Random Thoughts Thread

[Drew Dowdell]

What the heck is an Urban SUV?

[Robert Hall]

'luxury urban SUV'...seems like Escalade (and others) has fit that description forever... not intended for off road use, more for city use.   

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

What the heck is an Urban SUV?

Same as a 'soft roader' I guess...something for city use and not off-road.   Though in some cities a small SUV fits that bill while other cities (like Phoenix) size is not an issue. 

[oldshurst442]

 

Nobody in that picture has EVER had the nerve to eat at McDonald's other than Donald McDonald Trump.  Even his kid, Don Jr., probaby was a silver spoon kid eating rich people food.  Kennedy, its in the name...  His family member whose was president had personal chefs in the Whitehouse.  Look at him and Musk, they seem sooooooo uncomfortable and stiff.  Yeah guys, you eat that food with your hands. No gold plated cutlery. Not even plastic cutlery. Your fingers is what you use.   

Elon is a South African. Born there...so probably no Mickey Dees there. And if so, probably too expensive for him to eat it back then.  He did do a tour in Montreal, but I doubt he visited a Ronald MacDonald house... 

 Look at Don Jr.  Who the phoque picks up a Mickey Dees fry container like that???   `With that smirk...

But this is a photo to look like ordinary American folk.  To look as if they are OF the people...the ordinary stupid slobs that voted for them.  Harris said she worked at McDonalds so that is where this is coming from.   But all I see is these 5 clowns MOCKING the AMerican people.  And back to Don Jr's smirk, that smirk says it all...   Its ALL mock.  

The ONLY one that truly LOVES this is Donald himself.   Havent seen him pubicly smile like that is a LOOOOOONG time.  

Bill Clinton and him have yet another thing in common.   Love for young girls. Raping them.  Cheating on their wives and McDonalds.   

God BLESS America!!! 

 

[oldshurst442]

I googled Elon Musk and Wiki says Musk grew up wealthy. I always thought he grew up poor because I thought his dad left his mom and she raised him and his other siblings alone.  ANYway... Elon is the same thing as Kennedy and Don Jr.   They come from privilege.   There is NO McDonald's in their lives.  Never was and never will be.   Phoquing embarrassing that that picture is just for show.

[ccap41]

On 11/11/2024 at 11:03 AM, G. David Felt said:

Yes, it does, but we seem to have many Apple users here and they tend to be at the high end of tech prices.

I agree if anyone is thinking of upgrading TV, Computer, Tablet, Cell Phones, etc. It is better now than to be hit with crazy tariffs due to an idiot that does not understand how tariffs work and how it will exasperate inflation.

I don't follow politics much, because both parties are complete trash, but weren't those tariffs left in place since the last time he was in office? 

On 11/12/2024 at 7:27 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

Anyone have a weird longing for a car they sold or traded a while ago? I don't mean something that got wrecked or stolen, that was out of your control.  Just a car that you traded/sold but now regret doing that?

That hit me hard today for my 2004 CTS. 

I'll always wish for my first car again, 1995 Chevy Beretta Z26. 

If I ever fell into a bunch of money I would absolutely find one and have it freshened up along with paying a shop to put an LS under the hood and making it RWD. I wouldn't need some 4, 5, or 600hp car. I'd be perfectly fine with a bone stock 5.3 making like 350hp or so. 

[ccap41]

On 11/13/2024 at 3:01 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

 

Visited this as my last stop on my trip west, it is amazing. 

Visiting a bunch of Native American sites, The First Nations Museum in Oklahoma City, a ton of Civil war sites, The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, The high school in Little Rock Arkansas that was at the center of the integration controversy, and realizing so much of our country's troubled past really put the last election into perspective. I think that America is like a grafted tree...the root stock of racism, hate, bigotry, nativism, and misogyny will seemingly always spring back up. 

 

The Mound

 

From the top of "Monks Mound" you can see St Louis from the top of the mound. The arch should be very visible in this photo. 

 

The whole park feels very much like a sacred space. I really wanted to hike Black Mesa in the far NW corner of Oklahoma but weather prevented that. You can walk to NM and Colorado from the Black Mesa trail, and it is the highest point on Oklahoma. 

I knew I recognized those Mounds and the name "Cahokia"! 

