls, paint, and build all felt very well put together, especially for the price. The only major downside was the engine, the Theta II, which turned out to be problematic across the board and was eventually recalled by Kia/Hyundai.

My engine failed at 187,000 km, but thanks to the recall, Kia replaced it free of charge. After that, the car just kept going. I put over 323,000 km on it before the transmission finally gave out last November. It’s been sitting in my garage ever since, but I’ve kept it because I plan to eventually swap the transmission and use it as a winter beater.

Aside from the engine issue (which Kia covered), the car has been rock solid. I replaced 2 front struts and 2 rear shocks around 165k, control arms at 278k, ball joints and links twice, and kept up with regular maintenance. The sunroof still works perfectly. The only other issue was the rear window regulator, which stopped working around 250k. What really impressed me is the fact that after 12 winters, with plenty of snow and road salt, the body still has little to no rust.

If Kia hadn’t had issues with the Theta II engine, I honestly think they’d be mentioned in the same breath as Honda and Toyota when it comes to reliability. But even with that history, they’ve clearly come a long way. Today’s Kia vehicles, especially their EVs, look very well engineered. And with EVs, you don’t have to worry about engine issues in the first place, since they use electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. With much of the original warranty still active on a 2 year old car, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one.

 

[gazza619]

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Kia’s electric vehicles, especially when it comes to reliability and the warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. While I haven’t driven any of their EVs myself, I do have long term experience with Kia as a brand.

Back in 2012, I bought a Kia Optima 2.0 turbo brand new, fully loaded with a panoramic sunroof and all the features available at the time. I was genuinely surprised by the overall quality: the materials, controls, paint, and build all felt very well put together, especially for the price. The only major downside was the engine, the Theta II, which turned out to be problematic across the board and was eventually recalled by Kia/Hyundai.

My engine failed at 187,000 km, but thanks to the recall, Kia replaced it free of charge. After that, the car just kept going. I put over 323,000 km on it before the transmission finally gave out last November. It’s been sitting in my garage ever since, but I’ve kept it because I plan to eventually swap the transmission and use it as a winter beater.

Aside from the engine issue (which Kia covered), the car has been rock solid. I replaced 2 front struts and 2 rear shocks around 165k, control arms at 278k, ball joints and links twice, and kept up with regular maintenance. The sunroof still works perfectly. The only other issue was the rear window regulator, which stopped working around 250k. What really impressed me is the fact that after 12 winters, with plenty of snow and road salt, the body still has little to no rust.

If Kia hadn’t had issues with the Theta II engine, I honestly think they’d be mentioned in the same breath as Honda and Toyota when it comes to reliability. But even with that history, they’ve clearly come a long way. Today’s Kia vehicles, especially their EVs, look very well engineered. And with EVs, you don’t have to worry about engine issues in the first place, since they use electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. With much of the original warranty still active on a 2 year old car, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one.

Appreciate the details. It seems like you have had quite a journey with Kia

 

[ElRaja]

@LordJames @ElRaja @Technics 1210 @Suleiman @Caved12 @shaz619 @Mamoon @KingKhanWC @DeadlyVenom @sweep_shot

What are your thoughts on Kia EV cars? They come with 7 year manufacturer warranty. Therefore if someone were to get a two year used old car, you would still have 5 years warranty left.

my mate has an ev6, never complained about any problems with it, so must be okay.

 

[shaz619]

Appreciate the details. It seems like you have had quite a journey with Kia

I saw someone in a 2011 Kia, Friday it was, they were doing 25mph on a 40mph road and I was right behind them for a decent stretch.

Don’t go EV yet bro until we’re forced to, and if you really have to, get a weekend car to enjoy at least.

 

[sweep_shot]

I saw someone in a 2011 Kia, Friday it was, they were doing 25mph on a 40mph road and I was right behind them for a decent stretch.

Don’t go EV yet bro until we’re forced to, and if you really have to, get a weekend car to enjoy at least.

I hate these slow drivers.

If they are scared to drive, they shouldn't drive at all.

 

[Hikaru]

I prefer electric for in-city drives, but it's always my old petrol vehicle for inter-state drives. Electric would never be my primary vehicle though.

 

[gazza619]

I saw someone in a 2011 Kia, Friday it was, they were doing 25mph on a 40mph road and I was right behind them for a decent stretch.

Don’t go EV yet bro until we’re forced to, and if you really have to, get a weekend car to enjoy at least.

My 2016 is demanding a spend of £2.5k based on latest estimate. Just had a valuation from webuyany car and they are offering £7k. Its a tricky situation

I just test drove a Toyota BZ4X today. Toyotas are ever so reliable. Their car isnt as sexy though

What do you think of the Toyota?

