[Toshi]

Jalopnik grabbed some screenshots of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E before the site was hastily taken down:

The Mach-E comes in rear- or all-wheel drive. Ford says the extended range RWD version of the Mach-E will be capable of 300 miles of range, while the GT model with select options will be able to hit a mid-three-second 0-60 mph sprint. Not bad at all.

Range is estimated at 270 miles for the First Edition, about 230 for the GT and Select, and then 300 for the others. Also not bad. The upper-trim cars seem to be AWD only.

They also note 150 kW DC fast charging capability.

My thoughts: Why the hell would anyone pick this over a Model 3? The 3 appears to offer more range and more performance at any given pricepoint... I guess the Fed tax credit makes up for that at least in part (and the low end matchup is reasonable for the Ford).

 

[Toshi]

This is pretty funny, with the chonky horse:

 

[Toshi]

25 Great Safe-Biking Destinations in Denver

BikeStreets.org is crowd sourcing to make Denver cycling safer.

www.westword.com

CN: Train not feasible physically, let alone fiscally given stupid TABOR.

But there's a wee bit of hope for us skiing types:

CDOT is now focusing on reconstructing the notoriously jammed-up Floyd Hill segment, says CDOT Chief Engineer Steve Harelson. The $600 million project entails building three westbound lanes to the Veterans Memorial Tunnels, extending the frontage road from U.S. Highway 6 to the Hidden Valley exit, reconfiguring both the U.S. 6 and Hidden Valley interchanges, and flattening (or making less tight) several substandard curves.

Or I could buy a helicopter. I should do that.

 

[6thElement]

They could just pave over Clear Creek.

 

[SkaredShtles]

They need to do like the rest of the goddam world and start drilling some fucking tunnels.

Oh, wait. TABOR. Never mind. We're fucked.

 

[Toshi]

'Never spend more than this much of your income on a car,' says millionaire finance expert

Not following the 1/10th rule of car buying led to a $15,000 loss — and it hurt like hell.

www.cnbc.com

Financial Samurai says we shouldn’t spend more than 10% gross income on a car. Jalopnik linked to it and opinions were mixed in the comments.

I think it’s a good figure to shoot for, but, as noted by some Jalopnik comments, doesn’t account for the variance of the true cost of ownership for a given car of $X (maintenance, insurance, and gas/energy, in particular).

 

[Toshi]

JFR - Pedal-Assist Mountain Bikes: A Pilot Study Comparison of the Exercise Response, Perceptions, and Beliefs of Experienced Mountain Bikers | Hall | JMIR Formative Research

For @jstuhlman

Heart rate on an e-mtb 94% that of a rider on an acoustic bike on the same loop.

 

[CBJ]

That Mustang looks pretty good and cool to see Ford stepping it up. It will be interesting to see more about the tech details but one thing they got right is trying to pump some emotions into an EV car and go for the one segment that sells cars and a design that would work outside the US too.

 

[Toshi]

Thoughts from an hour and a half in the Land Cruiser today, in no particular order:

1) Saw a T880 with the biggest sleeper cab I have ever seen. Pretty sure it was this size. Satellite and several other antennae on the roof. Per my Google there are actually some longer yet even!

2) Wind noise on the box shaped 100 series really picks up at about 65 mph relative wind velocity (so if gusty anywhere from 45-60 mph over the road, 65 mph if calm). But this isn’t really bothersome as it’s a higher frequency distribution and less constant (if windy) than road/tire noise. I only really notice it if I have no music on.

3) I can definitely notice the shorter 30.9” Nokians in the mountains as compared to the 33”ish BFG KO2s. With the tall tires 3rd gear is perfect in the canyons. With the shorter tires 3rd ends up feeling a bit short, and I shift up to 4th more readily yet it can’t pull up even moderate grades in 4th. The trials and travails of having only a 5 speed gearbox… at least the V8 sounds nice at 3,000-3,500 rpm.

