VW ID.4 Unveiled Today

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

The Bolt sales have been higher than Leaf this year. Probably because their have been more incremental improvements to the Bolt than the Leaf over the last several years... That said, the Bolt has a long way to catch up in total sales. Anyways, the Tesla model 3 already passed the Leaf in total sales this year and is the truly "mainstream" option.

This depends on how you define "mainstream" again though. Can I walk into a Tesla showroom and drive a car away? if not, that's not "mainstream" for most people. I can go into a Nissan dealer, test drive a Leaf, and that Leaf away that day.

Ordering a car and then waiting who knows how long for it to show up without you having test driven that exact car is not "mainstream" in 2020 in my opinion.

I completely understand that's changing which is why I have the time mention in that statement.

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[jlauro]

This depends on how you define "mainstream" again though. Can I walk into a Tesla showroom and drive a car away? if not, that's not "mainstream" for most people. I can go into a Nissan dealer, test drive a Leaf, and that Leaf away that day.

Ordering a car and then waiting who knows how long for it to show up without you having test driven that exact car is not "mainstream" in 2020 in my opinion.

I completely understand that's changing which is why I have the time mention in that statement.

A couple of years ago the Leaf might of been the closest to mainstream, but clearly walking into a dealer and buying off the lot is not a requirement for many EV buyers.

Me, I'm a mix... I prefer to get it off the lot and not waiting for an order, but also perfectly fine waiting a couple of months (in most cases) as long as I can test drive a similar vehicle in terms of seating, view, cargo, but performance doesn't matter as much for a test drive (assuming order will be same or an upgrade and not downgrade). Also want a local (or at most within a hour drive) service center, which rules out Tesla for me.

 

[timbop]

A couple of years ago the Leaf might of been the closest to mainstream, but clearly walking into a dealer and buying off the lot is not a requirement for many EV buyers.

Right - but for EV's to be "mainstream" means that there isn't a "special category" of buyers for them. There's a distinction between those who are EV savvy and are actively researching EV's and then buying one, and those who don't. Those who walk into a car dealership to learn about the cars on the lot, not knowing or caring to know the minutia beforehand are arguably the "mainstream" buyers. EV's won't be "mainstream" until that second category starts getting actively "sold" on an EV; as a small sample size I know of more than 1 car sales rep who actively discourages people from EV's.

 

[jlauro]

The other item is battery prices need to come down to be more mainstream. The fact is it costs significantly more ($10k-20k) for an EV with a decent size battery compared to an otherwise equivalent ICE vehicle. The motor and drive train are less until you add the battery. Average new vehicle price in the US is $38K (2020) (which is higher than I expected, but I guess it goes up about 4% a year). Model 3 (some models), the Bolt, and the Leaf are the only non carb compliant BEV near or below that price range.

 

[Davedough]

I was once a VW ID.4 Reserve holder, before I canceled. They just sent me this incredibly informative email today:

 

[macchiaz-o]

I was once a VW ID.4 Reserve holder, before I canceled. They just sent me this incredibly informative email today:

That's funny.

Ford messes up this stuff too. When I cancelled my second reservation, I got dummy text instead of an English language "are you sure?". I clicked the only button that I could see (again, none of it made sense). Then I got an error message that didn't make sense.

But the refund showed up on my credit card very quickly, and my reservations page shows the other car as Cancelled. So I'm all good.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

I was once a VW ID.4 Reserve holder, before I canceled. They just sent me this incredibly informative email today:

that doesn't make sense to you, DUMMY? ?

 

[jlauro]

If you thought it sounded like it might be an insult before, that should leave no doubt.

 

[dbsb3233]

I think the ID.4 has a chance to be truly "mainstream" given the pricing and the scale at which they intend to produce them, at least early on. We haven't really had a truly mainstream EV yet except for arguably the Leaf in some ways, which Nissan sold approximately one jlllion of over its life.

The Leaf has longevity to it's name. But otherwise, annual worldwide sales averaged about 50,000/yr (about 1/3rd of that in the US). Not bad for a BEV, but I wouldn't characterize it as huge.

It served a good purpose though. Especially at a time when a subcompact commuter car was about the best that could happen around the ~$30k price point with those batteries.

 

[trutolife27]

Man, don't get me started on this shifter nob and plastic around the screen. almost like being in a power wheels with my kids fire tablet.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

Man, don't get me started on this shifter nob and plastic around the screen. almost like being in a power wheels with my kids fire tablet.

all that white just scares the hell out of me from a "keep it decent looking" viewpoint.

 

[timbop]

Man, don't get me started on this shifter nob and plastic around the screen. almost like being in a power wheels with my kids fire tablet.

I have to say I think all that white is a huge mistake that they'll correct next year. It really does just look like cheap plastic, and as mentioned will get horribly dirty.

 

[FredT]

I have to say I think all that white is a huge mistake that they'll correct next year. It really does just look like cheap plastic, and as mentioned will get horribly dirty.

The white only comes on the First Edition. All the other trims are black.

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