Car Chat

[shp4man]

The propellant in spray cans is butane, so it's entirely possible.

[Soup DeVille]

What seems amazing is that "the driver sustained minor injuries."  Presuming he was inside the car at the time of the explosion, whether from air fresher or some other fuel, that he survived seems incredible.

Butane is a low-temperature combustible. Burns are typically minor; the major source of injury from low temperature explosions is flying debris. When you're near the center of the explosion, there aren't as many things to go flying.

Still, 90% chance it was crack/heroin related.

[veeman]

I'm assuming he got out of the car before it became an inferno. 

[Raza]

My buddy just got an over-Wi-Fi update to his 3 to give him a 0-60 of 3.9 seconds instead of 4.4.  Cost him $2,000.  The future is bold and terrifying.

[CaminoRacer]

My buddy just got an over-Wi-Fi update to his 3 to give him a 0-60 of 3.9 seconds instead of 4.4.  Cost him $2,000.  The future is bold and terrifying.

[Laconian]

IIRC Tesla ships all cars with the same battery pack and uses software to lock you out of some of the capacity. Just like how AMD disables four perfectly fine, functional CPU cores for the 3900x.

[Soup DeVille]

IIRC Tesla ships all cars with the same battery pack and uses software to lock you out of some of the capacity. Just like how AMD disables four perfectly fine, functional CPU cores for the 3900x.

Yep, same battery pack and same cooling/inverter package (which is the real limit on power).

The real difference between Model S models is software.

[2o6]

Side note, I didn't know that the Model 3 includes "gas savings" in its base price. A base model 3 is 42k.

[r0tor]

IIRC Tesla ships all cars with the same battery pack and uses software to lock you out of some of the capacity. Just like how AMD disables four perfectly fine, functional CPU cores for the 3900x.

This isn't exactly new in the industry... There are a surprising amount of features found on new cars waiting to be coded on eventhough you didn't pay for it.  It's just a matter of it its cheaper to not include it or cheaper to streamline tooling and manufacturing by including it and coding it off.

[Soup DeVille]

This isn't exactly new in the industry... There are a surprising amount of features found on new cars waiting to be coded on eventhough you didn't pay for it.  It's just a matter of it its cheaper to not include it or cheaper to streamline tooling and manufacturing by including it and coding it off.

Not uncommon for things like cruise control, or memory seats. It is unusual for drivetrains.

[SJ_GTI]

Not uncommon for things like cruise control, or memory seats. It is unusual for drivetrains.

Yeah, what Tesla is doing sound like if VW put the same 2.0T into the base Golf and the Golf R and just changed the software for the different version. technically it could be done, but it doesn't seem cost effective for ICE vehicles. The math could be different for EV's though.

[MrH]

No, they lose their ass on the lower storage models.

[SJ_GTI]

No, they lose their ass on the lower storage models.

Math might not be that simple though. They might lose their ass on the lower storage models regardless of what battery they put in.

Let me take you through an example.

They need to sell 100 models, 50 low storage and 50 high storage. If they purchase 100 high storage batteries their price is 100 each. If they choose to buy 50 low storage batteries and 50 high storage batteries, the low storage batteries cost 75 each and the high storage batteries cost 150 each.

In this case the total cost to purchase batteries in scenario 1 is 10,000 (100 x 100) and in scenario 2 it is 11,250 (50*75+50*150). So even if the lower storage models lose less money overall they are still better off offering the single battery.

I am not saying this IS the case, I am just saying that pointing out that they are losing (a lot of) money on a given model (or all their models) doesn't mean anything with regard to the math.

[r0tor]

Not uncommon for things like cruise control, or memory seats. It is unusual for drivetrains.

Giulia 2.0T is sold as a 200hp or 280hp model... Only difference is the price and the ECU tune

[Soup DeVille]

Giulia 2.0T is sold as a 200hp or 280hp model... Only difference is the price and the ECU tune

Which is, as I said, unusual.

[AutobahnSHO]

My SHO had speaker wiring going from deck to amp in trunk back to deck to speakers. Regular Taurus had same wiring with just a jumper in the trunk instead of amp.

[Galaxy]

Yeah, what Tesla is doing sound like if VW put the same 2.0T into the base Golf and the Golf R and just changed the software for the different version. technically it could be done, but it doesn't seem cost effective for ICE vehicles. The math could be different for EV's though.

