Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2023 13:45:48 -0400
Reply-To: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Friday privilege
In-Reply-To: <BL0PR05MB4916D3F37E6CF386F834DF29A007A@BL0PR05MB4916.namprd05.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Interesting thread. My daily driver is a 2011 Chevy Volt. That's the
first year they were sold. Mine is #674 of all Volts ever made. I never
thought i would own a Chevy, having only had German cars, almost all VW,
since 1981. Some friends had the car for sale and my 2002 Golf TDI was
16yo with a lot of miles and little things were giving me trouble on it. I
test drove the Volt and was surprised how well it drove. Later I read it
was designed by Opel in Germany. It does have a setting that increases the
regen braking to the point that you don't need the brake very much. On
mine it does not illuminate the brake lights unless you press the brake
pedal but later models did do that. I just use it consciously when nobody
is behind me on local roads.
It only gives about 30 miles battery range before it starts up its little
engine. My typical drive is about 35mi each way and I can charge there, so
I end up around 150mpg. On a long trip where it is running just as a
hybrid it only gets about 35mpg. Electricity cost to charge is about 50
cents for that 30mi range. I have time of use metering and I can set the
car to only charge on the cheap off peak rate.
Interesting times for us old Vanagon pilots, eh?
Edward
On Sat, Jul 29, 2023 at 12:40 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Think you have a type, should be 235-55R19 front and 255-50R19 rear. For
> the most part these tires are the same diameter, (29”). Your rims are
> probably different widths. This is known as a “Staggard” fitment. For a
> spare you should be able to get a tire-wheel combination to match the
> diameter yet narrower width. Note that this vehicle is a bit heavy so tire
> fitment just like the Vamagon has to address the load carrying
> requirements. Note that while this a low series tire at 29” it is quite
> large with plenty of crush space to the rim. My truck is running
> 305/45-22’s. Just under 33” diameter.
>
> As for rotation to extend tire life I am not a staunch supporter of the
> concept. The down side is that there is a cost both in labor and the cost
> of consumables, the wheels and mounting hardware can only handle some
> number of cycles. Some vehicles you just plan on nut and stud replacements.
> Also, rotation can mask bad suspension design or condition. Trucks and
> busses don’t get tire rotations. You deal with each axle set as needed. As
> your car is primarily rear wheel drive the wider tires may offset the wear
> so they all get replaced together. Here in NY we have requirements for tire
> set replacement. If the difference is tread depth is more than 4/32 the
> new pair go on the back.
>
> Dennis
>
> From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2023 11:36 AM
> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Friday privilege
>
> So Dennis, the tires are: Rear 155-50R19; Front 135-55R19. How much
> larger are the rears? I have never driven a car with different sizes front
> and rear before, Hand I always thought rotation was almost essential to
> produce even wear. Directional tires, so that full 4 wheel rotation
> wasn't possible originally surprised me. On my Vanagon, and always on cars
> when it was still possible, I stayed with a full sized spare, and rotated
> all 5. I even did that with a 1996 Honda even though the full-sized spare
> created a slight stowage problem in the trunk (tire too wide for the well
> it went in). Where am I wrong on these tire matters. Oh, and the thin
> sidewalls of today's tires give me pause when driving off pavement or on
> potholed city streets. I am not given to high speed cornering, so lean --
> supposed to be a reason for skinny sidewalls -- doesn't seem to affect my
> cars and me. mcneely
>
> On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 4:12 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> <mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com>> wrote:
> Congrats on you new vehicle. Yes a lot to get used. In a short time you
> will appreciate some of the driver automation and realize at some point how
> valuable some of it is even becoming dependent. My truck has actually
> changed some of my driving style and reacted to near misses before I even
> saw them.
>
> There are many reasons and advantages to the wheel/tire sizes with the
> rears being larger to prevent spin outs. The larger wheels with smaller
> tires reduce control loss after tire failures and allow for larger brakes.
> Larger brakes reduce maintenance and improve effectiveness for some of the
> automation including collision and skid avoidance.
>
> Have fun and enjoy!
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com<mailto:
> vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>> On Behalf Of David McNeely
> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2023 2:28 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Re: Friday privilege
>
> Well, there IS a shifter. One can choose between D or B, D being regular
> drive, and B being to activate regenerative braking. The B REALLY makes a
> difference, such that in normal street driving, the brake pedal is almost
> irrelevant. And of course, there are neutral and reverse positions. The
> "no key" is just like my Prius -- an electronic, keyless entry and start
> transmitter in a fob. All those options are things I have only begun to
> examine and try to understand. Lane control, choosing among "Eco,"
> "Comfort," "Sport,' or "Custom" driving modes. In eco, acceleration is
> somewhat curtailed. In sport, it is "Whoa, baby!" Comfort gives what to
> me with having experience with the Prius is a "normal" feel. Lots of
> things, some I haven't even read about yet. I really don't even know yet
> how to call up all the menus. Oh, interior "mood" lighting is kind of
> crazy, one of those things that VW must have stuck in to appeal to the
> youth. One can have soft or harsh lights of one's choice of colors. My
> wife chose blue, and that is comfortable. Some are almost like being at a
> rock concert.
>
> No spare tire, but I intend to get one. No jack, but instructions in the
> owner's manual for how to use one. What to me are crazy big wheels (19").
> I don't like having different tire sizes front & rear, can't be rotated.
>
> Lots to get used to. mcneely
>
> On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
> kenwilfy@comcast.net<mailto:kenwilfy@comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> > I drove one a few months ago and put my experience on my YouTube channel.
> > It seems like a good car if you want to not feel as alien as a Tesla.
> > Like VW went out of their way to make it seem familiar to VW drivers,
> > but at the same time, it is strange not having a shifter of any kind,
> > no key, very quiet, not crazy acceleration, and lots of options in menus
> on screens.
> >
> > Enjoy,
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > On Fri, Jul 28, 2023, 12:50 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com
> <mailto:davmcneely40@gmail.com>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I just bought (got it yesterday) a VW ID.4. It wasn't my first
> >> choice electric vehicle, that was the Hyundai Ionic5. But that one
> >> does not carry the $7500 tax rebate, and the ID.4 does. For those
> >> claiming that electric vehicles are not available, the dealer here in
> >> Spokane (Autonation) had 17 on the lot this week. I got my first
> >> choice of all trims and so on.
> >>
> >> Wow! This vehicle comes with a very high learning curve. Luckily
> >> for me, it is driveable without turning on all the "assists," as
> >> getting accustomed to them will take a lot of getting used to. But
> >> as I drove it home yesterday, I sure enjoyed passing by the gas
> >> stations and noting what I won't have to do. Not changing oil is
> >> another biggy. Oh, and I paid well under MSRP. The dealership had
> >> already put an "incentive" on the price, and readily accepted my
> >> substantially lesser offer.
> >>
> >> I still want a Buzz, and will perhaps get one if I can see my way to
> >> converting it to a camper, and the range increases to make that
> practical.
> >>
> >> mcneely
> >>
> >
>
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