4 ms·

I really want this car but I live in a full size SUV or F150 and above dominated area. Kind of need to be on guard. Plus charging is still too rare to just go a

by ianai 4y ago

I really want this car but I live in a full size SUV or F150 and above dominated area. Kind of need to be on guard. Plus charging is still too rare to just go and not worry about accommodating.

josephcsible 4y ago
> I really want this car but I live in a full size SUV or F150 and above dominated area. Kind of need to be on guard. This feels like a weird reason to not want a small car. Consider that a lot of highways are dominated by semis, but nobody suggests buying a semi to commute in.
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  What if one does not spend most of their time driving on highways near 18 wheelers? I would rank getting t boned by a pickup truck running a red light or a stop sign much more likely than me getting into it with an 18 wheeler. Also, the discrepancy between 18 wheeler and individual car (even a large pickup) at highway speeds is so big that trying to mitigate it is pointless. Also, I would assume the probability of a drunk driver driving a pickup truck is much higher than a drunk driver driving an 18 wheeler.
- pleb_nz 4y ago
  I find it intriguing you call this a small car. Seems like it would be a medium sized car in my part of the world. Minis and Suzuki swifts and the like would considered small cars.
  - ianai 4y ago
    It's a full size car. I'm seeing 5.7-6.3" ground clearance, too, and they can be fitted with 20" wheels which may be the reason for the 6.3" or maybe it goes higher?. I really do like this car. I just wish I didn't live in fear of being side swiped or rear ended by massive trucks/SUVs. Benefits of living in a rural area with lots of retirees. Notably we also can get snow that shuts the place down in May/September.
    - hedora 4y ago
      If/when you do buy an EV, check the low temperature battery life. My EV has a heat pump, but still looses a ton of range under 0F-32F or so (which doesn't matter at all around here). This varies widely from brand to brand. On the other hand, the traction control is eerily good thanks to the computer controlled throttle and instantaneous response from the motor (it is RWD, not 4WD, and performs close our 4WD RAM on mud that is difficult to walk through)
- prirun 4y ago
  Semi drivers are also more careful & qualified IMO. Put an 18-30 y/o behind a huge SUV, talking on the phone while driving, and it's a little different situation.
- coryrc 4y ago
  Semi drivers are professionals and held to some standards. Giant pickups are given to 16 year-old boys who murder and get away with it. https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-16-year-old-texas-teen-who-killed-4-in-drunken-wreck-settles-some-not-all-cases https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-16-year-old-texas-teen-...
derwiki 4y ago
Unfortunately I feel similarly, especially with a small child. SF has essentially stopped enforcing traffic violations, drivers are getting reckless, and a RAV4 is the smallest vehicle that feels safe to me.
- Tempest1981 4y ago
  Stopped? I saw a bicycle get ticketed recently. Seemed rather strict.
  - derwiki 4y ago
    https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article/sfpd-traffic-tickets-17355651.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article... > ‘What exactly are they doing?’: 45 S.F. traffic cops issue just 10 citations combined a day
- ianai 4y ago
  Exactly. I've had people try to enter my lane on the highway in my RAV4 Prime! Technically it can happen with any vehicle, but aging demographics sure don't breed confidence.
- Tiktaalik 4y ago
  It's really sad that it's come to this. Regulators asleep at the wheel and they let the "cars" get too big.
  - bpbp-mango 4y ago
    The regulators are heavily funded by the auto industry, creates an environment where they don't want to upset the hand that feeds them. I absolutely agree the "cars" have become too big, as well as too heavy. This has flow on effects on stopping distances, the force when there is a crash, road damage, parking spots and lanes needing to get bigger and so on
hedora 4y ago
EV's tend to have more crush space than ICE cars, and also weigh more than a comparable sized ICE car. This model is energy efficient enough to easily do a 20-40 mile commute (each way) and charge overnight on a 120V outlet. Are you sure chargers are still rare in your area? They are popping up rapidly this year thanks to Biden's infrastructure plan.
randrews9 4y ago
This doesn't feel like a complete assessment of the risk. Truck rollover risk is higher. Additionally, your risk of having a tragic collision with a pedestrian, which you would need to live with, is significantly higher.
- duped 4y ago
  The problem isn't getting hit so much as everyone's headlights being level with your rear view mirror
  - rasz 4y ago
    oh, but regulation is bad, and annual car inspections are oppressive ... Afaik US is the only civilized country on this planed without legit technical car inspections.
    - duped 4y ago
      The US isn't one place. Different states have different laws. My state has mandated safety inspections in addition to emissions.
      - coryrc 4y ago
        They don't ban those pedestrian-killing tall trucks. I'm not sure checking people's brakes is saving many lives.
        dnadler 4y ago
        Well, those trucks would kill a lot more pedestrians if their brakes didn't work, so...
      - rasz 4y ago
        Which state is that? the only one that tries (CA)? Oklahoma - "inspector" doesnt even come out outside to look at the car he is certifying title change from _salvage to rebuild_, multiple times for a dude doing copart salvage flips selling dangerous wrecks to people (YT "Auto Auction Rebuilds", dude is shady af). Florida - Taylor Ray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5wt8FpNy10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5wt8FpNy10 "LS Miata ABANDONED NEIGHBORHOOD TESTING!" LS powered full racecar straight piped miata, has title, inspection was going in and getting a stamp. Oklahoma - no inspection at all, straight piped work trucks with rusted out frames are the norm. Kansas - Hoovies Garage https://youtu.be/ZlwjXhdNd3Y?t=433 https://youtu.be/ZlwjXhdNd3Y?t=433 "Why buying an old Shelby GT350 race car WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA" Full leaking fuel racecar with no speedo lights windows, inspector doesnt bother to even see it in person. Utah - M539 Restorations https://youtu.be/_a9rCI2zfPM?t=524 https://youtu.be/_a9rCI2zfPM?t=524 "Buying & Fixing Broken BMW E46 M3 5200 Miles Away From Home - Project Salt Lake: Part 1" tire shop "inspection station", only interested in plugging in OBD to do emissions, doesnt bother to come out look at the car, car so broken (wobbly wheel, etc) it cant pass emissions, gets temp tag anyway Meanwhile in EU Germany https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0SUSvQd_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0SUSvQd_Q Poland 10 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smJqlpQ2qyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smJqlpQ2qyE tldr: brakes, tires, suspension, steering, corrosion, glass, wipers, emissions, lights (not only the mere presence, but full headlamp pattern test and certification, US symmetric lights are not legal), horn, number matching, millage gets logged. All standardized and going into same database. In Germany they go overboard requiring TUV certified everything nonstandard on the car, things like custom bodykits, non oem rims, bullbar, towing hitch need TUV.

