I did this last year, so I get to do it again on account of terrible news. (H/T: The Late P Brooks)
This is my review of The Trash An American Imperial Brown:
The electric car industry got a bit of a kick in the pants earleir this week with California finding new and inventive ways to increase the resale value of my 10 year old car. In spite of current electric car owners having issues finding usable charging stations, aside from Tesla owners. Plus the radio silence regarding the issues with harvesting the lithium needed for batteries. Along with the inevitable news some other manufacturer will be killing off yet another iconic model…I can attempt to be open minded about what will soon be available right?
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe—its pronounced “Four by E,” like “Four by Four” get it? Its totally catchy (but it isn’t)! Jeep’s first gas-electric hybrid drivetrain ever produced holds multiple titles: the most fuel efficient (49mpg) Wrangler ever built, the fastest Wrangler ever built, and the heaviest Wrangler ever built. The pros: It sort of looks like my dad’s old CJ. It will work in Mexico as it runs on gasoline. The cons: It is not my dad’s old CJ. Would I buy it? Maybe, if they put the same drivetrain in the Gladiator its more likely. I will however wait a year or two…or ten to wait for them to work out the inevitable gremlins such a complex machine will have. Being I already drive a Chrysler product, I am certain there will be gremlins.
The Delorean Alpha-5. They didn’t bring back the DMC-12, as those weren’t all that great once you got past the looks, but they did bring back the name. The pros: They tried to keep the original Guigiaro design. They advertise its 0-88MPH time, rather than 0-60. The cons: Try explaining to a cop you were driving 88MPH in an attempt go back in time to murder Woodrow Wilson. It appears they took Guigiaro’s design, made it out soap and worked away the corners under an armpit, leaving you a Tesla Model S with 80’s style louvers. Would I buy it? No, it only travels in two dimensions.
The Bentley Mulliner Batur. Pros: Whatever they were going for they absolutely nailed it. If you can afford a Bentley, you don’t need to give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks. I imagine they probably have a service where if you run out of juice they’ll send a truck with an onboard diesel generator. The cons: You probably can’t afford it anymore than I. Would I buy it? Bahahahahahaha.
The Lordstown Motors Endurance. One I overlooked last year, mostly because it is still vaporware. I haven’t looked at their finances at all but I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if this along with other EV start ups turn into Theranos. The pros: The spec sheet suggests it will be plenty capable. The cons: Only a cyborg would drive it. Would I buy it? Lets wait until they make one first.
Mercedes Benz EQS. The company that invented the car made an electric offering. I’m not even going to pay any attention to this, this is just hideous. They took a mid-00’s Honda Civic, stretched it in every direction, slapped on a fake grill unds now is vhen ve dance on Sprockets.
Finally, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. A concept they seem to be pushing as close to the production version. It seems almost like they want you to hate them for killing off the actual Charger/Challenger by replacing it with an electric car. Chances are pretty good they do hate you but they know exactly how to sell this thing to their customer base. Anyways…pros: It doesn’t look half bad. It comes with a “donut mode” so I assume the driver can mess with the power distribution to make it feel like a muscle car designed to convert into a coffin. The cons: Judas titty-fucking Priest, they actually did this. It is an electric car intentionally louder than the current Hellcat.
They definitely hate you.
At least this brewer doesn’t hate us all! Except they made it in such small quantity I couldn’t find it in the same place days after initially picking one up. The guy working there said everyone wanted the otter beer. Who knew? This one was most excellent. Its a wee heavy Scottish Ale. Reminded me very much of Founders Backwoods Bastard, just not barrel aged. Its a formula like muscle cars, done wrong its terrible, but done right it simply appeals to inner trash in us all. The Trash An American Imperial Brown: 3.9/5
Now I want to buy a mammoth F-450 Diesel more than ever.
Enjoy, but I wouldn’t describe it as mammoth. I drove one for a couple of years and wasn’t much difference between it and the lesser Super Dutys.
The beer sounds great, ecars?
Not yet unless you have the bucks to spare
Hindenburg Research went short on Lordstown in 2021- The Lordstown Motors Mirage: Fake Orders, Undisclosed Production Hurdles, And A Prototype Inferno
This is funny. This is exactly reminiscent of all the automotive stock scams from the early 20s. Southern Motor Car Company in Houston was supposedly one, although I’ve heard one or two were actually built.