 

[shaz619]

My 2016 is demanding a spend of £2.5k based on latest estimate. Just had a valuation from webuyany car and they are offering £7k. Its a tricky situation

I just test drove a Toyota BZ4X today. Toyotas are ever so reliable. Their car isnt as sexy though

What do you think of the Toyota?

I respect Toyota, they are among a few manufacturers who still value enthusiast driving & ICE technology, if you go Toyota, can’t go wrong with the GR Sport Corolla which looks fantastic, you get an excellent warranty as well with them depending on the age of the vehicle. Whatever you go for from Toyota can’t go wrong to be honest but that would be my choice, Toyota deserve our support, they along with Porsche still care about ICE cars.

You could consider the Honda Civic Type R as well, John Cena has one as his daily driver lol

 

[shaz619]

I hate these slow drivers.

If they are scared to drive, they shouldn't drive at all.

They should ride a pony instead like Frodo from The Lord Of The Rings, he’s riding one at the minute in the Old Forrest, I’m reading the OG novel @Rana , reading this chapter I felt I’ve been here before and I think the Old Forrest is inspired by the Moseley Bog @KingKhanWC

 

[sweep_shot]

They should ride a pony instead like Frodo from The Lord Of The Rings, he’s riding one at the minute in the Old Forrest, I’m reading the OG novel @Rana , reading this chapter I felt I’ve been here before and I think the Old Forrest is inspired by the Moseley Bog @KingKhanWC

I was once driving and this one driver was driving at 50 KMH (speed limit was 70 KMH).

I had to go to the opposite lane to overtake him.

These drivers shouldn't have licenses. LOL.

 

[shaz619]

I was once driving and this one driver was driving at 50 KMH (speed limit was 70 KMH).

I had to go to the opposite lane to overtake him.

These drivers shouldn't have licenses. LOL.

These idiot sar ji’s should understand it’s equally dangerous to drive too slow

 

[pakistani pride]

The greatest conspiracy theory going right now is that our government cares for us, cares for the environment, and always speak the truth on all matters, including the automobile industry and energy sector.

All sheep who follow the government and trust the government, deserve to be lemmings.

Well said.
This is how it is!

 

[IAJ]

I’m really fond of the Nissan Ariya—might even be my next car. With the largest battery pack, it offers an impressive range of 563 km. It’s also a beautifully designed vehicle, truly pleasing to the eye. The new Leaf is also a very good option, range just above 600 km for the largest BP.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Chinese EV giant BYD sees UK sales soar by 880%

Chinese car making giant BYD says the UK has become its biggest market outside China, after its sales there surged by 880% in September compared to a year earlier.

The company says it sold 11,271 cars in the UK last month, with the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U sports utility vehicle (SUV) accounting for the majority of those sales.

It comes after figures from the car industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that sales of electric vehicles (EVs) jumped to a record high in September.

The UK is particularly attractive to firms like BYD as the country has not imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs, unlike other major markets such as the European Union and the US.

BYD, which offers cheaper models than many of its Western rivals, said its share of the UK market jumped to 3.6% in September.

The company will launch more new hybrid and electric cars in the months ahead, said the BYD's UK manager Bono Ge. He added that the brand's future in Britain looks "hugely exciting", having just opened its 100th retail outlet.

UK EV sales hit a record high last month, with sales of pure battery electric vehicles rising to almost 73,000, according to the SMMT.

Sales of plug-in hybrid cars grew even faster, it said.

The Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai were the best-selling cars in September. Chinese models - the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U - were also in the top 10.

But despite the surge in overall EV sales in the UK, petrol and diesel vehicles still made up more than half of new car sales last month, according to the SMMT.

In October last year, the EU announced it would hit imports of Chinese EVs with levies of up to 45%.

The measure is aimed to protect European car makers from being undermined by what the EU believes are unfair Chinese-state subsidies.

Chinese car makers like BYD have been effectively shut out of the US by high tariffs, which were backed by both President Donald Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden.

BBC

 

[JaDed]

Chinese are so ahead and exponentially rising in the automobile area that it will become very hard to compete with them , don’t see how German Auto would anymore.

The idea of an automobile had changed so quickly where the auto sector has gone through disruption but majority haven’t caught up.

@shaz619 and others how is the auto sector in UK?

