<![CDATA[#cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car]]>
Did you learn anything from buying your electric car?
We plan to buy a cheap Leaf or something similar soon.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/64aaad3d-5837-43ac-b9cc-130555595b35/cars-did-you-learn-anything-from-buying-your-electric-carRSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 02:15:55 GMTSun, 19 Apr 2026 15:11:03 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:16:24 GMT]]>@greg_harvey
All info is good.
But yeah. NFW.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432973603933331https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432973603933331Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:16:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:16:02 GMT]]>@ohmu it's just a surprisingly well designed car for a Chevy

(spouse's work truck is a Colorado and we agree it's a pain in the ass compared to the good design of the electric car)

my only complaint is that yesterday I was vacuuming it out and putting in new rubber floor mats and it was parked on a little slope under the garage and I clocked my head on the underside of the rear hatch

so if you're tall and parking on a slope be careful

here it is slow charging off the solar array

Link Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ecoevo.social/users/sarae/statuses/116432972152994005https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ecoevo.social/users/sarae/statuses/116432972152994005Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:16:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:11:49 GMT]]>@ohmu If you can live with the CEO, second hand Model 3s seem pretty good too. 😬 I wouldn't personally, but they seem to be ageing well, especially the batteries.

Edit: and my reasons are political. πŸ˜‰

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432955590560021https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432955590560021Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:11:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:10:07 GMT]]>@ohmu I have a first gen ID EV, the haptic buttons are a bit annoying but you totally get used to them. Nowhere near as bad as reviewers who have the car for an afternoon make out.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432948926217312https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432948926217312Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:10:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:08:26 GMT]]>@ohmu Welcome! I suppose in the US you lack our Chinese options. The go to Leaf-like car that gives you a bit more for the buck here is the SAIC MG4, but I don't imagine that's an option? I'd opt for early Kia / Hyundai stuff on a budget. First gen Kia Niro, or Hyundai Kona, both solid reputation and decent range. Maybe early VW ID.3 too?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432942331779687https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432942331779687Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:08:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:08:15 GMT]]>@ohmu Here are all those Ars articles:

$5K https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/01/how-far-does-5000-go-when-you-want-an-electric-car/
<$10K https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02/chevy-bolt-bmw-i3-or-something-else-at-10k-you-have-lots-of-ev-options/
<$15K https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/03/there-are-plenty-of-great-choices-if-you-want-to-spend-less-than-15k-on-an-ev/
$20K https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/03/youve-got-20000-to-spend-on-an-ev-here-are-some-options/
$25K https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/04/25000-buys-plenty-of-used-evs-here-are-some-options/

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/KevinFreitas/statuses/116432941607627043https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/KevinFreitas/statuses/116432941607627043Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:08:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:04:54 GMT]]>@pussreboots
I hadn't thought of that perspective.
Has it changed how you plan road trips?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432928409779099https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432928409779099Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:04:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:03:21 GMT]]>@KevinFreitas
Interesting.
You and I both live in Seattle. In my experience, there is nothing as loud as the road noise from the highways (I-5, 520, 99, West Seattle Freeway) running through town.
But you noticed a big difference...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432922280389167https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432922280389167Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:03:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:01:04 GMT]]>@ohmu Charging up a car is about half the cost of fueling a car... even with needing to charge up a couple times during longer road trips.

Those necessary charging stops are something we look forward to as it forces us to slow down with our long haul trips.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/pussreboots/statuses/116432913309630547https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://sfba.social/users/pussreboots/statuses/116432913309630547Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:01:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:59:26 GMT]]>@sarae
The Bolt owner I was hoping to hear from πŸ˜‰.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432906934274541https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432906934274541Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:59:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:58:23 GMT]]>@ohmu AND conversations can be much easier when not competing with engine noise. (at least it was for us coming from a 2002 Subaru to a 2018 EV) πŸ˜‚

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/KevinFreitas/statuses/116432902750237670https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/KevinFreitas/statuses/116432902750237670Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:58:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:57:50 GMT]]>@ohmu still loving the Bolt, glad I got the most-rapidly-charging one I could

