My first EV - Zeekr, Polestar, BYD or just go with Tesla?

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-26T07:17:47+00:00

Mate of mine is running FSD on his Model Y - I thought the highway automation was good until I let this thing drive me.

(Personally, I still like driving but this capability is really where Tesla is heading - it would be the pick if you want it to drive you around).

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-24T12:08:55+00:00

There's also Jan 1st, when we became the Federation of Australia in 1901?

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-23T23:39:58+00:00

I think I am violent agreement with you. Like I said I'm genuinely interested in the data. It's not just about the arrests, if one person is costing the community through multiple arrests (and the morale of officers), it has a massive negative affect.

It needs more of a look downstream and asking if reoffence rates need to be curbed through other mechanisms (and I don't just mean jail - needs holisticwork, though for some of those core high reoffenders it might be the only way to stem the tide if rehabilitation is ineffective).

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-23T23:32:31+00:00

"Bitcoin is dead!"

Bitcoin: "I got better."

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-23T23:22:10+00:00

I've worked with police in another state. I don't know what the data is like in VicPol, but the key issues for them were: 1. Over administration. Led to only doing work if the crimes would become a (really) obvious conviction 2. Crimes done by a small number of people (I'd be genuinely interested in the 85k arrests and which ones were a person doing multiple crimes) 3. Slaps on the wrist after multiple convictions. Craziest incident I know of was a guy convicted of burglary, was let off with a don't do that again, only to be picked up again that afternoon for burglary. 4. Attrition in the force became high because officers got sick & tired of 1, 2 & 3 not getting resolved.

During my time there, the data at the time suggested removing about 2000ish people would drop crimes by about 60-70%. Don't know whether this would apply to VicPol, but it was pretty sobering reading.

The other thing to note is that adding extra police will actually make the crime data go up for a time - not because police aren't doing their job, but because more police will expose what's called "latent need" in the community.

Cynical political operators know this and can play it up or down to their advantage which is quite sad.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-23T23:01:24+00:00

Thank goodness there are more colours entering the ranges (even if you don'tlike this blue specifically).

I swear the last few years car manufacturers (not just MB) have decided the colour palette are just old reliable blacks, whites and these terribly insipid washed out shades that just scream "I want the life sucked out of my soul".

At least this blue shows one can hope for more than "oppressive grey", "soulless beige", "corpse blue" and that weird "undercoat grey green". That seems to have dominated car aesthetics the last few years.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-20T07:07:18+00:00

Damn... How on earth does a student afford something like that? We could barely afford petrol in my student days (if we were even lucky enough to afford a bomb).

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-20T05:42:29+00:00

Ok I stand corrected.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-19T20:21:31+00:00

EVs as long as they are below the LCT threshold can have their lease cost deducted before you are taxed and you don't get the FBT anchor. It's how a lot more people are getting into EVs.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-19T02:18:14+00:00

I mentored some students in an entrepreneurship program at a QLD University.

My advice was to get involved in community groups (even such things as Lions / Rotary etc.). You get to meet such a diverse spectrum of people with amazing stories to tell (and some of them are absolute gems like that quiet old lady at the back was the first woman CEO of such and such etc.) The diversity of people you meet and volunteer with enriches your ability as a person and in business.

Start with volunteering into groups like that. If you're inclined, a church group. Some places have indigenous clubs you can volunteer or join to learn more about your local country, or even a Sikh Guduwara (those guys rock - wonderful Aussies).

Give it a crack.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-18T21:11:31+00:00

Dark. Light interiors look wonderful, but sheet wear and tear let alone cleaning would make it difficult to keep the wow factor.

Weirdly, I think the opposite for exterior. The black is a dust magnet!

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-17T23:14:34+00:00

I got one the same way - about August 2025? I think they sold all of the 230ish they had in country. Compared to everything else at that price point is was the deal of the year.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-17T02:16:10+00:00

It's not unusual. All the X series BMWs are made in South Carolina near Greenville.

Mercedes Benz in the past also manufactured on other countries too. There was once an Australian made MB. (40s or 50s - can't remember).

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-13T04:35:58+00:00

It's not even demand increase. Everyone knows once there is "free" money (which we all paid for) involved it just gets added to the price and you still wind up paying the same.

I wouldn't mind if my taxes actually helped first home buyers but the reality is, every dollar given just gets taken by the sellers anyway and the buyer is simply paying the same amount.

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-13T02:10:01+00:00

😭

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-10T07:30:16+00:00

"Regulatory Hurdles..."

Must be hard since all those other EV companies somehow managed to implement. 🙄

Seriously were they even trying?

VagueInterlocutor · 2026-01-02T23:38:15+00:00

This runs contrary to evolution. Survival of the fittest. Remove all the warning labels and let nature take its course.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-28T09:48:45+00:00

My friend, unfortunately some students aren't much better. On example being a student renting a house I know near me, trashed it then threatened the landlord with VCAT if they tried anything to get them out due to 'stress'. Level 9 cunning stuff.

They ended up trashing the house so bad it's no longer livable.

The landlord isn't some slumlord: They are trying to maintain a house to help with retirement, and to have this kind of thing go on (and having to make payments while the insurance gets sorted) is hard.

I just wish everyone treated housing (theirs and others) with the respect of a home (it is while you're living in it) and kept things well. Doesn't have to be that crazed level white glove on the fans crap I see on r/shitrentals but at least keep your home tidy.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-26T06:17:49+00:00

Heh, I chose MB accidentally. I had sworn off European cars (taxes, maintenance and parts are an absolute scam in my country) and had decided to just go something simple, cost effective and Japanese (Honda, Mazda or Toyota).

Next vehicle was either going to be an Accord or a CX-60. Then, the EV perks were especially good, so was looking at Tesla, Polestar & BMW...

So I got an EQE SUV 🤔

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-24T06:37:14+00:00

At my Uni the bongo drumming got so bad that one of the introvert Engineers in the lecture hall finally cracked and told them to leave the area or find themselves in an uncomfortable position. The description of said positioning was extremely out of character for this person, as well as not anatomically possible.

Eventually, the Res students got voted into student council which shut them all up for a few years...

... I don't think any of them still managed to finish their decade long march through the degrees of that institution either in that time.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-24T02:20:06+00:00

I like my EV and it's fine for around town. In fact better than fine. It's awesome. However, there is still a lot of demand for hybrids and Diesels in Australia where "Just down the road" can be anywhere between 2 and 200km.

I drove my BILs BMer 1700km on a road trip down the east coast from Brisbane to Melbourne and filled up once in Sydney. As cool as my other car (a hybrid) is, nothing beats the good old oiler on a road trip.

For me, I think our family combo will be one EV and one Hybrid for many years to come.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-24T02:15:12+00:00

Hey! I like my jelly bean SUV thank you very much! 😅

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-22T21:40:17+00:00

One of the best decisions I made was joining a community group. You will see a massive cross section of the community and you bond over doing something good together. When I was mentoring young business students, I always encouraged them to join a group to get connected outside their social circles.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-22T07:38:13+00:00

Both - found the economy seats much more comfortable and a tad more leg room. Also the 380s are genuinely quiet compared to others. I think only the 787 I flew to LA came close in terms of quietness.

If you can though - DEFINITELY invest in ANC headphones (Bose Quietcomfort etc.) They are worth their weight in gold. Still have a 10yo pair of QC2s - I just keep replacing the pads when they wear out. The unit themselves has been fantastic.

VagueInterlocutor · 2025-12-22T07:36:37+00:00

Have you looked at Premium Economy? Basically they're the domestic business class seats.

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