by ianai 4y ago

I really want this car but I live in a full size SUV or F150 and above dominated area. Kind of need to be on guard. Plus charging is still too rare to just go and not worry about accommodating.

josephcsible 4y ago

> I really want this car but I live in a full size SUV or F150 and above dominated area. Kind of need to be on guard. This feels like a weird reason to not want a small car. Consider that a lot of highways are dominated by semis, but nobody suggests buying a semi to commute in.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
What if one does not spend most of their time driving on highways near 18 wheelers? I would rank getting t boned by a pickup truck running a red light or a stop sign much more likely than me getting into it with an 18 wheeler. Also, the discrepancy between 18 wheeler and individual car (even a large pickup) at highway speeds is so big that trying to mitigate it is pointless. Also, I would assume the probability of a drunk driver driving a pickup truck is much higher than a drunk driver driving an 18 wheeler.
pleb_nz 4y ago
I find it intriguing you call this a small car. Seems like it would be a medium sized car in my part of the world. Minis and Suzuki swifts and the like would considered small cars.
- ianai 4y ago
  It's a full size car. I'm seeing 5.7-6.3" ground clearance, too, and they can be fitted with 20" wheels which may be the reason for the 6.3" or maybe it goes higher?. I really do like this car. I just wish I didn't live in fear of being side swiped or rear ended by massive trucks/SUVs. Benefits of living in a rural area with lots of retirees. Notably we also can get snow that shuts the place down in May/September.
  - hedora 4y ago
    If/when you do buy an EV, check the low temperature battery life. My EV has a heat pump, but still looses a ton of range under 0F-32F or so (which doesn't matter at all around here). This varies widely from brand to brand. On the other hand, the traction control is eerily good thanks to the computer controlled throttle and instantaneous response from the motor (it is RWD, not 4WD, and performs close our 4WD RAM on mud that is difficult to walk through)
prirun 4y ago
Semi drivers are also more careful & qualified IMO. Put an 18-30 y/o behind a huge SUV, talking on the phone while driving, and it's a little different situation.
coryrc 4y ago
Semi drivers are professionals and held to some standards. Giant pickups are given to 16 year-old boys who murder and get away with it. https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-16-year-old-texas-teen-who-killed-4-in-drunken-wreck-settles-some-not-all-cases https://www.foxnews.com/us/family-of-16-year-old-texas-teen-...

derwiki 4y ago

Unfortunately I feel similarly, especially with a small child. SF has essentially stopped enforcing traffic violations, drivers are getting reckless, and a RAV4 is the smallest vehicle that feels safe to me.

