087 - Helpful insights on real-world Electric Vehicle Range

This is Two Blokes talking electric cars with Steven Fenwick and Trevor Long, thanks to NRMA Insurance and UNIDEN.

Great to have you company and we do thank NRMA Insurance. Australia's largest insurer of electric vehicles

and they're helping Australians protect what matters most and they've been doing that for 100 years.

100 years. They're not marking around NRMA Insurance.

Wow.

Nor is UNIDEN with their smart dash cams at every price point.

Yes.

Doesn't matter what your budget. They've got a dash cam for you and we always recommend you look for them.

We recommend you look for the rear camera addition so that you get both front and rear.

We had our first video go up on dash cam owners Australia this week.

Amanda witnessed a bloke nearly get run over by a car that ran a red light and the bloke's reaction was just wild.

So I uploaded that to dash cam owners and off it went.

Yeah, my brother, I got him a UNIDEN dash cam for his car and he showed me pretty dramatic.

He was driving at night and a motorcyclist just pulled right in front of him and luckily he hit the anchors quick enough.

But he had it all there on video really clear.

Even though it was at night, it was still very clear.

Yeah.

We would love to hear from you.

We've got calls lined up for today's show plus we want to hear from you for future episodes.

So no matter what your EV journey, whether you're in the market already, you've owned and bought and sold and maybe you're back on petrol cars.

Tell us the story. Why?

Have you heard of anyone doing that?

Well, I think we've had someone on the show.

Someone went back to you.

You know what? I couldn't do it.

Really?

Yeah.

I feel like there was one person out of the many.

In the minority.

Oh, I have no idea.

Would you ever drive a petrol car ever again?

Mate, so quick story.

Unless it was something really exotic.

Normally when we've got a press car, I say to Jackson, mate, just drive the Cooper because I'd prefer he was in the Cooper because it's a safer, more modern car, right?

Yep, yep.

And last Thursday it was his girlfriend's birthday that weekend.

So I knew he was going to be away all weekend and he said, do you need the car on the weekend?

I said, mate, I've got a press car till Monday.

We're good to enjoy.

Friday comes, press car's meant to be back apparently.

So a bit of drama.

I had to get the car back.

I come home.

I take the Mazda, little Mazda 2.

And I just drive it all weekend, mate.

Horrible.

Just horrible.

Now it's a 15 year old car and it's showing its age in every way.

But man, it was just like, just accelerating, just everything about it was, yeah, not what I'm used to.

It would be very hard to go back to that.

So whatever.

That door's shut for me.

I'll just put that on the record.

No question in my mind unless things really go bad.

I'm going to stick with electric cars.

But yeah, we'd love to hear from you.

0-4-7-6-5-7-6-5-7.

Send us a text or a WhatsApp.

Thanks for voting.

Phone just, the number is easy.

0-4-7-7-6-5-7-6-5-7.

Save it in your phone.

Just call two blokes.

And you can text us any time.

Please don't just randomly text us.

Like it's overwhelming.

But if you want to be on the show or you've got a thought, that's when we'd love to hear from you at any point.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, Stephen, before we get to calls, I'm pretty sure it was Paul that we spoke to.

And he had a gripe.

And at the time we'd been talking in previous weeks about the AAA range estimates and like that stuff.

Yes.

Now Paul's gripe was with a petrol car, when you buy it, there's a sticker on the windscreen that says fuel economy.

Combined fuel economy city and fuel economy highway essentially, right?

Yeah, highway essentially.

And you know, if your car says 11 combined, then city is going to say 12 or 13.

Yeah.

And highway is going to say 8 or 9.

That's how petrol cars work.

But it's the opposite with electric cars when it comes to efficiency of the battery usage.

The efficiency around town is going to be great.

The efficiency on the highway is going to be bad.

And Paul said, why isn't that on the sticker?

Well, Raymond, who was someone else we spoke to recently on the show, heard that and sent us a WhatsApp message saying you should check out this website.

Now, the website is ev-...

We're not gatekeeping this information, right?

Yeah.

ev-database.org.

Yep.

Now, to be clear, I don't believe this is in any way corporate information.

I don't believe this is supported by the manufacturers.

I think they have a bit of sponsorship maybe from fully charged.

She's a big EV website and the like, but essentially this is owner data, user data,

gathered from either users or specs, sheets and things like that.

Yep.

So what we've done here is we've each brought up our cars.

So I've got a Cooper-born and a Kia EV9.

Let me tell you what the Cooper-born reports.

I remember buying it, I think they said it had 511Ks range, something like that.

Yes.

It was actually 515.

So this website, among a bunch of other information, has real range, what they call it,

and then they have a cold weather and a mild weather version because that's also important.

The mild weather combined range of my Cooper-born is 515Ks.

The city range of my Cooper-born in mild weather is 655 kilometers.

The highway range in mild weather, 415.

So 100 kilometers less on the highways, more than 100 kilometers more in the city

and perhaps more glaringly in cold weather, which is much bigger problem in Europe,

but certainly in a couple of months of the year and in our southern states,

this is a real problem, cold weather.

