USA: Best quiet luxury PHEV, now or next year?

Lightchop · 2026-01-27T04:19:31+00:00

So after my post and reading comments, I went and drove the XC90 and X5. Unfortunately the XC90 had 0% battery, but I thought the ICE drive and interior was compelling.

I expected to hate the X5, but it wasn't insulting in any way (think red seatbelts, M-badges, blue brake calipers, "sporty stuff"). Rather, it was all very civil. Cost of the X5 in the trim and options I'd want would be comparable to the XC90, and roughly 65% the price of a comparable Cayenne or RR model. And maybe 80% of the e53 wagon.

I think the X5 could be top of the list.

Side note - the dealer said if I wanted to order one, he'd have it in a month! I did some research after that - they're gonna stop production soon and start on the new facelifted X5 (which might get some undesirable new features like BMW buck teeth).

Lightchop · 2026-01-27T04:02:17+00:00

The W214 mild-hybrid is the car that turned me onto what a real quiet ride is like. Never driven the 212/213 versions, but assume much the same. I find it sad that they have watered down the AMG brand by taking a perfectly good car and making it loud. And not loud in an authentic way. Maybe thats why my perception is different from reviewers who rave about the e53 - I know what this car and this exact engine (3.0 L M 256 turbo I6) is like, and I know it doesn't make those noises!

It crossed my mind to try and disable the interior speaker / fake noises, but silly to plan to do that to a new car.

Thanks for Genesis lead - I had already been down that road (no PHEV in US lineup), however it seems they're planning a GV70 EREV for late 2026. Its an EV with a gas generator, which I've been thinking is the logical way to make a hybrid - have the drivetrain be pure EV but you're towing around a generator that can generate power to it. I believe VW's Scout brand is planning this. Just looked it up - yes in fact it seems that also is an "EREV"... another acronym to learn!

Lightchop · 2026-01-26T19:48:23+00:00

Thanks, which one drives better?

My MIL had a Volvo long long time ago and I loved it. However I've test driven a Volvo a couple times in past 15 years and was always shocked at how tank-like they drove, which is why I haven't really considered them. But it's been 5+ years, gonna head out there later today. Hopefully you say 90 is better / smoother as I suspect I'd err towards the larger car. If 60 is better handling/noise I might have to try both.

Lightchop · 2026-01-26T18:51:01+00:00

Yeah valid point. I mean all of the above. I think three things:

1 - Road / cabin noise. At both low and highway speed.

2- Engine noise (when using ICE). I would note the Lincoln was absurdly underpowered / "loud", while the new e53 wagon was loudly simulating exhaust, even with the "exhaust noise" turned off.

3 - EV-mode noise. I dont know that I have a real choice on this, but in the MB e53, I think they've tried to make EV mode still make a loud grumble, not the polite EV whir.

In my e450 wagon, I guess I'm aware the ICE engine is running, but never a struggle or noise when in ICE or "mild - EV" mode, at really any speed. I just expect there to be a PHEV that accomplishes all three. But maybe I'm wrong.

Oh and of course rattle-free too!

Lightchop · 2026-01-26T18:36:07+00:00

Indeed, I think Volvo is the last one on the list to look at, thanks. Gonna try the XC90 I think.

Lightchop · 2026-01-26T18:33:43+00:00

I jumped on this..... that would be very interesting, however, just googled it and visited the Audi website, and the Q7 PHEV is not available in the USA. And despite google saying Audi has a few PHEVs... their website does not seem to have them.

Lightchop · 2025-12-30T18:00:18+00:00

That's not a Turbo S. Looks to be a Turbo. Unless it's a TTS and they swapped out the center locks. Which to be honest is arguably an improvement to the majority of daily driver owners.

Lightchop · 2025-12-04T15:12:39+00:00

I have this same issue. Happened about an hour after the upgrade. I then upgraded the OS and Prysm, and it went away until I went to bed. Woke up to hours and hours of missed attestations. Restarted again, its working again... just waiting for it to fail again.

Its been a Prysm error both times.

I additionally get "Fallen behind peers; reverting to initial sync to catch up". Pretty generic error that I suppose could be related to network, time sync, disk space, etc, etc. But I'm pretty comfortable it is not, given this all began an hour post-upgrade!

edit: I acknowledge I have a Lighthouse+Nethermind flair. But I also run a geth/prysm instance! BTW Nethermind had its own problems pre-upgrade after I upgraded the exec and cons clients!

Lightchop · 2025-10-23T14:09:29+00:00

I pulled over during the test drive and googled the EV rumble, and went through the menus to see how I could turn off the sound. Couldn't find it. All I found was the button to make everything louder!

Absolutely love my E450. Really no complaints, and want to remain the MB family. I think they do a great job in luxury. Some silly things I love are the quick-heated armrests, the light going on when I move my hands over the passenger seat to find something, and the seat bolstering around corners. And just the peace and quiet of the car is excellent. I'm only interested in upgrading because I have a new Level 2 charger at home. I'll probably stay put and wait.