Was this the company that provided a proof of concept video for their EV tractor (as in tractor-trailer) that was really the tractor rolling down hill with the camera tilted to make it appear it was driving on a flat road?
I believe you’re thinking of Nikola
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/315151-electric-vehicle-company-admits-it-faked-fuel-cell-semi-truck-demo
You are right. I noticed in the article Hindenburg Research nailed them too.
Evel Knievel has a sad.
Not pushing Rivian more? CA is just insane in terms of not updating power/water/etc infrastructure but assuming these things will have zero impact on the system….and telling folks not to charge at home at certain hours. Literal insanity.
I’ve actually seen one Rivian in Dallas, and my dad saw another one, different color. Unless they’re pulling a Shelby, I guess it’s not vaporware. I’ve also seen a Lucid Air.
There’s one that I know of in Tucson. Pretty sure it belongs to a doctor.
It’s not insanity, it’s malevolence
I saw a Rivian locally.
You are absolutely correct about our degrading infrastructure and the many mandates that will make it worse. I should be able to leave CA just before this mandate kicks in. I will enjoy watching the shit show from NV or AZ.
I’ve seen two. Its about the size of the previous generation Tacoma.
I’ve seen several Rivians around the Austin area. Of course we’re sick with EVs in this area with all the greenies moving in from CA.
Electric cars makes sense for commuters. Drive to work. Run some errands and drive home after work. Plug it in and leave there till the next day.
As general purpose vehicles, they are mostly useless.
Hybrids double the complexity of the drive train.
And no battery has the longevity of the car it is installed in. A friend of mine was coming to end of the life of the battery pack in here Prius. After finding out the replacement cost, she just bought a new Prius.
No, I don’t think the math even adds up for commuters. I’m pretty sure EVs are toys for people with money to burn.
May see if I can dig up the tweet but there’s a pic of a quote going around for a *volt* battery replacement that costs more than $30k. (more than the car – after 70k miles)
I’ve seen that. I usually don’t pass around memes until I can verify them, but then I’m a lazy ass and never verify them.
Here’s one. https://twitter.com/leslibless/status/1563191918351175681
Guess I was off by a bit, but still nuts
That’s the one.
I told a coworker one time that I could see putting a small wind generator on the roof of my garage (since I live in rural Iowa, we have wind all the time). Then I could charge a car for free at night.
But paying for electricity is not a good business case.
Functionally, electric cars can fill the need for commuting without serious deficiencies. That’s doesn’t make it a good value.
I have a 2011 Prius. The hybrid battery went after 106,000 miles. The service guy showed all the dog hair and junk from my daughters that was on the battery and shortened its life. Toyota replaced it free of charge. The car now has 270,000 miles on it and averages about 42 mpg. I’m more than satisfied with it.
We have a 2009 Camry hybrid with close to 170,000 miles and it’s still humming along, getting 38 MPG.
It’s time for a road trip. You need to put some miles on that thing.
LOL, we’ll be on one in late September.
The actual battery cells are sealed in a case. I’ve witnessed Prius (and Ford Escape) batteries being dismantled for rebuilding. Dog hair didn’t shorten it’s life.
The engine revving sounds on the Charger are pathetic. And stupid.
Agreed x1000
Its like vegan eggs, isn’t it?
Good grief…I have no idea what is going on. I just got the same Server 500 error when trying to make a as I’ve been getting trying to post long posts here in the main section. WTF?
when trying to make a – “forum post” – stupid tags.
Anyhoo….just a reminder that Federal I-series (Inflation) Savings bonds are pegged at 9.62% currently. I bought some this week and may set up a small monthly buy as well given the ongoing issues. Trying to stick the long, detailed post in both the main board and the forum but I keep getting these errors.
And no battery has the longevity of the car it is installed in. A friend of mine was coming to end of the life of the battery pack in here Prius. After finding out the replacement cost, she just bought a new Prius.
Disposable cars!
They want to take away one of our freedoms: transportation where we want to go when we want to go.
Get on the choo-choo, peasant! Report to your labor station!
Re: battery life. My 3 year old Tesla model 3 (33k miles) had 305 mile range when it was new and has 310 mile range now. I assume that’s because I live in the Southwest.
It’s kind of fun to watch the miles remaining tick UP as I come down from the mountain pass and the regenerative braking kicks in.
But it was my choice to get the car; it shouldn’t be forced on anyone.