Tempest1981 4y ago
Stopped? I saw a bicycle get ticketed recently. Seemed rather strict.
- derwiki 4y ago
  https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article/sfpd-traffic-tickets-17355651.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/bayarea/heatherknight/article... > ‘What exactly are they doing?’: 45 S.F. traffic cops issue just 10 citations combined a day
ianai 4y ago
Exactly. I've had people try to enter my lane on the highway in my RAV4 Prime! Technically it can happen with any vehicle, but aging demographics sure don't breed confidence.
Tiktaalik 4y ago
It's really sad that it's come to this. Regulators asleep at the wheel and they let the "cars" get too big.
- bpbp-mango 4y ago
  The regulators are heavily funded by the auto industry, creates an environment where they don't want to upset the hand that feeds them. I absolutely agree the "cars" have become too big, as well as too heavy. This has flow on effects on stopping distances, the force when there is a crash, road damage, parking spots and lanes needing to get bigger and so on

hedora 4y ago

EV's tend to have more crush space than ICE cars, and also weigh more than a comparable sized ICE car. This model is energy efficient enough to easily do a 20-40 mile commute (each way) and charge overnight on a 120V outlet. Are you sure chargers are still rare in your area? They are popping up rapidly this year thanks to Biden's infrastructure plan.

randrews9 4y ago

This doesn't feel like a complete assessment of the risk. Truck rollover risk is higher. Additionally, your risk of having a tragic collision with a pedestrian, which you would need to live with, is significantly higher.

duped 4y ago
The problem isn't getting hit so much as everyone's headlights being level with your rear view mirror
- rasz 4y ago
  oh, but regulation is bad, and annual car inspections are oppressive ... Afaik US is the only civilized country on this planed without legit technical car inspections.
  - duped 4y ago
    The US isn't one place. Different states have different laws. My state has mandated safety inspections in addition to emissions.
    - coryrc 4y ago
      They don't ban those pedestrian-killing tall trucks. I'm not sure checking people's brakes is saving many lives.
      - dnadler 4y ago
        Well, those trucks would kill a lot more pedestrians if their brakes didn't work, so...
    - rasz 4y ago
      Which state is that? the only one that tries (CA)? Oklahoma - "inspector" doesnt even come out outside to look at the car he is certifying title change from _salvage to rebuild_, multiple times for a dude doing copart salvage flips selling dangerous wrecks to people (YT "Auto Auction Rebuilds", dude is shady af). Florida - Taylor Ray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5wt8FpNy10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5wt8FpNy10 "LS Miata ABANDONED NEIGHBORHOOD TESTING!" LS powered full racecar straight piped miata, has title, inspection was going in and getting a stamp. Oklahoma - no inspection at all, straight piped work trucks with rusted out frames are the norm. Kansas - Hoovies Garage https://youtu.be/ZlwjXhdNd3Y?t=433 https://youtu.be/ZlwjXhdNd3Y?t=433 "Why buying an old Shelby GT350 race car WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA" Full leaking fuel racecar with no speedo lights windows, inspector doesnt bother to even see it in person. Utah - M539 Restorations https://youtu.be/_a9rCI2zfPM?t=524 https://youtu.be/_a9rCI2zfPM?t=524 "Buying & Fixing Broken BMW E46 M3 5200 Miles Away From Home - Project Salt Lake: Part 1" tire shop "inspection station", only interested in plugging in OBD to do emissions, doesnt bother to come out look at the car, car so broken (wobbly wheel, etc) it cant pass emissions, gets temp tag anyway Meanwhile in EU Germany https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0SUSvQd_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0SUSvQd_Q Poland 10 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smJqlpQ2qyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smJqlpQ2qyE tldr: brakes, tires, suspension, steering, corrosion, glass, wipers, emissions, lights (not only the mere presence, but full headlamp pattern test and certification, US symmetric lights are not legal), horn, number matching, millage gets logged. All standardized and going into same database. In Germany they go overboard requiring TUV certified everything nonstandard on the car, things like custom bodykits, non oem rims, bullbar, towing hitch need TUV.