G. David Felt

Stirred

WOW, Some very cool news and I know some will really like, looking @ocnblu will love this confirmation. BRONCO to have 7sp manual transmission with a Crawl gear for the 4x4. https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/2021-bronco-s-seven-speed-manual-will-boast-a-low-range-crawl-gear/ar-BB15lMbd?ocid=msedgntp Ford Executive is now saying the Bronco will be superior in every way to the Wrangler. https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/ford-exec-talks-smack-says-bronco-will-be-superior-to-wrangler/ar-BB15jACj?ocid=msedgntp More Leaked photos's of the Bronco. https://www.motor1.com/news/403527/2021-ford-bronco-leaked-again/?utm_source=msn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=msn-feed https://www.motor1.com/news/403191/2021-ford-bronco-possible-leak/?utm_source=msn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=msn-feed 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood with 427

Bond

Overall, I tolerate the masks, I find it hard to breath through my N95 mask and the wife who is Korean and used to masks as are our kids have washable ones and so use them when in stores, but then put them into a paperbag upon getting back into the auto, then hand sanitizer before touching anything else in the auto. I have tried the paper ones, tried the cloth ones and the big size of my face causes the exhaled air to go up and fog my glasses, so back to the N95 which has a rubber seal under my eyes so it does not affect my glasses, breath in through my nose, out through the mouth to go out the front exhaust port. Over all Tolerable as I said, Other than our Costco runs and Korean grocery store run, the once a month run to Home Depot, anything else is Amazon and we stay socially distant from all family and friend for now till a vaccine is available. Just not taking the chances as so many others in HOT states of infection are. Zoom calls with family and friends works for us.

WOW ? https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-coronavirus-cases-world-map/

? Wonder how they are sanitizing the rental auto's with Covid-19 raging in Florida?

French

This is what I have heard here from the local collision repair shop, they say no one really likes them on the inside as too tight and when it comes to a collision, they seem to crumple like a Bud Light Beer Can making repairs very hard. Wonder if this is due to the design of the unibody construction. Seems to be a throw away auto if in an accident.

Wedgie

So your saying that $249 a month for 36 months is too much for people to afford a Bolt? Looking at the time machine of past, GM had it at $349 last summer. Even that is much cheaper than many other ICE options. I think the bigger issue is the lack of Marketing by GM for the Bolt and the same for Nissan as the leaf is in the same price range. Yes I agree with you that Tesla are way over priced for what you get, but I think in many regards, the lack of information, marketing and dealer training is what also holds back EV sales. IMHO

Face

Did ya try the Rav4 Hybrid, everyone I know says it is night and day different than the rest of the Rav4's and once you drive one, you wonder how you could ever drive a traditional ICE version let alone many of the competition products. I am interested to know if you did test drive one what you thought compared to the commercial reviews. Or the less options is due to the bulk of society wants a certain image, certain jones jones competition of being seen in the same type of auto. I use my 4x4 / AWD all the time off road and up on the mountain passes during winter and yet the bulk of the folks in my cul-d-sac never go out especially if it is a little icy here in the suburbs. As such, very much a jones jones thing has led to the death of the car over the bulk of everyone wanting a cuv/suv or truck.

Bet the local fleet dealers dumped the vans from inventory very cheaply to get them moved and off the lot. I rarely see them at the dealerships anymore when I was out and about. I live between two nissan dealers in my area, one down by costco to the south and one up north by business costco. They both like the Mercedes-Benze dealer used to carry a ton of the vans, now nothing that you can find, all special order.

I am going to disagree that it is unproven. With most people having smartphones, tablets, laptops and so many other electric products, charging and having a battery operated product is not unproven, mostly just unknown and the best way to do that is bring out the trucks and suvs and have driver days where people can stop by, take it for a spin and see how they like it compared to an ICE. Most people who have taken an EV for a test drive have quickly made the change over to regen breaking from traditional breaking and found the instant torque to be very delightful.

Bose

Your right, you will be dead by the time they are mainstream in your area. For others they are becoming main stream which is why on the West coast you have charging everywhere and see so many. Once full size trucks are available, the change will happen even faster and jump again once full size EV SUVs are available.

Make a Firebird inspired EV Pony car for the Buick label. Can cover China and import it here for those that want a green, fast pony car, EV style.

Hummer

Regular folks do suffer especially when those that have the expendable cash flow continue to purchase European or Asian products over American options. As such, you become part of the problem buying MB over a GM or Ford product. As such leading to the death of American business for the sake of supporting an out of country company. It is a choice and I respect your choice to choose European over American or Asian. We all have that right under our constitution. Yet do not talk about Americans building American business when you do not support it. Jeff Bezo DOES NOT care about the source as it is a global market, what he cares about is building his American Business to serve the needs of the American market. Creating American jobs, putting Americans to work. Yes the warehouse and delivery jobs are not medium income jobs, but they are jobs that put people to work and Amazon does employ 10's of thousands that do work on all the tech that Amazon uses which are medium to high paying jobs. Stop focusing on the one who is a multi-cultural supporting business leader that is creating jobs and focus on the needs to adjust those that want racial inequality. Socialism will never work as everyone has varying degrees of work ethic and drive, but we can make a difference when we stop looking at skin color, sexual orientation or beliefs be them religious or not and focus on treating all humans as equal. We do not need to defund police, we need to demilitarize the police and give them the tools to work with society while protecting us from the criminal element. I believe many here if not all believe in the right to have the best life possible and work to their level of hard work to earn a living. You have a right to buy what ever you want, it is your money. I respect that. We need to think more on how we treat each other during good and bad times. If we stop being human with care for all, we then loose our humanity. A Quote for the day: “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” ― R.J. Palacio, Wonder This is where I believe GM could benefit. Keep the C7 around as an entry level sports car for those that want ICE at a lower price. Camaro become the EV pony car for those that want green focused fun fast auto. Both live on as one in the EV era and one closing out the ICE era before becoming EV too at the high end.

Shame Nissan did not look to the green crowd and bring their Electric vans that are doing well in China and Japan and starting to take off in Europe here earlier. Is decent delivery van. If GM does get their EV Van out for delivery companies, they could really wrap up the bulk of the market fast.

Shade

June 1927 Stevens Pass Stevens Pass modern times

Be interesting to see if it actually happens now that Covid-19 is hitting the world hard. I think products like this are aimed for the chopping block by financially weak companies of which Nissan falls into. One has to wonder and question the future product road maps for all auto makers right now. Hope it still comes out, but who knows.

People