[oldshurst442]

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I don't follow politics much, because both parties are complete trash, but weren't those tariffs left in place since the last time he was in office? 

I dont know whether the Biden admin nixed them or not.  Lets say that he didnt nix them as Trump actually did say during his campaigning. He said that the Biden admin just looooooves the money coming in that he (Trump) has put into place with those tariffs.  

Regardless though whether those tariffs are there or not...

Trump says that he will introduced more tariffs...  

Trump and many others blame the Biden admin for the inflation that hit us but actual real economists put the blame on Trump's economic policies along with Covid and the way Trump handled it...  

True or not....who is to blame and the saviour all depends on what side of the tracks you lean on.  But in reality, Trump is a snake oil salesman con guy to the Nth degree and tariffs almost ALWAYS lead to inflation. So...there really is only ONE conclusion.  But like I have mentioned before...lets all hope to God that Trump is the second coming of Christ and not the Anti-Christ.  But if I was a bettin' man, Id be putting ALL my money on the latter. 

[oldshurst442]

3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I'll always wish for my first car again, 1995 Chevy Beretta Z26. 

If I ever fell into a bunch of money I would absolutely find one and have it freshened up along with paying a shop to put an LS under the hood and making it RWD. I wouldn't need some 4, 5, or 600hp car. I'd be perfectly fine with a bone stock 5.3 making like 350hp or so. 

 

 

I actually knew that you loved your Beretta. It was the weird wild stuff that I wanted to say. Because of your LS swap and FWD to RWD of said Beretta.  Nobody has ever thought of doing that to that car and it be quite unique...and weird and wild.   And I like it!!! 

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

But in reality, Trump is a snake oil salesman con guy to the Nth degree

I feel this way about every single politician. They're all corrupt and they're so far away from the common person, they have zero conception of a middle class family. 

Trump, Kamala, neither one gives a crap about us. They both just say things to get votes. I'm sure you've heard sound clips of either side flippy flopping on a topic to appease the crowd they're in front of. 

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Because of your LS swap and FWD to RWD of said Beretta.  Nobody has ever thought of doing that to that car and it be quite unique...and weird and wild.   And I like it!!! 

I wish I could say it's a truly unique idea, but it isn't. There has been quite a few Chevy Berettas turned into race cars(drag cars) and they're all RWD. There's even a model kit of a drag Beretta. 

I mostly was RWD, just because. A FWD V8 with ~350HP/tq just doesn't sound as fun. 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-85-7168-chevy-beretta-pro-street--1025592

[G. David Felt]

22 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

I googled Elon Musk and Wiki says Musk grew up wealthy. I always thought he grew up poor because I thought his dad left his mom and she raised him and his other siblings alone.  ANYway... Elon is the same thing as Kennedy and Don Jr.   They come from privilege.   There is NO McDonald's in their lives.  Never was and never will be.   Phoquing embarrassing that that picture is just for show.

Yes, Musk grew up in wealth and Apartheid, he only knows white class spoiled narcissistic life.

5 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I don't follow politics much, because both parties are complete trash, but weren't those tariffs left in place since the last time he was in office? 

Yes, Biden did leave them in place and Trump now wants to put another 60% on top of it. OUCH.

2 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

I dont know whether the Biden admin nixed them or not.  Lets say that he didnt nix them as Trump actually did say during his campaigning. He said that the Biden admin just looooooves the money coming in that he (Trump) has put into place with those tariffs.  

Regardless though whether those tariffs are there or not...

Trump says that he will introduced more tariffs...  

Trump and many others blame the Biden admin for the inflation that hit us but actual real economists put the blame on Trump's economic policies along with Covid and the way Trump handled it...  

True or not....who is to blame and the saviour all depends on what side of the tracks you lean on.  But in reality, Trump is a snake oil salesman con guy to the Nth degree and tariffs almost ALWAYS lead to inflation. So...there really is only ONE conclusion.  But like I have mentioned before...lets all hope to God that Trump is the second coming of Christ and not the Anti-Christ.  But if I was a bettin' man, Id be putting ALL my money on the latter. 

Yes, every educated economist has clearly stated that the Inflation Biden had to deal with was the FAILED policies from Idiot45. 

