https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enth...vZI?li=BBnb7Kz

 

software is way harder than it looks

 

That’s to be expected with these disposable vehicles. Just like Apple watches, they’ll all be in landfills in a few years. It called “planned obsolescence”.

I kid, I kid…

Hope it can get sorted soon, weird they can’t do this with an OTA update.

 

Porsche has stated in the past that they would not be offering OTA updates that address safety-related issues - at least not yet. I'd say this qualifies.

 

The current generation EV cars will essentially be "disposable" in 8-10 years - because they will be worthless. Next generation battery technology - weight, range, charge time - will be so dramatically better in 8-10 years, that no one will want the current generation cars. Its not like an ICE car - I own a 26 year old car, and the ICE engine in it roughly has the same technology a new ICE car has. That won't be true with these first generation EVs. Buy them now, enjoy them if you like EVs, and flip out of them fast as soon as you see the technology improvement coming.

 

That seems to assume no-one can replace the batteries with the newer design. Yet, we already see the Nissan Leaf now has third parties who are willing the remove the old battery and replace it with a better one. And while Tesla keeps improving it's design there also has been a third party that added a booster battery to the old cars to improve performance.

So what about the Taycan could remove the possibility of means that once a better battery design come along that you can't have the battery replaced to increase it's performance?

Sounds like you are more afraid of future mods that people will bring to their cars.

Earl Colby Pottinger (BEV Lover)

 

I am an EV fan, however, I do think EV's in the near future will age just like cellphones. You can also replace batteries in an old cell phone but there are so many other advancements in phones and cars, that it may not be worthwhile to do so (for most people). Classic EVs will become like classic cell phones. They'll bring back nostalgia and memories but not many people will want to use them.

 

Indeed, you have to flip out of them fast before they are totally undesirable in the resale market. It's one thing to lose a few hundred dollars on an "old" iPhone, its another to see an $40-80K car's resale value evaporate. Just think what the Tesla market is going to be like in a few years, all the 3s and Ys being sold now to middle class owners - they are in for a rude awakening. The Model 3 for example, the content in it (seats, interior quality, chassis integrity, etc) is no better than a $25K car Korean car. Once battery technology and the cost of the pack drops significantly and is available to more manufacturers, Tesla is going to have to take the M3 price way down to keep the sales numbers up or the Asian makers are going to eat them alive on price. That's another factor that is going to hurt resale value.

 

I totally agree. I love technology but what this has always meant to me is that I continue to be drawn to the latest and always upgrade. One of the issues with most EVs is that the battery makes up a large proportion of the overall cost of the vehicle so high depreciation is inevitable.

 

Almost makes you wonder if in 20 years, the EV business model will morph into long term rental cars rather than purchased outright.

They are a technological moment in time, and most EV buyers apparently want the latest tech / self-driving / gadgets. The kind of people waiting in line for the new iPhone. And there’s only so much that can be added with software. Buyers will want the 27” screen when the 17” doesn’t cut it anymore, or the fully reclining massaging Lay-Z-Boy seats instead of the partial recline of their current electro wagon, etc.

I like the Taycan, it’s the best EV you can buy today for sure. I just wouldn’t spend 1/2 of what they currently sell for right now. Maybe in a couple years I would get one for the wife at $50k but that may be the most I would pay for something like that. I suspect this is why my dealership has more Taycan sitting and collecting dust (2020s and even 2021’s with big discounts) than any other model right now. And if you want a 911, that’ll be 8-12 months wait right now.

 

I'd spend 1/2 on a Taycan CT with a $120k MSRP. But in general I agree that nicer EVs in general aren't going to age the way nicer ICE cars do.

ETA: I just spec'd a T-CT 4 at $117k. So yeah I'd pay 1/2 that for this car