Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[Lantanafrs2]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The LYRIQ did have some hit or miss software problems when it first came out, and GM was having issues with OTA updates to correct but for the most part its a very solid platform now. GM in general now is in second place with EV sales in the US. They sold over 66,000 EVs in Q3 of 2025 and 145,000 overall for the 2025.

They now sell 10 models, 4 Chevy, 2 GMC and 4 Cadillac. The LYRIQ is third in sales behind the Equinox and the Blazer. With the new Bolt coming out next year starting at under $30,000 it will likely supplant the Equinox which is now about 1/3 of all sales.

What surprised me is the Hummer Pickup is number 4 with 13,000 sold so far this year. I have yet to see one on the road.

Caddy may have found their niche with the ev platform. I've worked on several of their ice sedans and they can be disastrous once the warranty expires. Caddy seems to struggle with implementing technology in their flagship models. They're impressive during magazine tests but once the new wears off are expensive not to mention miserable to repair. I've had good luck with the escalade however.

[OkieSnuffBox]

I know I'm a bit late to the party on this one, I've been trying to limit my screen time.

If you (the general you) aren't regularly towing, I just don't get the MASSIVE trucks these days and the incredible cost that comes with them in terms of buying price and cost of ownership. And the vast majority of people driving them can't park them worth a damn.

I've owned my current home just more than 8 years. I've needed a truck exactly 2 times. The first time neither of us had a car large enough for the battery powered mower (she still had a smart car I had the first gen BRZ), but my dad was coming down that weekend to bring us some stuff anyway, so I waited. Would have been just as easy to spend $20 to rent a truck for 2 hours.

The 2nd time, we had home depot deliver a pallet of mulch and all the paving stones right to the driveway next to the house. So much better than having to unload all that stuff out of the bed by hand.

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I know I'm a bit late to the party on this one, I've been trying to limit my screen time.

If you (the general you) aren't regularly towing, I just don't get the MASSIVE trucks these days and the incredible cost that comes with them in terms of buying price and cost of ownership. And the vast majority of people driving them can't park them worth a damn.

I've owned my current home just more than 8 years. I've needed a truck exactly 2 times. The first time neither of us had a car large enough for the battery powered mower (she still had a smart car I had the first gen BRZ), but my dad was coming down that weekend to bring us some stuff anyway, so I waited. Would have been just as easy to spend $20 to rent a truck for 2 hours.

The 2nd time, we had home depot deliver a pallet of mulch and all the paving stones right to the driveway next to the house. So much better than having to unload all that stuff out of the bed by hand.

I live in Vermont and a lot of people have use for large trucks. Most don't, and so many huge trucks I see around don't have a scratch on them, no dirt, not even a tow hitch. Yet you hear their off-road, 10 ply sand balanced tires a half mile away...
If we taxed by engine size like other countries, I think the vanity truck segment would diminish.

With that said, people can do what they want. I just hate when there's no parking because people with trucks are taking up 1.5 spots, or them being off center means nobody else can be next to them.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I know I'm a bit late to the party on this one, I've been trying to limit my screen time.

If you (the general you) aren't regularly towing, I just don't get the MASSIVE trucks these days and the incredible cost that comes with them in terms of buying price and cost of ownership. And the vast majority of people driving them can't park them worth a damn.

They say don't get a truck bigger than you need for the job. I have a 21.25' boat, and a 20' enclosed car hauler trailer I use to hall my sports cars around. Years ago I made the mistake of buying a gas powered 1/2 ton (150 or 1500) pickup. It always had trouble with passes, and got roughly 10 mpg doing it. That is why I replaced it with a deisel. I wanted a 2500 (3/4 ton) but the 3500 was on sale, so I have a one ton.

Another thing is my wife won't fly, so we have to drive everywhere. Idaho to Texas is a long haul to visit our oldest, and I have a feeling we will be doing it often since him and his wife are trying to have kids. With a truck, we can take whatever we want. Also, no one gives a thought to an old couple in a pickup. An old couple in a fancy Lexus, Mercedes, Corvette, etc. Is a target. And for long trips, these giant pickups are like driving your living room.

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

I live in Vermont and a lot of people have use for large trucks. Most don't, and so many huge trucks I see around don't have a scratch on them, no dirt, not even a tow hitch. Yet you hear their off-road, 10 ply sand balanced tires a half mile away...
If we taxed by engine size like other countries, I think the vanity truck segment would diminish.

With that said, people can do what they want. I just hate when there's no parking because people with trucks are taking up 1.5 spots, or them being off center means nobody else can be next to them.