I had the opportunity to meet the president of Japan’s JR railways a few years ago. When asked why they weren’t bringing their bullet trains to the US he said “we tried, but the regulatory environment made it unprofitable.”
I took that to mean AMTRAK came at their knees with a bat.
I would absolutely take a bullet train across the country instead of an airplane if they were run the same way as Japan.
It costs multiple times as much to build a tunnel in the US as in western Europe – around 10 times as much as in Paris or London IIRC. Combination of our regulations and labor unions gaming the system.
Never been to Japan, but the French TGV was very good the few times I took it, both in first class and in whatever they call their lowest-class offering.
A lot more people here would take the train if it was like that, but alas, France is only 82% of the area of Alberta, but has 1.76 times the population of Canada, so such a train will never be economic here.
Although I guess that never stopped California…
The Italian versions are really good too. I believe they’ve been privatized and there’s at least two high speed train companies that we could’ve used. Never got to ride the Pendolino though.
It isn’t economical here either. That piece of shit will never be built but that won’t mean we didn’t waste tens of billions on it.
I would happily take a well-run train rather than an airplane.
Even though it was Amtrak, I had an amazing time with the California Zephyr from Chicago to Oakland 5 years ago. No TSA, no baggage inspection; bring your own booze was encouraged. Certainly helped that I had a private cabin, but even the “cheap” seat passengers were living it.
A bullet train would be terrific for connecting the few cities in Nevada.
They didn’t bring back the DMC-12, as those weren’t all that great once you got past the looks, but they did bring back the name.
A friend of mine has a DMC-12. He likes it. I’m not sure he drives it much.
If you can afford a Bentley, you don’t need to give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks. I imagine they probably have a service where if you run out of juice they’ll send a truck with an onboard diesel generator.
🙂
pros: It doesn’t look half bad.
I have to agree here. I think because it looks like the version they are going to kill.
I spent some time on Dodge’s website pricing a Challenger and Charger Hellcats (both are available in Hellcat versions). I thought a manual transmission was available. I’m wrong. Automatic only. Sad. More proof they hate us.
At least this brewer doesn’t hate us all! Except they made it in such small quantity I couldn’t find it in the same place days after initially picking one up. The guy working there said everyone wanted the otter beer. Who knew? This one was most excellent. Its a wee heavy Scottish Ale. Reminded me very much of Founders Backwoods Bastard, just not barrel aged. Its a formula like muscle cars, done wrong its terrible, but done right it simply appeals to inner trash in us all. The Trash An American Imperial Brown: 3.9/5
This sounds delicious. I like Backwoods Bastard.
The DMC-12 handled well once you drop the nose back to where it should’ve been before they hiked it to pass bumper regs – I believe Lotus designed the chassis and suspension, or was it Costin? The engine was a bit anemic, but DeLorean Motors I think sells a turbo kit.
The family hoard once contained one. It was actually a really neat car. I also used to make some parts for it that Special T auto sold.
I don’t know what work my friend has done to his DMC-12 except to get the thing running. Next time I see him, I’ll ask him if he’s done more to it.
The engine revving sounds on the Charger are pathetic. And stupid.
They should have a bunch of them, like ringtones. I’d get the one that sounds like when you were a kid and clipped plying cards to the front fork of your bike so they’d get snapped by the spokes.
Yes! And one that has the engine and track noises from an Abrams tank rolling down the road.
Ohh, or one that just plays Erasure at ever-increasing volume.
You evil man
Aw, I like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZPQtb6NWKM
oops, meant this one more so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygLy02y7_n8
I guess it’s better than the Communards…
/scooches Jimmy Somerville CD under sofa
Dont leave me that way.
I had one of these high tech gizmos on my bike as a kid. I felt like a badass revving this thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnzZaIagkXE
When lawmakers threatened to force Tesla to make an audible alert when driving at 25 mph or less (in other words, in residential areas where people are walking) so that pedestrians can hear it, Elon Musk said if they go through with it, he’d offer the Monty Python “2 halves of coconuts banging together” sound from the Holy Grail.
Couldn’t it just blast Electric Avenue?
That’s what I was waiting for.
Got ya covered,
https://vimeo.com/25213500
👍🏻
I was disappointed when I found out that song was not, in fact, about a street near where I grew up.
Then what is it about?
Some street in Brixton.
Awwwww, yeaaaaahhhh.
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/4kto2y/turned_the_corner_and/
Also, Mike S-
I left a Ray Wylie song for you in the dead thread.
