Our configurator (VW AU) must be a bit different; 4WD is only available on the “GTX” variant here, which is priced well over the eligibility threshold for all of our EV tax benefits. Even getting the LWB (without selected options) under that threshold required a bit of cajoling! 😅

Not a fan of all of that tracking, but as I’m doing a novated lease through work (so it comes out of my pre-taxed income) - I’m not sure I’ll have much leeway to figure out how to disable that.

We’re starting off with a level 1 charger, but as we’re in a 230V nation - we’re hoping that 12am - 6am charging (when our rates are ~8c/kWh) will suffice.

Good to know about the charging cable lock, and that does make sense - prevents jokers from randomly unplugging cars from chargers out in public. Can imagine having to explain that one to the missus a couple of times before it clicks though. 😅

It’ll be replacing our ‘16 Honda CR-V; we’re all pretty low-key excited - especially our 3yo.

How do you find the acceleration - any issues getting up to speed from 0 on freeway on-ramps?

In the context of OP, depreciation means that a “$50K when new” car may only be worth ~$35K if you choose to buy it 1-2 years later.

So it’s not so much about it’s residual value at any point in time, but rather how EVs tend to have a steeper depreciation curve at the beginning - making lightly used models a more attractive bargain.

Ordered a LWB earlier in the year, still waiting on delivery - currently due mid-Nov., but with the Suez Canal looking to be off-limits due to the conflict in Yemen - not sure if/when it’ll land here in Australia. 😭

How’re you finding it, in these first few weeks? Any quirks/niggles you weren’t expecting, or adjustments you’ve needed to make?

Pro-tip: Invest in a pistol grip dispenser guns, cheap ones start at like $10 and pay for themselves in saved anger quite rapidly.

No matter how rarely you think you’d use it - it’s worth it.

It probably wouldn’t meet the strict legal definition, as no copy (physical or digital) is left behind for any period of time - as RAM is volatile and its contents disappear on power cycle.

I should look forward to Trump getting charged with that, then?

But more seriously, there would be countless lawyers happy to argue that a general statement such as “$500 to every adult in the county if John Smith wins” does not technically break that particular law because it’s not explicitly targeted at any one individual recipient, nor is it contingent on them participating in an election whatsoever.

Just as I’m also sure there would be more than one sympathetic Trump-appointed judge to side with the defendant too.

US laws mean nothing if they aren’t actively being followed.

Here in Melbourne, Australia - the diesel price is currently the equivalent of $8.60 USD / gallon ($2.65AUD / litre).

Technically, the equivalent would be you standing outside a polling place with a sign saying “I will give every adult in the area $500 if Candidate X wins”.

Ostensibly, you could just be lying (just like Trump) - and that would probably be covered under your 1st Amendment rights.

It’s stupid, but there is enough of a disconnect between action and reward that it might skirt past.

There is probably some technicality in that since it doesn’t record audio, but rather just keeps a transcription - that it might not fall afoul of two-party consent?

I would still be extremely wary; HDMI as a spec has the ability to carry Ethernet data.

I wouldn’t put it past the manufacturers from giving it a couple of years for this news cycle to pass from user memory, before trying more nefarious methods to try and exfiltrate data by piggybacking through connected devices like a Chromecast.

That’s mostly because I don’t trust Google to not help facilitate that for a share of the profits and access to the data for AI training.

I did ~330m x $1000 = ~$330b x 5 = $1.65t

e: Mind you, it’s 9:30pm here and I’m exhausted looking after a newborn, so I may be missing something. 😅

Sure, go right ahead and add something like $1.6T to the national debt. Fuck it - why not!