Cars, cars, cars...

First.Aspect

Worth using an independent familiar with issues on your particular make of car, in my experience. Otherwise you risk spending money on chasing faults that a specialist will use experience/hunch to diagnose immediately. OBS the older and more common a car, the less of an issue this is.

briantrumpet

First.Aspect said:

Worth using an independent familiar with issues on your particular make of car, in my experience. Otherwise you risk spending money on chasing faults that a specialist will use experience/hunch to diagnose immediately. OBS the older and more common a car, the less of an issue this is.

Nissan Almera, for instance.

Brilliant local garage. Most garages I've been to seem OK at first, then I think they all have algorithms to screw more money out of you. The one I've used for 25 years now seem to be honest/genuine.

focuszing723

Hyundai's autonomous electric flying taxi will make its first passenger flight in 2028, with the Korean car maker announcing an entire new brand that will lead its project.

It has launched a new company called Supernal, based in the US, and will look to launch a ride-hailing service using the vehicles during the 2030s.

Back in June, bosses at the auto firm said flying cars will be 'part of our future' and will help to reduce congestion on roads.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-10187335/Hyundai-says-autonomous-electric-flying-taxi-make-maiden-flight-2028.html

pinno

Not in windy Scotland it won't.

focuszing723

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6K7GAG1Aas

Arguably it should be more controllable than a light aircraft. I'm always staggered by sea rescue helicopters going out in hideous storms, a quad copter hybrid should be even better.

longy

focuszing723 said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6K7GAG1Aas

Arguably it should be more controllable than a light aircraft. I'm always staggered by sea rescue helicopters going out in hideous storms, a quad copter hybrid should be even better.

I bet the drivers/pilots still find a way to blame cyclists for everything.

pblakeney

Anyone thinking these won't simply be a way for the wealthy to avoid congestion?
Pricing will be key.

shirley_basso

But the less congestion the better for other road users, so who cares

pblakeney

shirley_basso said:

But the less congestion the better for other road users, so who cares

It will either lead to congestion and chaos in the skies, or not make a discernible difference on the ground. I know where my money lies.

First.Aspect

This is justan electric helecopter, is it not? So it will replace all of the helecopter flights we currently take.

focuszing723

It would actually be more efficient than a helicopter as it converts into and aeroplane when sufficient altitude is gained. More akin to this, it would be required too if it's powered by a battery array.

Jezyboy

focuszing723 said:

It would actually be more efficient than a helicopter as it converts into and aeroplane when sufficient altitude is gained. More akin to this, it would be required too if it's powered by a battery array.

If it's all the same I'll catch something less deadly.

Pross

focuszing723 said:

It would actually be more efficient than a helicopter as it converts into and aeroplane when sufficient altitude is gained. More akin to this, it would be required too if it's powered by a battery array.

When the NATO conference was held up the road from me a few years back Obama was being flown around in one of those whilst all the other leaders were in cars. I was cycling home from work and it went over my head at just above treetop height. Scared the sh*t out of me, it certainly has a unique sound.

First.Aspect

Electric version safer. The issue with those is the complex mechanical linkages from the engine. If electric, you don't have that issue.

Therefore, it will be as cheap as Uber.

Not.

rick_chasey

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1461158314880999424?s=21

focuszing723

I wonder if he's looking forward to the day when the brands he has helped establish can stand on their own four wheels/brain tapping plug things?

I would have thought SpaceX has to be his main objective, wanting to live on Mars and all that.

focuszing723

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otr4QLDe9zY
Sorry, back on topic.

lesfirth

focuszing723 said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otr4QLDe9zY
Sorry, back on topic.

I must be getting really old now.
In the past I have had some quick cars and done some circuit racing and rally driving.
Now all this 0-60 and mega BHP is boring and pointless.

pblakeney

I'm of the opinion that nobody should be buying a Porsche simply to get from A to B.
You either see the point, or you don't. There is no right or wrong.

pinno

lesfirth said:

Now all this 0-60 and mega BHP is boring and pointless.

0-60 definitely is.
BHP - you don't need power to have fun.

I have no idea why you would want more than 350bhp in any road vehicle. Mine is in that area and unless I go on a track, I only ever exploit 60% of the cars capability.
Besides, the journo's wind me up. They say that x, y and z is better than the previous version. Does that obligate potential buyers that they have to improve on what they have?
And all the while, they don't consider that a previous model in it's own right was a very good car.
A case in point: the Porsche 993. Last of the air cooled. Received badly when launched because it wasn't the turbo charged 964 poster car.
But: they shifted the engine forward to the extent it was now considered a mid engine car rather than rear engine.
And it handles so much better. In fact it is that re-configuration of weight and a different suspension (as there was more room) that made the car handle so much better and has formed the basis of the next 4 generations of the 911's success..
The handling and the car had little acclaim when it came out and I see a pattern: they bring out a new model, older model prices are temporarily deflated and then they pick up again.
Now the 993 is held in high regard and is really sought after, prices are going through the roof. It is the model I would like but with the price hikes, out of my price range.
It's a bit like the Golf. The MK1 Gti and the MK2 Gti were superb little hot hatches and whilst all the other marques are that bit quicker, that bit better handling, that bit more refined etc etc. I know which Golf I would prefer and it doesn't go beyond the MK2.

