Soviet EV and taco chronicles + future ponderings about Fendie

[Johnny_P]

Almost stalled in a parking garage … engine couldn’t make it in 2nd gear at 10mph … had to stop again on a tall incline and get up in 1st like the cuck that I am.

That’s kind of annoying. I remember my manual cars could almost always plod along in 2nd in those cases. Some very steep hills I’d have to leave it in first but not a garage.

[Johnny_P]

So “update” here. I haven’t been at a gas station since late July. Which is an absolute

The truck has 8605 miles on it and reached 1 year anniversary today ! 9/20!

It is getting its annual service at the stealer Friday. I’ll also attempt to get a trade in quote.

Replacing the taco truck? Sell that and the iX buyback and get a Rivian or something?

[Johnny_P]

Also how’s mini man doing?

[D Griff]

So “update” here. I haven’t been at a gas station since late July. Which is an absolute

The truck has 8605 miles on it and reached 1 year anniversary today ! 9/20!

It is getting its annual service at the stealer Friday. I’ll also attempt to get a trade in quote.

Dang so the Taco is basically getting zero use now? I guess piling miles on the loaner makes sense in the short term

[Desertbreh]

I would never get rid of the Taco. It was relatively cheap, will not depreciate, and is basically a critical tool in the toolbox of life. Sometimes, you just need to build a carport and buy more cars.

[max225]

Also how’s mini man doing?

I’m on the Night Shift so I haven’t slept a night in 11 days. He is very active at night it seems like his day/nights are flipped. Other than that he Is 95th% height and now 30% weight (down from 65%) at birth (usual post birth weight loss) Working on feeding him relentlessly.

It’s interesting seeing both myself and the azn in him. Nature does crazy things!

[max225]

So “update” here. I haven’t been at a gas station since late July. Which is an absolute

The truck has 8605 miles on it and reached 1 year anniversary today ! 9/20!

It is getting its annual service at the stealer Friday. I’ll also attempt to get a trade in quote.

Dang so the Taco is basically getting zero use now? I guess piling miles on the loaner makes sense in the short term

I drove it once in 6 weeks… I had 4 cars (tsx, IX, i4, Taco)… 2 in the garage and 2 in driveway(i4, tsx) … the taco was garaged the entire time so I didn’t want to play musical chairs and move cars. Now the tsx is gone and the rental lives outside

The woman refused to get into the taco after she was 8 month pregs. As this thing is pretty tall and she essentially has to jump in and out of it. And now with the kid I haven’t figured out a child seat sitch for it yet.

None of this is surprising but I’m wondering if I’m better served by taking 45-50k and buying a fun family car instead. The IX+taco equivalent vehicle can be pretty much anything for no incremental cost and a situation where I only have 2 cars instead of 3.

[max225]

I would never get rid of the Taco. It was relatively cheap, will not depreciate, and is basically a critical tool in the toolbox of life. Sometimes, you just need to build a carport and buy more cars.

That’s one way that I think about it also … but I am also not against a 2 car solution with a fancy family car such as a defender/gwagen/rs6 vs a truck I don’t drive until the fella turns 2.
I’m sure he will love it more than anything short of a Ferrari

[Johnny_P]

He will probably love it. My kid loves my dads pos F150 because it’s enormous and he sits up so high in it.

[max225]

Had the Tacoma serviced … no issues, the local Toyota dealer is great.

Service was “free” and I got dropped off and picked up.

Also got a trade in offer of 45k… but it seemed like they were willing to go up.

About $500 a month to drive this thing from a depreciation perspective so far … but mostly due to tax.

Overall I really like the truck still and I love driving it. But we’re also going to $6 gas again. Ugh

[D Griff]

Had the Tacoma serviced … no issues, the local Toyota dealer is great.

Service was “free” and I got dropped off and picked up.

Also got a trade in offer of 45k… but it seemed like they were willing to go up.

About $500 a month to drive this thing from a depreciation perspective so far … but mostly due to tax.

Overall I really like the truck still and I love driving it. But we’re also going to $6 gas again. Ugh

Oh wow, I filled up the for $3.35 yesterday. Charlotte is like California level cost on lots of stuff now, at least gas isn’t one of them.

[max225]

Had the Tacoma serviced … no issues, the local Toyota dealer is great.

Service was “free” and I got dropped off and picked up.

Also got a trade in offer of 45k… but it seemed like they were willing to go up.

About $500 a month to drive this thing from a depreciation perspective so far … but mostly due to tax.

Overall I really like the truck still and I love driving it. But we’re also going to $6 gas again. Ugh

Oh wow, I filled up the for $3.35 yesterday. Charlotte is like California level cost on lots of stuff now, at least gas isn’t one of them.