Saw it! 👍🏻 Another great song. I really like RWH.
Electric cars makes sense for commuters.
Local delivery fleets.
Not enough range unless you’re delivering small items only
The six figure V8
This is not meant to bash the luxury car makers. It is an attempt to convey that we are being bashed – by the government – which has very slyly all-but-illegalized the V8 (and the V6) without actually having decreed them to be illegal. This has been done via regulations that V8s (and V6s) increasingly cannot comply with and by making it crystal clear to the manufacturers – as we car journalists refer to the car companies – that they had better make the handful of non-electric cars they’re still selling less appealing than electric cars – so as to sell fewer of then, in favor of more electric cars.
My fleet is nothing but 8 cylinder diesels. I have to have them to move the equipment.
The insanity of all this is mind boggling
The irony being that you will have to upsize to a Class 7 just to get stuff done.
I’ve structured my business around not having CDL drivers.
The point is rapidly coming where I don’t know if I want to be in business anymore. They seem intent on making it impossible.
Im cutting paver today and it’s hot as hell out here.
Yeah it’s supposed to get to three digits today. Stay hydrated!
Humidity is currently 13% in Pahrump. Not sure about Vegas (or Henderson or wherever you live).
The BB stole one of my draft articles. Damn you Bee! Damn you to hell!
https://babylonbee.com/news/meet-gender-studies-major-chloe-and-7-other-unemployed-college-grads-whose-loans-youre-paying-off
The beer sounds great, pussified hellcat, not so much.
Great Television ahead and no electric vehicles.
Continuing from earlier, this is why we dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeK7RSdT3mA
Powerline
https://i0.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2022/08/daily_picdump_4114_640_high_43.jpg?resize=338%2C600&ssl=1
My town would be SPAM.
Not enough range unless you’re delivering small items only
I was thinking flower shops, laundries, that kind of stuff, not trusses and building supplies.
But it was my choice to get the car; it shouldn’t be forced on anyone.
And I don’t want electric cars banned, I just want the government to get out of the market and stop trying to push them out at a completely unsupportable pace. Let the technology develop over time.
This could be Exhibit A for “we are ruled by lunatics and psychopaths”.
There is almost no effort being made by OEMs to design new engines in Europe. Japan, Korea and the USA are still doing some development. All are pushing towards a all electric future.
This is being driven by two mega trends. Government mandates for emissions and the expense of ICE development.
The first trend is strongest in the EU and China, with the US, Japan and Korean mandates with a longer timeframe.
The second trend has OEMs scrambling to adapt to prevent loosing big markets if they fall behind. Chinese manufacturers have a once in a lifetime opportunity to leap frog established manufacturers by developing EV systems with similar or superior efficiency and refinement. This is easier for them than trying to compete with 100 years of industrial and institutional knowledge. They also have a superior infrastructure for battery cell and motor manufacturing thanks to decades of western knowledge transfer.
It will de interesting to see how it plays out. I will do what I can to profit from it while I can.
Personally I will be rebuilding 20th century cars with the last of the V8 interceptors until I drive way into the wastelands.
“This one was most excellent.“
Yet it scores less than 4 out of 5.
RC Mex has indicated that other than the worst beers and the most amazing beers his rankings are arbitrary.
This is why I do not rank movies.
I thrown one of these together every weekend for nearly five years, including when I go on vacation with my family. At some point it becomes arbitrary.
You do you MS. I enjoy your articles.
The review of EARTHquake was phenomenal.
I laughed, I cried. It left me hungering for more.
I’m gonna make some bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers.
I’ll notify the media.
Update: They’re in the oven.
You know who else….
Oh, never mind. I’m going to bed.
Someone tell Rufus Ill be at work all night.
The left has been positing that by paying off the college debt it will free up that money from the college debtors, thus spurring the economy, taxes, employment, all the good things we like to hear.
After my critical analysis I came to the conclusion that it would do just the opposite. We have seen that the New Frontier/Great Society just made more people dependent on the government handouts. Paying off the debts (or parts of the debts) of some would make most realize that hard work is for the others, the Chumps.
Unintended consequences are always at play.
At one time in our history debtors went off to the pokey to review their personal history.
Inside every incentive is a perverse incentive, chewing its way out.
Inside every speculative incentive is a perverse incentive, chewing its way out.