 

[JaDed]

I’m really fond of the Nissan Ariya—might even be my next car. With the largest battery pack, it offers an impressive range of 563 km. It’s also a beautifully designed vehicle, truly pleasing to the eye. The new Leaf is also a very good option, range just above 600 km for the largest BP.View attachment 157784

I would wait.. Nissan is having issues in NA market right now compared to Kia which is doing great but in non-electric segment.

 

[shaz619]

View attachment 159122Chinese are so ahead and exponentially rising in the automobile area that it will become very hard to compete with them , don’t see how German Auto would anymore.

The idea of an automobile had changed so quickly where the auto sector has gone through disruption but majority haven’t caught up.

@shaz619 and others how is the auto sector in UK?

The auto-sector here has been in a terrible state for decades, we once had a rich history in making cars, skilled workers, thriving industrial towns etc Unfortunately the collapse of our manufacturing was a knock-on effect in these areas which are all now deprived and the plants are all closed. Production in 2025 has been awful in general and because it has become so expensive to make cars here due to our diabolical economics & EU regs haven’t been helpful for the Germans among others, it’s going to be too easy for China who’s EV’s are so popular with most big businesses, I hate EV’s, and whether such cars or ICE’s continue to thrive, China is in a good position to be in. We do have the highly skilled over here, but that resource is not used well or supported in automotive, it all went downhill when MG Rover collapsed. We can’t rebuild without help from other economies; e.g. what BMW has done with Mini.

 

[JaDed]

The auto-sector here has been in a terrible state for decades, we once had a rich history in making cars, skilled workers, thriving industrial towns etc Unfortunately the collapse of our manufacturing was a knock-on effect in these areas which are all now deprived and the plants are all closed. Production in 2025 has been awful in general and because it has become so expensive to make cars here due to our diabolical economics & EU regs haven’t been helpful for the Germans among others, it’s going to be too easy for China who’s EV’s are so popular with most big businesses, I hate EV’s, and whether such cars or ICE’s continue to thrive, China is in a good position to be in. We do have the highly skilled over here, but that resource is not used well or supported in automotive, it all went downhill when MG Rover collapsed. We can’t rebuild without help from other economies; e.g. what BMW has done with Mini.

Sad to know , I have been watching a lot of old BBC documentaries available on youtube, and while I hate the colonial past but the British entrepreneurship is dying , hopefully the skilled can figure out a way, even in services which was the driver in last 20 years English are not doing well.

 

[JaDed]

Automatic driving will have a big impact on cars, asper Elon Waymo can’t drive on highways due to LIDSR and that maybe true but the way they are scaling in US is amazing, I think they will map London soon too.

 

[Suleiman]

I would wait.. Nissan is having issues in NA market right now compared to Kia which is doing great but in non-electric segment.

Do you know why? Thought Nissan was back on the up after their new releases in 2020 onwards.

But have heard there’s less Nissans on the streets in US compared to Kia/Hiyundai

 

[JaDed]

Do you know why? Thought Nissan was back on the up after their new releases in 2020 onwards.

But have heard there’s less Nissans on the streets in US compared to Kia/Hiyundai

After service issues, longevity problems, the company’s financials are off as well ,they need a merger but no Jap company is ready.. all issues are happening together.

Kia has improved exponentially, Nissan was never reliable after 2020 unlike Toyota Honda which are still very reliable, In 2010s they were doing excellent.. after Pandemic/chip shortage they have struggled.

But their biggest issue is CVT failures in the beloved three models.

 

[Caved12]

What really sunk Nissan was their faulty CVT transmissions. After all the lawsuits and countless reports of failures across nearly all models, it became clear that their CVTs were fundamentally flawed. These issues typically started showing up anywhere between 80,000 to 140,000 km and in some cases, transmissions were dying even before 50,000 km, which was unheard of for Japanese-made vehicles before.

It wasn’t just a few isolated incidents or something that could be prevented with regular maintenance — the design itself was garbage. The belts and pulleys in Nissan’s CVTs would wear out prematurely, and instead of owning up to it, Nissan kept insisting the failures were due to owners not changing the transmission fluid on time. The truth is, many owners did change the fluid regularly, every 30,000 km or so, yet their transmissions still failed. Even the “lucky” ones whose CVTs didn’t die early often started having problems around 180,000 km.

Nissan knew exactly what was wrong but refused to properly fix it. With the 2020 models and onwards, they had a chance to recover by introducing a reliable transmission design but they didn’t. You’ll find posts online claiming that newer Nissans don’t have CVT issues “as long as you change the fluid every 30,000–50,000 km,” but that’s just marketing spin. Plenty of 2020+ Sentras and other models are already having problems. It’s honestly sad how far Nissan has fallen as a brand that once made rock-solid cars.

