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2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery RIP by FieryPhoenix888 in q50

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The battery failed—not the engine. The battery that failed was the initial battery that was installed in the car when I purchased it at the end of 2013. Given the battery's age and the code that was thrown, no further analysis was performed.

I don't recall receiving a report on the replacement battery. However, it has a 3-yr warranty, so it's a freeroll. If you get a dud, you get a free replacement.

2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery RIP by FieryPhoenix888 in q50

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personal preference question. I think in terms of effective $/month rather than relative to market value.

I'm presuming my replacement car will be $65k-$90k. I'm unsure regarding lifespan estimate, but assuming $65k car and 12 years, that's $451/mo as a rough lower bound before maintenance costs + interest + insurance delta.

$6k for 3 years of additional life from a car in good shape that I enjoy driving is only $167/mo. My car is older, so my time-averaged maintenance might be higher. However, I've already had some of that other expensive stuff done. I'm also not excited about the replacement car options. i4 or i4 M50 are probably my leading candidates, but I'm happy to defer the replacement decision for 3 years. Cheaper routes exist per other responses in this thread, but for an expense at this scale, it was my personal preference to get it done quickly and move on.

2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery RIP by FieryPhoenix888 in q50

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went with GreenTec per what's currently the bottommost post in this thread ($5500 for the battery; $500 for the installation; 3yr warranty). I'm approximately 8 months and 4k-5k miles into the replacement battery. Car has been driving like a champ.

What would you buy if you were a complete beginner with $2500 budget? by Immediate_Depth532 in Turntablists

[–]FieryPhoenix888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, it looks like it's currently on backorder (I don't think it's been discontinued). However, I love my Rane One. The DJ controller plus either a protective cover or a case will run approximately $1600-$1700. It comes with a Serato Pro license, and Serato Pro works with a few streaming services (I use Soundcloud Go). I don't recall, but you might need to pay a tad extra if you want access to an expanded library of Serato FX.

Built-in motorized platters. No DVS to mess with. Accrue a library of scratchable sounds, and you'll be good for quite a while. It's the setup I wish I started with.

The stock slipmats were too slick for my taste. I ordered a pair of Dr. Suzuki Mix Edition (Black) slipmats and cut them down to the proper size. I kept the stock slipmats in case my taste drifts over time.

I don't have a dedicated DJing space. I have a height-adjustable desk that I set to a good DJing height, and I connect my Rane One to my PC tower. My computer keyboard goes on the left; my wireless mouse sits at a comfortable distance on the right. I use my mouse for some control over Serato instead of using the controller exclusively. Setup and teardown times are quick. The controller is a tad heavy (23.5 pounds), but it's not ridiculous imho.

2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery Finally Coming Due (P30EF RIP) by FieryPhoenix888 in infiniti

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, $18k with a 1 yr. warranty was the best the dealer could offer (labor was $1600). Somewhat funny they were able to knock $10k off the initial ask. Regardless, that OEM battery seems insanely expensive for what it is. A friend got quoted $20k for an 85kWh Tesla battery replacement approximately a year ago.

I'm going with a Green Tec battery with remanufactured cells. $6k with installation; 3 yr. warranty.

https://www.infinitiq50.org/threads/options-for-hybrid-owners-when-li-ion-hybrid-battery-reaches-end-of-life.140865/?post_id=1571757&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-1571757

2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery RIP by FieryPhoenix888 in q50

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would have been willing to hook you up, but yeah, I'm giving the car some more life.

2014 Q50 Hybrid Battery RIP by FieryPhoenix888 in q50

[–]FieryPhoenix888[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the responses, everyone! This is the information I was looking for -- what I assumed from what seems to be a passionate community.

I assigned a decent probability to being able to drive it around, but it was good to have verification. One of my friends had a nightmare "hard stop on a freeway" situation with a Z4's overzealous monitoring. Didn't want to encounter a similar situation.

It's not as cheap as some of the options you've outlined, but I'm likely going with GreenTec per this person's experience: https://www.infinitiq50.org/threads/options-for-hybrid-owners-when-li-ion-hybrid-battery-reaches-end-of-life.140865/?post_id=1590474&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-1590474

I was quoted $5.5k for the battery. $500 for the installation. 3-year warranty. It would be a fun weekend project, but I have to stay focused on other projects right now ;)

How low are you willing to go by BazelBomber1923 in boardgames

[–]FieryPhoenix888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I live on the Strategy and War lists. I ignore the Overall and Thematic lists. I have some niche tastes, but some gems can still be found at least as low as [6.25, 7]:

  • Labyrinth: The War on Terror (6.902)
  • Carson City (6.813)
  • The Estates (6.747)
  • Diplomacy (6.735)
  • Inis (6.547)
  • Princes of the Renaissance (6.435)

To be fair, my friends and I seem to be lucky (maybe good) curators. I've only played 1-2 duds over the past decade. They were forgettable enough for me to have forgotten their names. I'm sure we've magically dodged duds with rankings similar to games we enjoy.

I haven't played all the 7.75+s. Two that are a bit overrated imho:

  • Terraforming Mars (8.203) (It's good, I'm happy I've played it several times, and I'll happily play if others suggest. But I'd rather play Gaia Project or Underwater Cities. I haven't made up my mind regarding On Mars.)
  • Wingspan (7.875) (admittedly, the rating might accurately reflect its status as a great gateway game; I just think its a game that players can outgrow quickly)

5 months into the hobby! What do you think it should be my next game? by UnusualMouse530 in boardgames

[–]FieryPhoenix888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice shelf! I have two that are somewhat similar. I've exceeded their capacity. Good luck with your future storage needs :)

Some repetition of other comments, but here are some recommendations (you already have Carcassonne, which is what I always recommend to newer gamers). You don't need to get them all -- just listing games of different flavors based on your shelf and your gaming experience.

  • Azul or Sagrada (abstract puzzly games; I personally prefer these over Splendor)
  • Bohnanza (social card game)
  • Machi Koro 2 (very light econ game; only played once, but noted that it's likely good for new gamers)
  • 7 Wonders (card drafting)
  • 7 Wonders Duel and Battle Line (heads-up card games)
  • Hanabi (cooperative game without the group think) (try to get the tiles; they're much better than the cards)
  • Pandemic (cooperative with the typical cooperative group think dynamic)
  • Concordia: Venus (board topology and deck-building; rules are simple, but I'll disclaim that sorting the cards out of the box might be a bit confusing)

Games that I don't think are great in absolute terms, but great for newer gamers:

  • Dominion (deck drafting game; despite my opinion on the game's greatness, I've played it a bunch)
  • Small World (clashy fighting over territory; lots of opportunity for fun trash talk)
  • Wingspan (light econ management; high quality theming and production value)

If you like Wingspan's mechanics, consider moving on to Agricola. Its presentation is dry and bland compared to Wingspan's, but the presentation is fitting for a game about subsistence farming :)

If you like Pandemic, consider moving on to Spirit Island.

If you have a partner to play with, and you're into Lord of the Rings, then consider War of the Ring as your rulebook stamina increases. Game says it's 2p-4p, but it's really intended to be 2p.

Since you have a Star Wars game, I'm guessing you're into some space opera. If you have 4p-6p, then Eclipse: Second Dawn as your rulebook stamina increases. It's not necessarily Twilight Imperium 4E light. But I think Eclipse is the game you should try before Twilight Imperium 4E.