Short answer, no.
No Ev's are a one trick pony. Sure fast 0-60 but heavy, limited performance range think endurance racing, slow charging etc. Most hyper and even high end sports cars are hybrid ice/battery. The Hennessy F5 was just mentioned by topspeed as it's the highest horsepower and performance manual transmission vehicle currently on sale. The E-series racing lasted what 2-3 years ( or is it still around? ) A few years ago battery swapping was still being seriously looked at. Ev batteries are essentially giant rechargeable Ryobi batteries. If they get lighter and smaller maybe that could become a possibility?
Technology continues to advance. Batteries are obviously the biggest issue for EVs. The motors are simple really. Battery advancements are where the real differences will be made. It's just a matter of how long it takes to see it.
If anything, they'll become a more entrenched niche, for those with the means, and desire to own what will become outliers. For most folks, it won't matter.
Quartz watches haven't killed off mechanical watches.
Synthesizers and digital pianos are pitch perfect, never need tuning, and more practical. But they still make pianos the old-fashioned way, don't they?
What would you think if you went to see a concert pianist play at Carnegie Hall, and found after you arrived there was a Casio on stage, and not a Steinway?
The comparison of quartz and mechanical watches is kind of unfortunate, because there really aren't that many affordable quality mechanicals as there used to be. Seiko was went up in price for their midrange mechanicals which I love, but the lower 7S26 watches have been killed off and have gotten more expensive with the 4R movements. Even then they're not always the most reliable. I think that's pretty fitting for a comparison though, because when you talk higher end watches the comparison for higher end niche sports cars an exotics can be made and those just continue to go up into astronomical numbers. Who would have thought we'd be seeing factory 911s at $300k? I don't think us car guys with a bit shallower pockets are going to be playing with proper naturally aspirated, beautifully revving engines with manual gearboxes new off of dealer lots much if they follow the watch formula and sufficed to say, I think that's kind of what it looks like.
0-60 blah , blah . How about the 24hrs of LeMans ? Indianapolis 500 , etc. Various SCORE races .
Well we're basically discussing consumer products. Race cars and low production exotics will still be their thing I'm sure. I'm not doing my run to the post office in a Corvette C8.R. I'm pretty sure I couldn't buy one and license it for use on the street, at least not with my bank account and connections.
The new Corvette E-ray has a very small battery and it doesn't last very long. It mainly used for autocrossing and some quick drag racing 1/4 mile events. I think hybrids might be the way to go. I still like the roar of a V-8 engine and the shifting of gears in an automatic transmission versus a CVT with an electric motor. I do like obtaining obnoxious fuel/electric/hybrid economy. I have driven Tesla's and yes, they do accelerate very well. To each his own folks.
The E-Ray really needs to be applauded. Hybrid for the simple fact of making it faster and really nothing else. Bravo GM.
I think what EV's are making me realise is that I'm not a 'car guy', but an internal combustion guy and cars are just the every-day way I get to engage with them.
I can't get my head around to liking EV's no matter how capable they're getting.
I can't thank you enough for saying this the way that you did. This is the proper definition of car guy. Most take the angle because I like EVs that I gave up my car guy status. I will say that you're obviously a car guy, we all just have the types we like most. I'll never stop loving cars and I doubt I'll only own EVs even though I do now. I just have no desire to use one as a daily driver. I still have plans for a stupidly modified VR6 VW Corrado without the space to put it in. Yes, my EV loving self can't get enough of that VR6 warble even still. I will have it. In due time though...
I don’t think so. It still is an expensive endeavor. Half of the fun is budget performance. Especially in the GM world.
Is there still budget GM performance new? I thought everything was pretty expensive now in that realm. Now a bit used and a very wide aftermarket of affordable parts goes a long way. I'll never stop loving the LSX platform. That was my first love in cars. I daily drove a 2004 GTO for 8 years. One of the best cars I've ever owned and was reliable on top of it, even modified, tuned, and driven in regular anger just for the fun of destroying tires.
I do work with a guy that has a fairly heavily modified 5th gen Camaro that won't run my Tesla. I honestly think traction might be his biggest issue, but he's convinced I'd wipe the floor with him. He may have less done to the car than I thought, but he had it torn down for a while doing something to the engine's internals. I don't get to talk to him much in my travels, so I haven't gotten in depth on his build.
One final thing to everyone. Can we all just love cars without crapping over the next guy's choice? I love unique and fun cars over any specific type of car. I'm open to learn too. I don't understand fighting over this or that type of powertrain when the main thing I'd love to hear is what you love most about a certain layout. Not what you hate most about that one. Unless it's torque converter automatics, those suck!
