Let’s not start asking which Kinja features are and are not necessary.

No love for the Kona? Me and the wife are thinking of purchasing an EV next year and it honestly is coming down between the Mach-E and Kona based off of value and range.

Yeah, I think the battery will eventually have to be replaced. I’ll try to get a year or two out of it like this and then dive in to that project. Battery prices will probably come down in that time, too, as more 2018+ Leaf Plus models get crashed. I’ll try to get the 62 kWh battery in there. 

For a future project, would you do a battery swap from a salvaged Leaf to extend the range? Are there custom battery makers that could provide even longer range alternatives to replace the old battery?

Yeah, I’m quite pleased with the deal and I’m glad I jumped on it when I did. Working the deal over Facebook messenger was a bit sketchy, and I didn’t really know what would happen to my deposit until I showed up and saw the car there, but I’m glad I took the leap.

Yeah, Leaf batteries are pretty much like Subaru engines, they’re all the same size and they’ll bolt in to any model. The current Leaf still uses the same size and shape pack. I’m actually kind of curious if the new Ariya will use the same pack, that might be an interesting swap.

And yes, why buy cars for an edge…

I’m in the same head space you are. I have a 2 series that I’m pretty happy with for now, but if I buy another BMW it’ll be something pre-turbo. I’ve always been very fond of the E46 M3s. 

You’re not the only one, I had to have a stick as well. Which brings up another point about the new Z4s, I wouldn’t go near a Z4 with an auto. And while Z4 was no Boxster on the track it was a great car for someone, like me, who lived on the Califoribnia coast. I used to take the long way home from work just so I…

Yeah, my mother’s ‘83 528e with a 3spd slushbox was the “Ultimate Driving Machine” too... Not. How about all those 3-series with 1.6l carb’d motors they sold in Europe. Or the might 518i?

Buddy of mine bought a Z4 and called me because he left his Explorer at the dealer the day before and drove the Z4 home.  So he picks me up, I am not a small guy, and I was surprised at the amount of room in the original Z4.  Once we go to the dealer, he gave me the keys and let me drive it back to his house.  It was…

I had a 2006 Z4 3.0 si and I loved that car, except for the sticky lifter issue that started with only 12k miles on the odo. But what really gets me about the new Z4's is how big they’ve gotten yet how little space there is inside. The original Z4 was a surprisingly roomy car inside; it’s a *large* part of why I…

EV Macan is already planned for 2022.  Their E Hybrids are also amazing. 

So basically Porsche needs to shove the Taycan drivetrain into their SUV’s to achieve sales nirvana? If they can increase the range, an EV Macan sounds kinda exactly what this market is looking for and will provide Model 3 owners looking for something different, an option to switch. 

How easy is it to hit the thermal limit on the motor? I hear there's better airflow over the motor with a fairing to guide it, but air cooled is air cooled. 

What does realistic highway range look like?

I don't even expect our terrible healthcare system to cover a converted van....but I would expect our system to actually cover healthcare stuff, which is sometimes a challenge. This is the only modern country where you have to buy extra insurance for your insurance...and even then they can decide not to pay for…

Bravo on the new purchase, the past few years of Honda’s are finally edging out the Siennas in overall quality and styling IMHO (I own a 07 and 11 Sienna.. jury is out on my next van). I feel for you and your wife- the added expense of the conversion is no small thing.

I wouldn’t go quite that far. EVs are at a point where probably half of suburb-dwellers could use them now, so long as they get more affordable. And we’re about to see a whole flood of high-volume PHEVs hit the market going into 2021 (Wrangler, RAV4, and a couple others) so we’ll at least partially electrify the fleet.

My frustration is that nearly all manufacturers missed the transition from “manuals are for cheap loser cars only” to “enthusiasts with disposable income want manuals in their enthusiast cars.”

Sports cars aren’t just about speed and performance. The driving experience is far more important to me than number on paper. I want to feel connected with a car, and feel that a manual transmission is necessary to do so. My truck is automatic and I’m alright with that. The truck is an appliance, not a toy.