I have owned few Toyotas and while they are reliable they are just so boring, I like to have a car that’s engaging and one that is built with Quality.
Chinese EVs will take over the world?
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I have owned few Toyotas and while they are reliable they are just so boring, I like to have a car that’s engaging and one that is built with Quality.
explanade
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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At one time, Lexus used to get praise from car enthusiasts for the quality of the interiors.
Their current designs though, the external styling, doesn't seem to get too much love.
I don't know if their interiors and build quality still are highly regarded but they're pricing the cars like the German marques.
Their current designs though, the external styling, doesn't seem to get too much love.
I don't know if their interiors and build quality still are highly regarded but they're pricing the cars like the German marques.
You missed my point of government reform. The government in China used to believe in a non-capitalist communist system during the Mao era which millions have indeed died. However, Mao is dead and the government has “reformed” into a modern capitalist socialist system based on a Fortune 500 company business model. Your timing is not correct. The new Chinese system took millions of people out of poverty. We should talk about what is happening now and not what happened in the past. A government who is now helping poor people can be better IMO than a government who is now helping rich people get richer. USA really need to do something about wealth inequality because China already have initiated a “common prosperity” program to address this issue. I am not saying that the Chinese government is better. I am saying every government must change or reform itself and not claim their system is a perfect one.
I have a Bolt and a Rav Prime (plug-in).
I will observe, however, that the economic interests in the US will try to avoid and delay the transition to electric economy as long as they can, and the US will be left in the ashes and dust. I grew up in the Southwest and the the grip of the oil extraction industry cannot ever be underestimated, in politics (donations) and every other factor. China will exploit this, even while they are using coal as a transition fuel. They already pretty much dominate solar production and soon EV/battery, while we are left gazing at our navels and worshipping Corvettes. (GM and Ford are responding, now.)
The US will ride oil and gas into our grave, giving over technological supremacy in the Electric economy to China and our other rivals because there are 2500 miners in West Virginia digging coal. And yes, this will be an expensive and rough transition from oil and gas; I recognize this.
This will be viewed as political but it is not; it is how political donations occur. I think our transition to an Electric economy will be slow, painful, and difficult and we will fight it every inch of the way. Our electrical system (I lived in Texas 25 years and my brother in law worked for ERCOT) is basically 1950s technology. Our infrastructure is 1950s. We are essentially Russia, with low taxes. Texas "responded" to the February freezout of oil and gas infrastructure by blaming renewables and ............. making abortion impossible, not responding to the grid issues. This is our future. You can tell me I'm an idiot greenie, but my brother-in-law 10 years ago pointed out to me the problems in the Texas grid when he worked at ERCOT. He was right, not the Texas politicians who continue to avoid the issues. This is also true in California (I'm in Nevada) where they need to invest hugely in the electrical transmission infrastructure and bury lines, given that the fires of the last 4 years will be the new reality. We had to buy air cleaners here since for 2 & 1/2 months I couldn't see the peaks 3 miles from me due to smoke. This is the new reality for me; climate change is not a theory. I don't think the pines in the Sierra that I've been hiking will be there in 20 years for my grandkids, but, hey, it's just trees and the whole ecosystem.
Eisenhower would spit at us. At one point, we invested in our infrastructure like the Interstate Highway system, etc; for the last 25 years, we stopped investing in ourselves and our future to cut taxes. It's not politics; it is the reality. We will live in a decaying infrastructure, but at least Bezos will shoot up rockets. Isn't that and his cowboy hat cool?
I will observe, however, that the economic interests in the US will try to avoid and delay the transition to electric economy as long as they can, and the US will be left in the ashes and dust. I grew up in the Southwest and the the grip of the oil extraction industry cannot ever be underestimated, in politics (donations) and every other factor. China will exploit this, even while they are using coal as a transition fuel. They already pretty much dominate solar production and soon EV/battery, while we are left gazing at our navels and worshipping Corvettes. (GM and Ford are responding, now.)
