Electric Vehicles - Models Discussion

[audreyh1]

Interesting. So, if I have an up-to-date Tesla with the Full Driving package, and I tell it to take me from my garage to the Buy More store in the huge shopping mile, it will drive me there, enter the parking lot, and park me in the first empty space it finds?

That video is only about fully automated driving at the factory. In regular street driving a driver has to be there to supervise in case an intervention is needed. Those are becoming quite rare, but you are still responsible.

However, the car can definitely drive you from home to the parking lot of your destination. Sometimes the car picks a spot and parks. You may have to navigate the parking lot a bit, but it can then back-in park in a spot you select.

 

[Koolau]

Interesting. So, if I have an up-to-date Tesla with the Full Driving package, and I tell it to take me from my garage to the Buy More store in the huge shopping mile, it will drive me there, enter the parking lot, and park me in the first empty space it finds?

No. It will drop you at the front door. Go park where there are no other cars to ding your doors and THEN come pick you up when you are done shopping!

 

[RetMD21]

Harry (of Harry's Garage) did a review on the new Renault R5 (probably EU only?) and really liked it. It's about $24k British pounds, nicely appointed and has real knobs for a lot of the functions (and a turn signal stalk ). It doesn't beep and boop at you or try to simulate gas car noises and it doesn't look goofy like most current EVs (e.g. all the current Hyundais). Reminds me of my 22 LEAF; it's just a regular sedan that happens to run on electrons.

It's smaller than the Leaf or old Bolt. I think it would make sense for a lot of people but IDK if it's really what people are looking for.

 

[Koolau]

It's smaller than the Leaf or old Bolt. I think it would make sense for a lot of people but IDK if it's really what people are looking for.

Probably not unless one lives in the UK or the Continent. I don't think you could import one but I don't know. If you did import, where would you have it repaired?

 

[Koolau]

Probably not unless one lives in the UK or the Continent. I don't think you could import one but I don't know. If you did import, where would you have it repaired?

Oops, I found this. Some dealerships do have Renault but I didn't see anything about keeping them running - I assume the dealer that sells them will maintain them (until they don't).

Can You Own A Renault In The US? - Auto Zonic

Renault is a French car manufacturer that has been around since 1899. It has a legacy of producing high-quality cars, and is one of the most popular car

www.autozonic.com

 

[Chuckanut]

We have two "primary" vehicles, one is an F150 that we will not replace with an EV, because we tow too often with it, but the other could easily be replaced by an EV when it hits 10 years old in two more years. But as of right now, with what is available, I would NOT buy an EV, and here is why: They are changing too rapidly, and they as not as repairable as ICE cars. I'm sure you have all heard of incidents of EVs being totaled for relatively minor damage. A 10 MPH rear hit at the wrong angle on a Rivian R1T will cost over $40,000 to fix. That is simply ridiculous. There are many Teslas sitting in junkyards, no EV will be repaired if the battery is damaged even slightly.

I watched a very good YouTube video of a lawyer who specializes in auto related law and I found out two amazing things. The first is that the Cadillac Lyric EV is unrepairable because GM simply can't figure out how to build and deliver replacement parts. The other is that the old thing about car manufacturers being required to stock parts for vehicles for 7 or 10 years is 100% false. I have gone by that rule of thumb my entire life, but the reality is that a manufacturer is under NO obligation to sell you a replacement part even 15 minutes after you buy the vehicle. They *are* obligated to either repair, or give you a refund on a car, if it has been RECALLED and can't be fixed. That is why they fight tooth and nail to avoid recalls. So in the case of the Cadillac Lyriq, the owner was in a rear end collision, and GM simply told them to go cry a river, because they had changed the design of the bumper already and had no spares.

These cars are changing too fast. Many are going to be junked for lack of parts availability long before they wear out. Rivian just completely re-engineered the electronics in their vehicles and very few of the internal parts carried over, even though from the outside they look almost identical. Good luck getting that obscure sensor in the old model that dies five years from now.

This sounds like the same mistake Renault made in the early 60's when they imported their small cars into the USA to compete against VW. VW had established a great service and repair dealer network. Renault did not.

There were other problems with the Renault vehicles, but lack of parts, service,and repair facilities killed their reputation, IIRC.

 

[Koolau]

This sounds like the same mistake Renault made in the early 60's when they imported their small cars into the USA to compete against VW. VW had established a great service and repair dealer network. Renault did not.

There were other problems with the Renault vehicles, but lack of parts, service,and repair facilities killed their reputation, IIRC.

My sister's BF had a Renault (rear engine - don't know the model). It was making a noise which I could easily diagnose as either a stuck tappet/valve train issue or, more likely, a rod bearing. Ruled out the valve train in 3 minutes. Dropped the pan which was amazingly easy. The journal was totally scored. I used emory cloth to smooth it a bit and replaced the rod bearings. The journal was so bad that I had to trim the rod bearing to make the two pieces fit the remaining space.