The combined range on the Cooper-born goes from 515 down to 375.

So this is, to Paul's point, this is information you should know before you buy it.

Absolutely.

Yeah, this is good info.

So can we talk about mine then?

Yeah.

The EQE 350, the city cold weather range, 485 kilometers.

Okay.

What's the number that you were quoted?

So the combined mild weather range.

Combined mild weather, 595 kilometers.

So you came into that car thing and had 600Ks range, right?

Yeah, around that.

That's essentially what you're talking about.

City mild weather, 730 kilometers.

Boom.

And that's why, folks, by the way, when you get in your car and you probably do this

more often, no disrespect because you drive mostly city, right?

You do a highway drive out here.

In fact, it's probably 50-50 with you because this drive out here is probably

a big part of your week.

But you would get in the car and it would say at 100% battery would say

something like 650 or something.

It'd be like, it actually says that because it's that number is often based

on your recent driving history.

Yes, it does.

Yeah.

And yeah, so the city mild weather, 730, but city cold weather, 485.

That's a solid drop off there, isn't it?

Yeah.

Highway cold weather, 375 kilometers.

Highway mild weather, 490.

That's pretty good.

Great.

Like that's, mate.

You're Newcastling back there, aren't you?

Easy.

Yeah, easy.

Yeah.

Watching Newcastle, 220 or something?

220.

Yeah.

From Sydney for those in the east.

Easy does.

There and back.

See, the EV9, fascinatingly, the EV9 has a very similar range

to the Bourne.

510 is the combined.

So actually the numbers, I'm not going to read them out.

They're essentially the same as the Bourne.

655 kilometers in the mild weather city.

So that's the range that Amanda will get.

Yeah.

Because Amanda drives around town.

She rarely hits a motorway.

Yes.

So I'm convinced that if we did a test and it would be hard to do,

but if I charge it to 100, set the odometer and then just let it go

for her and say, let's trust me.

I'll charge the car when it needs it.

Yeah.

Just want you to keep driving.

I wonder what she'd get to it.

Wow.

At 20%, I reckon we could validate that 655.

Just in the fine print here, the cold weather.

Yep.

They're talking worst case based on minus 10 degrees

and use of heating.

Right.

Mild weather, best case based on 23 degrees Celsius

and no use of AC.

Right.

Yeah.

So the AC would have a thing to lead back to it.

The AC is going to kick in.

And by the way, there is, I believe there's another angle to it

when you're going to extreme heat as well.

Yeah.

Of course.

It's not extremely negative for the battery,

but it's not going to be as efficient.

The highway figure.

Plus you are definitely going to turn the air con on.

Highway figure, a constant speed assumed of 110 kilometers

an hour, which is what you do on an extreme weather.

That's what I'm doing on the Hume Highway for sure.

Even though the limit is only 100 probably.

No, it's 110 on the Hume Highway.

Actual range will depend on speed, style of driving,

weather and route conditions.

Yeah.

I mean, mate, this is interesting because.

That's what I open to those speakers.

So that data.

And so the other website, and you can bring it up

at the same time, Australian EV Association.

www.veva.asn.au

This is a really good website, which I often click on

while we're on air talking to people

when they tell us what car they're in.

Yep.

So if you, I'm already on it, but there's a fact sheet page somewhere.

If you go slash info after the domain,

there's these EV fact sheets.

It might be under resources on the top.

Yeah.

EV resources, I assume.

No, EV information.

Just click on EV information at the top.

Yep.

So these are fact sheets.

Yeah.

These are awesome, right?

You click on passenger cars,

and then there's a long list of vehicles, right?

So for example, your EQE is probably in here.

Yeah, here we go.

EQE sedan.

We click on that.

And they've got a two-page PDF fact sheet,

which is essentially just drawing together

all the information from the spec sheets

and some owner input.

But this is how I quickly look at it and go,

okay, so it does or doesn't do certain type of charging.

Yeah.

So you can charge up to 170 kilowatt DC,

whereas other cars might do 250, you know?

Some cars only do 70 kilowatt DC.

Little restrictions like that

are listed on these little fact sheets.

It's a really, again, a really good website

for these basic fact sheets

that are simple two pages to look at your usage,

which is fantastic.

That's a great snapshot there, isn't it?

It even talks about the boot volume

and the kilowatt size of the battery

and all that.

And that's the Australian EV Association,

which, by the way, I joined.

I'm a member of,

because I think that you want that kind of independent

member-based community

to be doing little things like, you know,

getting events together

and, you know, having conversations

maybe with government.

I don't think they're doing a lot of that

in the same way that the EV Council is,

but I would support people joining this.

You also can get a little tap and go card,

which you can then program for your BP

and your ChargeFox.

They've got one card for all the things.

Can you get your Cooper up on that?

On the Australian EV one?

What's your curb weight of your car?

Okay.

Curb weight.

With me in it or not?

No, without you.

With me in it, it had another 120 in there,

but with just the curb weight.

Curb weight, 1927.

Curb weight, 2415 is mine.

Wow.

That's heavy.

And then add another 120 when I'm sitting in the car.

