When do you think you will buy a 100% pure electric vehicle?

[HFCS]

I stopped to charge somewhere along I80 in Illinois and suddenly two of these with the window stickers still in them pulled up. I was really impressed by them, but I'm pretty sure they were around 100k or more each.

I think fuel cost on big trucks is even more of a factor than smaller EVs. Where I’m at with typical $5-6 gas I really think even a new gas truck is the more expensive “burn a pile of cash” choice.

Iowa with the ethanol subsidies is going to be the very last place where fuel cost creates that flip.

 

[RagingCloner]

I think fuel cost on big trucks is even more of a factor than smaller EVs. Where I’m at with typical $5-6 gas I really think even a new gas truck is the more expensive “burn a pile of cash” choice.

Iowa with the ethanol subsidies is going to be the very last place where fuel cost creates that flip.

Honestly even with Iowa Gas prices and the miles I drive, I’m saving almost $300 a month switching to EV

 

[Cychl82]

Honestly even with Iowa Gas prices and the miles I drive, I’m saving almost $300 a month switching to EV

That’s a solid amount

 

[BigTurk]

Was at the Subaru dealership today and the sales guy was trying to unload an all electric Solterra. He said they can’t move them and Subaru, I believe, is axing that model (debuting something different soon). Very tempted. My wife is pretty against it because it would be difficult to drive to in-laws in Chicago without stopping to charge. On the other hand it could still save me money every month.

 

[NWICY]

Was at the Subaru dealership today and the sales guy was trying to unload an all electric Solterra. He said they can’t move them and Subaru, I believe, is axing that model (debuting something different soon). Very tempted. My wife is pretty against it because it would be difficult to drive to in-laws in Chicago without stopping to charge. On the other hand it could still save me money every month.

Do you have another vehicle you could use for longer trips?

 

[simply1]

Was at the Subaru dealership today and the sales guy was trying to unload an all electric Solterra. He said they can’t move them and Subaru, I believe, is axing that model (debuting something different soon). Very tempted. My wife is pretty against it because it would be difficult to drive to in-laws in Chicago without stopping to charge. On the other hand it could still save me money every month.

@HFCS drives one of those I think, maybe he’ll have some thoughts on charge time.

 

[BigTurk]

Do you have another vehicle you could use for longer trips?

I do. My office is walkable and my wife drives all over the Des Moines metro for work. As I said to her this vehicle would be great for her because she would never have to fill up. She never considered I would let her have the new vehicle and I take the old one (we have a 2019 Outback with 75k miles). If I am walking to work and she takes the electric who the hell cares if the other is for out of town trips.

 

[3TrueFans]

The black plastic fenders on the Solterra was definitely a choice.

 

[RagingCloner]

I could use some help. I got a red Lightning. Already debadged those stupid blue badges. Need some ideas for my ISU vanity plates. Current clubhouse leaders are NOMOGAS, and KA-CHOW. Both approved by the state

Any ideas are welcome!

 

[MeowingCows]

I could use some help. I got a red Lightning. Already debadged those stupid blue badges. Need some ideas for my ISU vanity plates. Current clubhouse leaders are NOMOGAS, and KA-CHOW. Both approved by the state

Any ideas are welcome!

FKDAHWKS

 

[RagingCloner]

FKDAHWKS

Love this. But it’s 8 letters. Max is 7

 

[MeowingCows]

Love this. But it’s 8 letters. Max is 7

FKDAHKS

 

[JP4CY]

I could use some help. I got a red Lightning. Already debadged those stupid blue badges. Need some ideas for my ISU vanity plates. Current clubhouse leaders are NOMOGAS, and KA-CHOW. Both approved by the state

Any ideas are welcome!

ACYDCY

 

[nfrine]

FDAHWKS

 

[HFCS]

Was at the Subaru dealership today and the sales guy was trying to unload an all electric Solterra. He said they can’t move them and Subaru, I believe, is axing that model (debuting something different soon). Very tempted. My wife is pretty against it because it would be difficult to drive to in-laws in Chicago without stopping to charge. On the other hand it could still save me money every month.

TLDR for everybody else haha...

I think Solterra got a bad rap for two reasons:

- The 2023 did charger VERY slow at DC fast chargers for road trips. Like half the speed of typical models from that year. The 2024 and 2025 fixed this and while they still aren't the fastest charging, they charge at typical speeds at DC fast chargers. I usually get somewhere between 40kw-110kwh fast charging with my 2024 and I'm spending 20-35 minutes to charge 60-70% of the battery. Unlikely he's selling you a 2023, but make sure because I would pass on a 2023.

- All Solterra are AWD but even comparing to just AWD the range of 239 miles is less than the typical 270-310 miles awd EV. So there's a true 40-50 miles less range than most. I usually end up trying to do my road trips in about 140-180 mile stretches between charges. Lots of other models you'd feel comfortable going 190-250 miles between stops (few charge to 100% on road trips, faster to just charge to 80% and leave).