Just because people can do something doesn’t mean they should! Also, most municipalities are making parking spots bigger to accommodate larger SUV’s and pick-ups. (see image of our 7 in a newly marked parking spot.) It seems big box stores haven't got that memo yet.
It’s not just the size, (due to mandated crumble zones) but the fact that people CAN’T drive them!
Example: We witnessed a guy back his extended cab, long box into the wife’s Crosstrek at the grocery store the other day. He not only hit it but drove forward and started to take a second go at it without even looking at what he had just hit or making much of a correction. We got to the open window in time to stop him from doing more damage. He and his wife couldn’t believe how upset I was. However, when I started demanding insurance and driver’s license info their tune changed in a hurry. (see image of damage)
They agreed to pay for all damages as long as we took it to the body shop they knew. We said OK.
Now here is the kicker, the reason they knew this shop is because they just finished paying to have their son’s car repaired. Seems the old guy backed into his son’s car in their own driveway.
If you can’t turn your head to look out the windows or know how to use your rear view mirrors then you shouldn’t be allowed to drive, PERIOD!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

If you (the general you) aren't regularly towing, I just don't get the MASSIVE trucks these days and the incredible cost that comes with them in terms of buying price and cost of ownership. And the vast majority of people driving them can't park them worth a damn.

Thing is, this could be said about just about any vehicle including the Twins. Some people have trucks because they want trucks. It doesn't matter about the use case. That's their choice and their right.

I live in the border between suburban Atlanta and rural Georgia/Alabama. The hospital I worked at I would say 50% of the persons there (janitors, nurses, doctors) drove trucks. A large percentage of them used them for purposes on weekends that are "truck missions" but also commuted with them because they didn't need or want to own a vehicle for every occasion.

A good example, one of my managers was a HUGE hunter and fisherman. He was either out in the woods or out on the lake every weekend. (This is the kind of guy that hunts wild boar with a knife). His white Silverado was in pristine condition, looked like it just rolled off the showroom floor even though every weekend it was hauling something, offroading somewhere or backing into a lake somewhere. It never showed up in the parking lot dirty.

So ultimately you just don't know.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

With that said, people can do what they want. I just hate when there's no parking because people with trucks are taking up 1.5 spots, or them being off center means nobody else can be next to them.

The parking is not the fault of the truck owners, it's the fault of the persons painting the lines. Spots are not as big as they used to be, and cars aren't as small as they used to be.

My LYRIQ, which I easily park in a standard 2 car garage with MomHawk's Mustang does not fit in a lot of "modern" parking spots.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Stephen W.

If you can’t turn your head to look out the windows or know how to use your rear view mirrors then you shouldn’t be allowed to drive,

Interesting. Must have been an older truck. Mine has like 18 cameras in the system. The backup and aerial view on the giant screen are amazing when you put it in reverse, then it switches to front view when going forward in parking lots. Both views give you lines showing exactly where the truck is going and the truck SCREAMS at you, and your seat buzzes in the direction of the obstacle if you get too close to anything.

I'm with @Dadhawk, they have been making parking lots smaller for years.

[Stephen W.]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

< snip >
With that said, people can do what they want. I just hate when there's no parking because people with trucks are taking up 1.5 spots, or them being off center means nobody else can be next to them.

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The parking is not the fault of the truck owners, it's the fault of the persons painting the lines. Spots are not as big as they used to be, and cars aren't as small as they used to be.

My LYRIQ, which I easily park in a standard 2 car garage with MomHawk's Mustang does not fit in a lot of "modern" parking spots.

As I stated above many plazas and big box stores aren't taking the hint.

BUT... in many cases drivers, of all types of vehicles, don't give a crap about how they park. Oh, they'll bitch and moan about other people's parking but not their own.

And speaking of not taking the hint, new home builders here in Ontario haven't changed the sizes of their garages and are not allowing enough room on the driveway for modern cars/trucks. But that's a whole other rant of mine.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Gentlemen, I never said anyone shouldn't have the right to choose to buy a massive truck. And you're correct that a Twin doesn't make any sense either.

"I need something practical" is why we have the never ending sea of white, black, gray SUV/CUVs that litter the landscape now.

It's boring as f---.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Gentlemen, I never said anyone shouldn't have the right to choose to buy a massive truck. And you're correct that a Twin doesn't make any sense either.

"I need something practical" is why we have the never ending sea of white, black, gray SUV/CUVs that litter the landscape now.

It's boring as f---.

I think cars, for the most part, have been boring for decades as engineers, accountants, NTSI, and mpg won over the designers.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I think cars, for the most part, have been boring for decades as engineers, accountants, NTSI, and mpg won over the designers.

The vast majority, yes. But I've been doing my part.

The last 15 years, I've purchased new (because obviously manufacturers don't care about used car sales):
2010 MazdaSpeed 3
2013 Mustang GT Track Pack
2015 BRZ Limited
2023 BRZ Limited

[spcmafia]

Man I am seriously considering selling the BRZ and go Elantra N or new Z. Both within the same price range.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Man I am seriously considering selling the BRZ and go Elantra N or new Z. Both within the same price range.

Why for?