Being in the tech industry, Biden did not remove any of the tech tariffs and as such, now with Idiot47 placing an additional 60% tariff on Chinese goods, Apple products are about to get crazy expensive and I expect big drop in sales next year of all tech products due to tariffs as Idiot47 has clearly stated 60% on Chinese and 20% on Global, so pretty much the U.S. consumer better get ready to suck up having less money as they pay way more for things and both parties are IDIOTS imho.

[G. David Felt]

54 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I feel this way about every single politician. They're all corrupt and they're so far away from the common person, they have zero conception of a middle class family. 

Trump, Kamala, neither one gives a crap about us. They both just say things to get votes. I'm sure you've heard sound clips of either side flippy flopping on a topic to appease the crowd they're in front of. 

I wish I could say it's a truly unique idea, but it isn't. There has been quite a few Chevy Berettas turned into race cars(drag cars) and they're all RWD. There's even a model kit of a drag Beretta. 

I mostly was RWD, just because. A FWD V8 with ~350HP/tq just doesn't sound as fun. 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-85-7168-chevy-beretta-pro-street--1025592

Agree with the RWD LS V8 swap, that has been done in so many different Chevrolet auto's that had small engines. I had a friend who like me had a Series 5 Chevrolet 1976 Luv Truck that Isuzu made for GM for the NA market, and he swapped out the 4 banger with a LS V8, was totally cool, hard as hell to work on due to the tight space but was so cool to drive and see fly around.

FYI - If you do not see me post around here over the next week or so, it is because I go in Wednesday morning for right knee surgery, so I might be out just sleeping allot.

[oldshurst442]

58 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

 

I wish I could say it's a truly unique idea, but it isn't. There has been quite a few Chevy Berettas turned into race cars(drag cars) and they're all RWD. There's even a model kit of a drag Beretta. 

I mostly was RWD, just because. A FWD V8 with ~350HP/tq just doesn't sound as fun. 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-85-7168-chevy-beretta-pro-street--1025592

 

I never knew this existed.  Ive seen Cavalier drag cars from FWD to RWD.  Ive seen Pontiac Grand Ams from 1992-1998 as such, but never the Beretta.  Ill tell you right now, I havent been living under a rock.    

Cool idea regardless.  

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

Trump, Kamala, neither one gives a crap about us. They both just say things to get votes. I'm sure you've heard sound clips of either side flippy flopping on a topic to appease the crowd they're in front of. 

True.  Trump, Kamala, Trudeau or otherwise.  

And yeah, Ive seen and heard the flip flopping.  

But Id be voting for Harris regardless because the Devil I know inTrump is waaaaaay worse than the Devil I do not know in Harris. Contrary to what the actual saying goes.  Because the Devil I know in Trump is truly destructive on soooooo many fronts.  And we have seen his performance.  On how he often double dips YOUR national security, sensitive information and documents and national monies with his personal finances and interests.  It doesnt matter if you (in general talk the "you" part) think this is how Donald Trump talks and does not mean what he says the way he says it. In HIS case, actions DO speak LOUDER than words... 

 

But I guess that was a loooong time ago.  2016-2020. It was an eternity ago.  And the shyte he pulled off in New York city while he was just a business man bankrupting and screwing his creditors. That was ancient history.  He is not a crook. Nah... 

Grab 'em by the pu&&ie.  Good ole boy talk talking with good ole boys.  Nothing there. Its not as if he cheated on every single wife oif his.  3?  

Its not as if he doesnt have a rape case against him either and was found guilty...

Good guy this Trump fellow.  Good guy.  

Honest. A true patriot.  

[surreal1272]

5 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I don't follow politics much, because both parties are complete trash, but weren't those tariffs left in place since the last time he was in office? 

And prices started going up as a result. He now wants additional 1930s level tariffs without any situational awareness about what actually in the 1930s. Sadly, tariffs are not as easily removed as they are instilled. 

[G. David Felt]

I agree with this economist, I fear 2025 is going to be a very rough year for many folks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-one-veteran-economist-is-doubling-down-on-his-2025-recession-call-after-trump-s-victory/ar-AA1uiC1L?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=90656ce617c545bbe47dbb04a8b198c2&ei=99

Then we have the evidence that China economy is not doing well with 6 months now of contraction in oil use and continued drop in people in China spending money.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-s-pick-for-fracker-in-chief-will-have-a-tough-time-pumping-a-lot-more-oil/ar-AA1uipSx?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=90656ce617c545bbe47dbb04a8b198c2&ei=126

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, G. David Felt said:

FYI - If you do not see me post around here over the next week or so, it is because I go in Wednesday morning for right knee surgery, so I might be out just sleeping allot.