So it's pretty heavy.

No, I don't get flat tyres all the time.

And look, that's the same weight as a Ford Ranger.

Yeah, my one.

Both of our, well, broadly, different version,

but yours is the Ford Ranger Raptor.

And that's why there will be people,

like when you talk about the road usage tax,

people go, yeah, but you're damaging the roads

with your heavy cars.

Well, I mean, are we taxing the tradies more

for their Ford Rangers and Toyota Hiluxes?

Yeah, exactly, mate.

Exactly.

They're heavy cars.

That's the weight of my car.

Yeah.

I'm just going to check though,

while we're on the website,

I'm going to check the curb weight of the key out,

because I'm pretty sure...

That'll be solid.

She's a hefty beast.

We're talking about the car, of course.

The car, the car...

Curb weight.

Two-five.

Okay.

Just a bit heavier than mine.

Yeah.

That's not bad.

For a big car like that.

For a big...

I thought it would be much more than that, to be honest.

Well, what's the curb weight

of a Toyota Prado?

Why is it called curb weight?

Is it at the same weight at the curb?

I think they mean when it's parked

at the curb with no one in it.

Right.

I think that's what it means.

Okay.

Because yeah, I'm just thinking,

it doesn't change weight while you're driving.

A Toyota Prado, which I would argue

is a competitive vehicle to my care every night.

Right?

Yeah.

Seven seats and everything.

It's two and a half, two, four, two, five.

Wow.

It's probably a hundred kilos more.

Wow.

It's probably the same weight.

Mine's probably a hundred kilos more.

Right?

Yeah.

So in the same ballpark, though.

Same ballpark.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Right.

Well, now I'm going to type,

why is it called curb weight?

I think it's what you said,

just the car sitting in there with no passengers in it.

Let's use AI when it's parked at the curb.

Yeah.

Parked at the curb with no passengers in it.

Ready to drive.

A couple of really useful websites for you.

The Australian EV Association.

A-E-V-A-A-S-N-dot-A-U.

And the EV database.

EV-database.org.

If.

A wealth of information.

If Trevor can use his memory,

and Stephen reminds me,

I will put those links in the show notes.

Yes.

People often say,

you should update the show notes more.

Okay.

That's how I hear you.

That's how I listen to talk.

When you give me feedback.

But that's how I hear you.

I will remind you.

They will be in the show notes.

So, click down below.

We will have a link.

When I get feedback about process,

like about admin,

I'm like,

well, if you worked here,

you could do it.

But you don't work here.

But no, it's a good suggestion.

It's a great suggestion.

Great suggestion.

We just don't have a producer.

Yeah.

If there was a producer.

Here are the producers right here.

If there was a producer

who failed to put those in the show notes.

Oh, yeah.

They'd be sacked.

See you later.

But I can't be sacked.

Pink slip.

And nor can Stephen.

Yeah, now I will.

We're unsackable.

I hope not.

Yeah.

Our names are on the thing.

Yeah.

We're here to stay.

Yeah.

Although I could photo shop the mountain chain.

Two.

Yeah, good idea.

I didn't need that.

Sorry.

My press the wrong button.

Two likes talking electric cars.

We'll be back.

Straight after this.

I didn't quite know the pointing that you were doing.

There was a...

I didn't know you were.

I mean the camera at me at that point.

It's made.

It's constantly aimed at you.

I understand now.

Whether I select you.

The single shot.

Yeah.

The single.

Down the barrel.

Yeah.

Time point guns down the barrel.

You're welcome.

Look at this.

Oh, let's give it a rest.

There's plenty.

We've had feedback that they watched the YouTube version.

And they went, you know,

I'm going to watch the audio version.

Yeah.

That was too much.

Head for radio.

Yeah.

That's not the first time that's been seen.

Yeah.

We apologize.

But you know, you do with it what you can.

Yeah.

You give what your mother gave you.

It is there.

It's all you got.

0-4-7-7-6-5-7-6-5-7.

A beautiful human being is on the line.

Nev's on the line.

G'day, Nev.

G'day, guys.

How you going?

You don't have a head for radio, mate.

You'd be a star on TV.

G'day, mate.

You'd be an answer.

Imagine, Nev.

Well, let's use your imagination and say yes.

Beautiful.

Well, tell us about your world of EV.

You bought one.

You got one.

You got multiple.

Where are you at, Nev?

I've got my very first one.

I've had it for just over three weeks now.

Yes.

Absolutely loving it.

So our journey started with replacing a nine-year-old CRV.

We kept it a little bit too long.

Done just over 200,000 Ks.

But we'd absolutely loved it.

It was very reliable.

Thinking about going down the hybrid route, my wife has got a bit of EV anxiety.

So I wanted the confidence of just being able to fill it up if we had to.

So we're looking at the Kia Sorento, which is a very nice vehicle.

Now, either way, I was looking at getting it on a novated lease.

So I knew there was FBT benefits in getting an EV.

So I asked the leasing guy to do me a comparison between the Sorento and an EV5, which was

around the same starting price.

