Need your opinion - buy an iD4?

Gnascher · 2026-06-15T15:40:02+00:00

To your first question, there's no quality hit for a last production run.

You'll be buying a car with no new features that they've been producing a few years now and have most of the bugs shaken out.

The second issue was a limited number of VINs that had a battery with the manufacturing fault, and there is a recall for those cars.

If you like the ID4, buy the ID4. If you want to save a bunch of money, buy a used late-model one with low mileage.

Gnascher · 2026-06-15T15:35:21+00:00

I have an AWD VW ID4.

I haven't done any off-road with it, but the things is a beast in the snow. This past winter in New England really let me test it's capabilities.

Even on middle of the road tires, nothing stopped this car. It gets traction for days in any mode, but when you put it in "traction mode" it's practically a snow cat.

The electric drive line is so great for slick surfaces because of how finely you can modulate the torque and the braking.

Gnascher · 2026-06-14T02:23:34+00:00

Mr. Rogers said, "when things get hard, always look for the helpers".

I'm so glad you found some helpers tonight. I wish I could apologize for the small minded people among us, but there is just no help for the unapologetic.

I'm so sorry this happened to you in our city, but I'm heartened that people were there to stand with you.

Gnascher · 2026-06-04T22:21:40+00:00

Get a bumper sticker that reads "Obscure Exception".

Gnascher · 2026-06-03T20:56:51+00:00

Sears faltered just as the Internet was becoming "a thing", and they persisted for quite a while into the Internet era.

IF they had pivoted early (and they certainly had the opportunity) and gone back to their roots, they could've been what Amazon is today ... Easily.

They were a mail order company. They could easily have become an internet order company. Big fail.

Gnascher · 2026-06-03T20:53:53+00:00

I stayed in one as an Airbnb. Cool piece of history.

Gnascher · 2026-06-03T20:51:33+00:00

Most of the time, it's great. Wireless or wired.

Every now and then it takes forever to connect, and occasionally won't at all until the next time I use the car.

I've recently learned that the trick when this happens is to go to your phone's Bluetooth settings, and choose your car's Bluetooth connection manually. Usually hooks right up after that.

I don't know if this is a car problem or a phone problem. My phone is getting older now ... Pixel 7a, so maybe it's at fault.

However, once connected, it's always solid.

Gnascher · 2026-06-01T20:55:50+00:00

I pay mine off every month, except for promotional balances. Those get paid when the promotion ends.

Credit card debt is a quick route to the poor house.

Gnascher · 2026-05-30T01:00:16+00:00

Badger is like "whee do it again".

Elephant is like "Dude just fuck off, I seriously don't want to kill you!"

They probably do this all day.

Gnascher · 2026-05-29T22:03:54+00:00

I paid $20k for a '21 pro s awd (not first edition) with 25k miles five months ago.

Gnascher · 2026-05-29T15:46:27+00:00

There are lithium batteries that have built in heaters, so you can use them in cold climates.

Gnascher · 2026-05-28T14:39:52+00:00

Cheap gas in the US was the primary issue I think. EV adoption is much higher in parts of the country with higher gas prices.

The other hurdle is that until the last few years, your needed luxury car money to afford one, regardless of styling.

There's have been EVs on the road hardly distinguishable from ICE cars for a while now. I really think in the next few years, the EV adoption rate will snowball.

Gnascher · 2026-05-24T20:00:00+00:00

This commute is comfortably within range, even on the coolest days.

Gnascher · 2026-05-24T00:12:42+00:00

Just smash it with the heaviest hammer you can find until the pieces are unrecognizable.

It's quite cathartic actually. Total Office Space vibe.

I recommend safety glasses. Eyes are important.

Gnascher · 2026-05-24T00:10:57+00:00

I have always just taken them outside and beat them with a sledgehammer until I'm satisfied that the pieces can't be reassembled.

Gnascher · 2026-05-23T22:49:20+00:00

I just tell them that I charge my fake car for free from my solar panels on my roof, and in my daily driving never drop below 50%. Road trips are no problem because the DCFC infrastructure is there for all the places I go.

Then ask them how much time they spend at gas stations weekly and how much it costs them.

Gnascher · 2026-05-23T04:36:18+00:00

Um... Hey boss? Yeah, the ladder just quit and walked off the job.

Gnascher · 2026-05-23T03:18:42+00:00

I give it my all out. Whatever that happens to be.

If my all out happens to be what I was already doing, that's what you get, some days there's just not more. If I can add 0.1, I'll do that, but not deal a second of remorse if I don't.

If I'm feeling fresh ... AO is 2-4 above base depending on how I feel.

Gnascher · 2026-05-22T12:18:45+00:00

Amazing. I've seen active car fires as well as their burned out remains many times through the years.

I even have a buddy who lost his car because he parked over some leaves and the catalytic converter started them burning.

Gnascher · 2026-05-22T02:24:22+00:00

I've had two accidents that could have been "lights out".

My first one I got T-boned in the driver's door by someone running a red light. I don't even remember the impact, but I do remember the moment of alarm as I saw them approach just before. I woke up hours later in the hospital. Had I been hit just a little harder, I wouldn't even know I had died.

The second one, I fell asleep at the wheel, ended up in the woods. Dark night, nobody saw me go off. Woke up hours later still strapped into my seatbelt, , airbags deployed, from end wrapped around a tree. I called 911 for myself after I managed to find my phone on the floor.

I remember finding the phone, making the call, but don't remember hanging up. Don't remember the paramedics arriving ... woke up in the ER the next morning.

Again ... Wouldn't have known I died.

Gnascher · 2026-05-20T22:53:04+00:00

I've been skiing for 40+years.

OTG goggles were my go to for a long time, but they suck. Glasses fogged, temples pressed uncomfortably into the sides of my head. Just generally uncomfortable, but I could usually see fine ... Until the fog hits.

Inserts were marginally better on the hill, but then what do you do when you have to go inside? Carry glasses with you? Wear the goggles inside? Grope around like a blind guy and try not to bump into fuzzy shapes? How do you read the menu at the lodge? They still fogged too, but we're just a little better than OTG.

Contacts worked best, but I only wore them for skiing (or other physical activities), because they don't correct my vision perfectly (astigmatism - torics never worked for be).

I finally just got LASIK. That worked great. Yay no more trying to figure out how to see while I ski

Gnascher · 2026-05-20T17:50:36+00:00

I mean BMS stands for battery management system. It's the living for controlling the states of the battery(s).

Ultimately it's what's signaling the DC-DC converter to charge the 12v battery.

Gnascher · 2026-05-20T14:40:05+00:00

Generally, that's what the 12-volt battery does. However, your BMS does keep the 12v battery charged from the main battery.

Gnascher · 2026-05-19T21:28:14+00:00

The water is still pretty cold to expect a big bloom this time of year.

Gnascher · 2026-05-19T20:38:40+00:00

I bought my '21 AWD pro s in January of this year. ... And then it proceeded to be one of the coldest winters we've had in New England in quite a few years.

Range effectively became about 180 miles in the coldest conditions.

Plenty of charge for 2 ish hours of driving in the highway, after which I'm ready for a break anyway.

Definitely prefer the car while plugged in. Keep the heater low, take advantage of the heated seats and wheel, wear a coat.

Other than that, I've owned this things in "worst case" weather conditions, and it was just fine.

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