Afterthoughts: The Escape Machine

Yeah, I don't love the idea of axing the full BEV Lightning. I thoroughly believe it will only be temporarily anyway but still feels wrong to get rid of it now.  I understand the whole "extended range" thing is a steppingstone into a full BEV... but it feels unnecessary. Just make an EV with the proper technology to get 300 miles for the small battery and 400-450 miles with a larger battery. Be it battery chemistry (or all of the technology that goes into various things such as the elements and solid-state technology), battery size and/or aerodynamics, but that's what needs to take a leap forward. Maybe more importantly, price. They need to keep prices in check. Only so many people can afford near-100k vehicles regardless of how good the vehicle is. 

Funny about that 'test'.  They misspelled 'fazed'. 

So the Lightning was too expensive and the solution is to add an ICE motor and more complexity on top of that.  Can't wait to see the $99,995  F-150 XLT EREV.

I did that quiz that told me what state was most suited to my personality.  I did it 2 times a few weeks apart and I kept saying Texas.  How does relaxing, drinking hot tea, not liking crowds, and liking the mountains line up with Texas? So I just did another one that would be able to see what region I'm from.  This one is a hoot.  I am from diagonally across the country from the region indicated and I spent 21 of my first 25 years there.  Now, every place I've been for work or school, or even if just a party, the Northeast is inevitably where the people that I reel in come from ... like a freaking magnet.  It never fails. Happy Christmas Eve.

Yeah...it is a beautiful road for what I could tell from the videos I see.  Like you @Robert Hall from seeing all kinds of video media of it.  I do admire the fact that you actually drove on it.  Plus all of your travels of your country that you did and continue to do.   @A Horse With No Name and @trinacriabob also have that respect from me for the same reasons. Matt Farah does plenty of car reviews on this road. At least I think its part of this road. Or when Jay Leno references to get out of Los Angeles and head to the mountains where there are no people he says.  In a different time, I would have loved to visit California.  I was California dreamin' during my teen years and always loved the sights and dreams of California.  Then in my 30s or 40s, I wasnt into California as much.  Then JUST before trump became president for the 2nd time, I was falling in love with California again (minus that hollywood creepiness) only to be happy to shyte on ALL of the usa including california. I know I have become a douchebag these past few months regarding your country, but the political climate of your country has made me bitter and hateful.  I know I shouldnt be lumping ALL of the crap that is maga and trumpism into one huge bowl of hate for all things american, but it is what it is... There are many parts of the usa that I NEED to see before I die.  California is one of these parts that I NEED to experience.  And for all the maga deplorable bullshyte that is florida, the Keys are another part I NEED to see.  Video gaming talent being lost due to excessive speeds (on roads that seem to be heavenly to auto enthusiasts) is sad indeed.   For the human element of someone dying...  There will be others to take his place.  What is sadder is that he could actually afford "track days" on SEVERAL California race tracks.  He could have asked Ferrari (paid an additional  small fee) to have Ferrari, the OEM, to tune his Ferrari with THEIR engineers and race crew to the optimal race track settings of ANY race track IN THE WORLD and he could have raced his SF 90 to the car's fullest capabilities without the risks of killing innocent peoples on public streets. And if he chose an additional option on his Ferrari purchase, Ferrari race crews could have also taught him to reach his  fullest capacity of his talents. And he could have afforded all those things too.   What I find extremely frustrating is that he has money to feel like a superstar with his $800 000 Ferrari racing his car in all kinds of exotic locations having a personal Ferrari pit crew cheering him on, and if he chose, to have high priced escorts in scantily clad clothing as cheerleaders but no...he chose to have street take-over/cars and coffee hoodlums cheer on his and hid friend's demise. While a couple of them stood their in disbelief and yelled "oh shyte" and "oh phoque"  and dragged his friend's body like it was diseased away from the burning wreck, most of them fled the scene like cockroaches they were.  I guess this was the way he valued his life.  Driving fast in the lowest common denominator kind of way and dying in that same low common denominator way. THIS is what is frustrating to me, he had the money that he worked hard for to enjoy the prestige of owning and racing a Ferrari...  Instead, he put innocent people at risk for cheap thrills.   I understand why poorer people drive fast, especially on intoxicating roads like Angeles Crest, because I understand the adrenaline rushes that come from that environment.  I do not condone it, I understand it. But he, he had the money to die a more dignified death with the same adrenaline rush. But THAT also wouldnt involve in risking any innocent peoples lives either.  At least with me, if I ever remember his death in the future sometime, I will remember him as the clown who drove too fast and killed his friend.