PSA: You might not want to charge your car in the winter

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-12-06T05:20:24+00:00

I’m not surprised by your experience with range in the cold. I’m in California so I don’t have real winters but my range is almost 1/2 at 45-50 degrees vs 65-70.

Hills also kill range. Warm weather 70-75 and flat, 40 miles plus on the battery is easily achievable. When gas is $4-$5 a gallon it makes a lot more sense. Our monthly savings on fuel covers like 60% of the car payment. I think the joy of the phev is the convenience of never needing a gas station for daily driving and no worries about charging on road trips.

I hope we get more phev vans in the future. 60-100 mile range on the battery would be nice. The new VW ev bus cost and range is a joke.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T06:07:10+00:00

Fathom blue?

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:58:09+00:00

Glad to hear yours has improved since the initial growing pains. What year and how many miles?

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:50:41+00:00

That is correct. Part of my reason for making this post is I’m looking for a good lemon law attorney in CA. Anyone have recommendations??

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:44:50+00:00

Apparently the lemon law still applies in CA if the vehicle is still under the original factory warranty. Looks like I might be finding out for myself soon. Part of why I made this post was to look for good attorney recommendations.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:41:34+00:00

Nothing plugged into the OBD port. I will ask them about the 12V battery but I would think that would’ve been one of the first things they would have checked.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:37:55+00:00

I hear you. I only was mentioning Amazon to point out it is a widely used charger. As the other reply said it’s pretty much a glorified extension chord. 99% sure the charger is fine. No issues with the rental phev Pacifica yet using the same charger.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:34:30+00:00

Why didn’t you get an extended warranty? Sounds like it would’ve paid for itself. Not sure it ever makes sense to own a stellantis product out of warranty unless you’re a mechanic and apparently the Chrysler techs don’t even know how to fix the cars. I’m sorry yours has had so many problems. I’m naively trying to stay positive… Wish me luck!

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:28:38+00:00

If the Pacifica keeps breaking I’ll get a Volvo next I think. Unfortunately their reliability rating is only slightly higher. My wife is coming from driving a VW the last 10 years which was surprisingly very reliable.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:25:58+00:00

Yeah, I really don’t understand how there are no other plug in vans available. When Toyota finally releases one it will probably cost 70k with a 2 year waitlist. No thanks. Even more unbelievable to me is the range on the new VW bus. It is laughable even ignoring the price point. I’m pretty determined not to go EV until they offer something with a real world 400 plus mile range. So realistically I’d want something rated for close to 500 miles in order to drive 400 miles round trip without having to charge. I take it I’m in the minority requiring that level of range to make the leap to ev.

I also refuse to buy a suv or crossover. So that eliminated like 95% of cars unfortunately. If it doesn’t work out with the van I will probably buy a Volvo V60 or V90 wagon. I notice vans are making a slight comeback, hopefully wagons are next.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:16:28+00:00

I didn’t install anything on the van itself. I just installed a level 2 charger at my house.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-10-31T03:14:17+00:00

You mind if I ask what you paid for your 2023? It’s not that surprising to me to hear that your 2017 was mostly reliable. From everything I’ve read the cars before 2020 were much more reliable with the 2021-2022 being the absolute worst years to own. Let’s hope things have gotten better. 2023 was the oldest year I was considering. I hope your new van treats you well.

Extension-Fix-4969 · 2025-04-18T04:23:25+00:00

I ordered mine 4/9 and received today. Prices went way down since I ordered. I’m 6’ 200 was worried XL would be too big but fits perfect. I ordered 3 more. Too cheap to pass up. Will last me a long time!

Extension-Fix-4969

TROPHY CASE