And when he came back with the numbers, I won't tell you exactly what they were,

because I suggest everyone get their financial advice elsewhere.

But I can tell you what, I could probably have bought both of my kids a little car

with the difference over five years.

By choosing fully electric?

Absolutely.

Yep, thousands, tens of thousands, with the difference over five years on a lease.

So that kind of pushed my wife over the edge a little bit.

Knowing that we're going to have two cars anyway.

So she was comfortable to dive in with one.

So I took the EV5 for a bit of a spin.

I thought, well, I can't buy the first one I see.

So my son and I took the C-Line 7 for a drive and pretty much fell in love with it.

Took it out on the M1.

They let me go out on the freeway with it.

So, yeah.

And that was the end of my story.

Three weeks later I had the keys and now we're three weeks down the track.

So that was quick delivery then, eh?

So you made the decision and then three weeks later you're in it.

Yep, absolutely.

That's great.

I'm going to tell you that.

That's fast.

We haven't driven the C-Line 7 yet, but I've seen so many on the road.

That is a, I'll put it up there.

It's one of the best looking EVs on the market right now

because they've gone with this really kind of squash down,

sports back style look to an SUV, the front styling, the rear styling.

The C-Line 6, which is the kind of hybrid model.

I don't know.

It's a good looking car, but I feel like it aged very quickly.

Whereas this looks super fresh, super modern.

It's got that seal look to it because the seal's a beautiful car.

But front and back, they've nailed the styling on this thing.

What color did you get?

I got the shark grey.

The beautiful.

Love it, love it.

So you've had it for now, what, only three weeks?

I think that's three weeks.

Oh, pushing four weeks now, yeah.

No, regrets of course.

So what, in the short time you've had it, how have you,

how have you liked it?

How have you adapted, gotten used to it?

So I've been driving a work in Sydney,

live on the central coast, go down two days a week.

So I've been avoiding the train, driving down, parking at work.

We have a small charge to parking our car park at work, free charging.

So I plug it in there, top it up for a few hours

when I'm there during the day.

At night I'm plugging it in between midnight and six at eight cents.

Nice.

And yeah, just really getting into the groove of plugging it in where and when I can.

And apart from the eight cents a kilowatt hour,

I haven't paid to fill it up at all yet.

Wow, that's great.

And anything you've noticed in the ownership period

that you weren't ready for, you know,

because the idea of owning an EV shouldn't be dramatically different,

but it is.

And there's a lot to learn for you and or your wife.

Is there anything that's really stood out to you that you've needed to learn in that period?

Nothing really.

And I've got to say there's a C-loan 7 Facebook group.

And that has been really helpful.

I probably stumbled across to you guys as a recommendation from the group.

I don't know.

But there's lots of dumb questions on there.

Lots of dumb questions on there.

And people ask the same things over and over, but it's really, really helpful.

You don't even need to look at the manual because somebody's asked a question.

So I did a lot of reading on there because I knew I'd get the real niggles and bits and pieces of things.

I was going to say, a Facebook group is alright, but gee whiz they can complain.

But that's a good thing, especially joining those groups pre-purchase too,

because you can find out, listen, tell me the worst things about this car.

That's the good thing about that because that's a really good point

because normally the deal is going to tell you

and it's all rosy and everything's great, everything's perfect.

But you want someone to tell you, look, you might not, if something goes wrong,

here's what you've got to deal with.

Or if there's this happening, you really want that.

And despite hearing all this, you still went ahead with it.

So you obviously didn't deter you at all.

No, not at all.

I thought there's going to be some little niggles and some bits and pieces,

nothing that really scared me completely.

Somebody did have an experience that they were stuck by the side of the road

and couldn't open the car or something,

but I think the infotainment system just needed a reset.

So that's where I learned how to do that, you hold down the volume button

and the infotainment system resets.

So I think things like how long does it take to charge

when you've just got plugged in using your slow trickle granny charger.

Things like that I kind of knew beforehand

and knew not to expect that I'd go from 20% to 80% overnight

unless I decided to install a wall charger.

So I think I was pretty prepared from the homework that I did.

Yeah, right.

Are you going to install a wall charger?

You just mentioned that.

Is that something that you,

or are you happy with the trickle charge situation?

And the work?

Yeah, and work too.

Certainly happy for now.

If we're considering potentially moving in the next few years.

So I'm going to see how we go.

If we're really serious about moving,

I'll wait until we move house and definitely install one there.

If we decide we're not moving at all,

I'll put one in here eventually.

But at the moment, I'm fine.

There's some free chargers up at the shopping center as well,

which is two minutes away.

So I can pop up there and plug it in for a couple of hours

while I wander around the shops on the weekends.

You're free charging up there.

Nev could find the free chargers.

Nev's on fire.

What's the situation with the Minister for War and Finance

in the house?

Is she coming on board or is she driven at much?

Where does she sit now on the EV space?

She's had a couple of little drives

and might not like to admit it, but I think she loves it.

So we're all so, ironically,

and this is the long part of the story,

we didn't end up getting rid of the CRV yet.

We ended up getting rid of my Honda Civic.

