Car Chat

[r0tor]

My problem is they are launching this thing as a showcase of their new Stla architecture...

- It sucks as a muscle car.  That segment wants a V8 and the experience that goes with it.  Not a set of speakers where the exhaust tips should be.  The hurricane I6 ICE version will have decent performance - but it's still going to be a tough sell.

- As a BEV it's pretty run of the mill current gen BEV and absolutely not next gen.  It gigantic, it's heavy, it's range sucks, it's a 400V architecture, doesn't have NACS, isnt that fast, charging rate isn't that great...

Just not anything that pushed the BEV needle at all.  Which would be fine if Stellantis was just getting their feet wet and wasn't hell bent on converting a bunch of brands to 100% BEV on this platform over the next few years.

[veeman]

I really like this car. It's slightly bigger and a lot heavier than the outgoing ICE V8 model and you can turn off the fake engine sound if you want. Stellantis did not optimize the aerodynamics or tires for efficiency but instead looks and performance, but the range is still decent. Given how heavy and big the car is, I'd expect the ride to be really good. I'd love it as a daily driver. It's also AWD. I don't care too much about how it would handle on a track.

> $60 grand for cheapest model is expensive but I paid really close to that for my Kia EV6.

[CaminoRacer]

I'll be curious to see it in person.

[r0tor]

I really like this car. It's slightly bigger and a lot heavier than the outgoing ICE V8 model and you can turn off the fake engine sound if you want. Stellantis did not optimize the aerodynamics or tires for efficiency but instead looks and performance, but the range is still decent. Given how heavy and big the car is, I'd expect the ride to be really good. I'd love it as a daily driver. It's also AWD. I don't care too much about how it would handle on a track.

> $60 grand for cheapest model is expensive but I paid really close to that for my Kia EV6.

The weight in reality is completely contradictory to the performance statements they are making

The top trim so far isn't any faster than the EV6 GT in a straight line, a mile back in top speed, and we can only imagine handling

[AutobahnSHO]

Considering Stellantis is about to bank several brands on this architecture.... Is this really the massive abortion I think it is?

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60047406/2024-dodge-charger-daytona-ev-revealed/

"Drift and donut modes" sounds utterly retarded, and they'll sell a bunch of them. Get ready for ultra stupidity on the streets.....

[r0tor]

"Drift and donut modes" sounds utterly retarded, and they'll sell a bunch of them. Get ready for ultra stupidity on the streets.....

So the hilarity of those modes...

Turning off AWD in a BEV means literally switching off the front drivetrain - otherwise known as losing a large percentage of the power.

So now you have a 5,860 lb car with 325 section width tires, speakers for an exhaust, and only 335hp (rear motor only) trying to act like an idiot. 

[Morris Minor]

There are no traffic lights anywhere in the Marlborough District of NZ. It is wonderful.

[Madman]

There are no traffic lights anywhere in the Marlborough District of NZ. It is wonderful.

Roundabouts, I assume?  I love using roundabouts when I'm in the UK.

There's one near my house I drive through almost daily.  I only wish more of these idiots here knew how to use them properly! 

[Morris Minor]

Yes roundabouts - traffic just flows. I love the USA but do not lot love its obsession with traffic lights or the insane number of unnecessary stop signs that plague it.

[FoMoJo]

After watching this...

[/float]

I get the impression that BMWs don't handle as well as drivers think, or BMW drivers are just lousy drivers, or maybe it's just German cars, or German drivers.

[Morris Minor]

New Zealand car snaps. Lots of small pickups here - if you live in a rural or ex-urban era these make a lot of sense. Much as the Maverick does in the US.


A vintage Holden


Our Sorento PHEV - never been plugged in and probably never will be.


Reminder sticker on dash - driving on the left is no problem but you can forget when you are just setting off from somewhere & are distracted.


Holden ute - these things are a passion in Australia & (less so) in NZ. Presses the same buttons as with the same crowd as brodozers/pony cars in the US.


Toyota Hilux - I think this is a dump bed(?) - see lots of them.

[AutobahnSHO]

After watching this...

[/float]

I get the impression that BMWs don't handle as well as drivers think, or BMW drivers are just lousy drivers, or maybe it's just German cars, or German drivers.

There are a bazillion BMWs there. There are way more decent drivers, but obviously they're not exciting to put onto Youtube.

[veeman]

After watching this...

[/float]

I get the impression that BMWs don't handle as well as drivers think, or BMW drivers are just lousy drivers, or maybe it's just German cars, or German drivers.

Are these all professional/sponsored drivers?  Why do all the cars have advertisements all over them? 

[FoMoJo]

There are a bazillion BMWs there. There are way more decent drivers, but obviously they're not exciting to put onto Youtube.

I'm not sure over how many days these videos were taken, but even over the period of a season it seems like a lot of accidents and mostly because of poor driving.

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm not sure over how many days these videos were taken, but even over the period of a season it seems like a lot of accidents and mostly because of poor driving.

You pay a few bucks to drive the track- probably thousands drive it every weekend.

Are these all professional/sponsored drivers?  Why do all the cars have advertisements all over them? 

You can rent cars (specifically for that location), you can pay to have someone who knows how to drive drive you (like a thrill ride), lots of business there.

[FoMoJo]

The ultimate shade tree mechanic...

The best part is there's no talking.

Part 2.