 

[surreal1272]

12 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

And prices started going up as a result. He now wants additional 1930s level tariffs without any situational awareness about what actually HAPPENED in the 1930s. Sadly, tariffs are not as easily removed as they are instilled. 

Correction above:

[A Horse With No Name]

On 11/14/2024 at 7:52 PM, riviera74 said:

it will exacerbate inflation.  Tariffs will do that, unless a nation is on a gold standard.  Then again, currently few people actually care about the results until it hits them in the wallet.

I own everything that I want to own that is imported at the moment. The two big ticket (moderately) items that I wanted (set of speakers, and a bandsaw) bought used at a great price. 

Other than a stylus from Japan (Nagaoka) for my turntable, I doubt I buy much that is imported. I own a ton of clothes. 

 

13 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

See, if I could figure out which knee is bad, I would be happy. About the time the left one heals up, the right one starts getting sore. 

13 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

I agree with this economist, I fear 2025 is going to be a very rough year for many folks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-one-veteran-economist-is-doubling-down-on-his-2025-recession-call-after-trump-s-victory/ar-AA1uiC1L?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=90656ce617c545bbe47dbb04a8b198c2&ei=99

Then we have the evidence that China economy is not doing well with 6 months now of contraction in oil use and continued drop in people in China spending money.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-s-pick-for-fracker-in-chief-will-have-a-tough-time-pumping-a-lot-more-oil/ar-AA1uipSx?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=90656ce617c545bbe47dbb04a8b198c2&ei=126

Sounds like it is a great year to hike, listen to music, and do woodworking. I have a huge stack of lumber, 800 LP albums, and several pair of hiking boots. 

13 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

And prices started going up as a result. He now wants additional 1930s level tariffs without any situational awareness about what actually in the 1930s. Sadly, tariffs are not as easily removed as they are instilled. 

The entire thing is an operation in stupidity. Cutting federal jobs, and Social Security/Medicare will have adverse affects as well.  I don't want to get into politics. Done being invested in it at this point. Want to retire to Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, El Salvador, Uruguay, Portugal or Spain. 

Living for the day I can hike every day rather than work. 

[A Horse With No Name]

14 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

I never knew this existed.  Ive seen Cavalier drag cars from FWD to RWD.  Ive seen Pontiac Grand Ams from 1992-1998 as such, but never the Beretta.  Ill tell you right now, I havent been living under a rock.    

Cool idea regardless.  

True.  Trump, Kamala, Trudeau or otherwise.  

And yeah, Ive seen and heard the flip flopping.  

But Id be voting for Harris regardless because the Devil I know inTrump is waaaaaay worse than the Devil I do not know in Harris. Contrary to what the actual saying goes.  Because the Devil I know in Trump is truly destructive on soooooo many fronts.  And we have seen his performance.  On how he often double dips YOUR national security, sensitive information and documents and national monies with his personal finances and interests.  It doesnt matter if you (in general talk the "you" part) think this is how Donald Trump talks and does not mean what he says the way he says it. In HIS case, actions DO speak LOUDER than words... 

 

But I guess that was a loooong time ago.  2016-2020. It was an eternity ago.  And the shyte he pulled off in New York city while he was just a business man bankrupting and screwing his creditors. That was ancient history.  He is not a crook. Nah... 

Grab 'em by the pu&&ie.  Good ole boy talk talking with good ole boys.  Nothing there. Its not as if he cheated on every single wife oif his.  3?  

Its not as if he doesnt have a rape case against him either and was found guilty...

Good guy this Trump fellow.  Good guy.  

Honest. A true patriot.  

I need to live multiple lives. Always wanted to do drag racing, but got into autocross and SCCCA stuff instead.  So if I could go back and live again, one future/alternate live would be lived a quarter of a mile at a time. 

14 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Yes, Musk grew up in wealth and Apartheid, he only knows white class spoiled narcissistic life.