Yea I don’t know why but California has seriously pissed me off in this regard. We’ve been +$2 over the national average for 5 years now. And no it’s not taxes

[max225]

Tacoma now leaking oil. After the “free oil change” I spoke too soon.

[Gberg2119]

[max225]

Fucking losers

[wap]

Fucking losers

Techs were probably too busy committing murders to bother cleaning up after the earl change.

[Desertbreh]

I cringe at the idea of letting others perform this basic task which can still be fucked up so many ways. Overtightening or undertightening of filter and drain bolt. Failure to use fresh crush washer or simply delete it. Overfilling or underfilling oil. I had not considered this error I will add to the list. Just what you need Chuck Yeager.

[max225]

I cringe at the idea of letting others perform this basic task which can still be fucked up so many ways. Overtightening or undertightening of filter and drain bolt. Failure to use fresh crush washer or simply delete it. Overfilling or underfilling oil. I had not considered this error I will add to the list. Just what you need Chuck Yeager.

I did the first two…

[Desertbreh]

I cringe at the idea of letting others perform this basic task which can still be fucked up so many ways. Overtightening or undertightening of filter and drain bolt. Failure to use fresh crush washer or simply delete it. Overfilling or underfilling oil. I had not considered this error I will add to the list. Just what you need Chuck Yeager.

I did the first two…

I understand. The fact that you cannot find reliable help to not fuck up the most basic service in all of automotivedom so that you can attend your infant child and give your wife a fking break is "Exhibit A" to

1. "Good Help is Hard to Find" and
2. "If you want something done right, do it yourself" is SAD.

Like, if there was a box to check on the "$50 more to to have an ASE tech do the whole process and torque to specs instead of our low man on the totem pole garbage man/runner/oil change guy".........who would not check that box?

[max225]

I did the first two…

I understand. The fact that you cannot find reliable help to not fuck up the most basic service in all of automotivedom so that you can attend your infant child and give your wife a fking break is "Exhibit A" to

1. "Good Help is Hard to Find" and
2. "If you want something done right, do it yourself" is SAD.

Like, if there was a box to check on the "$50 more to to have an ASE tech do the whole process and torque to specs instead of our low man on the totem pole garbage man/runner/oil change guy".........who would not check that box?

I am quite displeased by the state of automotive repair around me. 2 dealers and 1 highly rated (500+ 5 star Yelp) place and multiple fuck ups
1. $5k mini brake pad change
2. Brake fluid gate
3. IX fubar
4. Oil change extravaganza on the Tacoma
5. Oil charge extravaganza on TSX

That’s just the most recent interactions I have had…

[D Griff]

Fucking losers

Techs were probably too busy committing murders to bother cleaning up after the earl change.

Those Bay Area suburbs are DANGEROUS!

@Max, that sucks man... what a fucking waste of your time.

[max225]

Techs were probably too busy committing murders to bother cleaning up after the earl change.

Those Bay Area suburbs are DANGEROUS!

@Max, that sucks man... what a fucking waste of your time.

Yea it really sucked and killed 2 hrs out of my
Day. I only took it in case I lose a drain plug and an engine so they won’t be able to blame it on me.

They also pumped up the tires to 37 and I had them reset it back down to 30 as per the door sill.

Just incompetence.

[max225]

My local JLR dealer has 4K on the hood now for defenders … ironically these were marked up 50k less than a year ago …

[Johnny_P]

My local JLR dealer has 4K on the hood now for defenders … ironically these were marked up 50k less than a year ago …

I still think these are cool. Go for it!

[MexicanYarisTK]

I did the first two…

I understand. The fact that you cannot find reliable help to not fuck up the most basic service in all of automotivedom so that you can attend your infant child and give your wife a fking break is "Exhibit A" to

1. "Good Help is Hard to Find" and
2. "If you want something done right, do it yourself" is SAD.

Like, if there was a box to check on the "$50 more to to have an ASE tech do the whole process and torque to specs instead of our low man on the totem pole garbage man/runner/oil change guy".........who would not check that box?

Definitely agree with number 1, now my hotels restaurant is struggling to find someone that may stay reliable. I recently had guests bitching about waiting over an hour for room service. I can count how many people work at our hotel restaurant. Mind you this is nothing remotely as large as your typical chris ruth's steakhouse, even then most of the workers I speak to work 6 out of 7 days (in short overtime). The GM is very pissed off

I feel like at this point, taking your car for oil change is definitely for people either A are clearly not mechanically inclined or B don't have time to do shit like that or both. I remember before covid days whenever I took my mexican yaris for a oil change, even with walk in, would just take an hour. Honda, if i book an appt. It takes a little longer, roughly 2 hours at the very least.