Would you have an electric car if you had the money for a new car and were in the market for one?

[Count Steer]

Surprisingly the test pass rate is lower in automatics than in manuals....which is a bit weird.

[Mr. Dazzle]

And if you have a powerwall/battery at home you can charge that too.

My parents have said powerwall, roof solar and an EV. They basically don't pay for electricity (or petrol) any more - the combination of their own generation and using power when it's very cheap, or even better when they pay YOU, means their bill is pennies. The standing charge is the only significant aspect.

What was the total investment to get there, and when does that investment "balance-out" with the previous situation?


(really only asking for curiosity: we live in a thatched, listed, cottage with parking on the other side of the road: there's no way we're getting permission for solar or have the infrastructure for a leccy car.)

Think they spent around £10k, not including the car. my Dad worked it out at 7 years to repay, before he'd factored in the fuel saving on the car.

I'm considering just the power wall aspect of it. Annoyingly panels aren't that expensive and they're coming down, getting them up on your roof adds loads to the cost.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Surprisingly the test pass rate is lower in automatics than in manuals....which is a bit weird.

Probably because loads of people who just do auto tests find driving challenging for one reason or another, so fail more?

No one makes manual electric cars apart from very very niche stuff. It's even a bit of a stretch to call them autos, they have a very simple transmission! Nearly all of them are one direct drive fixed ratio gear, no clutch, nuffin.

[Count Steer]

Surprisingly the test pass rate is lower in automatics than in manuals....which is a bit weird.

Probably because loads of people who just do auto tests find driving challenging for one reason or another, so fail more?

I wondered if it was because manuals are more complicated to drive so people take longer to learn and are picking up more road sense stuff along the way.

Could be that the automatic people are taking the test too soon.

Maybe.

[Mussels]

My kids want to do an automatic test because they think it's easier, I don't think an auto only license is restrictive anymore but the attitude will be.

[KungFooBob]

Picked the new motor up this evening.

Had my first unsupervised drive down the bypass just now. What a stupid stupid car. At least on a superbike you're sort of leant into the acceleration, in a car that fast it just pins you to the seat and re-arranges your insides.

I love it.

I even like the synthetic noise it makes in Sports + when you floor it.

Only two minor issues. I keep setting the emergency breaking indicators flashing and I've not worked out how to turn it off yet. The seat squab bolsters are too shallow, the back rest ones are ok.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Not sure you can turn them off....

[KungFooBob]

Not sure you can turn them off....

Google AI suggests I can change the sensitivity, if it wasn't for this dashed idleness I'd go out and check in the car.

If not then I'm sure I can do it in BimmerCode.

[Dodgy69]

Picked the new motor up this evening.

Had my first unsupervised drive down the bypass just now. What a stupid stupid car. At least on a superbike you're sort of leant into the acceleration, in a car that fast it just pins you to the seat and re-arranges your insides.

I love it.

I even like the synthetic noise it makes in Sports + when you floor it.

Only two minor issues. I keep setting the emergency breaking indicators flashing and I've not worked out how to turn it off yet. The seat squab bolsters are too shallow, the back rest ones are ok.

Can't see the pic's.

[KungFooBob]

Picked the new motor up this evening.

Had my first unsupervised drive down the bypass just now. What a stupid stupid car. At least on a superbike you're sort of leant into the acceleration, in a car that fast it just pins you to the seat and re-arranges your insides.

I love it.

I even like the synthetic noise it makes in Sports + when you floor it.

Only two minor issues. I keep setting the emergency breaking indicators flashing and I've not worked out how to turn it off yet. The seat squab bolsters are too shallow, the back rest ones are ok.

Can't see the pic's.

If it wasn't for this dashed idleness I'd go out and take some, but for now here's one I prepared earlier...

[Dodgy69]

Can you fit 2 folding ebikes, a pretty big rucksack and a packet of wine gums in the back. ???

[KungFooBob]

Can you fit 2 folding ebikes, a pretty big rucksack and a packet of wine gums in the back. ???

Probably, it's a hatch back and has 40/20/40 folding rear seats.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Picked the new motor up this evening.

Had my first unsupervised drive down the bypass just now. What a stupid stupid car. At least on a superbike you're sort of leant into the acceleration, in a car that fast it just pins you to the seat and re-arranges your insides.

I love it.

I even like the synthetic noise it makes in Sports + when you floor it.

Only two minor issues. I keep setting the emergency breaking indicators flashing and I've not worked out how to turn it off yet. The seat squab bolsters are too shallow, the back rest ones are ok.

Can't see the pic's.

If it wasn't for this dashed idleness I'd go out and take some, but for now here's one I prepared earlier...

Don't tell fibs, you parked it in an unlit car park and now you can't find it can you?

[Dodgy69]

Is it faster than a Tesla.??

[KungFooBob]

Can't see the pic's.

If it wasn't for this dashed idleness I'd go out and take some, but for now here's one I prepared earlier...

Don't tell fibs, you parked it in an unlit car park and now you can't find it can you?

That's why I'm having dayglo pink M Power stickers all over it, like the old MG X-Power ones.

[Mr. Dazzle]

[KungFooBob]

3.2 miles per kw on the commute this morning without really trying.

Now charging at work for free!

[Mr. Dazzle]

m/kWh don't matter all that much when the charging is free

Even at 7p a unit though that's about 275mpg cost equivalent. In a face melting super saloon.

[KungFooBob]

I need to find a nice long empty straight road to try out the launch control, apparently the car shakes like it's winding up before you let go of the brake.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'd guess the motors are taking all the slack out of the system - what little of it there is, basically just one gear and the driveshafts - before it launches. Or it's just an effect put in for a laugh.