So this has ended up being my car.

So we're still on the hunt probably for a hybrid for her car.

You can't convert a full EV, mate.

You reckon the hybrid to keep her happy?

Every time we drive past the little EV tree,

I'm like, oh, gee, they're cute, aren't they?

Those little cars.

Yeah.

That's a nice car.

Yeah, so I heard your stories about that.

Wow.

No, I think she's still a bit nervous about the big trips.

Probably once every year we drive up to Queensland.

I'm excited to try it out and figure out the charging

and do the planning,

but she's not one to like to stop at all.

We can have a 10-hour car trip

and we'll be stopped for 10 minutes

and the kids will be allowed to do a quick wee

and grab a slurpee,

and that's it, everyone back in the car.

We're not the type to stop and relax for half an hour

every couple of hours,

but I think we could,

it's just a bit of a change of lifestyle.

I want to take that first road trip on your own, Nif.

I'm not sure.

You don't want to discover how road trips work

with her on that first go.

I feel like it's something you need to learn.

I have to brace myself.

Yeah, yeah.

We'll see how we go.

You'll probably end up going hybrid

and that'll still be green and efficient for you

and there's ongoing cost savings there from petrol,

so that's not a bad thing.

And we're looking at the RAV4.

I think it's probably a really good option

for those hybrids to go for the fuel economy.

So, yeah, we will probably have that for a few years

and I suspect by then shall be converted to the next one.

Where are you based?

We're on the Central Coast at Terrigal.

Nice part of the world up there.

I've got French Lib up there.

If you look at a Toyota, hit us up.

We'll connect you with our man

to see if he can get you a better price, mate.

Absolutely, I will do.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Do you know how to text us, mate?

I just know and I'll connect you with Aaron

and he's on leave at the moment,

but someone else will look after you.

But yeah, happy to try and get you a better price, mate.

If we can.

Good on you, Trev.

I will absolutely take you up on that.

All right.

Well, congrats on the Sea Lion 7, mate.

It's a gorgeous car.

Welcome to the world of EVs.

Exactly.

Yeah, God love it.

I can't wait for you guys to go for a drive in it.

Yeah.

Thank you very much.

Good on you, mate.

Cheers, buddy.

Thanks for getting in touch.

That's awesome.

What a cracking story.

Honestly, I can't wait to drive.

It's just so many cars to drive.

I've seen a lot of them on the road.

We're almost at the end of the year in terms of our bookings.

We're going to be into next year.

It's hard.

Penelope's doing a better job than us at this point.

Yeah.

She'd get her on the show.

Make her the third person to talk to.

We could probably arrange it.

We could probably arrange for Penelope to get a press car

every couple of weeks.

Do you get her to do a test drive for us?

And just come on and do test drive reports.

Just give us her a point.

It's not a terrible idea if I think about it.

She's in Melbourne.

It's a different press fleet.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm not hating that idea.

Let's entertain the idea.

Yeah.

She might want money though.

The money we get for the show is...

Yeah.

Massive dollars.

So, you know...

Hey Penelope, how much do you love EVs?

That's the real question.

Anyway, we want to hear from you any time you want.

047-657-657.

It's banging the table loud enough

so you could hear it at home.

Boom.

That's how we roll.

Yeah.

Stephen, there's some sad news for our listeners.

Sad news.

Stephen's EQE.

The list is expiring in about a year from now.

The car's discontinued for us.

I thought that was the sad news.

No.

They don't make the car anymore.

Yeah, they couldn't sell them off.

So it's now become a collector's edition.

Yeah.

Collector's edition.

So, it's kind...

This is kind of weird because our...

Not our EV show listeners.

Welcome.

If you're an EV show exclusive listener.

If you're aware of our other work,

we also have multiple other podcasts.

If you just search for TubeBlox,

you'll probably find us.

But TubeBlox Talking Tech is our main channel

where you can find this show as well as our tech show,

our movie show,

Tech Guide,

My EFTM Podcast,

and The Private Feed,

which is us talking absolute rubbish for half an hour.

Not safe for the kitties.

But the journey that our listeners went through,

mainly on The Private Feed,

what is it now, two and a half years ago?

Yes.

While we were both waiting for our babies to be delivered,

your EQE and my Cupra,

we were following the ships.

You got yours first, didn't you?

Or did I get mine first?

No, I think you got yours like a couple of weeks before.

Mine was August the 3rd.

You were sat off Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne forever

if I recall the boat.

Yeah.

It was just bouncing around out there.

It's like, mate, mine could get to Sydney

before you here,

and it nearly did.

Unbelievable.

Anyway, so you went on...

You went on quite a short-term leave.

So, I went quite long-term.

I'm going to go...

I'm five years in the Cupra.

It's funny, you know,

that's the shortest...

I'm normally a five-year lease man,

but it just worked out that three years would be better.

I think I'm four on the...

No, you know what?

I'm four on the Cupra,

five on the Kia,

because the Kia was very expensive,

so I need to bring the monthly cost down.

It's just a little bit more.

So is the EQE.

But yeah, I'm less than a year.