Yes, Biden did leave them in place and Trump now wants to put another 60% on top of it. OUCH.

Yes, every educated economist has clearly stated that the Inflation Biden had to deal with was the FAILED policies from Idiot45. 

Being in the tech industry, Biden did not remove any of the tech tariffs and as such, now with Idiot47 placing an additional 60% tariff on Chinese goods, Apple products are about to get crazy expensive and I expect big drop in sales next year of all tech products due to tariffs as Idiot47 has clearly stated 60% on Chinese and 20% on Global, so pretty much the U.S. consumer better get ready to suck up having less money as they pay way more for things and both parties are IDIOTS imho.

America has become an idiocracy. 

“I have a foreboding of America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time–when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all of the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; with our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.

And when the dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites now down to 10 seconds or less, lowest-common-denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.”

― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

[A Horse With No Name]

19 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I don't follow politics much, because both parties are complete trash, but weren't those tariffs left in place since the last time he was in office? 

I'll always wish for my first car again, 1995 Chevy Beretta Z26. 

If I ever fell into a bunch of money I would absolutely find one and have it freshened up along with paying a shop to put an LS under the hood and making it RWD. I wouldn't need some 4, 5, or 600hp car. I'd be perfectly fine with a bone stock 5.3 making like 350hp or so. 

That was a cool car for its era. Right now, I would be happy to own something simple to go along the Ranger, which now has 101,000 miles on it due to all of my road trips. You were right about the Ranger, it might actually be my all time favorite vehicle. 

For what it is worth, I usually hate vehicles before I love them. I have no idea why. As a kid, hated 55-57 Chevy's and First gen Mustangs, then fell in love with them. Two of my favorite cars were a 55 Chevy 2 door and a 66 Mustang Fastback. 

Hated Miatas and then  spent several years driving them and racing them. 

Ranger has done well for me. Fuel economy has dropped at bit at 100k, even after a full tune up. 

On 11/17/2024 at 6:49 PM, oldshurst442 said:

 

Nobody in that picture has EVER had the nerve to eat at McDonald's other than Donald McDonald Trump.  Even his kid, Don Jr., probaby was a silver spoon kid eating rich people food.  Kennedy, its in the name...  His family member whose was president had personal chefs in the Whitehouse.  Look at him and Musk, they seem sooooooo uncomfortable and stiff.  Yeah guys, you eat that food with your hands. No gold plated cutlery. Not even plastic cutlery. Your fingers is what you use.   

Elon is a South African. Born there...so probably no Mickey Dees there. And if so, probably too expensive for him to eat it back then.  He did do a tour in Montreal, but I doubt he visited a Ronald MacDonald house... 

 Look at Don Jr.  Who the phoque picks up a Mickey Dees fry container like that???   `With that smirk...

But this is a photo to look like ordinary American folk.  To look as if they are OF the people...the ordinary stupid slobs that voted for them.  Harris said she worked at McDonalds so that is where this is coming from.   But all I see is these 5 clowns MOCKING the AMerican people.  And back to Don Jr's smirk, that smirk says it all...   Its ALL mock.  

The ONLY one that truly LOVES this is Donald himself.   Havent seen him pubicly smile like that is a LOOOOOONG time.  

Bill Clinton and him have yet another thing in common.   Love for young girls. Raping them.  Cheating on their wives and McDonalds.   

God BLESS America!!! 

 

America has made its choice, I am done with loyalty to the country. 

On 11/17/2024 at 4:01 PM, Robert Hall said:

'luxury urban SUV'...seems like Escalade (and others) has fit that description forever... not intended for off road use, more for city use.   

Same as a 'soft roader' I guess...something for city use and not off-road.   Though in some cities a small SUV fits that bill while other cities (like Phoenix) size is not an issue. 

Actually I loved visiting Phoenix, and something like a Subaru Crosstrek would be perfect for there. So many places in Arizona to go explore. You didn't like Arizona but it actually is one of my favorite states. If it were not 110 degrees 9 months of the year, and about to run out of water, I could see living there. 

On 11/17/2024 at 2:40 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

What the heck is an Urban SUV?

God only knows. It brings out a Mad Max sort of vibe...be cool to buy one of those Chevy Colorado ZR2 based military vehicles for urban use. 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 11/15/2024 at 5:37 AM, trinacriabob said:

No, everything should be left as is. 