4) Having a slow, oblivious driver ahead of oneself on a two lane canyon road is super annoying. Some dude in a 3rd gen 4Runner was clearly incompetent. Slow, bad lane positioning, and making 50 pence turns, to borrow a phrase from motorcycling:

 

[CBJ]

Again you need a Rivian.

 

[Toshi]

Again you need a Rivian.

The Rivian would be a great way to optimize all the functional and fun aspects plus the green bit. But it fails on cost.

My Land Cruiser optimizes cost wonderfully while still maintaining functionality save for greenness and speed.

Two different points on the curve whereas many others don’t even hit the curve. Just need to decide on what part of the curve I would like to reside.

 

[Toshi]

My 3 got more power with the latest firmware update. The elephant-memoried will note that this happened once before already. Numbers for this latest incremental change:

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

Peak power increased from 309.4 kW to 333.2 kW (+7.7%) above 81 km/h
Front motor peak torque increased from 182 Nm to 185.5 Nm (+1.9%) below 33 km/h, unchanged above
Rear motor peak torque remains unchanged at 318.5 Nm (+0%)
Combined peak torque increased from 496.5 Nm to 501.75 Nm (+1.1%)
0-60 mph decreased from 4.264s to 4.159s (-0.105s)
0-100 km/h decreased from 4.462s to 4.368s (-0.094s)
0-160 km/h decreased from 9.608s to 9.024s (-0.584s)

 

[Toshi]

 

[CBJ]

Why is the efficiency going down? I understand it as its using more power over time to drive the same distance?

 

[Toshi]

Why is the efficiency going down? I understand it as its using more power over time to drive the same distance?

Lower is better as that’s expressed as energy use per others constant.

 

[CBJ]

Ahh I totally misread so the I3 is really bad?

 

[Toshi]

Ahh I totally misread so the I3 is really bad?

Yup. I presumed due to their rounded box on wheels shape.

 

[Toshi]

From my 1.5 hours in Land Cruiser post the other day I forgot to mention that I saw this cool rig on the road (with all 4 wheels mounted, running fine):

Relay to the Rescue – ProjectBaja.com

 

[Toshi]

Had about 10 oz coffee an hour and a half ago. Doesn’t seem to have set my heart rate ablaze, that’s for sure

 

[CBJ]

Do you use the data for anything besides just fun to know? Wonder if there will be any deals on the watch for black friday but I kind of doubt the TI version will be discounted.

 

[Toshi]

Do you use the data for anything besides just fun to know? Wonder if there will be any deals on the watch for black friday but I kind of doubt the TI version will be discounted.

I used its ECG function after seeing my low rate to make sure my tracing looked normal (since I can interpret it and all ). (It did.) ((Yes, it does a real, single lead ECG. One point of contact is on its wrist sensor. The other is one's finger touching the crown wheel thing.))

 

[Nick]

After having heart issues a few years ago I started tracking my heart health.
My resting heart rate is typically around 60-70. What does that really mean though?

 

[Toshi]

After having heart issues a few years ago I started tracking my heart health.
My resting heart rate is typically around 60-70. What does that really mean though?

I think the most important thing that it can provide is change from one's own baseline. As long as that baseline is, say, 75 bpm or below for a true resting rate and is concordant with one's overall picture* then the actual set point doesn't seem to matter. If you go up from baseline without explanation (stress, etc.) then it's time to look further (anemia? intrinsic heart issues?).

* what I mean by this concordance is that a frail 80 year old with a heart rate of 41 probably has a bundle branch block rather than having a large stroke volume from doing many vigorous laps of Mountain Lion on her e-bike



Have you had a chance to read any more of the fasting book, Nick?

 

[Toshi]

Toyota Revs Up Lineup with New 302-Horsepower RAV4 Prime - Toyota USA Newsroom

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 20, 2019) - The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4, on the market for barely a year, is going more places than it has ever gone before. The arrival of the first-ever RAV4 TRD Off-Road model was announced earlier this year, and today, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota debuts a new...

pressroom.toyota.com

AWD. 302 hp. 39 miles electric range. 40 MPG after that. 5.8 seconds 0-60.

Very nice, very nice. Next do the Sienna up in a similar manner, Toyota!

