Advice
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Wheels magazine has always had a passionate audience, with a thriving letters section. Here's the latest from our readers. And while we're talking about the mag, have you subscribed?
Fleet footed
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Cliff Wheatley, Upwey, Vic
I have embarked on a journey to reach motoring Nirvana – a place where my driving desires are no longer left unfulfilled. What triggered this? I was staggered to see that a hybrid RAV4 would set me back $75K when shopping for a car.
For those dollars I would get a competent SUV but it would only be a daily commuter. I couldn’t throw it around a track. It wouldn’t stir the emotions. I’d be too afraid to park it at a shopping centre where, sadly, scrapes are now the norm.
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Some synapses fired off. Neural pathways started forming in long-dormant parts of my brain. Instead of focusing on the purchase of one car, I considered the experiences I wanted to have for my $75K. I bought a WRX STI to carve up some corners.
I rolled the auction dice and was the highest bidder on a 1997 V8 Commodore. I picked up a cheap X-Trail as my daily hack. I now have a car for each use case in my driving life. I’ve reached contentment.
My family and friends possibly see it as a mid-life crisis. Either way, I’m happy.
🛞 Editor Andy
The $75K three-car garage? Mine’s a $40K Subaru BRZ, a $10K E39 BMW 528i wagon and a $25K well-seasoned Prado. But I commend your mid-life crisis. It’s a good ‘un.
Dipping a tow
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Shaun, Burpengary, Qld
We are clearly in a transition period between ICE and EV vehicles, however, EVs have a pragmatic problem when it comes to towing.
The recent EV Showdown feature (Wheels Yearbook, 2022) raised a couple of questions. How will these EVs tow a trailer, or a technology-enriched caravan that can source its power via the EV?
What would be the impact on range? How will you charge at a public station with a trailer hitched (the current infrastructure doesn’t cater for this) and can driver-assist functions still be engaged? Until the Ford, Rivian, LDV or the doubtful Cybertruck counterparts arrive on showroom floors, we’ll continue to use hydrocarbons to fill this niche, which is evident in the new-car sales figures.
🛞 Editor Andy
It’s a legitimate concern and the answer is, as you suggest, badly. Car and Driver tow tested the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer EV. The claimed ranges of these three EVs are 483km, 505km and 529km respectively.
When towing a 2767kg trailer at 112.6km/h (70mph in old money), the ranges on a full battery dropped to 160km in the Lightning, 177km in the R1T and 225km in the Hummer.
So yes, you can tow and with the torque on tap it’ll feel great, but you won’t be going too far from home or a DC charging station anytime soon.
Hourly rate
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Elardus Mare, Manning, WA
Even at only 7kW charging, I’d also grab the chance to plug in a thirsty EV (Cameron Kirby’s EV6 GT Line in Garage, January 2023) if I was going to spend some time in a pub.
Cameron clearly understands something about charging and I could feel his frustration having to explain to others the nuances of it.
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However, I felt equally frustrated to read that after two hours of lazy 7kW charging, he described returning to the Kia ‘with 14kW of extra charge’. No, Cameron, I’m sure you meant to say ‘with 14kWh of extra charge’ having added a theoretical 82km of range.
The crucial role of the ‘h’ distinguishing between kW and kWh is as misunderstood as charging etiquette, so do be more careful not to don’t help spread charging theory ignorance in telling your readers about interesting real-life charging experiences!
🛞 Editor Andy
Ah, that pesky h! You are, of course, absolutely correct. A kW measures power while kWh is an expression of energy, the total amount of energy used or the capacity to use. These two measures are interrelated via time.
Should you charge an EV for half an hour on a 50kW charger, you will have added 25kWh (kW x hours = kWh).
As Cam rightly mentions, the peak charging acceptance rate of the vehicle should also be taken into account, hence the frustration at finding Hyundai Konas on ultra-fast DC chargers when more suitable options are available to them.
His swede ride
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Peter Hellings, email
I enjoyed reading your EV Showdown (Wheels Yearbook, 2022) of available electric cars in Australia. I was happy to see my Volvo XC40 Recharge acquired in February this year got a good rating because I really love it.
Just a couple of points, though. I feel that the suspension’s compromise between firmness and compliance is about perfect, and not too firm as your review suggests.
Also I love the full one-pedal driving although it took me a few months to operate it really smoothly. I’m surprised that so many car makers seem not to offer this.
Lastly, I agree that the energy consumption is a bit heavy. But as three free chargers have recently opened within walking distance of my home I’m not too concerned!
🛞 Editor Andy
When an EV works for your lifestyle, it’s a rare thing of joy. And the XC40 Recharge is a bit of a gem.
The Wheels question to you
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Ferrari Purosangue: Sacrilege or spectacular?
For
- Ray Meaden, NSW: I was absolutely expecting to hate the Purosangue but then I saw it and read the reviews and now I kind of get it. It’s like a Roma on ‘roids that you could use every day. I’m down with that. But I’m also $700K short.
Against
- Alan Loughlin, Vic: Is nothing sacred? Sergio Marchionne was right and this should never gave been built. With the profit figures it already realises, it’s clear that Maranello needs an SUV like a fish needs a bicycle.
Want to have your say? Keep it tight (no more than 200 words) and include your suburb if via email: wheels@wheelsmag.com.au. You can also chime in on Facebook & Instagram.
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