Comments | tugrik: Re-upping the Electric Experience

tugrik

Re-upping the Electric Experience

Mar 17, 2016 01:25

It's been about two years since the last time I re-upped my electric vehicle. This means it's time for Yet More Musings on EV Cars! My apologies if you're tired of it, but for me it's a constant bit of research I rather enjoy ( Read more... )

Comments 8

schnee March 17 2016, 10:34:26 UTC

Fascinating, as always! Sounds to me like the Kia is the best option right now, unless Nissan can be persuaded to make you an offer you can't refuse.

tabbiewolf March 17 2016, 11:44:07 UTC

Thank you for posting this! It's very cool to read opinions about electric cars; I'm hoping our next car will be one, though Connecticut's way less up on the electric car trends than California is.

It sounds like you've got a little wiggle room, and since you aren't too pleased with the idea of a 3-year lease, it may be good to wait. You have the benefit of having another car, so even if the commute sucks you'll still be able to take it to work when your current lease ends. Then you can get a car you definitely love, as compared to settling! Just my opinion though :)

I'm still dreaming of Volvo making an electric station wagon, but have a feeling that'll take a while. Though I hear rumor they already exist/are in development in Sweden.

smudge_dragon March 17 2016, 20:27:27 UTC

Baron and I have a 2012 Kia Soul (gas version) and absolutely adore it. It's probably the best car I've ever had. While it's no speed-demon it is a blast to drive. I'm still looking forward to doing some road trips with it. Just haven't had the funds as of yet. It has enough room if I move the seat all the way back and down that I can safely drive it - something I can't say with most cars*. Baron can probably tell you more with harder specs.

I remember reading that the electric version handled very similarly to the gas version, but have not driven one to say if it's true or not.

*I have somewhat the opposite problem as you Tor. I have a super short torso with really long legs that in most vehicles means I end up wedging my knee against the steering wheel when I hit the breaks. Not good.

nipper March 19 2016, 06:20:10 UTC

The Kia option is interesting, we don't get the EV here. Nissan has recently withdrawn the Leaf from the market, supposedly because of competition from imported used Leafs from Japan.

This despite having 80% renewable electricity, ah well.

zrath March 19 2016, 21:55:10 UTC

I hear ya about the Tesla Model S. Compared to other sedans, the front door frames are too narrow, they're not long enough. In fact, it seems that the front and rear door frames are the same size, which is weird and goes against conventional car design.
Front doors are supposed to be longer, and that's not the case here.
I have a hell of a time wedging myself into a Model S. Aside from the too-short door, the steering wheel has to be fully retracted before I get in, then extended before I can drive it.
I don't know how the Model X fits, they're rare and I've only ever seen one on the road.

I hear generally good things about the Kia Soul.
My little '92 F(n)ord (St)Ranger pick-up truck is no more. The engine developed a compression fault and needed a rebuild. Then the rear differential started slipping and also needed a rebuild. I was looking at $4000 in repairs, an impossible amount in my current underpaid state. I wound up getting a small personal loan and buying a '97 GMC Safari minivan that had undergone engine repairs and had been ( ... )