I am glad to have a level 2 plug at the CB house but use the 110 at the other house and yeah, if you're parking it overnight you should mostly be fine, but a 50amp/220volt plug isn't too expensive and should be forward compatible

my range issues are mostly days when I want to go to Eugene and back in a single day in the winter, because there aren't a ton of non-Tesla rapid chargers near restaurants I like

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ecoevo.social/users/sarae/statuses/116432900618512092https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://ecoevo.social/users/sarae/statuses/116432900618512092Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:57:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:48:38 GMT]]>@eedly
All good info.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432864459890307https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432864459890307Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:48:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:43:30 GMT]]>@ohmu Leasing our Mach-E turned out to be a better deal than buying it (spouse's car, so I don't know the details). Ford paid for most, if not all, of our charger installation too.

I currently use a 60mpg motorcycle with about 100 liters of luggage space for most around-town stuff*; I'm considering swapping it for a Can Am Origin (electric motorcycle), but that's still very hypothetical.

___
* Teenager sometimes allows herself to be shuttled from place to place on it, but not as often as I'd like.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/eedly/statuses/116432844282116403https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mindly.social/users/eedly/statuses/116432844282116403Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:43:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:41:00 GMT]]>@greg_harvey
You're the third to mention the charging plug type.
I'll keep an eye on that. Thank you!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432834425074050https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432834425074050Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:39:54 GMT]]>@brightstardust
Ooh. That's the first I've heard of this.
My employer has a while fleet of Leafs. I'll ask if any of them have had this issue. It occurs to me it might be a particular model year.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432830132344351https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432830132344351Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:39:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:38:48 GMT]]>@ohmu positives are I love regenerative braking, almost no maintenance needed, free chargers are awesome and not going to gas stations is great. Negatives are battery degradation (lost 50 miles in 6 years), insane registration fees (Ohio) that are 2-4 times more than the gas tax they are β€œmaking up” for, massive resale depreciation and frequent charges on road trips.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/alextheuxguy/statuses/116432825801518797https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://fosstodon.org/users/alextheuxguy/statuses/116432825801518797Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:38:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:37:20 GMT]]>@ohmu My cousin had a Leaf and it bricked itself while he was driving (no one got hurt thankfully). I forget the details but apparently the Leaf (specifically the Leaf, so not all EVs!) engine/electrical/something is complete shit.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/brightstardust/statuses/116432819995154030https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/brightstardust/statuses/116432819995154030Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:37:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:34:45 GMT]]>@ohmu So many things! Thing number one, maybe not a Leaf? Perfectly good cars, but needing to find a CHAdeMO charger is a pita... My neighbour has one and this is his single, but quite major gripe.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432809847216836https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tooting.ch/users/greg_harvey/statuses/116432809847216836Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:34:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:32:36 GMT]]>@ohmu @clew @Myphatself @stenpett

text driving! My goodness! I thought that was illegal! πŸ˜†

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.coop/users/IrrationalMethod/statuses/116432801390542366https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.coop/users/IrrationalMethod/statuses/116432801390542366Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:32:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:31:53 GMT]]>@ohmu Yes... the ability to leave home with a full energy tank every time is life changing.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.km6g.us/users/kevin/statuses/116432798571371135https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.km6g.us/users/kevin/statuses/116432798571371135Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:31:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:28:53 GMT]]>@Finitum
I had never even heard of a broker for used EVs! Thank you!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432786805335090https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432786805335090Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:28:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:27:19 GMT]]>@ohmu going through a broker was cheaper than any advertised price I could find through a dealership. Leasehackr.com exists, wound up using a broker I found there.

Free charging largely doesn't exist, I think its down to luxury brands & VW Buzz.
There's going to be a LOT of leases coming off 2 year leases this year, 3 year leases next year of people that got EVs to take advantage of tax incentives before they went away & i've seen some really decent deals on low mileage cars coming off lease.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Finitum/statuses/116432780613897822https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Finitum/statuses/116432780613897822Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:27:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to #cars Did you learn anything from buying your electric car on Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:18:54 GMT]]>@IrrationalMethod @clew @Myphatself @stenpett
We're text driving my friends' Bolt next weekend

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432747525545763https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.seattle.wa.us/users/ohmu/statuses/116432747525545763Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:18:54 GMT