Would You Swap Your XJS For An MG Cyberster?
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Yes, you need to look at whatever each person pays for electricity vs petrol/diesel and compare on that basis. I have reasonably expensive electricity compared to cheaper gasoline. Other places can be considerably different.
Government subsidy is also a factor to consider for purchase and operating costs. However, I was originally thinking more from an engineering energy efficiency point of view, not a cost of operation point of view.
Government subsidy is also a factor to consider for purchase and operating costs. However, I was originally thinking more from an engineering energy efficiency point of view, not a cost of operation point of view.
By DIY. I avoid all of that plus learn about the equipment. So that in the event of trouble I can do those simple repairs myself and not wait for the installer to have an opening in his busy schedule. ( they don’t work in the rain, high winds, or snow. )
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OB,
All the typical EVs use a 2-pedal system as per a standard automatic car. The only difference is that EVs have the capacity for the freewheeling of the road wheels to drive the motor to regenerate current back to the batteries. You can change the settings to vary the regen and range and the driving characteristics. As a driver, the feeling of a max regen effect is quite unusual. One of my friends has the setting at its minimum, merely because he likes the feel of a more traditional auto transmission where he uses the brake pedal when he wants to slow down. Also, I assume that the absence of brake lights could prove disconcerting to cars behind who are used to seeing brake lights come on if a car is rapidly decelerating.
The self-driving car is also likely to happen in the UK within the next year. I believe that will prove the biggest single change to ever happen to transportation. I'm intrigued by it, but when I see the states of roads, driving, and the geography of the UK road network in the UK, I'm struggling to see how it can ever become a reality, but I suspect the day will eventually come.
As regards the Cyberster, I saw the original model at very close quarters 18 months ago (a clay model that I would defy anyone to know wasn't a real running car). I really liked the styling, both interior and exterior, and I think it will sell really well based on the price - £60.000+ in the UK for the "proper" model. Part of that sales attractiveness is undoubtedly the name, an "MG" will naturally sell so much easier than the Chinese "SAIC" that it actually is! Would I swap my convertible XJS for one? Of course not, they are very different cars that would play very different roles in my life. But would I own one? Well not in my current circumstances. I don't envisage I'll ever own an EV, because I just can't afford one and can't see the prices of a suitable EV that I'd like, ever dropping to the point that I'd be able to buy one. I do see lots of advantages, potentially lower running costs and astonishing outright acceleration (which is admittedly just staggering compared to IC cars). Like all of us petrolheads, the noise of a V8 or V12 is addictive, but we'll all probably end up as the oddities, like the guy who lives near me and has a steam car that comes out a few times a year!
We are undoubtedly at the cusp of quite incredible changes in personal motoring. The most intriguing thing, for my money, is that every traditional manufacturer, EXCEPT JAGUAR, is still hedging their bets / backing multiple horses. I find that Porsche are a great barometer, and they seem to be still playing with Petrol, Diesel, Electric, PHEV, Synthetic Fuel and Hydrogen fuel cells! So, I have no idea where it's all going to end up!
Paul
All the typical EVs use a 2-pedal system as per a standard automatic car. The only difference is that EVs have the capacity for the freewheeling of the road wheels to drive the motor to regenerate current back to the batteries. You can change the settings to vary the regen and range and the driving characteristics. As a driver, the feeling of a max regen effect is quite unusual. One of my friends has the setting at its minimum, merely because he likes the feel of a more traditional auto transmission where he uses the brake pedal when he wants to slow down. Also, I assume that the absence of brake lights could prove disconcerting to cars behind who are used to seeing brake lights come on if a car is rapidly decelerating.
The self-driving car is also likely to happen in the UK within the next year. I believe that will prove the biggest single change to ever happen to transportation. I'm intrigued by it, but when I see the states of roads, driving, and the geography of the UK road network in the UK, I'm struggling to see how it can ever become a reality, but I suspect the day will eventually come.
As regards the Cyberster, I saw the original model at very close quarters 18 months ago (a clay model that I would defy anyone to know wasn't a real running car). I really liked the styling, both interior and exterior, and I think it will sell really well based on the price - £60.000+ in the UK for the "proper" model. Part of that sales attractiveness is undoubtedly the name, an "MG" will naturally sell so much easier than the Chinese "SAIC" that it actually is! Would I swap my convertible XJS for one? Of course not, they are very different cars that would play very different roles in my life. But would I own one? Well not in my current circumstances. I don't envisage I'll ever own an EV, because I just can't afford one and can't see the prices of a suitable EV that I'd like, ever dropping to the point that I'd be able to buy one. I do see lots of advantages, potentially lower running costs and astonishing outright acceleration (which is admittedly just staggering compared to IC cars). Like all of us petrolheads, the noise of a V8 or V12 is addictive, but we'll all probably end up as the oddities, like the guy who lives near me and has a steam car that comes out a few times a year!
