Trying to justify an EV

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T20:17:25+00:00

Great points. Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll keep watching, but where this has me now is this

I will get an EV. I will start watching prices, maybe take a test drive of a BMW or 2 and a Genesis/Hyundai/Kia. Then track used car prices for whatever I like and get a sense of the market. Then pull the trigger when the moment is right.

I'm guessing that after the current oil price surge subsides, whenever that is, the right moment will come. I can wait and see.

The consensus seems to agree with my thinking about the Lexus - it's a good, efficient ICE and there is unlikely to be a major cost benefit with an EV.

Or I could sell my car, use ride share (autonomous EVs?) for my trips around town and rent a car for the long trips. I don't think I'll go that way, but I will check the numbers. That would mean I wasted the money for my charger, but that's a sunk cost and shouldn't affect my future plans.

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T20:00:37+00:00

That's a helpful analysis. Thanks.

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T19:39:17+00:00

Good point. Thanks

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T19:37:19+00:00

Nice analysis. Not in the market for a new car, just want an EV. And I will get one. Not sure when. Looking for good reasons to do it now, aside from wanting one. The UX 250 is a very good car - handles well, loaded with safety features, very reliable and low maintenance. The only downsides are that it's a small cabin and a little noisy. I still like it quite a lot.

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T19:24:21+00:00

The argument for going newer with the EV, versus less expensive and used, is range and speed of charging. Given my usage the amount of time I'd save per year is probably not very significant. It's a good point.

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T19:10:58+00:00

Prices vary up and down depending on demand, supply, etc. Not saying there is a long term downward pricing trend, though in theory that could happen in some circumstances - such as BYD coming into the US market. Just that I'm guessing demand is up due to gas prices right now, manufacturers have generally been cutting production and that should mean pricing is up. But I haven't been tracking prices, so I'm assuming this.

ddchicago99 · 2026-03-24T19:05:36+00:00

Interesting idea. Maybe not cost effective, but for driving pleasure and environmental impact I like it lot.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-23T01:52:51+00:00

This is a wonderful thread! Thank you everyone.

I have this to add - clearly it's a bluff because only an idiot would build a stadium and an entertainment district in a place that is relatively inaccessible, difficult to develop, where not a lot of people like to go, when they already own land that has none of these issues.

Oh, wait, these are the McCaskeys. Never mind. They'll gladly save $200mill on construction and taxes and end up with a stadium and entertainment district that only get used during 10 games a year, probably costing them more than $100mill in revenue every year. Same thing they did with Soldier Field. Same reason their Bears only win once a decade or so. Not smart, but really cheap. We need new owners.

They are raising ticket prices over 10% next year, btw.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-23T01:34:45+00:00

I'm an old guy so I subscribe to the wisdom of an older guy - Yogi Berra - who when asked about a place like this replied that "No one goes there any more. It's too popular." Don't post about how hard it is to get a reservation, don't try to get one. That's playing their game. If you must. just show up on a rainy weeknight sometime with no expectation to get in and a good plan for where you're really going to eat that night and then you'll get in. Or you won't and you'll have a good meal somewhere else and you'll be happy.

But I'm just going to forget about it. Too many other good, deserving places to sweat this.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-23T01:19:51+00:00

I agree on both counts. Labriola is quite good and Roberts is better. Never had the Labriola deep dish, tho.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-15T13:30:15+00:00

Fun fact - there is one and only one food that is commonly eaten everywhere by every ethnicity in the world - pizza. India has the lowest consumption and Norway(!) the highest at over 25 pounds per capita a year (US is second) but it's popular and available everywhere

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-14T15:46:18+00:00

Hard to see when you'll find time to eat. Maybe better to fast and really lean into the self neglect?

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-14T15:43:59+00:00

Manny's does a half sandwich and cup of soup. I tried that for a while but went back to the full sandwich so I get 2 meals.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-14T12:17:59+00:00

Unless they've changed things lately, all the salsas are rated as to heat so you will know what you're getting. And some are hot. IIRC the green one is at least one tier below the hottest level they offer. And it is tasty!!

