OK this year is it - New EV - RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE

I’ll throw in a curve from left field. Pick up an ID Buzz in AWD. VW only imported them for 2025. It has personality, space, and is more appropriately priced with heavy incentives. They will be rare here. The major negative is that the range isn’t the best.

It’s a very neat car, but the issue with it as well as other not very good EVs like early BZ4X etc is that if that’s people’s first EV experience they’re going to be soured on them.

When you get an EV with lousy range, charging speed, and software, you’re going to be annoyed eventually. Sure, it sounds like they will only charge at home and drive around town but to never know what the future holds.
 
There are some great buys in the used EV market. Tesla dealer near me has some that are very tempting but I'm holding off for a bit. Until I know for sure what I want to do I'm going to wait.
 
2026 Tesla model Y Long Range AWD. 327 Miles of range with the 19 wheels , 303 with the 20. 0 to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds. pricing starts at about 50K for this trim. there is a performance model that start at 60K and is a beast. honestly the Long Range AWD is the overall best compromise. it has everything.
This is what I tell people. The Model Y has been the best or close to the best selling vehicles in the world for years. There's a reason for it. The Y is very roomy inside and storage is better than most in its class. Very functional.
Now for full transparancy, I am not familiar with many other EVs.
 
Should you venture away from home and need to DCFC - The GM and Ford vehicles aren't competitive from a trip time standard against Hyundai and Tesla (unless you get the largest pack GM vehicles then you just pay the efficiency penalty)

The GM, Ford, and Hyundais - all have hot and cold weather charging compromises.
This hot gate problems may not be a big deal in the pacific NW, but you may run into cold gating.

Hyundais are only trip competitive on an all 800V network.

For me this is a bog deal as my route is 100 degree of half the year and I'd spend charging session with AC off and the doors open when charging to get a decent travel time.

The Tesla is going to be most efficient, easiest to road trip, and least compromised in hot and cold weather charging.

The current juniper addresses the ride harshness of the prior models and is a very nice EV.

Tesla wins in what you get per dollar you spend, ease of travel, cost per dollar driven.

If you've got the bread for Taycan that'd be awesome but please introduce me to your sister.
 
Should you venture away from home and need to DCFC - The GM and Ford vehicles aren't competitive from a trip time standard against Hyundai and Tesla (unless you get the largest pack GM vehicles then you just pay the efficiency penalty)

The GM, Ford, and Hyundais - all have hot and cold weather charging compromises.
This hot gate problems may not be a big deal in the pacific NW, but you may run into cold gating.

Hyundais are only trip competitive on an all 800V network.

For me this is a bog deal as my route is 100 degree of half the year and I'd spend charging session with AC off and the doors open when charging to get a decent travel time.

The Tesla is going to be most efficient, easiest to road trip, and least compromised in hot and cold weather charging.

The current juniper addresses the ride harshness of the prior models and is a very nice EV.

Tesla wins in what you get per dollar you spend, ease of travel, cost per dollar driven.

If you've got the bread for Taycan that'd be awesome but please introduce me to your sister.

I mean maybe I’m just a GM fanboy that has had two Ultium EVs but they charge OK. Not amazing. With more recent software updates they are MUCH improved over when they first came out.
 
@Pablo be sure and call your insurance company before writing that big check. My Tesla insurance went way up late last year. Not sure why, but it was significant.

I would also say, as others have, a lease may be a smart consideration. You will lose less if you find you want something else. While this is true for most vehicles, EV depreciation makes it more so. In my case, I kinda wish I had leased the FSD instead of paying the $8K up front. Hindsight is, well you know.

Now go drive a Model Y. Tesla is offering one free upgrade right now...
 
I mean maybe I’m just a GM fanboy that has had two Ultium EVs but they charge OK. Not amazing. With more recent software updates they are MUCH improved over when they first came out.

Thats great to hear.

Have the tests you've seen been run with climate on and off in adverse wether?
 
Thats great to hear.

Have the tests you've seen been run with climate on and off in adverse wether?

I mean a couple weeks ago I arrived at a Supercharger with the 2025 Equinox EV at 4% SOC with no preconditioning after sitting all day and it shot up to the 150kw max almost immediately and stayed there the entire time (albeit I didn’t charge very long). My 2024 Prologue would not have done that with the early software it had when I had it!

