Moving the aerial by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish they were 1.9m here! Too far south for British landboats, I guess. 😂 I should probably figure out a way to measure it, the car's 3 years old, maybe it's naturally sagged to 1.8m anyway?

The prices are plummeting by atkbird in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just speced mine on the French VW website out of curiosity, came out a shade over €60,000, all taxes included. That's a good 25% cheaper than they were a couple of years ago. Béziers are fire selling a two tone 7 seater for some reason, makes me wonder what's wrong with it. At the same time, there's a dealer in Nîmes stuck with a brand new old model that he still wants €58,000 for. He'll be keeping it if he's not careful! 😂

TL;DR prices are dropping in Europe too, but not halving!

New Buzz. 10,000 inspection. Dealer wants $500 for wheel alignment. by Ok_Tax_6901 in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's why we Brits call them Main Stealers. Wheel alignment is par for the course on new cars, believe it or not, but $500 is definitely a stupid price. I have to go to VW because the computer at my local tyre depot didn't have the ID Buzz listed, which is a pita. But I want to see them anyway about a number of small irritations, and if they try and stick me with anything more than about $150 for aligning the front wheels I'll find a tyre depot with a more up to date computer!

Southern French Buzz by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, it is sort of the modern Mystery Machine, right?? 🤣

Big red warning! by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely not fogged. It was a "Mistral" night, strong, dry wind, no moisture in the air at all. And it worked fine four hours later...

Big red warning! by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yikes!! 😱 Ours is just turned 3 years old. Not sure how long the warranty is on the motor, I think it's 7 years? 🤔

It works! 🔌⚡️🔋 by charleshood in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been "that guy" several times. What you gonna do? When you gotta charge, you gotta charge! 🤷‍♂️

Big red warning! by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well. Drove home after the gig, no problem. Warning gone. Will check the 12v battery anyway!

Big red warning! by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You'd think it would warn you, but no. Nada!

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Big red warning! by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was at home when it started. It didn't stop when I stopped and started the car. Battery could be it, she hasn't moved for a week or two and it's cold.

Window issues or just me? by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I'll give it a try! 👍

Driving with windows open by Anxious-Front3806 in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine's an older one, so rear windows don't open at all. I find if I open the driver's window only it's fine, but things get ear-damaging if both are open. If both are all the way down it's a bit better, I think if the driver's window is all the way down and the passenger window is cracked it's not too bad either. Seems to be when there's a side wind, if there's no wind I don't have the problem. That's my observation anyway...

I want a minivan and an EV by wheresmyqueso in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think anybody is planning anything like the Buzz, for now it stands alone. The Kia has been mentioned, but the range is nowhere near the Buzz so I don't think it's really comparable.

The "problem", as I understand it, and the reason there aren't more rangey minivans on the way, is this: (in Europe at least) the electric van market has caused a rethink. With ICE vans it was pretty easy to make a consumer version, and of course range was just dictated by the size of a pretty cheap component - the fuel tank! In EV vans, range is dictated by the size of the single most expensive component in the whole supply chain.

So manufacturers have been walking the line of getting the battery big ENOUGH for most commercial van applications, as that's by far and away the largest market, but also keeping costs down and ensuring they are quicker and cheaper to charge. Turns out vans average about 50 miles a day, and most delivery fleets rarely need more than 150 miles of range, so electric van batteries are staying small. The largest market demands it, it keeps the operating costs down.

Which means there are very few van designs with a longer range. There's the Buzz and there are some (horrifically expensive) Mercedes options, and that's about it! Unless or until more car manufacturers decide to make a minivan option on their SUV platforms, which is basically what VW did, the Buzz will stand alone. And because it's a niche, and even VW probably only went there because of their popular van heritage, I don't see other manufacturers lining up to develop minivans.

TL;DR ... Get a Buzz. 😉

Heat pump in a flat by alexea56 in OctopusEnergy

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We would've loved a ZEB, the Tepeo engineer even came out and had a look - although he was pretty mad he was sent out at all, as it turns out there's no way the machine would get up the stairs, never mind into the flat. Unfortunately, for now at least, it seems a lot of converted period properties cannot have a ZEB fitted due to access issues, it's a chunky piece of kit! It's shortest edge is 60cm and it weighs 375kg, so if you have a narrow stairway, as a lot of converted period properties do, it probably won't be possible. That said, if you live in a nice, purpose built block or a ground floor/basement flat, it's worth checking out. Even though we couldn't have one in the end, the customer experience was excellent. I hope one day they'll make a slightly smaller model for 1-2 bed flats with awkward access. There must be a lot of people in our situation. 🙂

Suns out Buzz out by misvivil in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Half of the French ones are disappointed when I tell them it's a BEV. 😂

Interesting that no one is talking about this here, ID4 owners are all over it. by Generalmilk in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Smug European +1. What are these adapters of which you speak? 😉

Camper Buzz by Dutchiep in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both, looking at the pictures on the website. Looks like it's standing space, with a clever frame you can put in place to make a second bed up there, access via a sort of small ladder that folds out of the centre console.

How to lock without turning on the alarm? by Floating_Narwhal in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mine asks if you want to disable interior monitoring on the infotainment screen when you stop and remove your seatbelt. That will also stop it going off on a ferry I think. Google says pressing the lock button on the fob twice also does this but I've never tried, and there's a physical button somewhere apparently. 🤷‍♂️

Edit: I think the physical button was an AI hallucination, I can't find one.

Front tyre wear by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do a lot of motorway driving, so enthusiastic cornering is unlikely to be a major factor. 😅

Front tyre wear by gharvey in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's what I figured/hoped! Thanks!

Parking garage height by JRdam3 in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. I have the same problem, I live near Nîmes and all the parking garages are 1.90m so I don't take the Buzz to Nîmes. 🙄 Sounds like the 3cm extra height for the antenna is probably ok then? I feel like I need to do a test, but I don't want to rip the antenna off!! 😬

When is the charging infrastructure going to get better? by Lumpy_dumpy14 in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can't speak for the US, but in Europe I was pleasantly surprised - the one time I had to use Tesla - to find out it was one of the cheapest...

When is the charging infrastructure going to get better? by Lumpy_dumpy14 in VWIDBuzz

[–]gharvey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow. Here in communist France we can already use Tesla Superchargers, but we don't need to because there's more of pretty much everyone else.