We are undoubtedly at the cusp of quite incredible changes in personal motoring. The most intriguing thing, for my money, is that every traditional manufacturer, EXCEPT JAGUAR, is still hedging their bets / backing multiple horses. I find that Porsche are a great barometer, and they seem to be still playing with Petrol, Diesel, Electric, PHEV, Synthetic Fuel and Hydrogen fuel cells! So, I have no idea where it's all going to end up!
Paul
oh and as for hedging their bets by the manufacturers
Nobody except TESLA. ( and BYD in China) is making a profit selling EV’s
Tesla makes more profit per car than legacy car manufacturers do selling their cars .
Last I heard TESLA the company is worth a TRILLION dollars. Second place is TOYOTA at $240 billion
Tesla is in debt 1 billion dollars with 10 billion in the “bank”
Toyota is in Debt $340 Billion ( some of that is “good debt” or loans on their cars drawing interest).
Nissan is in junk bond status
VW has reported their house is on fire and various analysts say they only have a few years at best
FORD’s CEO puts their financial situation at 5 years at most.
GM has to buy back its stock to keep the price at marketable levels going deeper in debt to do that.
Rivian is in really serious debt and they aren’t selling enough to dig their way out.
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Tks for clarifying the brake light situation. that's encouraging to hear.
Just done a quick 3-mile trip to local village, all very rural roads. 3 sets of roadworks, all dealing with potholes, requiring drivers to use the wrong side of the road to get around the roadworks. The first one was a 2-way with temporary traffic lights, and the amber light was faulty and constantly flashing. The second one was a confusing route around some bollards with workmen using hand signals of Stop and Go. And at the third one, a 3-way junction, the temporary traffic lights had failed and we all muddled our way through with lots of horn-tooting and drivers getting angry at each other. What would a self-driving or autonomous car have done on this journey? I don't know, but I'm sure that I wouldn't have wanted to be in it!
Paul
Just done a quick 3-mile trip to local village, all very rural roads. 3 sets of roadworks, all dealing with potholes, requiring drivers to use the wrong side of the road to get around the roadworks. The first one was a 2-way with temporary traffic lights, and the amber light was faulty and constantly flashing. The second one was a confusing route around some bollards with workmen using hand signals of Stop and Go. And at the third one, a 3-way junction, the temporary traffic lights had failed and we all muddled our way through with lots of horn-tooting and drivers getting angry at each other. What would a self-driving or autonomous car have done on this journey? I don't know, but I'm sure that I wouldn't have wanted to be in it!
Paul
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That’s the thing you have two choices here. Normally you’d simply grab the steering wheel and take over
but if you are in a Tesla and one of the 8 million Tesla’s on the road preceded you, let the car figure it out. It doesn’t matter if it’s 5 seconds ahead of you or 5 days or 5 weeks. This route has been pioneered and is in the data someplace.
They are building a mega computer site in AUSTIN Texas because they need that sort of storage to do all the AI stuff required for FSD.
But to be perfectly honest with you I’d just take over. You’ll hurt it’s feelings and a line will come across the screen asking why but you’ll be instantly in control
To my knowledge no other brand is capable of what the Tesla is.
Here’s the advantage I see. You go get drunk someplace or medically incapacitated ( diabetic coma) and foolishly decide to drive home. You stab home on the destination and you are safer than all drivers ( as long as you don’t grab the wheel).
but if you are in a Tesla and one of the 8 million Tesla’s on the road preceded you, let the car figure it out. It doesn’t matter if it’s 5 seconds ahead of you or 5 days or 5 weeks. This route has been pioneered and is in the data someplace.
They are building a mega computer site in AUSTIN Texas because they need that sort of storage to do all the AI stuff required for FSD.
But to be perfectly honest with you I’d just take over. You’ll hurt it’s feelings and a line will come across the screen asking why but you’ll be instantly in control
To my knowledge no other brand is capable of what the Tesla is.
Here’s the advantage I see. You go get drunk someplace or medically incapacitated ( diabetic coma) and foolishly decide to drive home. You stab home on the destination and you are safer than all drivers ( as long as you don’t grab the wheel).
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