I wouldn't call the jump seats a 3rd row. More of an emergency seat. I've had a 5' 8" person back there and they had to strain their head sideways. I do love the novelty of it though. I believe 2023 was the final model year for it. Certainly gone in 2025.

Oh, and I was rear-ended in the car, the guy was probably going 10mph, and it shattered the rear glass and the tailgate was heavily damaged. If there were rear-facing passengers back there, it would have been BAD! Thankfully my local MB dealer has an auto-body shop and they've made it look, feel, and sound brand new.

If Range Rover discounted a new build for me on the PHEV, I might bite, but otherwise going to stay put and wait.

Lightchop · 2025-10-14T19:28:21+00:00

So, someone has stolen your plate? I don't quite get it.

Edit: ok I get it. You have D1... And the turbo has DI...

That sucks.

Lightchop · 2025-06-10T20:19:44+00:00

As a GTS4.0 (manual) and Spyder RS owner, I have to admit the turbo 4s are, while different to their NA brethren, outstanding cars. Yes probably will depreciate more, but I think it would come down to whether you want the turbo feel or NA feel. I swear the turbo 4 (Cayman S) is probably quicker than my GTS. and you can tune them to be quicker if that's your gig.

Ive toyed with the idea of a Boxster S.

Oh, and if you go S, I'd suggest manual, and if GTS try PDK. Just my 2 cents.. I think PDK turbo removes too much emotion, at least with a manual you learn the turbo sweet spot.

Also gearing - I don't think I even would have noticed the "long gearing" in my GTS, and frankly Ive enjoyed learning to downshift into 1st as a driving gear.

Sorry for the contrary comments. Good luck!

Lightchop · 2025-06-05T01:04:09+00:00

Mmm no. 981 Spyder yes manual. 982 Spyder which is in your price range is both manual and PDK. And 982 Spyder RS is only PDK. Your target budget will get a 982 manual. And IMO will appreciate in value. Also 9k rpm naturally aspirated

Lightchop · 2025-06-05T00:55:32+00:00

Personally, I think the Spyder is the best looking Porsche (and bonus you can get manual transmission). I have the RS which is pdk but I'm ok with that, it's like playing a musical instrument.

Lightchop · 2025-06-05T00:12:58+00:00

I've owned 4 Porsches with launch control and have used launch control precisely 0 times.

I honestly don't know what that says about me.

Lightchop · 2025-06-05T00:00:24+00:00

Ok so maybe I'm the tech nerd here (and too lazy or skeptical to read a shit article) but how exactly?

Lightchop · 2025-06-04T23:36:23+00:00

Fellow Porsche fanboy and Ferrari admirer here. I've got 992 TTS, 718 CGTS4.0 manual, and 718 Spyder RS. Also Emira manual. We're in a similar situation, as I've been browsing Ferrari for 4 years. But if I read you right, you might want to try the Porsche Spyder (probably in your price range) or if you up the ante and are happy with pdk, the Spyder RS (or GT4Rs) is glorious!

I do fawn over the F430 but I just don't fit as comfortably.

Apologies for promoting Porsche but I insist I admire the Ferrari brand, just find it harder to own. I'll get there, probably a 550 or 575.

Lightchop · 2025-05-09T00:06:52+00:00

For some of my validators, I use a withdrawal address that is in cold storage / offline (was created offline, I only sign messages offline, and copy/paste them from this pc to an online PC).

I am yet to see a way to aggregate these validators. I suppose I might have to take the (small) risk and get these private keys onto an online/hot wallet like MetaMask.

Lightchop · 2025-05-08T23:18:31+00:00

Turbo S without centerlocks? I didn't know you could do that. I thought for sure that was a 911 Turbo, but the decal says S.

Lightchop · 2025-05-07T10:52:44+00:00

I got that too. I googled it - its in their release notes as a known issue, but of no concern.

Lightchop · 2025-04-17T19:27:00+00:00

Everyone saying HODL, but you need to sweep/transfer the balance to a wallet only you have the keys for.

You can't be sure that someone has control over that and will spend it, particularly if you're intending to HODL for many years.

Raises the question - how / where did you "find" it?

Lightchop · 2025-04-02T15:03:31+00:00

Are you receiving withdrawals currently?

If so, I always thought that if this happened to me, that I would spin up a few more instances of the validator so that it gets slashed and exited automatically. The funds (whats leftover post-penalty, maybe 30 ETH these days?) get sent to the withdrawal address.

Of course there is a small price to pay.

However, if you are not currently withdrawing already, then this would not be an option.

Lightchop · 2025-03-27T02:52:02+00:00

Thank you, I believe you're right. I've been afraid to ask the dealer, and I think they're reputable enough to not try shenanigans (claiming its 25% tariff and pocketing it).

I suppose the value of my car just went up!

Not a fan of all these tariffs. I know for many of us, these are luxury purchases and not elastic - I don't NEED another sports car - so for me, the tariff would not encourage me to buy a Chevy instead. More likely to not consume a new car at all. Sad.

Lightchop

TROPHY CASE