Automobiles

[Too Tall]

In the spirit of the season, Ice Racing in the Alps. E-trophe Andros

Gosh looks like the Stillwater/Bayport crossing in Feb. Just another day ;)

[rec head]

Good piece on the EV charging issue that occurred in Chicago earlier in the month.

https://blog.consumerguide.com/tesla...NjQ1Mi4wLjAuMA..

I didn't see anything more than headlines about this and when a friend asked I basically surmised the same conclusions as the article. Thanks for the validation. We have 2 EVs now and couldn't imagine having one without home charging. But there are a lot of people in cities that don't.

[Saab2000]

I didn't see anything more than headlines about this and when a friend asked I basically surmised the same conclusions as the article. Thanks for the validation. We have 2 EVs now and couldn't imagine having one without home charging. But there are a lot of people in cities that don't.

Right now, if you’re going to own an EV it’s pretty important to be able to charge either at home (level 2 - 30-48 amps overnight or all afternoon) or at a place you park for hours per day (workplace, etc.) for a reasonable price. DC fast charging is available and great for road tripping but not for daily usage.

I was recently in Dallas for five weeks and could charge at my employer’s lot. They had eight charging stalls in the lot where I parked (more in others) and I charged about twice a week. It throttled depending on time of day and day of week and how many chargers were full. On a Sunday morning they weren’t very full. On a Tuesday afternoon they were all full. Never got more than 36 amps but that was enough for multiple hours parked while I was busy doing my thing. A daily commuter, even from quite a ways away, would be very well served.

Don’t buy one expecting to be reliant on fast charging at fast DC chargers. That’s bad for a bunch of reasons.

I’ve had the Y now for 14 months mostly good experience but as I’ve mentioned before here, it’s a great appliance. It’s not a premium driving machine. If they added a washer and dryer nobody would blink.

[Marvinlungwitz]

I came across the recent story, and the pic I posted with the stolen headlamps, on a Porsche forum, and the story originally came from The Sun:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/2548...ghts-cannabis/

However, reports of cannabis growers using Porsche headlamps goes back over a decade (addendum: As Echappist mentioned.)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...nnabis-growers

https://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/02/...a-grow-lights/

https://www.businessinsider.com/mari...dlamps-2012-11

[robin3mj]

Anyone driving a Z3 these days, and have any opinions?
My dad had one of the first ones, the ice blue version that featured in the James Bond film and it was an absolute hoot to drive on the backroads of central Jersey.

I am seriously tempted.

[VTMike]

Anyone driving a Z3 these days, and have any opinions?

We have an '04 Z4...so pretty close.
It's a hoot. More refined feeling (to me) than my parent's Miata; but not the comfort of our other vehicles (5-series and X5).
We picked ours up, second-hand, in '17. First need to spend anything on it came up this fall. Typical BMW cooling-system fatigue. At right around 100k I did a proactive front-end refresh along with all cooling system components, brake flush and tranny flush. Hope to get a lot more trouble-free miles from it.
All-in-all, I think it's a perfect fun-car for our needs/interests.

[robin3mj]

We have an '04 Z4...so pretty close.
It's a hoot. More refined feeling (to me) than my parent's Miata; but not the comfort of our other vehicles (5-series and X5).
We picked ours up, second-hand, in '17. First need to spend anything on it came up this fall. Typical BMW cooling-system fatigue. At right around 100k I did a proactive front-end refresh along with all cooling system components, brake flush and tranny flush. Hope to get a lot more trouble-free miles from it.
All-in-all, I think it's a perfect fun-car for our needs/interests.

Nice. My mother in law had a Z4 for a bit and loved it. Probably a tad more modern and refined than the 3, but I’m a sucker for the lines of the older one. Would also consider an early Gen Boxster or Cayman but my understanding is the BMW is a little simpler and repairs likely to be somewhat cheaper when required. All relatively speaking, obv.

[sk_tle]

Note that the Z4 and Z3 are entirely different cars and they differ a lot in term of driving feel. Apart than I believe the M versions, most Z4 have an electric power assist in the direction that isolate a lot the driver from the road feel. It makes for a dull driving experience compared to the Z3 with its hydro assisted steering. It is like driving with a laptop trackpad.

So I'd definitely choose the Z3 if you are looking for a more analog and sensory experience.

[VTMike]

I'm sure sk_tie is giving solid advice, but our Z4 gives a good bit of road feel simply by design with the longer hood and the low clearance.
The Z4 gives TONS more road feel than our F10 ('14 5-series), F15 ('14 X5), F30 (our son's '14 3-series) and even my old E46 ('04 330xi M-Sport trim). It's been too long to remember our old E30, but our vintage Z4 feels very fun to drive.
I know the newer iterations are wildly different...

I lust after a Porsche so I, too, wonder about the Boxster. I'm hard-pressed to find anything other than praise for everything about them from build-quality to performance. But my wife has earned the right to call our Z4 HER car (driving it with the top-down when temps dip as low as the mid-20s, Fahrenheit whereas I see the practicality and improved comfort of my 5-series when it's less than perfect outside). And I'm pretty sure I'd need to find new living quarters if I were to try to replace it.

Drive one and see if it scratches your itch.

[72gmc]

Oh Jorn ….



I’m only halfway through as I post this. What a charming little machine.

[robin3mj]

Anyone driving a Z3 these days, and have any opinions?
My dad had one of the first ones, the ice blue version that featured in the James Bond film and it was an absolute hoot to drive on the backroads of central Jersey.

I am seriously tempted.

Just pulled trigger. Year 2000. 32k miles.
Hope it pans out.

[j44ke]

Just pulled trigger. Year 2000. 32k miles.
Hope it pans out.

Well that was quick. Hope the car is too.

[robin3mj]

Well that was quick. Hope the car is too.

Yes, but truth be told I’ve been looking and researching for the better part of a year now.
Took me until more recently to drum up the courage to write the check.

[VTMike]

Good for you!
Looks like it's in outstanding condition.

[sk_tle]

Fun fact. The Z3 2.3 has a 2.5L engine and not a 2.3L.

[j44ke]

Red. Buy to restore through North American Overland. Hubba hubba.





These guys do some pretty incredible renovation/upgrades.

[claritycycler]

Very nice Jeep Cherokee(2 door, unlike 4 door Wagoneers) 4wd spotted on neighborhood walk, introduced in 1974 so guessing this is within a few yrs of that

[ides1056]

I had one of those. You did not have to plow- it would go through 2' of snow without blinking.

[rmplum]

Anybody in the 'salon want next crack at this paperback? Finished it last night - $10 to cover shipping to the US and it's yours. Leave the guy a good review online if you enjoy it to pass on the karma.

The author was featured on Matt Farrah's podcast a few weeks ago.

GTR book.jpg

RP
-with Skyline fever as of late.

[robin3mj]

Anybody in the 'salon want next crack at this paperback? Finished it last night - $10 to cover shipping to the US and it's yours. Leave the guy a good review online if you enjoy it to pass on the karma.

The author was featured on Matt Farrah's podcast a few weeks ago.

GTR book.jpg

RP
-with Skyline fever as of late.

Thanks for posting. Snagged the Kindle version for my upcoming travels.

Actually spotted a deep green Skyline on my street this week, right hand drive. It was pretty beat up and looked more like a Silvia/200 at first until I did a double take. I guess they’re not all tuner garage queens and Instagram trophies.