It's much like how Seattle's outline has all these different areas to explore.  And that most people don't know about.

It just reminds me of how many more things I need to see in NYC that are unchecked on my list.  Each borough, other than Manhattan, has some nice beaches.  Jamaica Bay, mostly in Queens, is huge and is protected as a park or wildlife refuge.

I could spend a year just exploring the place. Sadly, lots of other places I want to explore. 

On 11/16/2024 at 2:41 PM, G. David Felt said:

Seems Bently in 2026 will reveal and put on sale the first uber luxury Urban SUV EV.

Bentley News 2024 : Bentley announces Beyond100+ strategic plan to 2035 – creates first ever Luxury Urban SUV

Pretty much no other details in the press release other than this sole image.

Another Ugly unreliable piece of crap....at insane pricing. 

On 11/17/2024 at 1:39 PM, G. David Felt said:

Reading road trip comparisons like this just re-enforce how fast the EV world is changing in a matter of a few years.

The EV Road-Trip Experience Has Actually Gotten Much Better

This right here tells me that Toyota needs to have this on by default and not leave it to third parties to sell as stupid crazy prices.

We Test a Catalytic Converter Shield, the Toyota Prius Upgrade You Never Want to Use

Getting ready to read the EV portion of this. Thank you. Thinking an EV might do well alongside the Ranger. 

[A Horse With No Name]

That actually was a great article. Thank you. 

We need to discuss entry level electric cars (non Tesla, Elon is a jerk.)

[A Horse With No Name]

Two 61 Olds at back end of video, 4 doors. Cathartic watching cars get crushed. 

Beatles cover, music to enjoy Tuesday to. 

 

The Cello in this is just to die for. 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

Mexico City will be my next big trip, although I am going to Virginia and the Carolinas next month. 

 

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

I so want to travel. Going places just makes me want to see more. 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

That actually was a great article. Thank you. 

We need to discuss entry level electric cars (non Tesla, Elon is a jerk.)

Today Kia will show off at the LA auto show their EV3 compact with mid size interior space, selling out in Europe and Asia where it has been released, seems this $30,000 EV might be the home run hit people are looking for with 300 miles of range.

Chevrolet needs to get the Ultium BOLT out ASAP, otherwise EV3 will eat their lunch I think.

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, G. David Felt said:

Today Kia will show off at the LA auto show their EV3 compact with mid size interior space, selling out in Europe and Asia where it has been released, seems this $30,000 EV might be the home run hit people are looking for with 300 miles of range.

Chevrolet needs to get the Ultium BOLT out ASAP, otherwise EV3 will eat their lunch I think.

  I googled really quickly to find out about the EV3 release date. Keep in mind its a quick search. No real searching.  And I read that the EV3 is due out for 2026.

If memory serves me right, the Bolt is due for mid 2025.  I may be wrong about that.  Now, barring any setbacks and/or rollbacks. the Chevorlet is due out before the KIA. And the KIA also has to deal with setbacks and rollbacks.  But yeah, Chevrolet has to get the Bolt out ASAP without any issues and quality problems.  

But it aint KIA that Im fearing. Its Trump and his impending ideologies regarding EVs that wikl be a setback to the Bolt, but not JUST the Bolt, but ANY EVs sold in the US but THAT will inlcude the KIA EV3 with the same Trump inflicted problems. 

I see a far bigger problem.  Elon is attached to him like lamprey are attched to Great Lake fish.  Will Trumpster apply the same limitations on Telsa EVs as he might with other EVs?  And if he will, how will Musk react?  And if not, how will KIA, Hyundai, GM, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes, VW and others react when they ALL have changed their business model to change to EVs and the WORLD has adapted to BEING an EV future?  Its just not going to be that everybody will JJUST have ICEVs for the American market and EVs for the other markets.  And its incredibly bad for the Detroit automakers.  The Detroit 2.5 WILL go bankrupt  if Trump will favour anti-EV tactics... 

[ccap41]

2 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

I googled really quickly to find out about the EV3 release date. Keep in mind its a quick search. No real searching.  And I read that the EV3 is due out for 2026.