I'm 11 months out from end of the lease.

And given what we know about delivery times,

lead times just generally,

and let's be clear,

I think what we're going to say here, folks,

is Stephen's not going to buy a BYD seal.

Probably not.

No, and this is not...

Probably not.

Let's be real.

You've always been a luxury car man.

You've had...

Back in the day, yeah,

I think you had HSV, but...

Commodore, yeah.

Yeah, Commodore.

Was it Commodore or HSV?

Did I know you then?

No, but you've told me about it.

I've told you about it, yeah.

That was warm my heart

that you're a holding man.

No, I had that Commodore for 12 years.

That was when I was playing for Souths.

I got that car.

So, and then you went in the Mercedes era?

Then I got my Merc here,

2003, I got the Merc.

We're just doing Taylor Swift stuff here,

and then you went into Tesla...

Yeah, it's my eras.

Is your eras to her?

No, no, I had four Mercs before my Tesla,

my first Tesla,

so I had three C-classes,

E-class, yeah,

and then from the E-class went into a Tesla.

As you grew up to be a big boy,

you went to the E-class, right?

So big boy money.

That's why you're on...

That's why you went to Model S.

Yeah.

Because you wanted to be an early adopter

of the electric vehicle.

And that was sort of the equivalent,

actually slightly higher than the E-class,

but I remember...

So I remember the first time I drove,

obviously I was driving,

had my E-class,

had like a year to go in the lease then.

First time I drove the Model S,

I thought, wow, this is my next car.

Yeah, 100%.

Immediately.

I thought, this is my next car.

Yeah.

And it was.

I had it for five years.

We know the story,

they're not making it,

so you thought about the Model 3,

but then I...

Back to Mercedes.

I feel like I convinced you to go

to a real car again.

And it's one of the highest

visited blogs of my website is

how I had a fling with the Tesla,

and I'm back with my ex.

So I sort of wrote to it like that.

Yeah.

And back at Mercedes,

and it's funny enough,

when I bought the EQE 350,

there were three or four other owners

that had been knocked back their Model S deliveries.

And you've spoken about the fact

that you've got a good buyback already with Mercedes.

So that's all good.

So there's no real...

Guaranteed for future value, yeah.

No real concerns about all that stuff.

So you're basically in a situation

where you go...

I could hand it back.

I'm spending this much money a month.

I'm willing to spend that much money again.

Yeah.

Or less over three to five years.

What is on...

What is your genuine shortlist today?

Genuine shortlist today would be the...

Well, I remember I sent you the CLA,

which is sort of,

I think about a couple of months ago,

it was the first drives, I think,

around Europe.

So it's all electric C-class.

All electric CLA,

which is smaller, yeah, beautiful car,

smaller than mine though.

Much smaller.

My sedan is...

It's a big sedan, my car.

But the CLA is sort of more like C-class size,

that's C-class size.

It's a C-class, yeah.

So it was...

You could probably go and sit in the hybrid

or the...

I don't know if they brought the hybrid to Australia,

but you could probably go and sit in a C-class

today and get a sense of

if it's going to be...

My mum still drives a C-class, yeah.

Uncomfortable in that sense.

I had three C-classes before

I got my E-class and the other one, so...

You're a much older man now.

You've got different hips and backs and knees.

I even thought,

I'll tell you what else is on the shortlist,

an EQE SUV.

Right.

It's available.

Yes.

I understand.

So...

And my wife is really encouraging me to go the SUV

because she's...

She said,

yeah, you need a bigger car.

You know, you're a bit higher off the ground

and I'm thinking,

I just love a sedan though.

I love the look of a sedan.

I'm a sedan man.

I'm a sedan guy.

And so...

But no, the EQE,

it's basically my car,

but higher off the ground.

Yeah, that's what you mean.

And slightly different...

Slightly different...

Different tyres and...

Anything other than Mercedes taking your interest?

Well, you know what?

I even entertained a Model Y.

I really like the new Model Y.

And I've seen a couple on the road.

I've seen a couple of colours on the road.

You're going to frogg it out.

I don't know.

You can't.

It's on the...

I will divorce you podcast.

That's just a hard no for me.

It's likely to be the Mercedes.

And who knows,

by the time I'm ready to swap over,

could they have introduced another model perhaps?

No.

That model's here for a while.

Yeah.

But it's interesting how the EQE,

sedan is just gone.

No more.

They decided, you know what?

That's it.

I don't know.

Limited edition.

So you wouldn't go BMW, for example?

I'd think about it.

Yeah, I'd look at that.

I'd look at an Audi.

You probably have to be...

Yeah.

Do you know,

I think the i4 would be an interesting one.

It's still not as big as your EQE,

but I think it might be a touch bigger

than the C-Class.

Yeah.

And, you know,

let's be real with money.

The EQE is well over 100.

The C-Class is probably going to be in the...

I would have thought the CLA is going to drop a 90...

Probably about not 75, 90 on the road.

No, I think 90.

Isn't it meant to be a Model 3 competitor?

No way.

So higher than that?

Yeah.

I think it's...

It'll be under 100 there.

