G. David Felt

Been reading lots of various stories about the dropping of AA/AC from the EV world as all the OEMs move to the Snapdragon Android Auto system with their own eco system. GM doubles down on Android Auto and CarPlay removal (9to5google.com) Google wins no matter what since the Snapdragon auto eco system runs android and I have seen plenty of folks complain that VW is already dropping the ball as they have not sent out any OTA updates yet and the ID cars have version 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, etc. depending on which number of EV you bought and as stated in the press release for ID.7, it will come with the all new improved version 4.0. Yet none of the other autos versions have had OS updates pushed out yet. Why? In reading so many comments, one thing that has yet to be mentioned is the less or non tech folks that finally get comfy using their cell phone and their partner/spouse have them set up to just plug it into the auto and go. Now they will be forced to have to mess with an independent system again. This also ignores one thing that is key to the end user. Many Andoird and Apple folks use their map system to first drive to a specific area and then change it into walk mode on their cell phone to continue to get where they want to go. You cannot just grab your EV and carry it with you. How will they sync up the auto system with your cell phone?

Thanks @oldshurst442 I totally forgot the Porsche and Audi as I have not honestly seen either here in the PNW and so out of sight, out of mind. Both are not bad, but something about the Porsche just turns me off as ugly. Audi is the nicer of the two IMHO.

I think you could say it not only about the ID.7 but the Tesla 3 and Ioniq 6 which all have the front cut off short. I am very surprised as I hate the nose, but I think the side profile of the I4 by BMW is my favorite right now Especially in that Green.

Now @ccap41 has me on a comparison kick. So Sounds off on what you like best for a side profile of all the electric sedans on the market today. @oldshurst442 @trinacriabob @Robert Hall @riviera74 @Drew Dowdell @surreal1272 @A Horse With No Name @SDotJizzle @Z-06 @balthazar ID.7 Tesla 3 Tesla S CELESTIQ EQE BMW I4 BMW I7 Polestar 2 sedan Lucid Air

Before @smk4565 you say VW is going down, they had a stellar Q1 and are on track to do 9.5 million autos globally for 2023. A 14% increase over 2022. Volkswagen Group bolsters expansion in global growth markets after strong Q1 results (volkswagenag.com) Many news media outlets agree with this: Volkswagen's 2023 sales outlook blows past forecast, shares soar - Autoblog BYD has another bigger problem, their growth has been in China and while they are working to expand to Europe, they stopped looking to enter the U.S. market due to negative attitudes towards Chinese made products and the fact that to compete, the IRA bill would require them to buy land and build plants here which they do not want to do as all production is in China and product is being shipped from China throughout Asia and Europe. Once the unions of Europe hear that BYD is not interested in building products in Europe but just ship from China, it will hit them in sales there too. 3 million global auto sales will be hard for BYD I think this year. Closer to 2.25 million for BYD, 2.5 million on the high end maybe.

Have you looked at the numbers? In a really latest interview with BYD BYD aims to sell at least 3 million vehicles this year - CnEVPost The 1,863,494 million units built and sold covering all ICE, Hybrid and EV. Lets look at VW Global Sales, this is ICE, Hybrid and EV. Sales at everyone had dropped globally, but VW sells 4 times the autos BYD does. Keep smoking the weed as it is the only way your belief will happen as Tesla is not going to go away, but the polarizing nature of the CEO has turned off many globally to any Tesla product.

Ford Shanghai Auto Show was all about the Trucks and SUVs focused on the Bronco. Ford Brings Adventure-inspired Lineup to 2023 Auto Shanghai | China | English | Ford Media Center

Yes, why pay twice for gaskets, clips, oil, etc. at 175K it just made sense to replace both new.

The Escalade rear wheel bearings job was $1,500. I would not attempt it due to the pressing in of the bearings. Your MKC has the ability to drop the small drive line to each hub making it easier to replace whereas the Escalade is like a truck in this regard, they had to pull the differential cover, disconnect the gears and pull the whole center unit and shaft out, pull the bearing unit out and then press in the new ones. I agree with you that 65 to 75K is premature for bearing failure, but Bear Howl is a true thing and once you have heard it, you will catch future issues on any ICE auto again. I am very interested to see how the EVs are done in comparison to ICE in regard to the wheels.

