General EV Conversation
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
I think it just varies on so many factors with people, I don't think there is a common thread. For example, my mom and my mother-in-law are the same age (upper 60's). When we are out of town and have someone here to keep our kids, my Mom will not drive the Tesla. She'll only drive our gas SUV or her car. She is intimidated by it, but for no real reason (I've been with her before when she drove it). My mother-in-law on the other hand loves it and wants to drive it all the time.
It's more about their personality types. My mother in law is very active, very open to trying new things. My mom is more cautious and more set in her ways and not open to trying new things for "fear" of something going wrong.
It's more about their personality types. My mother in law is very active, very open to trying new things. My mom is more cautious and more set in her ways and not open to trying new things for "fear" of something going wrong.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,919
Likes: 4,122
From: Maryland
so only 1 ev out of 3 cars. not a ringing endorsement. also nj has (or had) state ev incentives, so that helps. what is driving his interest? environmentalism? saving money on gas? something else?
as you probably know, phev's are hard to get, and the additional cost will likely never be made back.
as you probably know, phev's are hard to get, and the additional cost will likely never be made back.
His interest is driven by wanting an EV, wanting to reduce the cost of fuel and also he's in the clean energy business and not having hybrids and EVs is a credibility issue. Cost isn't a factor for him.
I don't think it's 'largely political'. some of it may simply be demographics, in that i'm older than you and probably talk to more people nearer my age and many of them will likely never get an ev (very change resistant).
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 668
From: SC
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
Correct. There's always the fringe that won't buy one because they don't want to be told what to buy, as there is the opposite fringe that can't wait to buy the latest tool of virtue signaling. But that's not most people. EV ownership is different from ICE, no matter how many people say it really isn't. Could a lot of people make it work? Sure. But it would involve a level of change and planning that they aren't comfortable with. Lots of reasons that have nothing to do with politics. Just the depreciation alone would be enough to scare off a lot of buyers.
Yesterday I spent half the day driving my friends M4 competition. Amazing car, probably one of my top favorite cars. But if you gave me a choice between my Polestar or model Y, and the M4, it would be a no brainier for me. The M4 is only better in the sense that it's a $100k car, so it has better seats, better suspension, and more of a status symbol. My Polestar (and Model Y) is still smoother, quieter, and quicker off the line. It's also more efficient, doesn't need much maintenance and costs me under $50 a month to fuel it. If I ever bought a car like an M4, it would be a weekend car.
The limitation of the Polestar is only that it depends on non Tesla charging infrastructure if I were to ever travel in it, which is why I'm getting another Tesla, which doesn't have that limitation
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,417
Likes: 370
From: Las Vegas
It helps to understand what a lot of us petrolheads liked about cars to begin with. The sounds, the mechanical aspect, etc. Gearheads. EV's are cool, they're fast, and they're almost certainly the future. There's just a tangible feel that they don't have.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
It helps to understand what a lot of us petrolheads liked about cars to begin with. The sounds, the mechanical aspect, etc. Gearheads. EV's are cool, they're fast, and they're almost certainly the future. There's just a tangible feel that they don't have.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 668
From: SC
EV ownership is definitely different from ICE, like a flip phone is a different experience from a smartphone. I remember people who refused to switch telling me how they only have to charge every few days, while us smartphone users have to charge daily.
Yesterday I spent half the day driving my friends M4 competition. Amazing car, probably one of my top favorite cars. But if you gave me a choice between my Polestar or model Y, and the M4, it would be a no brainier for me. The M4 is only better in the sense that it's a $100k car, so it has better seats, better suspension, and more of a status symbol. My Polestar (and Model Y) is still smoother, quieter, and quicker off the line. It's also more efficient, doesn't need much maintenance and costs me under $50 a month to fuel it. If I ever bought a car like an M4, it would be a weekend car.
The limitation of the Polestar is only that it depends on non Tesla charging infrastructure if I were to ever travel in it, which is why I'm getting another Tesla, which doesn't have that limitation
Yesterday I spent half the day driving my friends M4 competition. Amazing car, probably one of my top favorite cars. But if you gave me a choice between my Polestar or model Y, and the M4, it would be a no brainier for me. The M4 is only better in the sense that it's a $100k car, so it has better seats, better suspension, and more of a status symbol. My Polestar (and Model Y) is still smoother, quieter, and quicker off the line. It's also more efficient, doesn't need much maintenance and costs me under $50 a month to fuel it. If I ever bought a car like an M4, it would be a weekend car.
The limitation of the Polestar is only that it depends on non Tesla charging infrastructure if I were to ever travel in it, which is why I'm getting another Tesla, which doesn't have that limitation
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 668
From: SC
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,796
Likes: 3,790
From: California
Absolutely, forgot to mention that. My friends M4 is rwd, I could feel a slight delay when mashing the pedal. No such issue with the Polestar, so the M4 would be playing catch-up
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
It helps to understand what a lot of us petrolheads liked about cars to begin with. The sounds, the mechanical aspect, etc. Gearheads. EV's are cool, they're fast, and they're almost certainly the future. There's just a tangible feel that they don't have.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
It's probably easier to move on if your interest in cars was more on tech/luxury features or maybe visual styling. Those of us who like to hear and feel the powerband on our ICE engines, it's hard to give that up. Even if I know an M3P is going to gap my 540i. There's always going to be cars that can gap me.
My wife and I will hear an obnoxiously loud truck and watch it go nowhere fast and shake our head. 😆