The Cayman ^, I would quite happily see crushed in a car crusher. The styling is going silly, The fact that it is almost identical in performance with the 911 makes it pointless - the 911 is the one people want, why have the baby brother when you could have the icon that is the 911?
If you offered me that Cayman or a 1978 911, I would have the 911.

This era heralds the last gasp of cars with internal combustion engines. The Bugatti's and Koenigsegg's and the Ferrari's and the Lambo's* being produced with silly BHP are really rich boys toys that look effing shyte, have zero practical use and produce the most ludicrous and impractical BHP figures. Since Ferrari has turned into a Plc, the styling has gone West and they are churning them out ten to the dozen, they have lost their exclusivity and any possible charm a car with 700bhp could have. As if BHP is the bottom line and nothing else.

*And unfortunately, Porsche ( the new GT3?)

I've done waffling.

focuszing723

Listen! Every billionaire cutting edge tech company has it's teething problems.

I thought I better get in there quick smart.

dannbodge

So I've just sold my car and "downgraded" to save some money.

Had a Leon Cupra, but now my wife is back at work (opposite my job) we car share (also to help drop off/pick up of kids) and the other days she doesn't work I cycle. SO it's been 4 weeks since I drove it.

Haven't sorted a replacement out yet but not really in any hurry.

rick_chasey

So some banking reports on metals & mining pointing out that for the world's ambitions for electric cars there is not enough, graphite lithium or likely nickel currently known about to support that level of battery production - comes off the back of Musk moaning about Chinese tariffs on various metals.

shirley_basso

My 3y/o skoda estate is now worth as much second hand as it was when I bought it new.

In Sept next year the residual value (not 2nd hand value) will be £10k on the PCP contract so I'm just going to buy it outright.

Wheelspinner

Has the shortage of AdBlue been raised as an issue in Europe/UK yet?

Beginning to be serious here - China has apparently stopped exporting the primary ingredient (Urea) so there's a chronic problem looming here at least.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

So some banking reports on metals & mining pointing out that for the world's ambitions for electric cars there is not enough, graphite lithium or likely nickel currently known about to support that level of battery production - comes off the back of Musk moaning about Chinese tariffs on various metals.

Nickel is fairly abundant. There's more of it in the earth's crust than copper or lead. Just a case of priority for the mining companies. They pull plenty of it out of the ground together with more valuable metals. Graphite is just carbon and can be made industrially. Lithium, yes, well known issues of scale there. Other technologies are coming.

Hope that helps.

focuszing723

LFP (LiFePO4) batteries pose far less risk to the environment than lead-acid batteries. They can also be recycled to recover the materials used in their electrodes, wiring, and casings to be used in new lithium batteries.

Compared to other lithium battery technologies, LiFePO4 batteries use more abundant and non-toxic materials that can be produced with less energy. The performance and safety of LiFePO4 batteries also make them a superior choice for electricity storage in zero-emission renewable electricity, wind, and solar power systems.

We’re all concerned about protecting the environment, and we strive to do our part to reduce pollution and resource consumption. When it comes to choosing a battery technology, lithium iron phosphate batteries are an excellent choice for enabling renewable energy like wind and solar and for minimizing the consequences of resource extraction. As lithium iron phosphate batteries become more widely adopted, the benefits of this technology for the environment will continue to grow.

https://relionbattery.com/blog/how-lithium-iron-phosphate-batteries-are-easier-on-the-environmentcar

I know some manufactures are using these type of cells now. Tesla are using LFP batteries for the Model 3s in China. Although not as high voltage and less energy dense than li-ion they do have the benefit of greater recharge cycles, so in Theory cars shouldn't have as much battery degradation over time. They are cheaper to produce too, keeping costs down.

We know battery technology will keep evolving to keep up with various requirements, be it materials, environmental concerns, capacity...

ddraver

I'll be honest, I'm not sure what the point of forcing motorbikes to go electric has come from in this sense. I seriously question if a small petrol-powered bike rated to Euro15 - or whatever it will be by 2035 - is going to be any less ecological than an e-motorbike...

pblakeney

A lot of measures being taken are more about being seen to be doing something rather than the actual results. Something is better than nothing and all that.

pinno

Wheelspinner said:

Has the shortage of AdBlue been raised as an issue in Europe/UK yet?

Beginning to be serious here - China has apparently stopped exporting the primary ingredient (Urea) so there's a chronic problem looming here at least.

Offer services for piddling in tanks/