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Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

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Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#521

Post by aaronbrethorst »

Ma8ee wrote: post #440
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds kind of like Leica to me: orthodontists running around Africa or Asia pretending to be Steve McCurry with $11,000 'Safari' cameras destroyed the brand for me. Yeah, sure, the company is still technically alive, but at what cost? (and lest you think I'm joking: https://www.dpreview.com/news/9864312105/leica-releases-limi... )

Are the cameras not good anymore? Or is it that the “wrong people“ are using their products that bothers you? If it is the latter, then you are just trying to buy an identity through brands, and you are as much part of the problem.

Leica glass is great. Leica cameras are great. I wish the company would focus on turning out high quality products that are meant to be used to create photographs, as opposed to turning out the camera equivalent of a Birkin bag.

And I say this as someone who has previously owned and shot with a Leica M6 and currently owns and shoots with a Leica IIIf.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#522

Post by mavhc »

UnpossibleJim wrote: post #280
nawitus wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Poorer countries in Europe tax fuel more. If you raise fuel tax, people will find ways to buy less fuel. Generally this means more efficient (often smaller) cars, and perhaps prioritizing living more near to jobs etc. The main problem is that fuel tax should be increased slowly so people can change their consumption accordingly.

The difference is, even the poorer countries in Europe have a better bus and train system than the majority of America. Now, granted, America is much larger so I hate these comparisons. Many European countries are the size of an American state, but compare any US state and the bus and train system will almost certainly pale in comparison. I'm all for a fuel tax, but I'm also a huge proponent for a decent alternative…

Not hard to add a good bus system, buy 1000 electric buses from China, done.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#523

Post by cycomanic »

akomtu wrote: post #130
cjblomqvist wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "problem" in the US is the cheap gas, at least compared to EU. Taxing gas according to the CO2 cost would make it drastically different in TCO.

Half of the US population lives paycheck to paycheck and they need cars. I'm not sure their minimum wage can afford them carbon taxes.

This argument is being brought up every time someone talks about any (especially environmental) fix that would cost money. By now I believe there is a certain part of the political spectrum in the US who need the poor just to make these arguments, because otherwise maybe someone would've done something about the issue. Ironically the ones who shout loudest about the poor people who can't afford these measures, are also the ones with the strongest resistance to fixing the huge economic disparities in the US.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#524

Post by mavhc »

brianwawok wrote: post #238
gaoshan wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Volkswagon ID.4 will be, after the $7,500 credit, in the low 30's. Still not cheap but much better than any other similarly spec'ed vehicle.

And consider it saving 10k in gas over 5-6 years, it's pretty close to Honda Civic price parity. Maybe not 100% there, but getting close!

If USA would actually tax fossil fuels properly then you'd be saving twice as much

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#525

Post by seanmcdirmid »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #311
Koshkin wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, California is one of the very few places on Earth where you can do that.

This is a bad statement. California isn't even bike friendly. The Netherlands or Denmark, or hell, Germany are all VASTLY more bike friendly than California.

Not to mention those places tend to be much flatter. In the west Bay Area you have to ride next to 101 unless you don’t mind hills.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#526

Post by brendoelfrendo »

Sleepytime wrote: post #445
mcot2 wrote: post #425

Earlier quoted context omitted.

lol if you think trucks are primarily driven by contractors or farmers. You should visit the south, trucks are most definitely used as commuter cars.

Trucks as commuter vehicles in the south generally still get used as trucks. You're more likely to see trucks with perfect paint out west.

Clearly you haven't lived in urban Texas.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#527

Post by _ph_ »

holoduke wrote: post #285
foepys wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People buying cars for $20,000 are generally not people who can invest twice upfront for lower maintenance costs over the next ten years. Being poor (relatively speaking) is expensive, especially when you are financing.

I an in a fortunate position to earn much more than a average salary. Yet our family car is a 2005 10k infinity fx35. Car is reliable and modern enough. A perfect fit for my family of 4. I considered buying a 80k Tesla model X, but went for a 15 year old Ferrari f430 (same price). Still have the practically and a lot of extra fun. I never understood why people would buy a car younger than 15 years old.

There are several reasons. First of all, cars that old usually have a quite used up interior even to the point of being unpleasant.

But the big thing is maintenance. If you can't do repairs on your own and with cars just 15 years old that gets increasingly more difficult, maintenance and repairs will kill you. At a certain point the upkeep will exceed the amortised costs of buying a new car.

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#528

Post by mavhc »

throwaway0xa wrote: post #462
zbrozek wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Beware NEM 3.0. Note that the CA utilities are working to try to keep milking you even if you have solar. The most loathsome part of it is that the utilities are trying to charge you $10/month/kilowatt-peak for the array you own, even if they push zero energy onto the grid. From my perspective, that's ridiculous rent-seeking. Personally I'm working towards getting off the grid entirely.

The $10 a month is a service charge to be connected to the grid with a meter, so you can send energy to the grid to get money back, or use the grid when your solar isn't generating enough energy. I think that's fair. It pays for the meter, the transformer you're connected to, the grid circuit, etc.

It's only fair if the people making polluting electricity pay to clean up the pollution they create

Re: Volkswagen launches its first all-electric SUV, the ID.4

#530

Post by mavhc »

deanak wrote: post #343
glbrew wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If anything the lifetime cost of electric deters me. Usually they come with 10 year warranties for the power side of the car, but I kept my last car for 20 years. If I buy electric I assume I essentially need to buy a new car or pay for an expensive overhaul after a decade. So the math is more along the lines of 20k for a gas car that will last for 20 years, or 40k for an electric car that will probably last 10 years…

If you're keeping your car for 20 years, there are at least three or four timing belt/chain replacements and a ton of maintenance if you are putting typical miles on. Plus you're always one bad part away from blowing the engine, and there's no way to stop the inevitable long term decline of engine compression and replacing your transmission/clutch. Electric vehicles outperform ICE powered vehicles on every metric, in…

What do you mean about Tesla's battery chemistry?
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