If memory serves me right, the Bolt is due for mid 2025.  I may be wrong about that.  Now, barring any setbacks and/or rollbacks. the Chevrolet is due out before the KIA. And the KIA also has to deal with setbacks and rollbacks.  But yeah, Chevrolet has to get the Bolt out ASAP without any issues and quality problems.  

My guess would be they're only like 4-6 months apart, maybe less. That 2026 could turn into model year which could turn into middle of next year. I would never guess sooner but Kia/Hyundai seem to be on a roll. 

The Bolt needs to look better. Period. It could be for sale before or after the EV3, but if it still looks like a Bolt, it won't do well again. 

[trinacriabob]

5 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

We need to discuss entry level electric cars (non Tesla, Elon is a jerk.)

Fortunately, most people view Elon negatively.

Sadly, some people may have "listened" to him. "Listening to Prozac" might be better than doing that.  

[Robert Hall]

21 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

Fortunately, most people view Elon negatively.

  

Unfortunately, I share a birthday with Elon. 

[trinacriabob]

5 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Mexico City will be my next big trip, although I am going to Virginia and the Carolinas next month. 

I don't know.  I have no doubt Mexico City is interesting.  I learned to speak Spanish from college courses, traveling, and living in California, and I don't know if I'd go.  Acapulco, which was always painted like the Honolulu of Mexico while growing up as well as a preferred stop for ships, is now really sketchy.  The border towns are definitely sketchy.

I went to Rio de Janeiro for 4 days almost 20 years ago.  I had one dicey situation that I read and got away from, but I can't get the place out of my head.  That said, everyone, including Brazilians, have told me it's now even worse.  It's stunning, but I'll pass.

As much as I hate organized tours, I feel they might the way to go if checking out "fringe" places.

I'd say Madrid over Mexico City.  Madrid is an impressive city, but so damn hot and dry during the summer.

[oldshurst442]

45 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

My guess would be they're only like 4-6 months apart, maybe less. That 2026 could turn into model year which could turn into middle of next year. I would never guess sooner but Kia/Hyundai seem to be on a roll. 

The Bolt needs to look better. Period. It could be for sale before or after the EV3, but if it still looks like a Bolt, it won't do well again. 

 

I agree that the Bolt needs to look better than it did.  Indeed it was ugly.   However, that didnt stop the Bolt from being the #2 seller in EV sales fro several years before it got canned.  Yeah...it was a top seller and its sales only got higher every year until it was stopped being produced.  

Hyundai/KIA are on a roll with their EVs. That will only continue with the EV3 here in North America.  Chevrolet better get it right with the Bolt 2.0 as THIS time around the Bolt will have a competitor.  The Tesla Model 3 and it were not really in the same niche for them to be considered competitors.  RWD/AWD 'sport' sedan versus FWD compact car/ compact CUV.   The Nissan Leaf DID have an edge in sales with the Bolt but Nissan never tended to it. Never gave it some love and affection to make it matter and make it to be wanted by the EV buying public.  Somehow Chevrolet did that with the Bolt, ironically, DESPITE when they decided to can it.  They brought it back because they saw a small backlash from that decision from the EV Chevrolet buying public. 

[G. David Felt]

4 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

  I googled really quickly to find out about the EV3 release date. Keep in mind its a quick search. No real searching.  And I read that the EV3 is due out for 2026.

If memory serves me right, the Bolt is due for mid 2025.  I may be wrong about that.  Now, barring any setbacks and/or rollbacks. the Chevorlet is due out before the KIA. And the KIA also has to deal with setbacks and rollbacks.  But yeah, Chevrolet has to get the Bolt out ASAP without any issues and quality problems.  

But it aint KIA that Im fearing. Its Trump and his impending ideologies regarding EVs that wikl be a setback to the Bolt, but not JUST the Bolt, but ANY EVs sold in the US but THAT will inlcude the KIA EV3 with the same Trump inflicted problems. 

I see a far bigger problem.  Elon is attached to him like lamprey are attched to Great Lake fish.  Will Trumpster apply the same limitations on Telsa EVs as he might with other EVs?  And if he will, how will Musk react?  And if not, how will KIA, Hyundai, GM, Stellantis, BMW, Mercedes, VW and others react when they ALL have changed their business model to change to EVs and the WORLD has adapted to BEING an EV future?  Its just not going to be that everybody will JJUST have ICEVs for the American market and EVs for the other markets.  And its incredibly bad for the Detroit automakers.  The Detroit 2.5 WILL go bankrupt  if Trump will favour anti-EV tactics... 