Most automakers have struggled with CVTs, yet they stubbornly refuse to return to traditional automatics, which are far more reliable. They claim it’s all about fuel economy, but the real-world difference is minimal. Mazda deserves a lot of credit here, they’ve avoided CVTs altogether, and their conventional automatics are smooth, durable, and paired with engines that are considered bulletproof in the industry.

I used to drive a 2012 Kia Optima 2.0 Turbo (one of the early ones with around 280 hp), and I absolutely loved it, But even then, I’d personally avoid turbo engines and CVTs if possible. No matter how well they’re built, they rarely last beyond 200,000 km without needing major work. Turbo engines especially have their drawbacks, laggy throttle response, higher long term costs, and more stress on the components.

Even Honda’s 1.5 Turbo engines turned out to be a disappointment, with widespread issues. When you push a small engine to produce more power and better fuel economy through a turbo, you’re just inviting long-term reliability problems. Sure, some people get lucky depending on how they drive and where they service their cars, but it shouldn’t come down to luck.

These days, almost everyone’s using CVTs, Toyota and Honda have done a decent job refining theirs, and they do tend to last longer, but even then, they’re high-maintenance and still start to fail around 250,000 km.

In short, I miss the days when cars were built to last — simple, naturally aspirated engines with conventional automatics that could comfortably make it to 500,000 km with proper maintenance.

 

[JaDed]

What really sunk Nissan was their faulty CVT transmissions. After all the lawsuits and countless reports of failures across nearly all models, it became clear that their CVTs were fundamentally flawed. These issues typically started showing up anywhere between 80,000 to 140,000 km and in some cases, transmissions were dying even before 50,000 km, which was unheard of for Japanese-made vehicles before.

It wasn’t just a few isolated incidents or something that could be prevented with regular maintenance — the design itself was garbage. The belts and pulleys in Nissan’s CVTs would wear out prematurely, and instead of owning up to it, Nissan kept insisting the failures were due to owners not changing the transmission fluid on time. The truth is, many owners did change the fluid regularly, every 30,000 km or so, yet their transmissions still failed. Even the “lucky” ones whose CVTs didn’t die early often started having problems around 180,000 km.

Nissan knew exactly what was wrong but refused to properly fix it. With the 2020 models and onwards, they had a chance to recover by introducing a reliable transmission design but they didn’t. You’ll find posts online claiming that newer Nissans don’t have CVT issues “as long as you change the fluid every 30,000–50,000 km,” but that’s just marketing spin. Plenty of 2020+ Sentras and other models are already having problems. It’s honestly sad how far Nissan has fallen as a brand that once made rock-solid cars.

Most automakers have struggled with CVTs, yet they stubbornly refuse to return to traditional automatics, which are far more reliable. They claim it’s all about fuel economy, but the real-world difference is minimal. Mazda deserves a lot of credit here, they’ve avoided CVTs altogether, and their conventional automatics are smooth, durable, and paired with engines that are considered bulletproof in the industry.

I used to drive a 2012 Kia Optima 2.0 Turbo (one of the early ones with around 280 hp), and I absolutely loved it, But even then, I’d personally avoid turbo engines and CVTs if possible. No matter how well they’re built, they rarely last beyond 200,000 km without needing major work. Turbo engines especially have their drawbacks, laggy throttle response, higher long term costs, and more stress on the components.

Even Honda’s 1.5 Turbo engines turned out to be a disappointment, with widespread issues. When you push a small engine to produce more power and better fuel economy through a turbo, you’re just inviting long-term reliability problems. Sure, some people get lucky depending on how they drive and where they service their cars, but it shouldn’t come down to luck.

These days, almost everyone’s using CVTs, Toyota and Honda have done a decent job refining theirs, and they do tend to last longer, but even then, they’re high-maintenance and still start to fail around 250,000 km.

In short, I miss the days when cars were built to last — simple, naturally aspirated engines with conventional automatics that could comfortably make it to 500,000 km with proper maintenance.

I bought my camry in 2019, went out of my way to not buy CVT for this very reason.

The reason now CvT is here to stay is coz how most folks change cars every 3 years.

Bang on Nissan stuff, crazy how Honda had the same issue with civic but did work on it.

Tbh it’s not only cars but even the quality of clothes has gone bad, look at the crap fast fashion has brought us, the theory is apparently this is good for consumer economy, unfortunate though all this with subscription model has ruined the idea of long lasting stuff.

 

[Caved12]

I bought my camry in 2019, went out of my way to not buy CVT for this very reason.

The reason now CvT is here to stay is coz how most folks change cars every 3 years.

