Yeah, Wes, that would definitely be cost-prohibitive. :) I've never heard of anyone installing a Level 3 charger at their home. Tesla and other companies are building out Level 3 charging networks, which are expensive as you point out. But they're cheaper than gas stations and take up a much...
That's an interesting technology, I hadn't heard of that before so thanks for sharing it. A battery technology that's probably more realistic in the near-term is "solid state," which should allow for a much greater energy density than current batteries. There are a lot of manufacturers working...
I haven't posted on this forum for a while, but about a year ago I was dead-set on buying either a Maverick or a Santa Cruz...until I started seeing the MPG ratings of both trucks. That got me looking into EV options, and I ended up buying a Tesla Model 3 with the idea that I can drive the Model...
I decided to skip both the Maverick and the Santa Cruz and wait instead for someone to offer an EV truck...one that's smaller than the Lightning or the Cybertruck. Had the charging point installed in my garage last week--the (union) electricians that did the work said they're starting to intall...
I prefer the plastic drop-in bed liners over the spray-in. I've had both on different trucks, and I could abuse the plastic drop-in more, especially when loading large, heavy objects with sharp points or corners. Even just loading something as common as cinder blocks, with a plastic liner you...
Whenever I see someone with their tailgate down (or even removed) in an effort to increase MPGs, I always figure that guy must've slept through his high school science classes. Or at the very least couldn't be bothered to google it before making that decision.
XLT with 2 liter ecoboost starts at $23,775
Add AWD: $3305
Add copilot: $540
Add hard rollup tonneau cover (this is one of the features I like on the Santa Cruz): $1160
Add drop-in bedliner: $375
Add hitch receiver: $100
Total is $29,255. And to be honest, I'd probably also want to add the mud...
If the Maverick XL had cruise control, I could buy the Ford I wanted for about $26,300. But since that's not an option, spec'ing an XLT pushes the Maverick to a price right around $30,000. At that price point, the Santa Cruz SEL will likely be very competitive, maybe even better for my purposes...
I wouldn't say internal combustion engines are going to completely disappear. But many of the examples you gave will indeed transition to battery power in the next generation. Like tractors--there's a lot of development right now to make that happen, including at big implement companies like...
Totally true. I wouldn't for a moment consider something like the Rivian based on price alone. That being said, I do think in a few years it won't make sense to buy an ICE vehicle as battery technology advances, the charging network matures, and vehicles with good ranges become far cheaper.
With all the press I'm seeing about the Santa Cruz lately, it does have me considering it. I'm starting to like the aesthetic, and it looks like the cab portion might be smaller than the huge crew cab on the Maverick. (The huge crew cab is the Maverick's weakest feature for me--I don't need all...
None of my vehicles have built-in bluetooth, but they're all equipped with bluetooth. You can get very inexpensive gadgets that plug into your cigarette lighter that connect to your phone and transmit the signal to your FM radio. When I start my truck, it automatically syncs with my phone. I'm...
I totally agree about them dropping cars. I'm sure the Ford execs have run all the numbers, and financially it makes sense to stop selling cars--right now. But from my own life experience, brand loyalty is largely created when young people buy their first and second vehicles. And without...
Your price tolerance is much richer than mine. If it even approaches $33K for a package that meets my wants/needs, I'll erase the Maverick from my memory and start looking at other options.
Totally agree about the light duty thing. We can't clamor for a small truck and also demand it be a mid-sized truck.
As for the Focus, it's got a non-boosted 2.0 liter engine. It's not an ST, it's an SE. I always joke that I got it with the inconvenience package, because it's as bare-bones as I...
I must say, I really like the Crosstrek. When it was available in a burnt orange color, I came pretty close to getting one. One of the few vehicles available with AWD and a manual shifter. And it's priced reasonably. That car's a winner.
I also test drove a BRZ when they first came out. Nice...
My 2012 Focus is a stick too, which always surprises people. I suppose that makes it a rare bird in the US at this point, and I wonder if it'll demand more on the used market with the manual.
I've thought about getting a Transit Connect, but the lack of AWD has stopped it from being a serious contender. Other than that, it's hard to beat the all-around utility.