Now do I think that they should have figured that out before releasing the vehicle? Sure. But forgive them given how quickly they have been releasing updates. I mean not Tesla quick but quicker than probably anyone else except maybe Rivian…

Also I asked my ex for you and he said he’s never had a problem DCFCing it when it was hot and he had the AC on. He’s not the kind of person who would obsess over KWs but he is impatient with cars so I think if it was bad he would tell me.
 
I’m curious, for EVs that have that feature, do the brake lights come on when the driver lifts off the accelerator to alert people behind that it’s slowing down?
Yes, at least on my Mach E. I think it is true on all EVs. On our Accord Hybrid, the brake lights come on going down a hill with cruise control limiting the speed.
 
I’m curious, for EVs that have that feature, do the brake lights come on when the driver lifts off the accelerator to alert people behind that it’s slowing down?
Yes on Teslas. You can see the brake lights activate on the image of the car on the giant screen too.
 
Stay away from anything from VAG because,

1, software issues- the group doesn’t seem able to get on top of its constant software problems to the point that issues fixed on a precious model year come back on the next model year because they have changed something again. It’s non stop across all models.

2, your distance from a dealer will become a problem for you when it does need to be repaired. Something will go wrong with it and if this is a high voltage fault it won’t drive, then it’s who paying for it to be towed?

3, repair times can be months due to parts back orderers.

4, myAudi functions fail to work so often it restricts the functionality of the vehicle, again more often than not due to software but who wants a car that won’t preheat in winter and Audi carnt fix it until 202?

5, lack of either recalls or service campaigns for known issues, they are even reluctant to publish TPI information at the moment.

For reference I’m an Audi tech and as you can tell I hate these things, the GT/ Taycan - I’ve got some customers who are onto there 4th PTC heater in 3 years and when they fail you get zero heat, only thing you have is heated seat, car is underivable in winter effectively and you cannot keep the windscreen clear.

Owners will chime in saying how they have had no issues and I just see the bad ones but all you have to do is check the used prices at 3 years old and it tells you all you need to know.

When you have customers in loan cars because theirs has been recovered in and they ring up to let you know the loan car has also broken down it’s embarrassing.

Do as much research into any EV about common faults as you can so you know what you could be letting yourself in for.

On the bright side an EV that does what it is supposed to do can be fantastic, you have other vehicles so long trip range isn’t a factor which is what most people seem to get hung up on.
 
I mean a couple weeks ago I arrived at a Supercharger with the 2025 Equinox EV at 4% SOC with no preconditioning after sitting all day and it shot up to the 150kw max almost immediately and stayed there the entire time (albeit I didn’t charge very long). My 2024 Prologue would not have done that with the early software it had when I had it!

Now do I think that they should have figured that out before releasing the vehicle? Sure. But forgive them given how quickly they have been releasing updates. I mean not Tesla quick but quicker than probably anyone else except maybe Rivian…

Also I asked my ex for you and he said he’s never had a problem DCFCing it when it was hot and he had the AC on. He’s not the kind of person who would obsess over KWs but he is impatient with cars so I think if it was bad he would tell me.



Here's a short from Out of Spec showing the problem, even the escalade with its mammoth pack has the same problem.



 
It should be a pretty tough setup.

Are there any 100K examples yet?
There's a guy on the FB Lyriq owners group that has exceeded 100,000 miles. He said no change to his range. I would prefer he pull from the BMS, but it is what it is.
 
There's a guy on the FB Lyriq owners group that has exceeded 100,000 miles. He said no change to his range. I would prefer he pull from the BMS, but it is what it is.

That level of assessment is meaningless.
 
CRV I will keep and use as a beater, maybe.

Wife wants a brand new EV, not a hybrid. I had this thread, but too particular: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/import-only-from-japan-rav4-plugin-hybrid.398095/

Prefers SUV type, but is a little flexible. Around $60K max would nice (me talking)

I'm stuck. Brain lock. So I open up to you folks!!

200-300 mile range?
Charge at home 99.9%
No gas stations, no hybrids.
Mostly for in county driving for the next 7.5 years.
Reliable.
Longish battery life.

GO!
Tesla Model Y Long Range.

Would rather have the latest model but pleased with my 2023. Might install the new model's suspension if Tesla offers it as a Tesla Service Center service.
 
Back
Top Bottom