When I was done, it sounded great. I told the kid to get rid of it ASAP! My experience with Renault.

 

[JoeWras]

This is the moment where the comedians come in and start poking at the audience with phrases like: "Le Trash", "Le Crap"

But in seriousness, I was a teenager with mechanical interest when the Le Car got popular after AMC partnered with them. I immediately noticed that our neighbor's Le Car would sometimes have its cooling fan on after parking. Weird, since most American cars still had their cooling fan connected to the crankshaft.

My point? I started learning there are other ways to make cars, and if one wanted to get into that business, you better be open to new ideas.

So back to topic, EVs are a game changer and we all have some educating to do, whether we are drivers or service techs. I may even have to give up stalks. Oh the humanity!

 

[folivier]

Koolau, I had a similar experience with a VW Rabbit. Found it in a junkyard with a bent front bumper. Bought it really cheap since it had an engine knock. Dropped the oil pan, replaced the bearing races, then drove it for a few years. Great little car!

 

[JoeWras]

Koolau, I had a similar experience with a VW Rabbit. Found it in a junkyard with a bent front bumper. Bought it really cheap since it had an engine knock. Dropped the oil pan, replaced the bearing races, then drove it for a few years. Great little car!

Oh man, "drop the oil pan and replace the bearing races." Those days are gone.

To tie this into EVs, it is going to be interesting to see what we DYIers can do. Surely, we'll be able to replace window motors (regulators), right? Maybe change out a cabin air filter. Right? What about brakes? No chance? Or is it over?

Probably doesn't matter. I'll be dead or in "don't care" mode.

 

[audreyh1]

I don’t touch anything except add windshield wiper fluid if needed.

 

[RetMD21]

There's nothing special about Tesla brakes if you want to work on them.

 

[audreyh1]

The only thing special about Tesla brakes (versus an ICE) is that they are not used much at all. Just enough to keep the rust off, ha ha. So little wear.

 

[joesxm3]

Servicing the brakes consists of taking them apart and lubricating the calipers so they don't bind from lack of use. Or maybe cleaning the winter road stuff off.

 

[RetMD21]

I think there could be a market for something like the Zeekr Mix in the US. The wheelbase is 118 inches with range of 550/700 km in standard and long range. The Chinese version has 5 seats but there's room for more.

 

[Koolau]

I don’t touch anything except add windshield wiper fluid if needed.

Yeah. My days of crawling under a car are long over. One reason I like the concept of EVs. THere's virtually nothing the DIYer could do even if s/he wanted to.

 

[audreyh1]

I suppose we can replace the HEPA air filter when needed

 

[Koolau]

I suppose we can replace the HEPA air filter when needed

You're supposed to replace those??

 

[joesxm3]

Tesla recommends replacing the cabin filter every two years and HEPA every three years.

 

[RetMD21]

I didn't know that Tesla's have internal radar. Apparently the new 4D version in the Model Y will detect passenger size to manage air bags but is also capable of detecting a child in the car alone. It will have the ability too manage climate control, send a message in the app, and possibly call 911 in response

 

[Koolau]

Tesla recommends replacing the cabin filter every two years and HEPA every three years.

Oooooos! I think my '12 and '00 may be overdue for cabin filter replacement. Aaaahhhhhh! Why start now?

Anyway, I use those liquid cabin odorant devices so don't notice any odors.

 

[Midpack]

I didn't know that Tesla's have internal radar. Apparently the new 4D version in the Model Y will detect passenger size to manage air bags but is also capable of detecting a child in the car alone. It will have the ability too manage climate control, send a message in the app, and possibly call 911 in response

New to the Model Y with the Juniper refresh.

 

[Midpack]

Oh man, "drop the oil pan and replace the bearing races." Those days are gone.

To tie this into EVs, it is going to be interesting to see what we DYIers can do. Surely, we'll be able to replace window motors (regulators), right? Maybe change out a cabin air filter. Right? What about brakes? No chance? Or is it over?

Probably doesn't matter. I'll be dead or in "don't care" mode.

There’s an extensive DIY manual for all Teslas, links to Y and X below. Unlike legacy auto dealers, Tesla does not want to be in the service side of the business. They build cars to require much less maintenance to reduce service calls and want owners to be able to maintain their cars themselves, though obviously not for some major components that ar designed to be very low/infrequent maintenance items.

https://service.tesla.com/docs/Public/diy/modely/en_us/

https://service.tesla.com/docs/Public/diy/modelx/en_us/

 

[RetMD21]

New to the Model Y with the Juniper refresh.

Yes, that's the new updated version

 

[Midpack]

Yes, that's the new updated version

My point was the Model Y Juniper has the cabin radar, not earlier MY’s or M3’s. Your post said “I didn't know that Tesla's have internal radar. Apparently the new 4D version in the Model Y will detect passenger size to manage air bags but is also capable of detecting a child in the car alone.” IIRC the Model S/X have had it swings their refreshes a few years ago.