TZUTC: -0700   
   MSGID: 808.automoti@1:218/700 2c9eff03   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20e-Win32 master/f99713f33 Mar 06 2025 MSC 1942   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.23-Win32 master/f99713f33 Mar 06 2025 MSC 1942   
   BBSID: REALITY   
   CHRS: CP437 2   
   I bought a BMW i3 in 2023, a little electric car with a range extender -   
   a 600 cc engine to charge the battery. Aluminum and carbon fiber   
   construction, quirky, fun to drive, great tech, fast, surprisingly   
   roomy. 120 miles range on electric and another 80 with the range   
   extender.   
      
   Alas, times change. It was great when I worked from home with the   
   occasional 40-50 mile trip. Now, I'm making a 150 mile round trip   
   commute twice a week. I have charging available at work, but a few   
   things bothered me.   
      
   It's a tiny car, and I've got a busy freeway commute with a mountain   
   pass full of people who don't pay attention which lane they're in or who   
   they cut off. I bet most of the jacked up SUVs can barely see my car.   
      
   It doesn't have a spare tire. The tires are generally odd - the fronts   
   and rears are different sizes, so you can't rotate them. They last   
   around 30K miles, one company makes all-season tires for it, and most   
   people have to order them. So, if I got a blowout, I'd need to tow the   
   car to a tire shop and have them order a replacement while I'm stuck on   
   the road somewhere.   
      
   On-the-road charging is hit-and-miss, at best. I'd guess my record of a   
   successful charge was around 50% - chargers that wouldn't initiate a   
   charge, chargers that were hung and wouldn't respond, chargers that   
   wouldn't read a credit card, or chargers that were no longer there.   
      
   I ended up buying an off-lease Lexus ES 300h. Based on the Toyota Avalon   
   platform, it's got a ton of room, seats 5, great seats, great tech, huge   
   trunk, Toyota running gear, and a listed 43/44 MPG. On my most recent   
   trip to work, I got 51 mpg!   
      
   Normal tires and a compact spare, too.   
      
   I was looking at a Prius Prime, as I'd like to be able to charge at home   
   to run errands and have gas for longer trips, but this cost less than a   
   new Prius, and it's a lot more car.   
       
   --- MultiMail/Win v0.52   
    * Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)   
   SEEN-BY: 10/0 1 102/401 103/1 705 105/81 106/201 124/5016 128/187   
   SEEN-BY: 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 214/22 218/0 1 215 601 700 840   
   SEEN-BY: 218/850 860 880 900 226/30 227/114 229/110 114 206 275 307   
   SEEN-BY: 229/317 400 426 428 470 664 700 705 266/512 291/111 292/854   
   SEEN-BY: 301/1 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848   
   SEEN-BY: 902/26 5075/35   
   PATH: 218/700 229/426