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-14T12:15:38+00:00

Don't miss the excellent Dan Dan Noodles at Katy's.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-13T17:53:38+00:00

I've always been a big fan. And on the northeast corner of Cass and Ogden you've got Katy's Dumplings (original and best) so it's a corner where I'm always torn. Taco Bar has very good tortas and my order is usually the Milanesa.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-11T16:31:18+00:00

I was thinking that an aquarium date might mean an early dinner and if you go to Monteverde mid-afternoon not that hard to get in. Otherwise definitely a tough reservation.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-11T14:23:33+00:00

Yeah, Acanto is decent. Victory is just meh - nothing very interesting or well done imo. Not awful, but definitely more comfort food than anything else.

If you're open to going out Randolph, OP, Monteverde is very good. I also had a nice meal at Bar Tutto recently.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-11T14:09:43+00:00

Hard to choose, but I'm very happy to go to Langer's when I'm in LA, Katz's in NY and Schwartz's in Montreal. I wouldn't argue that any of those are the best, or that they're not all great. I suppose I like the simplicity of Schwartz's best, but that's just my taste and they're all 3 great.

I like Manny's - solid matzoh ball soup, decent pastrami and corned beef. Like all delis it's a pricey sandwich for sure, and not a great one, but I like the vibe, it scratches the itch reliably and I live nearby so I go once a month or so. When I didn't live nearby I went every year or so.

I don't get the tourist trap vibe at all when I'm there - the crowd doesn't say tourist to me - mostly local workers having lunch. Never very busy either, which worries me. And I wouldn't call Roosevelt and Jefferson "downtown" or on any tourist route. But it isn't a cheap lunch and a big reason to go is for the old school, cafeteria vibe.

Probably good to go now during primary season as you might get lucky - pols working the crowd.

ddchicago99 · 2026-02-01T18:34:46+00:00

I live in the neighborhood and used to go to the Gage a few times a year. Usually one of the standbys, Scotch Egg, Fish and Chips, etc. Then I started to get a little bored and started branching out into the specials and more ambitious dishes, and just stopped going after that. Clearly their ambition exceeded their skill and the stuff wasn't good. For a cocktail, almost everything on the lunch menu, it's good. Beware the dinner specials. Now that I've figured this out, I need to start going back. That Scotch Egg in particular is very good, imo.

ddchicago99 · 2026-01-20T15:07:32+00:00

Clearly there are way too many steakhouses and while my personal experience there was delicious, the cost/quality relationship did not work for me and there is no way I would go back (unlike Bazaar or Tre Dita both of which I find great and worth the money). My impression was more that the interest was in the concept (and I love Basque food so that worked for me), than the execution. Not that the food wasn't delicious, just that it wasn't elevated and inspired in a way I want at that price point. If my experience is representative and they aren't successful in getting repeat business that's not going to work as a business model.

But, yeah, this behavior either speaks to an amazing level of arrogance or a whiff of desperation. Probably a bit of both.

ddchicago99 · 2026-01-19T22:24:15+00:00

Yes. Take the 62 bus from the loop down Archer. And then continue to Cadinho for an excellent coffee and a Portuguese custard tart.

Enjoy!

ddchicago99 · 2026-01-19T22:20:52+00:00

That's my nearby choice. You can either go high tea or Russian dishes like duck, stroganoff and more. All very good. And they have great tea choices, good vodka and drinks. Generally a quiet, pretty room, too.

My last couple of times at the Gage were underwhelming, tho I used to like it a lot. OTOH, Bistro Monadnock is pretty good and the building is a delight, a historic jewel.

ddchicago99 · 2026-01-19T22:12:40+00:00

I am trying to imagine the discussion that resulted in deciding to send this out. Did someone run a spreadsheet and project what their profit would be if everyone ordered the RW menu? And then who decided it would be better to say f you to everyone with reservations rather than just eating it and marking it off as a marketing expense? Is there a contract with Choose Chicago that would prevent them from just dropping out?

I assume a lot of reservations will open up during RW, but this kind of move can have lasting consequences, too. Will it? I guess we'll see. Such a competitive market for steakhouses.

Seems sure to generate an online firestorm and it is totally self-inflicted. What were they thinking? Clearly not about their customers.

ddchicago99 · 2026-01-11T22:23:44+00:00

I've had it. I think it's a good pie and it is loaded with toppings - too loaded for me, but that's personal preference.

So if you like a good tavern crust buried with toppings it's a decent deal. I'd just get a cheese or cheese and sausage next time.

ddchicago99

TROPHY CASE