 

[SkaredShtles]

Toyota Revs Up Lineup with New 302-Horsepower RAV4 Prime - Toyota USA Newsroom

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 20, 2019) - The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4, on the market for barely a year, is going more places than it has ever gone before. The arrival of the first-ever RAV4 TRD Off-Road model was announced earlier this year, and today, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota debuts a new...

pressroom.toyota.com

AWD. 302 hp. 39 miles electric range. 40 MPG after that. 5.8 seconds 0-60.

Very nice, very nice. Next do the Sienna up in a similar manner, Toyota!

A fucking RAV4? Goddammit, Toyota. Quit this shit.

 

[Toshi]

A fucking RAV4? Goddammit, Toyota. Quit this shit.

That's the form factor that sells, though. Very prudent decision.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Fucking people.

 

[Nick]

good power, real range, AWD, Toyota motor and drivetrain quality ... what's the objection again?

I mean, too small for my liking but they WILL sell every single one of those things.

 

[SkaredShtles]

good power, real range, AWD, Toyota motor and drivetrain quality ... what's the objection again?

I mean, too small for my liking but they WILL sell every single one of those things.

"I just spent $55,000 on a RAV 4. But it has 300 horsepower. And I financed it for 8 years, so it's only costing me $750 a month!"

 

[Toshi]

"I just spent $55,000 on a RAV 4. But it has 300 horsepower. And I financed it for 8 years, so it's only costing me $750 a month!"

Their Prius Prime pricing is pretty reasonable, so I'd expect the RAV4 Hybrid Prime pricing to follow.

 

[Nick]

oh shit, are they really $55k?
I glazed over that part. Nvmd.

what is the post-rebate and credit total cost looking like? Toshi, do some calculations for me

 

[Toshi]

oh shit, are they really $55k?
I glazed over that part. Nvmd.

what is the post-rebate and credit total cost looking like? Toshi, do some calculations for me

I didn't see any mention of pricing in the press release. Watz is making shit up wholesale

https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/rav4-prime/ speculates 16 kWh pack size, which sounds reasonable. Thus $7,500 Fed and (if received in 2020 calendar year) $4k from CO off whatever Toyota announces the price to be - negotiated discount.

 

[Toshi]

Meanwhile @Nick is ignoring my question about the fasting book

 

[Nick]

Meanwhile @Nick is ignoring my question about the fasting book

Sorry no I'm not. I have started a few times and need to push through the first few chapters. So far its just an overview of the greater problem, assumptions and contributing factors. I haven't got to any science or corrections yet.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Watz is making shit up wholesale

In my defense - there's a fine line between obvious sarcasm and "making shit up wholesale" - but I wouldn't be surprised if my pricing was in the ballpark of reality.

 

[Toshi]

View attachment 138723

In my defense - there's a fine line between obvious sarcasm and "making shit up wholesale" - but I wouldn't be surprised if my pricing was in the ballpark of reality.

Edmunds is guessing $36.5k to start, and with those tax credits in mind as well as the Prius Prime's pricing I think they're in the right ballpark.

2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Prices, Reviews, and Pictures | Edmunds

Research the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime with our expert reviews and ratings. Edmunds also has Toyota RAV4 Prime pricing, MPG, specs, pictures, safety features, consumer reviews and more. Our comprehensive coverage delivers all you need to know to make an informed car buying decision.

www.edmunds.com

 

[Toshi]

Well that’s pretty unconventional indeed. Wow.

 

[CBJ]

Call me boring but I'll stick with the Revian

 

[CBJ]

I have a company cell phone and the carrier offers esim with number sharing for the Apple Watch however they can not offer it for a business phone only if you buy retail - the world of phone carriers always disappoint. I am pretty set on getting the phone option so I can completely ditch my phone or at least put it away and be less dependent on it.

 

[dan-o]

Well that’s pretty unconventional indeed. Wow.

Disappointing.
I've been ready for a hybrid truck option for years but this ain't it.

And WTF, it squats that badly with a quad in it?
Unless the suspension is lowered to ease loading.