The US will ride oil and gas into our grave, giving over technological supremacy in the Electric economy to China and our other rivals because there are 2500 miners in West Virginia digging coal. And yes, this will be an expensive and rough transition from oil and gas; I recognize this.
This will be viewed as political but it is not; it is how political donations occur. I think our transition to an Electric economy will be slow, painful, and difficult and we will fight it every inch of the way. Our electrical system (I lived in Texas 25 years and my brother in law worked for ERCOT) is basically 1950s technology. Our infrastructure is 1950s. We are essentially Russia, with low taxes. Texas "responded" to the February freezout of oil and gas infrastructure by blaming renewables and ............. making abortion impossible, not responding to the grid issues. This is our future. You can tell me I'm an idiot greenie, but my brother-in-law 10 years ago pointed out to me the problems in the Texas grid when he worked at ERCOT. He was right, not the Texas politicians who continue to avoid the issues. This is also true in California (I'm in Nevada) where they need to invest hugely in the electrical transmission infrastructure and bury lines, given that the fires of the last 4 years will be the new reality. We had to buy air cleaners here since for 2 & 1/2 months I couldn't see the peaks 3 miles from me due to smoke. This is the new reality for me; climate change is not a theory. I don't think the pines in the Sierra that I've been hiking will be there in 20 years for my grandkids, but, hey, it's just trees and the whole ecosystem.
Eisenhower would spit at us. At one point, we invested in our infrastructure like the Interstate Highway system, etc; for the last 25 years, we stopped investing in ourselves and our future to cut taxes. It's not politics; it is the reality. We will live in a decaying infrastructure, but at least Bezos will shoot up rockets. Isn't that and his cowboy hat cool?
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WWDog
Recycles dryer sheets
Very good discussion all. I really enjoyed reading this.
You not on the West Coast will scoff, but for several weeks the AQI here in Reno was above 400. I'm not being hysterical about what is happening out here. It is unhealthy for everyone here. I realize everyone is in their bubble (I'm not informed necessarily about issues that impact you 1000 miles away from me, so I don't expect you will be informed about air quality here on the West Coast.) But, essentially, the ecology here has made it obvious about the impacts of drought/warming. I can't flyfish the Truckee a mile from me; there isn't any water. Boo hoo for me, of course, but most of you will recognize the larger issue which is the ecosystem. Maybe this winter will be a huge snownamie, hopefully, and we can stave off disaster without another drought year. If this winter is not a big snow year, we here in Reno and Nevada and East Cali are in big, big, big, big trouble.
I realize most of you don't care.
I realize most of you don't care.
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WWDog
Recycles dryer sheets
I do care about your air quality RobLJ. Just don't bring it here to Texas. San Antonio is getting more and more crowded and I see a large number of out of state license plates every day. I'm skeptical of the new electric cars being a good investment though and will drive my Toyota another 11 years if I have to.
I think my posts sound like I'm blaming all y'all. I'm sorry. I'm not blaming you.
It's just a recognition that things are and will be different now. At some point, this will be recognized; probably late so that cost (to us retirees) will be even more costly.
Neglecting infrastructure is really cool and inexpensive and tax-free--until it can't be ignored any more. We ignored infrastructure for 30 years.
It's just a recognition that things are and will be different now. At some point, this will be recognized; probably late so that cost (to us retirees) will be even more costly.
Neglecting infrastructure is really cool and inexpensive and tax-free--until it can't be ignored any more. We ignored infrastructure for 30 years.
I love San Antonio, despite the heat. We had a lot of cash and solar panels and the Bolt/RAV seemed a good response. With gas at 4.20 here it seems even better, although gas could fall back to 2.50 or 3 at the flick of a wrist. You should do what you think is right! When we lived in Houston, air quality got pretty bad, although not 400 AQI bad. (My youngest was a soccer player but with asthma, so maybe San Antonio is better than Houston, almost surely so. But there were several weeks he couldn't play in Houston. I've observed nothing matters in this area--unless it affects you personally or your kids. Then it begins to matter. Maybe. )
I don't think e-cars are a good investment, necessarily, although we are benefiting from them. I should add that we lived in Houston 25 years; it's not like I'm an idle observer of Houston, even though we moved to Nevada 5 years ago.
