Ask HN: What cars do you drive? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What cars do you drive?

#41

Post by bradlys » Thu, Jan 23, 2025, 3:15 AM UTC

BMW 135is convertible. It has a recognizable license plate and is located in Silicon Valley.

I’ve considered other cars but it’s hard to find anything else that hits every mark that I want. I considered a boxster spyder but I didn’t like the fiddly roof. I use the roof every time I drive unless it’s 100+ or raining hard and I’m driving slow. A lot of other Porsches have engines that don’t sound appealing to me and that’s important. The insanely high gearing is also unappealing and I don’t like the idea of buying a brand new car then immediately ripping apart the transmission.

If I could find a sb-100 Ariel Atom 500, I’d give up my car instantly. It’s been years since I’ve seen any street legal atom for sale in the bay. I’m sad I didn’t buy the last one I saw but I wasn’t in a good place for it.

It’s hard. I like sporty convertibles that are smaller sized. Once you get to M4 convertible size, the car is too big for me. I want the option of backseats but I want you to be a bit uncomfortable. It’s tough. The car has everything I want - just wish it could rev higher and go a bit faster.

Re: Ask HN: What cars do you drive?

#42

Post by meristohm » Thu, Jan 23, 2025, 4:41 AM UTC

jickes wrote: post #27

shekispeaks wrote: post #21

The only people who will respond is those who want to claim some status by saying they drive a reliable old car or some rare version of Porsche or Saab. Nobody who drives the most recent bme x3 or Audi a8 or Nissan kicks is gonna respond. I drive a Hyundai Ioniq5

Why do they need to drive a practical car? Some people have the $$$ to not worry about that and I'm not going to shit on them for that. These are really cool and have more cargo room than they look like they have due to its long wheel base. Hyundai/kia went from diet coke civic to cool kid on the block. Was looking to buy one of these becuase im in the market for an EV but Im probably gonna get a used polestar 3 beca…

I'll shit on them for that. Cars, like guns, are tools, not toys. To use them like toys is harmful and disrespectful to the environment. There are healthier ways to feel powerful. To use cars as profligately as we do now is immensely harmful. For background, I grew up poor and in farming country. I used to ride along with my neighbor when he hayed our field with equipment that a blacksmith, a wheelwright, a leatherworker, and a carpenter could make, pulled by a brace of draught horses.

I didn't get my driving license until I was in my 20s, and finally did in the interest of designated driving for drunk friends. I didn't get an automobile until I was almost 30, and I really look forward to returning to a carfree lifestyle. "Public luxury, private sufficiency" is the way forward for us billions. The more integrated out bodies and minds to meet our needs, the better.

Re: Ask HN: What cars do you drive?

#43

Post by toomuchtodo » Thu, Jan 23, 2025, 5:12 AM UTC

johnneville wrote: post #22

ClassyJacket wrote: post #11

Tesla Model 3

i bought a used 2018 model last year with ~80k miles for $~12k after discounts and rebates. for me, this reflected the best value car i could buy at the time, especially given that i have free charging available to me. i also appreciated that i didn't need to worry about many common failure modes on used ICE vehicles, however it does have the expected battery degradation.

I just finished replacing the battery pack heater on my 2018 Model S. I’m at ~130k miles, and it went the other day preconditioning before Supercharging. Tesla charges $800-$1000 in labor to do it, but I’m comfortable performing the high voltage isolation and swapping it myself for $200 in parts. Moral or the story is even if you get them cheap, be prepared to spend a bit if you can’t do the work yourself. The 3 and Y are more robust around thermal system reliability (heat pump conditions both battery pack and cabin, for example) but the complexity has a cost regardless.

Re: Ask HN: What cars do you drive?

#44

Post by seanmcdirmid » Thu, Jan 23, 2025, 7:07 AM UTC

jickes wrote: post #35

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Model 3s and Ys are super popular here in Seattle, but my wife didn't like the design/build quality. There aren't so many BMWs in comparison, but I see a few around.

Yeah they are everywhere here. I thought they were cool but everyone who drives one is a pickme so that killed it for me. Also how elitist tesla drivers can be.

I found out the hard way that BMW drivers are seen as elitist also. Honestly, I wish Acura made a decent sedan EV. Everyone is mostly just doing crossovers, which I don’t like. So not a lot of choices for sedans.