Tech

[DigDug]

I'm not that interested in New Tech but my Boys are.
They just bought this 3D printer. Kind of cool.

[bentin]

Thats probably how my dad felt about my Commodore 64.

[gaseousclay]

Jun 13, 2017 20:51:47 GMT -6 bentin said:

Thats probably how my dad felt about my Commodore 64.

did he catch you playing Stroker 64?

[bentin]

Jun 14, 2017 8:46:02 GMT -6 gaseousclay said:

Jun 13, 2017 20:51:47 GMT -6 bentin said:

Thats probably how my dad felt about my Commodore 64.

did he catch you playing Stroker 64?

Haha, he was never home.

[nate001]

Just got solar panels installed at my house. They aren't officially "on" yet cuz they still need to pass inspection, but I got to see our electrical meter running backward when they were testing the panels after installation. That alone was worth it...very cool. With a tax credit, the money I'll save on electricity and the money I'll make selling surplus electricity back to the grid, our installer estimates a payback period of 12-13 years (and keep in mind I live in Minnesota). We are also on the waiting list for a powerwall battery from Tesla. Probably be a at least a few months until delivery. They are pricey, but they also qualify for a 30% tax credit (edit: they qualify as long as they are 75% charged by solar).

[bentin]

We're on the list for a Model 3 and also about to put a deposit on a Mission E.

[nate001]

Sept 29, 2017 8:48:18 GMT -6 bentin said:

We're on the list for a Model 3 and also about to put a deposit on a Mission E.

Mission E.  Goddam.  
We're kinda starting to think about plug in hybrids and/or electrics as well.  We'll have to see how the market evolves in the next few months, but I think we'll probably end up with something like the Volvo XC60 plug in and then a smaller electric like a Leaf maybe.  The model 3 is certainly a nice option too, but it would be sort of a tweener for us.  With two kids that are growing like crazy, we probably need a bigger car for trips longer than an electric car can manage on one charge and then a smaller car (Leaf/Bolt/something else) that we'd just use for commuting to work.  The model 3 seems too big for the smaller car and too small for the bigger car.  I'm also excited to see what the new XC40 looks like, but it sounds like a plug in version might not hit the states for awhile.  I like small cars, which is funny since I'm 6'5".  We have a Prius now that I love, but my wife thinks the kids are getting smushed in the back.  I think they can live with it.  I sat in the back of a '78 Civic until I was a 6'2" 13 year old.  

[bentin]

The XC40 is out now. You can configure a gas one on the US Volvo site already. A V70 plug in would also fall into our want list, or a pure EV. The Mission E is now rumored to start at $75k, but like any P car, will become absurd with options, no doubt.

Haven't had a chance to see a Model 3 yet, but may try to get back to LA in a few months and would certainly have a better chance finding one at a dealer there. I'm 6'2" with a nearly 3 year old and drive a GTI and the wife has a 3er that she feels is way too big. So the Model 3 might be perfect for us.

I can't really see having only EVs though. Gotta keep an ICE for road trips. We're headed to Austin tomorrow morning and a Model 3 Long Range could easily make it, but would have to sit on my sister's 110v plug the whole time we were there in order to get us home. And getting to Santa Fe to see my mom would be a mess of bad Supercharger sites and sitting around.

I greatly prefer the way BMW handles things for i3 and i8 owners, you can borrow a 5er for five days a year free and get it for more at a cheap rate. But Tesla clearly can't offer that. Hopefully Volvo and Posche will offer something similar.

[nate001]

Borrowing a 500 series for a few days is a nice perk. Unfortunately then you would have to own an i3 which is an abomination. The i8 is cool looking, but isn't even in the realm of possibility for me because its a superhero car.

Is the V70 available?  I can't find it on the volvo website.

Also, dude, if you're laying out >$75k for an electric car, you might as well drop $25k on solar panels to run the damn thing.

[nate001]

Got a Bolt This week. It’s so awesome.

[nate001]

bentin, did you ever get the model 3 or the mission e? In addition to the Bolt, I am waiting delivery of a XC60 plug in. Should be arriving in a month or so.

[bentin]

Sept 27, 2018 15:49:44 GMT -6 nate001 said:

bentin, did you ever get the model 3 or the mission e? In addition to the Bolt, I am waiting delivery of a XC60 plug in. Should be arriving in a month or so.

This site keeps crashing. Short answer, no.

[bentin]

GTI was totaled, parking garage collapsed at work. Bought another one yesterday.

[bentin]

Wife is set on either an X3 M40i or an ix3.

[nate001]

Sept 28, 2018 10:47:34 GMT -6 bentin said:

GTI was totaled, parking garage collapsed at work. Bought another one yesterday.

Holy crap!  Everyone OK?

[nate001]

Sept 28, 2018 10:47:56 GMT -6 bentin said:

Wife is set on either an X3 M40i or an ix3.

When is the ix3 supposed to be available in the US?

[bentin]

Sept 28, 2018 11:35:14 GMT -6 nate001 said:

Sept 28, 2018 10:47:56 GMT -6 bentin said:

Wife is set on either an X3 M40i or an ix3.

When is the ix3 supposed to be available in the US?

Likely not until next summer at the earliest. X5 is eating up the spotlight right now.

[bentin]

Sept 28, 2018 11:32:15 GMT -6 nate001 said:

Sept 28, 2018 10:47:34 GMT -6 bentin said:

GTI was totaled, parking garage collapsed at work. Bought another one yesterday.

Holy crap!  Everyone OK?

Crazy stuff but no one was hurt. Couple of people were walking out to their car and saw it drop.