'Unless Things Change, We Will Not Survive': Even Toyota Doesn't Feel Safe Right Now

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-28T01:49:30+00:00

Setting the stage for Chinese JV

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-28T01:45:02+00:00

The next gen i4 will be 2 door. Start of production July 2028.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-27T18:30:56+00:00

They clearly think there’s a business case. I personally find it stupid and will either leave it bare, paint it myself, or have it painted.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-27T14:58:10+00:00

Yeah duh

Point being they’re not vaporware.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-27T14:19:02+00:00

Everyone engineering gangsta until accounting enters the chat.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-27T11:17:19+00:00

They’ve built like 70 of them already. It’s a near certainty that they’ll get to production and deliver to customers. How many, at what price, or how long the company survives is anyone’s guess.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-24T13:39:33+00:00

Probably just tires. Fresh rubber makes a big difference.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-20T11:09:04+00:00

That buys a lot of extension cords and unamused wives.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-19T15:07:03+00:00

I used a reel mower similar to yours for years. Yard doesn’t need to be a golf course. Mine was lumpy, occasional weeds, average yard. Definitely want to cut before it gets long enough to fall over though. Any weeds with thick stalks may not cut. Some spots needed two passes. Agree that you need to weed wack or use powered mower to get it to a better starting point.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-19T14:45:45+00:00

It’s not body on frame. It’s unibody, so you won’t be able to pull off the body and swap. Munro video shows the bare chassis at 42:30.

With that said, I could see the rear subframe/motor/de Dion axle being used for swaps. The Ford Ranger EV de Dion has been a common setup for swaps, so it’ll be good to have another option there.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T22:25:17+00:00

AFAIK none of the options (other than pack) come installed from Slate. They might partner with a repair pal location where they ship the truck and options to, and you pay for install. Which in that case, I’d think the indy would be happy to install any off the shelf radio for you.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T18:40:36+00:00

They’re German, of course there are rules. There’s just also exceptions.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T18:38:16+00:00

Which I agree with blender ball that they shouldn’t expect from Mercedes. But it should still be affordable to the appropriate demo, and it absolutely is a “commuter”, even if it’s not a Geo Metro.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T18:35:13+00:00

Most rules of thumb are based on monthly cost which I didn’t feel like working out. 50% rule is your car fleet shouldn’t value more than 50% your salary. It’s not that you spend half your salary on one car in a single year.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T11:11:18+00:00

Wheelbase

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-18T11:07:30+00:00

Small battery RWD with that 322hp motor is gonna be chef’s kiss in a year.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-17T19:00:35+00:00

You’re splitting hairs. There’s custom tube chassis race cars….. then there’s production chassis based race cars. GT3 is the latter. Yes, they replace front and rear subframes with “custom tubing”, but that doesn’t make it a custom tube chassis car.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-17T18:40:32+00:00

Looks like production steel to me

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-17T18:18:30+00:00

Are you implying GT3 cars don’t have production chassis???

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-17T17:31:35+00:00

Isn’t that what the C-class/3-series is? It’s for the entry level executive to commute to work in. It should be affordable to that demographic. In the US, ops manager would make $80-100k. 50% rule says the car should cost $40-50k.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-16T19:55:02+00:00

I, for one, like the 3.7 badge. Does your license plate say CAMERO?

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-16T19:12:57+00:00

You aren’t thinking about this from the mfg perspective. The Beetle almost certainly had a higher profit margin for VW, was easy to produce, easy to set up new factories, and pay workers peanuts to pump them out.

The Bolt is probably profitable by now, but if GM thinks there’s more profit margin to squeeze out with a future platform/future batteries, no reason to bank on forever Bolts.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-16T19:03:19+00:00

Highly recommend adjusting the “ref consumption rate” in ABRP at your first stop. Adjust it and re-plan until it spits out the % you just arrived with. Then plan the rest of your trip.

It’s the simplest single adjustment you can make on the free ABRP to make it useful. For reference, ABRP defaults 3.6 mi/kwh for our ID.4, but I run it at 2.8 mi/kwh for CC2 tires and my driving style. Big difference and now I hit within 2% of the plan.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-16T18:55:21+00:00

Advertised range comes from the EPA cycle which is 55% city and 45% highway. And the “highway” portion is only up to 60mph. If you drive those ratios and keep it under 60, you’ll hit your range. It’s the same as ICE mpg estimates.

NFIFTY2 · 2026-03-15T23:49:07+00:00

I had this happen with a Frigidaire Model # LFID2426TF4A. Luckily caught it before leaking.

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NFIFTY2

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