What an interesting thread. I am glad to see people could keep their wits and have a discussion and express their view without being jerkwads or going off the deep end. Nice work FBBO!
I will make a comment doing the same.
I am glad OP likes his purchase. The EV market should be driven by THAT, and not mandates and all the other hullabaloo that would point this thread into politics. If they can make a desirable EV and there is a buyer, then they did it right.
OP has to realize he is in a minority. Sales figures show that. Heck I think the comments on this thread show it. It's not bad. It's not wrong. Its reality though. I have a 4 door B Monaco police sedan in my shop. I like 4 doors, and I like a number of cars from the 1970's era. I am probably a minority. Oh well.
A few things on this particular car-
I do not like the fake sounds. I am glad OP gets enjoyment from them and feels they improve his ride and enjoyment of his car. I find it pointless, not because I think the engineering was poor, I just do not like the entire concept. The component of the vehicle, let's put it in a vauum, pretend it is a kit you can get. Because really it is a system of the car and could be modified I am sure.
So let's take that kit, and put it on something else. How about my 1966 Minneapolis Moline tractor? Why not? The tractor is not producing the engine sounds, the system is.
How about my Father in Law's golf cart he has at his campground? Why not? The golf cart is not making the sound.
How about my younger brother's computer racing sim wheel/seat/pedals set up? Wouldn't that add some oomph to his computer racing game!
How about to a piece of plywood I sat a lawn chair on top of and I can hold a steering wheel in my hand and pretend? Why not? The plywood can't make sounds either.
Bike?
Motorcycle?
My 1984 Suzuki LT125 quad?
My point is the car is not making the sound, the sound is added to the car. This means the sound could be added to anything, and it would be EQUALLY LEGITAMATE. Because the bottom line is the engine sounds are no different then if the speakers played "Happy Birthday" when you started the car or made fart noises or made the same sounds as my tractor, my quad, my brother's PC game, or my nephews lips as he makes that "phbphbpbpbpbhpbhpb" sound pushing his plastic toy hotwheels on the floor. It is not a "real" sound, it is a sound.
Again, I am glad OP finds that it adds enjoyment to his experience and there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, more power to him, he does not need to defend it! I just do not agree and do not find the value. But, it is not my car!!
About the comment "what will it be worth in 50 years?"
It will probably not exist in 50 years.
Look, the battery housing in the car is made of plastic. I know plastic. There is about a .001% chance the plastic will have enough integrity after 50 years to be road worthy and not rupture when you hit a significant bump and flex the chassis after 50 years. If it ruptures, you die in a volcano of battery fire eruption. That is outside of the entire idea the computers and screens will still function after that much time.
Materials science has improved in the last century, heck last 10 years in the plastics world. However, most of that improvment has been to make materials engineered to provide service for the life of the product and either improve performance during that life, or be less expense and still serve that life. The automotive world sees service life as 10 years, or possibly less depending on who you ask. They will not hold parts longer than that(don't have to by law) and they see used cars of that age as fully depreciated to the baseline of a running/driving vehicle but nothing more, and that is if it has nothing wrong with it. So do not fool yourself into thinking they built an EV to last more than 10 years. In fact, the battery packs simply do not last that long.
OP, drive the hell out that thing if you like it, because it is destined for the recycle center not the collector's auction.
I personally will never buy an EV, a hbrid, or a turbo I6 with no dipstick. My destiny apparently is to rebuild older vehicles. Currently, i am seeking a non-salt late 90's Durango as they are super cheap to fix, weigh 1000lbs less than a Tesla, are good year round in WI, and I like how they look and what they do. If I want it to keep up with new stuff I will add a big turbo and new heads to the 5.9 and still have 20% of the cost of a new EV into it. I could even do a 5 speed swap out of a Dakota if I want.
I live in the country, I live in the cold, I live in the snow. I drive past six gas stations on my way to work down the highway to the next tiny town where I work(less than 4k people) Everyone has their own situation and I am glad OP found something he enjoys and that works for him. It just doesn't work for me.