That is literally what is done in Europe where there are more engine options available.

A curiosity is what BMW does. The lower, and higher versions have different parts from the factory, but if you order replacement parts you get the ones from the stronger version.

[Soup DeVille]

My SHO had speaker wiring going from deck to amp in trunk back to deck to speakers. Regular Taurus had same wiring with just a jumper in the trunk instead of amp.

That seems like the same thing my wagon has.

Anyways, that's pretty common, its a way to reduce parts and supplier complexity; but also for things that are 100% there; especially now that touchscreens control so much and extra buttons aren't needed.

[2o6]

It feels like GM and Ford, especially GM lately don't give a shit about making cars people want. They have half a hit, then follow it up with a lot of duds

[r0tor]

The "buy 'Murican" crowd has always made the big 3 lazy

[MX793]

Which is, as I said, unusual.

I think it's gotten pretty common with European cars, since regulations have largely capped their engines at 2.0L so they just use different programming to get different power levels to differentiate trims.  BMW does it with their 2.0Ts.  Pretty sure VWAG does it with their turbo engines.

[Soup DeVille]

I think it's gotten pretty common with European cars, since regulations have largely capped their engines at 2.0L so they just use different programming to get different power levels to differentiate trims.  BMW does it with their 2.0Ts.  Pretty sure VWAG does it with their turbo engines.

That may be true. I think in most cases they at least have different exhausts though.

[veeman]

It feels like GM and Ford, especially GM lately don't give a shit about making cars people want. They have half a hit, then follow it up with a lot of duds

I think Chevrolet makes some really good SUVs (Blazer, Tahoe/Suburban) but prices the up level versions of them way to high.  Their Lambda platform (Traverse, Acadia, Enclave) is a good value. 

[MX793]

It feels like GM and Ford, especially GM lately don't give a shit about making cars people want. They have half a hit, then follow it up with a lot of duds

I mean, Ford did discontinue all their cars and GM discontinued most of theirs...

[MrH]

Math might not be that simple though. They might lose their ass on the lower storage models regardless of what battery they put in.

Let me take you through an example.

They need to sell 100 models, 50 low storage and 50 high storage. If they purchase 100 high storage batteries their price is 100 each. If they choose to buy 50 low storage batteries and 50 high storage batteries, the low storage batteries cost 75 each and the high storage batteries cost 150 each.

In this case the total cost to purchase batteries in scenario 1 is 10,000 (100 x 100) and in scenario 2 it is 11,250 (50*75+50*150). So even if the lower storage models lose less money overall they are still better off offering the single battery.

I am not saying this IS the case, I am just saying that pointing out that they are losing (a lot of) money on a given model (or all their models) doesn't mean anything with regard to the math.

Yes, I know how math works.  Thank you for the tutorial. 

[MrH]

The EU has lost it's mind.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/12/amid-emissions-clampdown-brits-face-reduced-access-to-34-mpg-mazda/

The 2.0 liter Miata creates too much CO2?

[cawimmer430]

The EU has lost it's mind.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/12/amid-emissions-clampdown-brits-face-reduced-access-to-34-mpg-mazda/

The 2.0 liter Miata creates too much CO2?

That's nothing.

Beginning in 2021 every newly-made car is supposed to have a CO2 emission rating of 95 g / km (so I guess in US terms that's 3.4 ounces of CO2 per 0.62 miles). This value is not even achievable with the most fuel efficient gasoline or diesel small cars. They want to force people into electric mobility.

[RomanChariot]

If automakers can't make cars that meet the regulations people will either switch to electric or just decide to drive their older, dirtier cars for longer. I'm sure they will all buy electric cars because bureaucrats regulations never have unintended consequences.

[Soup DeVille]

If automakers can't make cars that meet the regulations people will either switch to electric or just decide to drive their older, dirtier cars for longer. I'm sure they will all buy electric cars because bureaucrats regulations never have unintended consequences.

New car glider programs!

Buy a rolling chassis of your choice and have an LS installed in it for a
fraction of the price of a new 2.0T

[RomanChariot]

New car glider programs!

Buy a rolling chassis of your choice and have an LS installed in it for a
fraction of the price of a new 2.0T

I'm in!