The Garage

[GburgNatsFan]

Musk said a few days ago Tesla is going to open up super charger stations to other EVs, we'll see what happens.

Yeah, that's gonna take some work. Super Chargers are situated around the charge port being driver side rear, no input devices (screens, card readers, etc.)   Companies are going to have to pay and make their cars compatible.

The only other company that currently matches the Tesla network is Aptera, and that's a niche car. Maybe they could make a Tesla-to-CCS device, other-car-owners could get a Tesla account, and VW (or whoever) could update it's software.

[bluestreak]

Pretty sure I'm done with gasoline vehicles.  I may be done with car ownership, period, though EVs are pretty cool and you can't really rent them.   

The internal combustion engine is dead.  Look at the hiring done by the car companies. It’s all in electric powertrains. Sure there will be maintenance of existing technology, but There is not going to be any real development of gas engines going forward.

[imref]

The internal combustion engine is dead.  Look at the hiring done by the car companies. It’s all in electric powertrains. Sure there will be maintenance of existing technology, but There is not going to be any real development of gas engines going forward.

Until someone figures out how to make EVs viable in cold climates I think gas engines will be around for a while

[HalfSmokes]

Until someone figures out how to make EVs viable in cold climates I think gas engines will be around for a while

does Norway count as cold? Electrics are already over 50% of sales there. I'm sure there are some extreme situations, but not enough to justify any continued investment from a business perspective
 

[imref]

does Norway count as cold? Electrics are already over 50% of sales there. I'm sure there are some extreme situations, but not enough to justify any continued investment from a business perspective
 

They have a far more extensive network of high-rate charging stations (government funded).  We aren’t going to get that in the US anytime soon. I think that’s going to hinder adoption, especially in cold climates where range is adversely affected, for a long time to come. We don’t have the public investment in EV infrastructure like Norway.

[bluestreak]

Obviously you are going to be able to buy a gas engine for years to come. But I think the days of innovation are pretty much done. The tech you see now is all you’re going to get. Nobody is spending significant money to develop a new gas engine.

[HalfSmokes]

Obviously you are going to be able to buy a gas engine for years to come. But I think the days of innovation are pretty much done. The tech you see now is all you’re going to get. Nobody is spending significant money to develop a new gas engine.

I think for awhile we've heard about the last great v12 and now we're hearing about the last great V8 for performance sedans. I think we see engines shrinking to turbo 4s and then hybrid/electric as standard soon

[imref]

Obviously you are going to be able to buy a gas engine for years to come. But I think the days of innovation are pretty much done. The tech you see now is all you’re going to get. Nobody is spending significant money to develop a new gas engine.

Agreed.

[imref]

I think for awhile we've heard about the last great v12 and now we're hearing about the last great V8 for performance sedans. I think we see engines shrinking to turbo 4s and then hybrid/electric as standard soon

My son recently bought a Mini with the 2.0L BMW Turbo i4. It's like driving a go-kart. Fantastic acceleration, handling, and breaking.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

There will always be noise enthusiasts who love the internal combustion engine.  The guy who rents my parking spot for his Lambo had traded up from a Porsche Carrera because "it wasn't loud enough".  A Tesla could probably cream that thing going 0 to 60 though.   

[imref]

There will always be noise enthusiasts who love the internal combustion engine.  The guy who rents my parking spot for his Lambo had traded up from a Porsche Carrera because "it wasn't loud enough".  A Tesla could probably cream that thing going 0 to 60 though.   

Tesla will probably offer a "v-12 exhaust sound" feature at some point.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That would probably be better for cyclists - as it is, they are almost silent on smooth pavement

[HalfSmokes]

Tesla will probably offer a "v-12 exhaust sound" feature at some point.

BMW already does https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/20/bmw-change-active-sound-m235i/

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That's just inside the cabin though if I read that correctly...the real noise junkies are going to want outside subwoofers 

BMW already does https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/20/bmw-change-active-sound-m235i/

[HondoKillebrew]

The idea of completely artificially added exhaust sounds turns me off.  Oh, I might like the way it sounds -- and I realize that various exhausts sounds on combustion cars are manipulated now -- but it just seems so contrived. 

[varoadking]

BMW already does https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/20/bmw-change-active-sound-m235i/

I bought a BMW in 1982...another one 35 or so years later...

Fooled me once...and twice.  My bad.  If anyone values their wallet...run, don't walk, from a Big Money Wasted product...

$1,000 to change an oil filter housing gasket...$1,000 in 2018 dollars on a 5 year old car...

[HalfSmokes]

I bought a BMW in 1982...another one 35 or so years later...

Fooled me once...and twice.  My bad.  If anyone values their wallet...run, don't walk, from a Big Money Wasted product...

$1,000 to change an oil filter housing gasket...$1,000 in 2018 dollars on a 5 year old car...

$740 for a locking mechanism. Never again, car was fun to drive though

[varoadking]

$740 for a locking mechanism. Never again, car was fun to drive though

Yup...they get your on the fun factor...until it needs service.  Somehow, they manage to keep fooling folks.  So overengineered that they can't do anything but fail.  The engines look like Rube Goldberg designed them...

[HalfSmokes]

Yup...they get your on the fun factor...until it needs service.  Somehow, they manage to keep fooling folks.  So overengineered that they can't do anything but fail.  The engines look like Rube Goldberg designed them...

If I ever want fun again, I’ll get a used Miata

[varoadking]

If I ever want fun again, I’ll get a used Miata

Oh man...you talk about fun!  I've had my '19 for 24 months now and can't get enough of it...

I'd tell you I'd sell you mine whenever I tire of it...but I don't honestly see that day coming...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If I ever want fun again, I’ll get a used Miata

friend had one of the originals (early 90s) that he used to drive to commute from Culpepper and then Charlottesville to Manassas for the train.  I think he took it out to San Diego 7 years ago. 

[imref]

If I ever want fun again, I’ll get a used Miata

The MINI Cooper S has been fun so far.

[HalfSmokes]

The MINI Cooper S has been fun so far.

BMW parts make it a non-starter for me. I don’t think I’ll ever get another European car

[varoadking]

friend had one of the originals (early 90s) that he used to drive to commute from Culpepper and then Charlottesville to Manassas for the train.  I think he took it out to San Diego 7 years ago.

Its pretty remarkable how many of those are still on the road...

[tomterp]

If I ever want fun again, I’ll get a used Miata

My son has a beater 1995 Miata he works on as much as he drives, but he loves it nonetheless.

He also has a T-shirt that says "I may not be fast, but at least I'm happy".   

https://www.amazon.com/least-happy-Happy-Miata-T-Shirt/dp/B08PJD1CSW/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Miata+Apparel&qid=1627690779&sr=8-7