Under 100, yeah.

So the BMW i4 is 94 and a half drive away.

So that's my ballpark.

That's a good-looking car.

Unless I decide to just go SUV EQE,

just decide to do it,

or keep the car.

Which is an option, isn't it?

I might keep it for two more years.

But suddenly, I've got...

It's the shortest lease I've ever done.

It's the most expensive car I've ever gotten,

the shortest lease I've had.

So I might just go another two years in my car.

I mean, you can keep it for another five years.

And you know what?

There's no case on it.

It's a brand new car.

See, the weird thing is,

even though I'm not sure value-wise,

like a resale value,

it's going to be great

because it wasn't popular,

it has been discontinued.

But does that make it,

you know, a little bit desirable?

But if you do the battery test,

you find out it's unbelievably good.

And you're stupidly low case.

I'm wondering if that buyback price

that you've got is actually low ball.

Well, you mean the guaranteed value?

Yeah.

No, the guaranteed value I've...

I can't remember off the top of my head,

but it was decent.

It's still like, you know,

normally, you know,

how you have your balloon.

Yeah, 30 or 40 for you.

Or 30 or 50 or whatever it is.

And it was decent.

So I'm just wondering if I decide

to extend the lease by two years,

will they give me that guaranteed price?

Yeah, it's sort of about the part

of their agility program.

Yeah.

So if I had it done the lease

for five years, I wouldn't have got it.

Mate, they want you in a new car.

Yeah, of course they do.

I know.

Of course they do.

Yeah.

But yeah, I've got options.

And well, it's interesting

because when I'm away,

when the lease runs out

on August the 3rd, 2026,

I'm going to be in Europe

on a trip with my wife.

I'll buy the new car for you.

I'll work it out.

I'll do the deal.

So I need to work it out

before I leave.

Oh, I'll go negotiate for you.

Yeah, that's great.

I'll say, mate,

he's doing very well.

Yeah.

All the extras.

Just, mate, just go.

All the extras.

Just do it.

Well, if it's a CLA,

compared to that,

it's going to be a lot cheaper

than the EQE.

So I'll just say,

put every extra on it.

I'll take that.

Mate, all I keep hearing from you

is EQESUV.

Yeah.

That could be the go.

Yeah.

It might be a time for a change.

Have you looked at the price

of that thing?

They are down.

Oh, we had it called.

They are down, mate.

They are down.

Australia, it starts at

$134,900.

Yeah.

It goes up to $194.

Before that,

it was bigger.

Yeah, it was a lot more.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's interesting.

I just wonder if those prices

are still going to be like that

next year, though.

Are they going to run that out

as well?

Are they going to continue

the SUVs part of EQE,

not the sedans?

Well,

these are your information.

SUVs are what's selling.

Right.

Let's be real.

That's what's selling.

It's still on their website.

If you look at the

Gata Mercedes-Benz website,

the EQESUV is the only one

you could find.

I don't know.

I think,

I love,

and I remember being

at CS in Las Vegas

probably two years ago

in the Mercedes-Benz 10

had the G-Wagen Electric

and a C,

I can't remember what they

called it,

but it was a C.

And it was the electric

kind of concept,

look, early look kind of thing.

It's a small car.

I just feel like...

Yeah, it's a much smaller car.

Oh, it's a C-Class size.

So,

I've driven a C-Class

before,

and they were fine.

But, yeah.

I think about,

let me ask you this,

with all the cars that we drive,

week to week,

a lot of them are small.

Smallish.

When you're in a smaller car.

Yeah.

Which would be more equivalent

to a C-Class.

Do you,

on the regular drives,

do you kind of realize

that it's small?

Do you feel like you're

a bit more confined?

Because I get in the key

and I go,

I love this car.

It's a great car to drive

and it feels good on the road.

But then again,

the Cooper and I go,

I love this.

I'm not cramped like this,

but I love the fact

that it's just me

and the car.

Like I don't give a rat

how much space there is

next to me

to say it is,

is that the,

like in the EQE

feels great.

Really comfortable seat

and as long as you've got

a comfortable seat,

I don't think

there's enough screen,

there's enough extras

around you.

You've got enough room.

What percentage of the time

is there's someone else

in your car?

Ten percent.

I would have thought so.

Yeah.

Like I mean my car alone

90% of the time.

Yeah.

So having a smaller car

is really not going to be

an issue.

It's just about your space.

It's like,

I can't.

It was too small to get in.

It was hard to get into

in and out of.

So unless they have

another bigger model,

what's their other electric?

The McCann.

Yeah, the McCann.

You should pop in there.

Yeah.

I will get on the list.

As a kid,

Porsche was my dream car.

Really?

I was a Porsche

928 S4

was my drop dead

dream car.

Right?

Yeah.

Got to drive it a few times

and

Porsche was my,

that was my car,

my aspirational car.

Porsche McCann Electric

starts at

128 up to 184.

Now, I'd say to you,

it's a smaller car

than the EQ.

Small.

I saw one on the road

the other day.

But it's bigger than the C-Class.

Yeah.

Okay.

