Car Talk
- Thread starter Rambo
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The problem as I see the whole electric car phenomena: initial cost, range and the fact, at least here in The Netherlands, if you're charging at home the cost is more expensive than petrol. And I have no doubt if everyone was in electric cars it would be even higher. Hybrid remains the way to go, at this stage, and certainly electric isn't viable in emerging markets for a time yet.
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Time nearly up for Tesla?:
http://adventuresincapitalism.com/2...ail&utm_term=0_cb61762784-d3e502c7bf-31426413
http://adventuresincapitalism.com/2...ail&utm_term=0_cb61762784-d3e502c7bf-31426413
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The time has come to get a new car....and being a sensible, modest sort of chap it is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 70kW 7DSG Comfortline with the Active Info Display and automatic gears. Boring, moi?! It was either that or the Toyota Auris. There's a five month waiting list for new Polo's in the Netherlands at present, but I managed to bag myself one of the few ready models with a decent specification, although the white silver metallic wouldn't have been my first choice colour wise.
My missus won't get rid of her Prius although she wants the Toyota C-HR, she's well passed the optimum moment to sell. So hopefully I can get her to pull the trigger before it becomes the proverbial old banger.
I suppose at my time of life I should have a better car, but I can't really get excited about higher specification cars. Been there done that and got ripped off paying to keep the buggers on the road whilst finding myself stuck in the same traffic jams along with the plebs.
My missus won't get rid of her Prius although she wants the Toyota C-HR, she's well passed the optimum moment to sell. So hopefully I can get her to pull the trigger before it becomes the proverbial old banger.
I suppose at my time of life I should have a better car, but I can't really get excited about higher specification cars. Been there done that and got ripped off paying to keep the buggers on the road whilst finding myself stuck in the same traffic jams along with the plebs.
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Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 70kW 7DSG Comfortline as much as you may want it, falls into the mid-range, but high quality. A canny buy. And I know diplomats who drive Volkswagen Polo 1.0 before other ranges. It says you cannot be bought.
So away with your pretence and BS.
So away with your pretence and BS.
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I knew you would say that, and you didn't disappoint.
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Living the dream:
doghouse
whats your take on nano or ceramic coatings? I was talking to some mobile car wash guys and they were touting this, seeing how ive only managed to wash the car once in almost a year. The idea of protection for a year appeals to me in a very obvious way
doghouse
whats your take on nano or ceramic coatings? I was talking to some mobile car wash guys and they were touting this, seeing how ive only managed to wash the car once in almost a year.The idea of protection for a year appeals to me in a very obvious way
You can still get a little better depth in the finish with wax/sealant. But it's a small difference that most probably wouldn't even notice, and an awesome option for people who dont want to put so much effort in. Mercedes offers it on new cars, so its obviously pretty decent.
The main thing to watch for is your car's paint needs to be prepped by opening the pores up, and you really don't want some monkey trashing your paint.
The main thing to watch for is your car's paint needs to be prepped by opening the pores up, and you really don't want some monkey trashing your paint.
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I picked-up the new Polo TSI today and there's some super wax deal on the paint guaranteed for 3 years:
I know a lot of the forum members find such cars distasteful and not fitting in with the bespoke select circles they move in. But you need to remember in places like The Netherlands we're paying double the price of cars that say Americans pay for equivalents including VW's. Then there's the running costs that for certain performance cars when including all the get-you-off-the-road taxes will push the cost of the car up to 2 grand a month to maintain and keep on the road. That's 4 grand before taxes.
Hence when people come over here from the UK and USA to visit they don't quite get it why we're all running around in modest cars.
In saying that the 2018 VW Polo is state of the art for a supermini and the Active Info Display version is a winner. This latest generation of the Polo is a big step-up in terms of design and feel. It has real character and so no wonder there's a several month waiting list here.
I've a nice little mission in northern France to run it for the next day or two.
I know a lot of the forum members find such cars distasteful and not fitting in with the bespoke select circles they move in. But you need to remember in places like The Netherlands we're paying double the price of cars that say Americans pay for equivalents including VW's. Then there's the running costs that for certain performance cars when including all the get-you-off-the-road taxes will push the cost of the car up to 2 grand a month to maintain and keep on the road. That's 4 grand before taxes.
