kach22i Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 This latest article got me thinking about EV driving pleasure. The only EV I ever drove was an EV1, it scooted up a hill near my old house better than my brother's 1972 Mach 1 (351). Yeah torque! 🙂 Most EV's have lots of weight, but great 0-60 times, so are they Muscle Cars that don't corner or handle so well? Do additional motors and AWD enhance handling at all? I want to know your experiences, just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 I’m 40k miles in on my Lightning and it’s my favorite vehicle ever. 0-60 in 3.9. Silent running. Huge frunk. Ran a bunch of my house when we lost power. Smoother ride than my parents Lexus. Access to thousands of charging stations. Bluecruise. OTA updates. Practically zero maintenance. Tows like a beast. Best roadtrip vehicle ever. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kach22i Posted March 9 Author Share Posted March 9 Sounds like the Lightning retained much of the regular F-150's traits. I talked to a Mach-E owner once outside a party store when they first came out. He said he made good money but did Uber (or one of those other ride services) just so he could drive the car more - absolutely loved it. He tore out of the parking lot to show off, yea, it was fast. I also talked to a Rivian owner outside a car wash as he was wiping it down, he said that his previous car was a Mach-E GT, and the Rivian was scales more powerful and quicker - he loved both EV's but his Rivian was even more than he expected. My impression is people love the speed and power, so they sort of ignore any other driving flaws what ever they may be. I have two cars, one is half the weight and power of the other (but about equal performance), both are enjoyable in their own ways. This is the context of where I'm coming from. The one that weighs twice as much with twice the power still corners near the speed of the other, but it's like there is a condom on it from the does it thrill you department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 On 3/9/2025 at 9:04 AM, kach22i said: This latest article got me thinking about EV driving pleasure. Can relate to much of what that article states. Technology can indeed help people without necessarily replacing them; which Musk and Tesla seem motivated to accomplish. The problem becomes that not all drivers want the same level of technology, or same level of simplicity at opposite extreme for that matter, which means that many people will be unhappy with vehicle choices. If a buyer wants an ultra simple electric car, you’re out of luck unless you live in China as far as I know. Maybe India too, who knows. I like driving and find it relaxing, and prefer being 100% in control. I also enjoy bike riding for same reason, where the machine is simple and can almost feel like an extension of your body. There’s no computer taking over steering, or braking, etc.; and great handling is a must. The feature I like best about electric vehicles is that they can be easily downsized, much more practical and cost-effectively than ICE. Every day I notice more kids and adults riding electric scooters, bicycles, 4 wheelers, etc. around my neighborhood. Who knows, maybe some of this mindset will rub off on future automotive transportation. A four wheel motorcycle with body enclosure to protect rider from weather could be a blast. I wouldn’t take a small city car on highway due to safety concerns on regular basis, but would buy one just for the added fun of driving if designed and built simple enough. However, to pass as a “toy”, price would have to be much lower than say, the Smart EV. VW and Audi played with this idea over a decade ago but apparently demand wasn’t enough to pursue beyond concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schpark Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 2 minutes ago, Rick73 said: A four wheel motorcycle with body enclosure to protect rider from weather could be a blast. I think you just described a car. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 2 hours ago, Schpark said: I think you just described a car. OK, semantics, but still not sure most people on this forum would call these vehicles a car, though I anticipate I could have a lot of fun with either. 😀 For what it’s worth, potential for affordability probably rivals motorcycles, though I feel more practical, useful, and probably much safer than a motorized bike. The VW only had 5.3 kWh battery size, range of 40 miles, and 80+ MPH top speed; not bad for 15-year-old technology. The Audi version may have had larger battery. I know there is a name for this class of vehicle, but at least in case of VW not sure it applies because it was designed for higher speeds and to greater safety standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgb Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 2 hours ago, Rick73 said: OK, semantics, but still not sure most people on this forum would call these vehicles a car, though I anticipate I could have a lot of fun with either. 😀 For what it’s worth, potential for affordability probably rivals motorcycles, though I feel more practical, useful, and probably much safer than a motorized bike. The VW only had 5.3 kWh battery size, range of 40 miles, and 80+ MPH top speed; not bad for 15-year-old technology. The Audi version may have had larger battery. I know there is a name for this class of vehicle, but at least in case of VW not sure it applies because it was designed for higher speeds and to greater safety standard. With 4 wheels, it would have to meet automobile safety & emissions standards. If it had only 3, it would be a motorcycle and subject to easier compliance regs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 14 hours ago, Chrisgb said: With 4 wheels, it would have to meet automobile safety & emissions standards. If it had only 3, it would be a motorcycle and subject to easier compliance regs. Laws and regulations can sometimes be weird, and have unintended consequences. About 10 years ago Texas stopped the Polaris Slingshot from being sold because it wasn’t either a car or a motorcycle; and the issue apparently wasn’t the 3-wheel design, but rather lack of a “saddle” like motorcycles, most trikes, and Can-Am utilize. Texas added “autocycle” classification which allows 3-wheelers with standard car seats and steering wheels to enjoy motorcycle advantages, and does not require a driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement. Anyway, in Houston these 3 wheelers can use HOV lanes free of tolls just like motorcycles though many are as wide as a car and are no more fuel efficient, thereby defeating purpose of HOV lanes. Perhaps in the future personal mobility vehicles similar to the VW NILS could be classified as an autocycle even though it has 4 wheels; provided it’s light and or narrow enough. At very least any single-seat vehicle under 500 kg (1,100 pounds) and less than +/- 4-ft wide should enjoy same benefits as motorcycles from legal and regulatory standpoint. The VW above is quite wide for a single seater, but there are now technologies available that allow for much narrower designs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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