Of Couse It Was Always Going To Be Bait And Switch

[mowens]

I don't mind working on cars as long as I have the time and space. I spent too many nights doing things like rebuilding a carburetor (yes, I'm that old) so I can drive to work the next day, though. That and yard work. Anymore when it comes to things like that I ask myself "how much is it worth to me to have someone else do it". And then, "how many hours would I have to work to pay for it".
Basically, I've gotten lazy in my old age.

[jstell]

rebuilding a carburetor (yes, I'm that old) so I can drive to work the next day

At one point a few decades ago I had a GS550 that was my daily, and only transpo.  And I got the brilliant idea that I wanted to put a jet kit in it. Fiddled around with it over the weekend, but the first several nights of the work week I was in the garage pulling the carbs out, making an adjustment, squeezing them back into the manifold boots and then getting the stock airbox flanges clamped back around all four carbs.  One of those nights my adjustment made it so much worse in a test ride around the neighborhood, I had to take them out to set it back, and get them back in again the same night so I could get to work in the morning!  Ugh!

[SuperHoneyBadger]

We own a Highlander Hybrid with 270k miles and it's been fantastic, but we need to replace it within the year and aren't even considering an EV. Another hybrid is definitely on the table though.

Like Doug, I pay cash for my cars and don't mind doing my own maintenance. My preference for RWD manual vehicles means there aren't a lot of choices anymore.

I'm quite miffed that Toyota is stopping the Highlander hybrid altogether this year, and going full EV. I think it's a bad call for North America's roads to not have a mid-sized hybrid SUV in the lineup. And having to step up to Grand Highlander just to get a hybrid is a pity. For all the listed reasons above an EV suffers for long trips still. And I doubt we'll see a hot swappable battery system any time soon, if ever.

Also, are you eyeing up the 2028 GR86? Might be the only 6MT RWD hybrid we'll ever see. I've driven a few of the earlier models of the FR-S and GT86, they are very fun little cars.

Lately I tried to get into the new Supra but I literally did not fit, I was crumpled into the passenger seat on a very VERY fast but uncomfortable ride.

[CNCAppsJames]

Automakers "could" make hot swappable batteries, the tradeoff would be the added expense. Probably $X,000's per vehicle. So whatever the cost is multiply is by a factor of two at minimum and that will be the added cost per vehicle.  

When I worked in the automotive manufacturing world, I learned the bean counters in that arena measure costs much differently than we do if for no other reason than for scale. You and I see a $1.00 price difference in a superior component and think "Duh... why wouldn't we do that?" The automotive bean counter see millions of dollars if not $10's of millions in added cost. If the component will live the life of the warranty or exceed it by some margin, that becomes the overriding factor.

At least in my experience. 

 

[Bucky Cornstarch]

We're likely to buy our next Highlander used CPO, so will be able to get a Hybrid. Last time I was at the Toyota dealership a new Highlander Hybrid was north of $70k. For a Toyota. Ouch.

Love the GR86/FRS cars and have considered one for a daily/track car, but thhose needs are currently filled by my BMW 330 and '72 911. Wife is talking about wanting yo get a sporty car for a daily (leaving the SUV for weekend duty) and we have discussed getting her a Boxster or Toyobaru.

[MIL-TFP-41]

There's a solution for that.  You could get an EV.

I don't fit into most vehicles, which would leave me with the cybertruck. I would have to kick my own ass if I drove one of those ugly fucking things, so that's out.

[pmartin]

Yup, the Cybertruck is Elon's Edsel for sure.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

Yup, the Cybertruck is Elon's Edsel for sure.

I'm consistently shocked by how many I see driving around town

[gcode]

Yup, the Cybertruck is Elon's Edsel for sure.

I don't know about that.
In SoCal they are very common. I've even seen a few out here in the middle of Nowhere's Vil, Arkansas.

I believe they are no longer being produced, but Tesla said the CyberTruck would be a limited production vehicle from day one.
Personally I wouldn't even think of buying one. Between their heavy price and massive size I have zero use for something like that. I don't think I could put the door down if I tried to park one in my garage.

[CNCAppsJames]

I'm consistently shocked by how many I see driving around town

I am as well. That thing is ugly as sin.... for the life of me I cannot figure out 1) why that thing even made it off the drawing board, and 2) why so many people own them. 

[gcode]

I'm wondering what insurance costs on those thing.
They weight several tons will demolish most cars.
A regular sedan getting t-boned one of those will need body bags to clean up the mess.

and even in minor fender benders, all those sharp edges will cost a fortune to repair.

I'll bet the insurance companies total them after even minor wrecks.

[YoDoug]

I am as well. That thing is ugly as sin.... for the life of me I cannot figure out 1) why that thing even made it off the drawing board, and 2) why so many people own them.

I'm still waiting for day that an internal Tesla email gets leaked that talks about some kind of bet that his followers are so loyal they would buy the ugliest vehicle ever made. It's the only thing that could explain how that happened.

[CNCAppsJames]

I'm still waiting for day that an internal Tesla email gets leaked that talks about some kind of bet that his followers are so loyal they would buy the ugliest vehicle ever made. It's the only thing that could explain how that happened.

That is the ONLY thing that makes sense.  

[jstell]

It's the only thing that could explain how that happened.

That and ketamine.
But definitely hype.
Remember it's indestructible.
Bullet-proof glass and all...
(until about 20-sec into this clip)

[SuperHoneyBadger]

and even in minor fender benders, all those sharp edges will cost a fortune to repair.

I'll bet the insurance companies total them after even minor wrecks.

To be fair, that's ALL Teslas. When the Model S was only a few years old, they were getting written off all over the place for fender dings and small body damage. IIRC  was something about the sensors behind the bodywork needing a specific thickness of paint plus calibration costs after the repairs.