Everything I have read including on the Korean Auto websites tend to say 2025 as a 2026 model.

You can watch the reveal here on the 21st.

KIA AMERICA TO UNVEIL FIVE NEW VEHICLES AT UPCOMING LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW

Narcissistic Musk has stated he is fine with Trump killing IRA, the problem is the Billions and Billions committed to battery plants that are in solid RED States that the house and senate members have now come out and said that IRA CANNOT be killed as it will cost the states billions and thousands of jobs.

Trump won on economy lies and being the only person who could fix manufacturing in the US. Kia has already scaled back the production of their hottest EV9 as they fear the loss of the IRA rebate on day one if Trump follows through and via President Order kills IRA.

I suspect he is going to face major backlash over this, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Democrats and other groups are also demanding that if he kills IRA, they want the Approximately $650 billion in subsidies paid to the oil companies to be killed off also.

Very interesting times we are in.

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

My guess would be they're only like 4-6 months apart, maybe less. That 2026 could turn into model year which could turn into middle of next year. I would never guess sooner but Kia/Hyundai seem to be on a roll. 

The Bolt needs to look better. Period. It could be for sale before or after the EV3, but if it still looks like a Bolt, it won't do well again. 

Agree that I think the Bolt and EV3 will go on sales very close to each other in 2025 as 2026 models.

I also agree that if Chevrolet does not do a better style job on the BOLT, they will lose out to the EV3. Bigger issue is that the BOLT is going to need to be more than FWD. EV3 will be available in FWD and AWD according to Kia as they are selling it in other markets. As such, Chevrolet is going to have to step up their game in Style and options of drive train.

[G. David Felt]

 

 

[trinacriabob]

Three items for me that would be highly important in deciding which, and when, for an EV:

1

Price

2

Range

3

Ease of charging ... I'm talking availability of places and time to do it

Honorable mention:

Attractive enough ... it can't be dowdy, looking like some appliance or robot

[oldshurst442]

3 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Unfortunately, I share a birthday with Elon. 

Fortunately, you dont share his jerk attitude and his lack of self awareness of being said jerk.

 

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Three items for me that would be highly important in deciding which, and when, for an EV:

1

Price

2

Range

3

Ease of charging ... I'm talking availability of places and time to do it

Honorable mention:

Attractive enough ... it can't be dowdy, looking like some appliance or robot

So question, being 800V, I know the Kia will charge faster than anything else out there when using DC fast chargers.

11kW Level 2 home charging is great as that is what my EV9 has and roughly 4 to 6 hours later the auto is fully charged.

EV3 is supposed to have 300 miles, is that enough for you to consider the EV3 and the style in the video above, would it be of interest to you if priced starting at $30,000 FWD or $32,500 AWD with a 280 mile range.

Just interested in what your thoughts are as we move forward as companies that have built EV's cannot at this point stop and not produce them when they are engineered and being built for markets.

Is the EV3 a possible contender knowing that a new Chevrolet BOLT is coming?

22 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Fortunately, you dont share his jerk attitude and his lack of self awareness of being said jerk.

 

Totally agree, dates are just dates, @Robert Hall is not the narcissist Musk is, but a cool friendly guy, one of the C&G family!  

[G. David Felt]

Very interesting, seems new funny money is on the way.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/goodbye-to-these-bills-target-announces-it-will-not-accept-these-dollars-starting-in-december/ar-AA1umriY?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=0f0f94dbd45c4f50e28c4da964b477a6&ei=25

quote: Alongside these new security measures, the Federal Reserve plans to release updated designs for the $5, $20, $50, and $100 bills in the coming years. The updated $50 bill will debut in 2028, the $20 bill in 2030, the $5 bill between 2032 and 2035, and the $100 bill between 2034 and 2038.

 

[G. David Felt]

Based on treasury bonds, I suspect a solid recession starting next year.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/what-s-behind-the-shocking-sudden-rise-in-interest-rates-over-the-past-few-weeks/ar-AA1ulBxL?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=0f0f94dbd45c4f50e28c4da964b477a6&ei=67