WOW, BMW is doing a Red Line like Chevrolet and wow is it UGLY. The BMW XM Label Red. (bmwgroup.com)

@oldshurst442 I am thinking the cars might truly be coming to an end as the Shanghai auto show, all the new releases showed were first EV, second all SUVs as cars just pretty much did not exist much. Seems the Chinese are moving in the direction of SUVs like Europe and Americas have moved. Just a few examples of the press releases and reveals this year. Nissan showcases SUVs at Auto Shanghai 2023 (nissannews.com) Nissan highlights electrification and connectivity at Auto Shanghai 2023 (nissannews.com) Lexus only showed SUVs at the show. Lexus to exhibit at Auto Shanghai 2023 | Lexus | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website They did have one minivan. World Premiere of the All-New Lexus LM | Lexus | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website Toyota showed off their new EVs all SUVs. Toyota Unveils 2 New bZ Series Models at Auto Shanghai | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website Honda showed off their SUV portfolio with a single car concept. Honda Global | April 18 , 2023 "Honda Exhibits World Premiere of “e:NP2 Prototype,” “e:NS2 Prototype” and “e:N SUV 序” at Auto Shanghai 2023" BMW showed off their all new X1 EV SUV. PRESS STREAMING (bmwgroup.com)

I will totally agree with you that the Olds Alero GLS is a good looking car.

I had the brakes done on the Escalade and at 175K miles the rear bearings were showing wear as I had that start of a bearing howl. So new bearings and boom, so nice and quiet.

It is interesting to see this next to the Tesla 3 and I now realize maybe it is more being a new EV or the color. Clearly differences in the greenhouse but overall shape is near identical between the two. To me Tesla style is so Blah now that they are forgettable and do not stand out on the road when driving unlike Kia/Hyundai or VW where you see one and it stands out from the other autos. Especially the Ford Mach-e stands out and is readily noticeable. I will grant you seeing it this way that the Tesla S is far better than I realized in this side profile comparison. I will revise my earlier statement and say that the current Tesla S is a better looking auto than the VW or Tesla 3. Sadly, having tried to put my frame into one, it fails on interior space for me.

Seems according to this story, the refreshed XT5 & 6 will go to China only. They will stay as is for 2024 model year and then both will be retired as they will be replaced by EVs. Next-Gen Cadillac XT5 Is 'Homeroomed' In China (cadillacsociety.com)

@oldshurst442 Being the upper mid-size class size, not sure what VW means by that. but it is a car and an EV at that. What do you think?

And as I have proven to you, Tesla was a very slow ramp up in EV sales. Tesla - statistics & facts | Statista VW EV Sales by Year. Volkswagen Group global electric vehicle sales | Statista By the 3rd year, VW had surpassed Tesla from 2015 to 2017 and they had been selling EVs since 2008 when they only sold 2,500 units. Yes year 2016 to 2019 was slow ramp with more compliance EVs than real EVs. Yet 2020 sales took off and 2021. Forecasts have VW surpassing Tesla by the end of 2024 in EV sales. They are ramping up faster than Tesla in 2021 was only 173,100 ahead of VW. At the rate VW is ramping up, there is a good chance they could surpass Tesla this year, but for sure I expect VW to surpass them and GM will be coming on strong as they ramp up EV production. This is an Apples to Apples comparison as both results are from the leading statistics supplier Statista. FYI - GM broke 500,000 EV sales globally in 2021 per General Motors global electric vehicle sales | Statista which we know that China is the biggest market for GM right now. Chart: General Motors' EV Sales Are Charging Up | Statista

? Where is @oldshurst442 comments on these cars since he likes Acura.

? I surprised @oldshurst442 has not commented on the car stories yet.

I do have a total lust for Greek Yogurt, it is Bomb.Com amazing.

@oldshurst442 @trinacriabob I will stick with my 3 main meat groups. My Cast Iron butter basted Ribeye. Baby Back Ribs Beef Briskett Beef Kalbi Ribs Chicken Tenders Home Made Pizza Home Made Beef Ramen Chicken Yup went past my 3 meat groups as it is dinner time and I am hungry.

Was driving and unable to snap a picture, but I saw my first Lucid in the wild and have to say that is a nice looking electric car. I also saw again on my way home from PT, an older woman driving a cherry silver base model Magnum station wagon.

Work has been stressful today, but this album has helped me.

I agree, I think it is greatly over priced, but then with only 50 being built, I suspect it will be priced way over that price, close to $100K if a dealer can get it and that makes it just stupid expense.

As an EV car it looks better than anything from Tesla, Mercedes or BMW. Has a bit of style that is either lacking, Looking at you Tesla and Mercedes or is over styled, Looking at you BMW with your massive ugly Kidney grill. I would put it on par with Hyundai / Kia / Genesis / Audi so far.