Oh man, watching the live-stream of my aunt and uncle’s double funeral/memorial service.
This day’s really depressing.
A few months ago I was asked to take pictures at a friend’s remembrance, by his widow, a classmate. Then to make it into a DVD. The service was conducted at the local American Legion. I did that, it wasn’t very good technically but I added some sad country songs and Taps played as the Commander handed the folded flag to the deceased daughter. It was a solemn occasion but I felt like an intruder.
Anyway, my friend thought it was beautiful and captured the moment.
“daughter of the deceased”
When I ran sound and video at my Minnesota church, I did a lot of weddings and funerals. Sometimes I knew the people in advance, and sometimes not.
It was amazing how emotionally involved it could be for a “worker” like me, but I also was the only person tied down to a particular location (sound booth) for an hour or two in advance, so I had to direct traffic, take last minute changes, pin on corsages and boutonnières, etc. Sometimes the families (whether wedding or funeral) didn’t even have music picked out so I put together some CDs of go-to music.
It was an honor to serve them.
It did feel like an honor.
Damn. Sorry.
Yeah. It’s a two-fer, so the service is going on longer than one would normally expect.
Sorry BEAM.
My condolences, Beam.
Glad your family and friends can gather again without the government intervening.
Me too. I couldn’t go ’cause of the lingering vestibular problems from my vertigo attack 11 days ago (the car ride would’ve been nine hours, and I can’t handle that right now).
They were a great couple.
Thanks, folks.
The left has been positing that by paying off the college debt it will free up that money from the college debtors, thus spurring the economy, taxes, employment, all the good things we like to hear.
Take that, Jerome Powell.
Weren’t they all on a payment holiday, anyway?
I want an Avro Vulcan howl as an EV sound. The current crop are somewhat close to it already.
And a Nathan P5 for the horn.
So I guess justice really is blind?
Blind state Supreme Court justice drives for first time
Booo.
From my research an EV delivery / work truck would seem to make good sense if you are:
Local or minimal highway. Highway speed (and towing) kills range badly.
Can live with reduced range in winter or are in more temperate parts of the US.
Right now 200 miles a day even in cool weather is very doable.
You park at the end of the day and can charge overnight.
So for example
https://youtu.be/4in9YbyyA8s
CA, set route, local delivery. Assuming it’s reliable I’m guessing operating and running costs might be quite favorable.
Success!
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/6jzSFK6aTmmVs0JwOP7orQ.2a2dtmWtQnp-4vSKl-2w6F
I haven’t made them in forever.
Stuffing is cream cheese and shredded applewood smoked cheddar and some garlic and salt.
I thrown one of these together every weekend for nearly five years, including when I go on vacation with my family. At some point it becomes arbitrary.
Just grade everything 3.5/5. Beer rating equity.
But what if I find one from Venezuela or worse….Argentina?
I’m assuming a short helicopter ride over open water or rugged mountainous terrain would be in order.
I’m thawing shrimp for shrimp cocktail.
Today, in made up bullshit
America’s ongoing labor shortage begs an important question: Where have all the workers gone?
There are 10.7 million unfilled jobs in the U.S., according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some economists point to the high numbers of workers quitting amid the Great Resignation. New research highlights another troubling factor that may bear part of the blame: long Covid.
A Brookings Institution report published Wednesday says an estimated 16 million Americans between ages 18 to 65 are experiencing Covid symptoms long after infection. The condition, dubbed long Covid, can include brain fog, fatigue, breathing problems, muscle pain, headache, chest pain and even anxiety or depression — all symptoms that can make it challenging for people to work.
The report estimates that 2 million to 4 million of those people are currently out of work due to long Covid. That’s almost as high as the number of Americans who quit their jobs each month amid the Great Resignation: About 4.2 million quit their jobs in June and nearly 4.3 million quit in May and April, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why not say they were all bewitched, and call for an Office of the Witch Hunter General to be created?
I believe the correct term is the Witchsmeller Pursuivant.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchsmeller_Pursuivant
I know that I, for one, stand corrected right now.
That’s some grade A journalisming.
Your daily dose of Sanford and son:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5petLxrSbls
Based on the average U.S. wage of $1,106 per week, the report estimates that 3 million people out of work due to condition translates to $168 billion a year in lost earnings. If 4 million long Covid patients are out of work, the lost earnings could be as high as $230 billion, the report says.
We need to get that money into circulation, to bring inflation down!