So that might be an option too.

All right, mate.

Remind me afterwards.

So Trevor's mission

is to find a car for me.

Is that right, man?

I'd love to get you

into the Porsche.

Mate, I think you,

I think you've earned it.

Are we going to?

No, but I'll say to you this.

Yeah.

And again, it sounds,

I know,

it sounds like we're

complete wankers at this

time buying his next car.

It could be a Porsche

from Mercedes.

But he's,

he's an old man.

He's 50 plus.

I'm 57 years old, mate.

He's work.

Yeah.

I'm 57.

Really?

You know that?

Come on.

No, that seems too much.

I would have said 55.

No, I'm 57.

I'm 67.

1968 old, mate.

I'm eight years older

than you.

Anyway, so much.

Even though you look

eight years older than me.

Boom, tish.

My point is

to the people

thinking good on your

old.

We've worked.

I've worked 40 years, mate.

I've been working 40 years.

He's earned this.

But that's my point is,

and it's a silly thing,

but like, you know,

when the next version

of my watch comes out,

because there'll be one,

I'll be buying it.

Yeah.

Because I've earned it.

Absolutely.

You know what I mean?

Absolutely.

You've earned this car.

Yes, I have.

So it's my mission

to put a Porsche

McCarn electric on our

agenda.

If I can get it in

before Christmas,

I will.

Okay.

Because I reckon,

if you want a heated seat,

you got to pay more.

Remember a couple of weeks

ago, I was talking about

how it's talking about the

options.

Everything's extra.

Yeah, everything's extra.

Well, my side is just

similar to that, too.

But here's the thing.

Yeah.

How much...

Hear me out.

If...

Because it's not

Joe's car, right?

Yeah, it's my car.

Oh, okay.

So this rules this out.

It's my car.

The thing that you could

do with a Porsche

is go essentially bespoke.

Because you've got

a year's notice.

Yeah.

You could put the deposit

down.

The seats.

You could have

embroidery on the seats

that says

Sharky or SF.

Well, you can...

Yeah, wow.

You can do anything.

Okay.

You can do anything.

Interesting.

Okay.

So that could be a really

cool experience.

That's why I think of Joe

was what a cool experience

is to sit down and get her

to go,

this is my car, babe,

but I'm going to go

this color.

What seats would match it,

you know?

And they bring it

all the leathers.

You pay a lot more

for this, but...

She's not driven

one of my EVs.

She's never driven my EVs.

She's never...

Oh, I want to get you in a Porsche.

Not that I've

forbid her from doing it,

but she's just never

wanted to.

I want to do in a Porsche,

dude.

That'd be so cool, man.

He's...

I'll make the press

vehicle happen.

By Christmas.

I'll make it my...

Very nice.

Okay, well,

and you just tell him,

no, this could lead

to a sale.

And if you, like me,

want to live vicariously

through Stephen

and spend his money

on his next car.

Follow the journey.

Follow the journey,

but also send us a text.

Suggestions.

So I can't remember

who it was now,

but someone said to me

the other day,

it was great listening

to...

We had a conversation

with the caller about

his luxury car.

He wanted to buy a luxury car.

It was good to hear

people talk about that

because, you know,

it's part of the market

to be part of the market.

So if you've got one

and you've been afraid

to reach out to us,

just send us a text.

We'd love to hear

from you about your

experience in the

premium EV space.

This show doesn't

have to all be about

Model 3s

and BYD Auto 3s.

Although,

if Tesla came out

with a Model S

for Australia...

We know, we know.

They're not, they're not, they're not.

No, but if they did,

if something changed...

They're not going to!

I would consider going...

If they had a Model S

available in Australia

again, the new Model,

I would seriously consider that.

That's just graceful

that you would say that.

I really loved that car.

It was a great car.

It was...

I think you loved that car

because you were the cool dude

that had a Tesla

and everyone's got them now.

Yeah, true.

But no, but it was

still a great drive, mate.

I really enjoyed having that car.

But now you're right.

There was the novelty factor

and being an early adopter

sort of in it

and not many have won the road.

Yeah, I mean, it's still...

You see one now

and you've got not many of them

on the road.

The Model S is still

unique on the road.

Yes, I know, I know.

All right, we'd love to hear

from you.

04-777-657

Send us a text.

Send us a WhatsApp.

Thanks to Vodafone.

And we'll get you on the show,

Steven.

That's a wrap.

Let's do it all again

next week.

I'll be here

ready and waiting.

All right.

Love to see you then.

See you folks.

Love to see you.

087 - Helpful insights on real-world Electric Vehicle Range

Mazda 2

Kia EV9

Eqe 350

Born Bourne

Mercedes-Benz EQE

Ford Ranger

F-150 Raptor

Ranger Raptor

Toyota Prado

Kia Sorento

Kia EV5

Sealion Cline 7

Dodge Charger

Honda Civic

Toyota RAV4

Byd Seal

Mercedes-Benz Eclass

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model 3

Mercedes-Benz Cclass

Tesla Model Y

Toyota A90

Bmw I4

Porsche 928

About this episode

Original notes