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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11685
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 6:26am | IP Logged | 1
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One thing to bear in mind even with new ICE vehicles is
too many touchscreen controls. My wife drives a brand new
hybrid and i drive it on long motorway journey's as my
car is a 2 door, and her's is easier to get our dog in
the back seat. All the windscreen wiper/washer contols
are on the single indicator stalk which is fiddly, and
even the A/C contols are touchscreen, so to alter the
temp, blower speed and windcreen/cabin/footwell direction
you have to take your eyes off the road. Even as a
passenger i find it difficult to use when the car is in
motion. So i would recommend a test drive of any car
before you buy J.B.
Of course you might like using a touchscreen with so many
features, my wife does, but i personally prefer tactile
buttons and dials that i can press and turn without
taking my eyes off the road!
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Brian Hughes
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 15 June 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 453
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 10:38am | IP Logged | 2
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My friend, David Murray, "The 8-Bit Guy" did a great video about EV's. It is six years old, but still very relevant. If anything, it may start you down his rabbit hole as most of his video's are quite entertaining.
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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8658
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 11:36am | IP Logged | 3
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Bill I agree.
I drove a hybrid for a few months and was astounded, not in a good way, at
the levels and sub-levels I needed to go through on the touch screen.
Not using a phone while driving?
These touch screens make the phone use risk seem like a mere triviality.
The air flow controls seemed to have around three levels.
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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11685
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 12:03pm | IP Logged | 4
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Yes, the airflow is something you may need to alter a few
times whilst driving depending on changing weather
conditions. If you're on a long motorway journey, i
wouldn't risk taking my eyes off the road to go into sub
menus. I put my car together on the computer, picking
wheels, colour, extras, then went into the dealership
with my list and said this is what i want. The salesman
was fine, his boss tried to sell me an off the peg model,
with body styling and keyless ignition. I politely told
him i didn't want boy racer body styling and would rather
use a key to start my car, and could wait for what i
wanted to be built! Fortunately my car's touchscreen just
has the entertainment system, which i can turn on and off
by button anyway. Everyhthing else is tactile buttons and
dials that i can touch and turn without taking my eyes
off the road.
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Richard Stevens
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 04 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1997
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 12:41pm | IP Logged | 5
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I really want one of those ID.Buzzes. They have decent range and a ton of space in the back. 2025 models are coming down in price. 2027 is coming soon. (There was no 2026 model year in the U.S.) The cabin looks really fun and comfortable.
The biggest day-to-day difference between the 2025 and 2027 models is the connector. The 2025 uses a CCS connector, the 2027 will have a Tesla port. (Adapters are available.)
We have a Bolt EUV. I get really great range out of it in temperate months. (300+ miles on 100%) You will lose some range when using heat. Finding a charger in a pinch has gotten a lot easier recently. If you only drive a little, the portable charger is probably plenty. If you want to charge faster at home, you can get one hardwired by an electrician.
I love seeing Buzzes around town. Always cheers me up.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 137059
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 12:49pm | IP Logged | 6
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Comparing prices, $60,000 is what I paid for my XJ-6 in 1997. Ahhh, inflation!
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Vinny Valenti
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8693
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 1:30pm | IP Logged | 7
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"My friend, David Murray, "The 8-Bit Guy"
--
That's cool! I've watched a lot of his videos over the last year or so.
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Vinny Valenti
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8693
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 1:31pm | IP Logged | 8
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The ID.Buzz does look kinda like a spiritual successor to the PT Cruiser, visually.
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Steve Coates
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 November 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 971
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 1:52pm | IP Logged | 9
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Evan, due to the number and frequency of fueling stations, drivers have long been unconcerned about refueling, but with an electric vehicle each and every trip has to be considered, especially ten years ago. It is like driving with a quarter size gas tank with only one or two fueling stations available.
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Peter Hicks
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 30 April 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 2173
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 1:57pm | IP Logged | 10
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My family owns fully electric Hyundai Ioniq5 and Kona, and we love them. Quiet, reliable, and now we can watch the headlines about high gas prices with amused indifference.
BEFORE YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR check with your local electrical utility to find out if there is capacity in your neighbourhood to install an electrical charger in your garage. Some neighbourhoods were built with very little excess electrical capacity and the utility may tell you there is no capacity available to install a charger at your house.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 137059
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 1:58pm | IP Logged | 11
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Worth knowing !!
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Richard Stevens
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 04 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1997
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| Posted: 14 September 2026 at 2:06pm | IP Logged | 12
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Plugshare is a great app/website for finding local chargers. If you see there's a decent one somewhere you park already, you can charge up while you shop.
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