Hence when people come over here from the UK and USA to visit they don't quite get it why we're all running around in modest cars.
In saying that the 2018 VW Polo is state of the art for a supermini and the Active Info Display version is a winner. This latest generation of the Polo is a big step-up in terms of design and feel. It has real character and so no wonder there's a several month waiting list here.
I've a nice little mission in northern France to run it for the next day or two.
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There's a bit of method in this, my missus has held onto the Prius way longer than she should against my advice. And so she needed some encouragement to get rid. She's now jealous as hell, although the option is there with the automatic drive that she takes over and has the Polo. Then I'm stuck with the ageing Prius. But if it comes to aristocratic cars you need to go second hand every time. Great deals out there for luxury cars several years old that will give you all the refinement and class you need.
New Polo is like 15k, more or less? As you say, you can get a nice second-hand car for that. Last time I checked (many many years ago), e.g. a nice Maserati Spyder was well below 15k. There is really no excuse for driving a Polo once you are past college. Even if your company isn't paying for it, even if you're not really into cars, etc. No excuse.
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My automatic version is 25K in NL. Back in my day, unless you were getting subsidized by the bank of mum and dad you couldn't afford a car as a student unless it was a dog turd coloured 1970s Allegro for a couple of hundred quid. No excuses: if I need a fancy car, I just call in the driver. And that's what I do. You don't keep a dog to bark yourself.
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One of the kids school chums just got back from their annual skiing trip to Austria....in a Tesla!
This trip normally takes 12 hours in a petrol car. This time it took from 4am to midnight, that's an extra 8 hrs. So they were having to stop for an hour(?) recharge every 1.5hrs, maybe 2hrs all bladder breaks and non-recharge stoppages included. That's one hell of price to pay for so called technological advancement!
No energy revolution in the history of mankind has delivered less efficiency in energy or time.
This trip normally takes 12 hours in a petrol car. This time it took from 4am to midnight, that's an extra 8 hrs. So they were having to stop for an hour(?) recharge every 1.5hrs, maybe 2hrs all bladder breaks and non-recharge stoppages included. That's one hell of price to pay for so called technological advancement!
No energy revolution in the history of mankind has delivered less efficiency in energy or time.
I'm driving one of the last FJ Cruisers to roll off the US production lines and am still reasonably happy with it, but the fuel economy is really poor. Started eyeing the new WRX and wondering if that could meet my 4WD camping and adventuring , taxiing kids around and general city commuting needs along with being a little fun to drive.
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A good question easily answered: their other car, like most families in the Netherlands, is a small car and the Tesla is a company one and the cost of the recharging will be paid for. Throw in a bit of virtue signalling with the status and pride of travelling 1000kms+ all electric and you can see how enticing this road journey was.
The model they have is the X 100D. Here's a table on how far your Tesla will go at 80mph:
Most of the travel would be done at 100-130kms at fairly constant speed. According to the chart at 80mph the range is 233miles. That's 128kph and a range of 375kms. I make that only 3 recharge stops if we say it is 1000kms. Here's where anecdotal findings should not be ignored: likely a combination of luggage and cold winter weather reduces the range significantly.
The model they have is the X 100D. Here's a table on how far your Tesla will go at 80mph:
Most of the travel would be done at 100-130kms at fairly constant speed. According to the chart at 80mph the range is 233miles. That's 128kph and a range of 375kms. I make that only 3 recharge stops if we say it is 1000kms. Here's where anecdotal findings should not be ignored: likely a combination of luggage and cold winter weather reduces the range significantly.
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Yes but Pimpy you are forgetting that these things actually drive themselves. Taking the company Tesla on a trip from Sydney to Melbourne is a good opportunity for some much-needed shut eye or to catch up on your social media posting. I’m actually ‘driving’ right now as I write this.
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Has Prince Nez posted since the above post?
Or did he perish in a fiery conflagration as the Tesla ploughed into the side of a semi-trailer that the Tesla Autopilot entirely failed to notice?
Or did he perish in a fiery conflagration as the Tesla ploughed into the side of a semi-trailer that the Tesla Autopilot entirely failed to notice?
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Reports of my demise have been exaggerated.