Bang on Nissan stuff, crazy how Honda had the same issue with civic but did work on it.

Tbh it’s not only cars but even the quality of clothes has gone bad, look at the crap fast fashion has brought us, the theory is apparently this is good for consumer economy, unfortunate though all this with subscription model has ruined the idea of long lasting stuff.

2019 Camry is a rock-solid car! All Camrys are unbelievably reliable and a pleasure to drive, easily one of my favourite cars.

So true, almost everything has gone downhill. In today’s world, with Facebook, Twitter, and all these platforms, companies and their agents can flood discussions with fake praise, making people believe their products are great. They use systems and bots to completely take over online conversations, shaping public perception to their advantage. Honesty is fading fast in a world where the rich and powerful can manipulate narratives and make you believe whatever they want. It’s honestly scary.

 

[hassan918]

Electric Classic Cars Is Upgrading The Quintessential Game Safari Vehicle With An Electric Powertrain​

The crew over at Electric Classic Cars has been doing bespoke electric conversions and recently started building ready-to-install conversion kits for a range of classic cars. They do all of this out of their workshop in Newtown, Wales, in the UK for a decade now.

Their creations have traversed several continents, climbing mountainous terrain, and taking down the combustion competition on the drag strip but their latest project is taking them in a completely new direction.

Inspiration
After a trip to Africa, Electric Classic Cars’ co-founder Richard “Moggy” Morgan was inspired to build a custom electrification kit for the Land Rovers used as game safari vehicles. He loved the safari experience but envisioned a future where the loud diesel engines powering them was upgraded with an electric powertrain, allowing guests to crawl across the savannah in a nearly silent electric safari truck.

I sat down with Richard and Tim from Electric Classic Cars while they were in California and he opened up about this new project to me. Moggy is a passionate man who lets his ideas and energy flow out. When he started talking about electrifying game viewers, he perked up in his seat and it was evident he was really excited about the opportunity.

These game viewers have been used for decades and have demonstrated their utility with three rows of passenger seating behind the driver serving as the primary source of income generation. It’s the quintessential Safari experience that so many people around the world are looking for, though if you’d ask, none would have the loud diesel engine on their list of highlights. At least not in a positive way.

The vision was simple: making affordable kit at a high volume that will allow these safari operators to upgrade the experience and transform their safari experience. Driving through a wildlife preserve in an electric vehicle feels a lot more like riding around the range on horseback. Imagine silently gliding through the savannah, almost sneaking up the animals you’re desperately wanting to see on your trip.


Upon returning home he put pen to paper, mapping out not just a custom electric conversion kit, but one that could be affordable in higher volumes for the masses of Land Rovers running around Africa.

Solar-Powered
As they built out the concept, the idea of powering the vehicle from the sun surfaced as a possibility. Game viewers typically have three rows of seats with cover overhead to keep them out of the blazing sun. Why not use solar panels as the overhead covering and use those to recharge the battery?

It seemed like a viable option to allow safari operators to self-generate most of the range they need in a day. To accomplish this they started working on a custom DC to DC charger.

Overall
All told, they truly hope to transform the safari industry. They’re shooting for something far larger than just transforming a single game reserve. They’re hoping to build a solution that can be adopted in high volumes at an affordable price with an attractive value proposition.

They have already created an initial variant of the kit, which they’re now working to optimize and scale. With the current variant of the kit, they were able to install it in one hour though it will likely take longer than that for most people on their first time.

It’s an extremely exciting project and one we will be keeping an eye on as they work to finalize the kit and ramp up both sales and production. I for one would love for my first safari to be one in a converted electric Land Rover.

Check out their video below to see their first kit for safari game viewers. For more information about Electric Classic Cars, follow them on X, check out their impressive YouTube channel, or head to their website.

Electric Classic Cars Is Upgrading The Quintessential Game Safari Vehicle With An Electric Powertrain - CleanTechnica

Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. The crew over at Electric Classic Cars has been doing bespoke electric conversions and recently started building ready-to-install conversion kits for a range of classic cars. They do all of this out of their workshop in...

cleantechnica.com

 

[globetrotter]

People without a Brain

Mumbai municipal corporation have similar design vehicle for picking debris, design must have stolen

 

[sithb]

Indians are financially savvy but not mechanically inclined. Toyota Camry is basically a Kitchen Appliance, no fun but it will run forever!

By and large Indians want a low maintenance car. The Toyota's have solid reliability. That matters more. Especially in the US.

Times are changing though. There have been guys who are going for other cars but there's a reason why Japanese cars are popular among Indians