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My comments: How do you like your RAV4 plug in compared to your bolt? I am thinking about a RAV4 plug in myself for my wife. Eisenhower was a great president who recognizes the political power of the industrial military complex and you are astute enough to recognize the political power of the oil/coal industry. As I stated previously, we need government reform who can steer our great country in making long term strategic decisions for the good of country and not for the good of special interests and billionaires.
The oldest and grandkids live in the Central Valley near Merced, which is probably 40 miles or so past the Bolt's range. The RAV4 plugin with the electricity gets about 50 mpg, despite the fact we use it on longer trips. The Bolt works great here in Reno and for our hikes within about 50-70 miles from our house. I'm about to put all-terrain and all-weather tires on the RAV to get us over Donner Pass and over the Sierra to see the grandkids; that will be about 1000$, but a lot of people here wouldn't need to do this (I ski).
If you only had an E-vehicle, it might be a problem, but we have always been a two vehicle family, so the Bolt and RAV plug-in work perfectly together. I think other families with other use trends might have problems. We have solar panels, so our gasoline costs have ..... plummeted to about 25% of 2 years ago, or less.
If you are a car-fiend, the RAV4 Prime is a beast (0-60 is about 6 seconds) but neither of us really use this capability. I think the HP is about 260 due to 2 electrical motors and the gas motor. We are getting the 42 mile e-range advertised for the RAV, by the way.
If you only had an E-vehicle, it might be a problem, but we have always been a two vehicle family, so the Bolt and RAV plug-in work perfectly together. I think other families with other use trends might have problems. We have solar panels, so our gasoline costs have ..... plummeted to about 25% of 2 years ago, or less.
If you are a car-fiend, the RAV4 Prime is a beast (0-60 is about 6 seconds) but neither of us really use this capability. I think the HP is about 260 due to 2 electrical motors and the gas motor. We are getting the 42 mile e-range advertised for the RAV, by the way.
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GTFan
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
So I'm guessing you're ok with a Chairman Xi for life that is getting closer to taking back Taiwan by force even though it's been an independent democracy for decades? After completely squelching democracy, free speech, free press etc. in a Hong Kong that lived free for decades? One that has set up concentration camps and forced 'assimilation' for Uighurs?
No thanks, I'll take America with all its flaws.
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No I am not ok with Xi for life, possible invasion of Taiwan, suppression of Hong Kong democracy movement, and re education camps of Uighur. I never supported that.
However, I am also not ok with US invasion of Iraq under the lie of WMD, $2 trillion dollars wasted in Afghanistan, not helping poor people get out of poverty, the rich getting richer and the grip of special interests in US politics. You made a statement that you appear to be ok with these issues in the USA. You must be one of those people who “trust” the US government no matter what.
That is the difference between you and I. I recognizes flaws and criticizes “both” countries and advocate government “reform” and changes in “both” countries. Since you accepted the flaws in the USA which means there are less likely reforms and changes in the USA government. You just proven exactly my point is that once you decided the US government is perfect or better than China then there is no reason to change or reform the US government for the good of all Americans.
All I was saying is that changes and reforms appear to be happening more in China than the USA. The likely reason for this: More Americans like you accept the status quo in the USA.
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OldShooter
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Churchill nailed it many years ago: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”
Re "changes and reforms" which do you mean? Xi for life, threatened invasion of Taiwan, suppression of Hong Kong democracy movement, or concentration camps for Uighur?
Re "changes and reforms" which do you mean? Xi for life, threatened invasion of Taiwan, suppression of Hong Kong democracy movement, or concentration camps for Uighur?
Thanks for the interesting discussion. 
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