Last I read the 2026 Solterra is going to be a total upgrade and the range is going to increase to 285 miles. So while they aren't replacing it, that's a serious upgrade to the biggest flaw and I'm betting people are waiting for it. They're also releasing a second EV Trailseeker that will be larger with similar 285 mile range. I leased mine and if the Rivian R2 and R3 aren't available by the time it's up I could see myself getting a '27 Solterra again because I think it will still be the best fit for me.

A lot of issues are more "positives and negatives" of all EVs. The huge convenience of fueling at home, saving on fuel cost/maintenance, losing range in extreme heat/cold, having to charge on a long road trip etc...

Things I like about it:
- I live in Los Angeles (tight spots and city traffic) but I go on mountain trips 5-6 times a year and do some light off road, my gas prices in LA are around $5, and gas was nearly $7 when I spent a couple weeks near Tahoe in June. I'm never buying another gas car because of that and there aren't many models yet that seem to be great in city and great on a remote mountain fire road.

- I test drove a lot of EVs and I liked the interior of the Solterra the best, I even liked it better than the Lexus version of the Solterra that's like 25K more expensive lol.

- Rumors are that any week now Subaru finally gets access to Tesla charging which I imagine will give you a lot more charging options between Chicago and Des Moines...I've made that drive 100 times myself but not for a long time and not since EVs became a thing. People say it works if you tell the app you have a Ford and a few weeks ago it didn't work even if you lied what kind of car you had.

 

[IcSyU]

The Tesla Network being open is such ********. For Ford you get access to like 25% of the chargers. If they're the older style chargers they dont work.

 

[HFCS]

The Tesla Network being open is such ********. For Ford you get access to like 25% of the chargers. If they're the older style chargers they dont work.

I'm going to view it as like an "emergency" thing. I only got access with my model in the past few weeks and it's not even official yet. I bought the adapter a year ago and it's just been sitting in my trunk.

Those older Tesla chargers, even if they work, the extremely short cable gives me pause. If I pull in front first I'd be close to it because i'm on front left side, but I think just not being on the front left CORNER of the car still makes it a stretch without blocking multiple spots.

It sucks that there's so much "cave" instability in the space because a year or two ago the non-Tesla chargers seemed to be popping up everywhere so fast that I was sure it would be fine. Right now in CA I would say the infrastructure on the highway is good enough for non-tesla only but the suburban LA stations clearly don't have enough. I'm learning to charge up at the stops just before I hit the edge of the metro, go from there to my home garage.

 

[VTXCyRyD]

Was at the Subaru dealership today and the sales guy was trying to unload an all electric Solterra. He said they can’t move them and Subaru, I believe, is axing that model (debuting something different soon). Very tempted. My wife is pretty against it because it would be difficult to drive to in-laws in Chicago without stopping to charge. On the other hand it could still save me money every month.

You and your wife can make it all the way from Des Moines to Chicago without stopping now? Bathroom, or do you pee in bottles?

 

[BigTurk]

You and your wife can make it all the way from Des Moines to Chicago without stopping now? Bathroom, or do you pee in bottles?

We are not as young as we used to be, so stopping to pee at least once is required. Usually twice...coffee just goes right through me, but boy oh boy do I love the bean.

Thank you @HFCS . My wife was really talking about it this morning. Like I said we live in the Des Moines area and her job requires her to do a lot of driving just in Des Moines, so with the great leasing incentives Subaru is offering, and what they will give me if I turn in my 2023 Outback, our monthly payment will be pretty low. It wouldn't be the perfect car for a number of reasons, but lower monthly costs would be great.

I still don't understand all the charging options, set-ups, hook-ups and whatnot, but this old dog can still learn a trick or two. I do know my wife's office does have two free chargers and with her traveling she can always plug in when meeting with clients wherever that may be. I did Google the distance to my mom's in eastern Iowa and that is 185 miles, so well withing range probably. And, honestly, as discussed we don't travel to Chicago often. Maybe twice a year. Twice a year we travel to Indy the same with eastern Iowa. Should we buy a car for the norm or for the exception. That's an argument we are (sorta) having.

 

[HFCS]

We are not as young as we used to be, so stopping to pee at least once is required. Usually twice...coffee just goes right through me, but boy oh boy do I love the bean.

Thank you @HFCS . My wife was really talking about it this morning. Like I said we live in the Des Moines area and her job requires her to do a lot of driving just in Des Moines, so with the great leasing incentives Subaru is offering, and what they will give me if I turn in my 2023 Outback, our monthly payment will be pretty low. It wouldn't be the perfect car for a number of reasons, but lower monthly costs would be great.

I still don't understand all the charging options, set-ups, hook-ups and whatnot, but this old dog can still learn a trick or two. I do know my wife's office does have two free chargers and with her traveling she can always plug in when meeting with clients wherever that may be. I did Google the distance to my mom's in eastern Iowa and that is 185 miles, so well withing range probably. And, honestly, as discussed we don't travel to Chicago often. Maybe twice a year. Twice a year we travel to Indy the same with eastern Iowa. Should we buy a car for the norm or for the exception. That's an argument we are (sorta) having.

I dm’d you basics of charging levels and speed to expect on this. If it’s a lease there’s also less concern about the range on the low side long term because it’ll probably be same range by end of year 3, I’ve not lost any range in 18 months.