I did a thing this week…

And bought a Volvo XC40 Recharge. Honestly I was initially in the market for a Prius. But when all the dealerships wanted $10k over sticker price, I got pissed, gave the middle finger to Toyota and blew my budget on the Volvo because they offered me the actual sticker price (plus tax, license, etc). I know I could have gone with other companies like Tesla and gotten better range, but honestly everyone and their mothers has one here and I wanted to be different. I’m keeping the Taco for camping and other “truck” type stuff, but the Volvo is taking over the Taco for the DD role. Before the naysayers chime in with “the grid can’t handle the EV’s”, I have solar and it’s only for local trips. The taco and my wife’s PHEV get the long trips.

 

Toyota dealers are not doing Toyota any favors by marking up their vehicles. I think I'd go EV before paying a market adjustment on a hybrid ice vehicle. Volvos are nice cars.

 

I had a V70XC. Absolutely loved that vehicle. Volvo cars are very well made.

 

I tip my hat to you sir, very nice EV! I’ve been pondering doing the same myself lately, however your needs in So Cal are much more urgent than ours in Texas with your gas being $2 and $3 dollars per gallon higher there than here. Its a shame the Japanese brands have been so behind on full electric models, minimal PHEV models, and as Batacoma said playing ridiculous markup games. It infuriates me the disgusting and shameless markups, and yet there are fools doing it enabling the behavior. There is making a profit, and then there is taking advantage.

Since all this gas drama started I only drive my Tacoma on the weekends — if that, and lately it has felt like the “Corvette in the garage” that only comes out for a dedicated occasion or a Sunday drive. We’ve been relying on my wife’s Hybrid Honda for all our running around and I’ve been riding my e-bike to work. As much as I love my Tacoma, it will likely be my last Toyota because I am only driving PHEV or EVs going forward. After driving for the last 28 years, I am honestly fed up with this terrible roller coaster of gas prices we’ve all been forced to accept. At least with EVs we have the ability to power it various ways.

That said, Volvo makes a great product. I’ve been eyeing some of the traditional Domestic brands EVs too. I look forward to the day when Level 3 and Level 4 Chargers enable the same regional mobility that gas has had the monopoly on.

 

I actually ended up talking with Toyota Corporate about the pricing just to see what they’d say. They stated that each dealership is a franchise and are allowed to charge whatever they want. Apparently Toyota of Longbeach CA sued corporate and won over not getting inventory because of their price gouging. So the price gouging continues…

Those old school Volvos are apparently tanks. Every owner of one that I’ve met raves about them. Hopefully all this new electronic do-dad-ery doesn’t decrease their dependability!

 

I saw gas prices today at $6.39 for 87 unleaded. What’s interesting was three weeks ago I was in Hawaii and gas was .30 cents cheaper there than in CA. What the hell! You ship it a quarter way around the globe and it’s STILL cheaper in Hawaii than CA! I’m like you, this is my third Toyota and likely my last. I’ve been driving Toyota for 21 years and everything you stated killed it for me.

 

Looks good.

 

..

 

I believe you are referencing the Law of Supply and Demand in a free capitalistic market. I took that Economics course in College too… But it also feeds into and creates the fiasco of the inflation we’re all suffering from.

 

The V60 wagon PHEV looks pretty sweet. but not for 70k

 

I think that's what one of my co-workers bought to tow her travel trailer.

 

a travel trailer with a 4 door wagon? thats intense

 

How many cup holders that thing got?

Looks good.

 

Sweet Vulva

 

Decent looking car, I like that Volvo didn't try to make it look too much like a Matchbox car.
Only time I point out the grid issue is when people decide to only have electric cars. Having an electric for local use while having a ICE vehicle for longer trips is actually not too bad a plan if you can justify the purchase cost. I do think that all EVs should come with an OE solar roof by law.

 

Well, it's whichever Volvo hybrid has 5000 lbs of towing capacity.

 

I really enjoyed my chevy volt (2nd gen). 50 miles on pure electric which was fine for my daily commute to work and back. I'd plug it in when I got home and with 110v charging it was good to go in the morning. Then when we would go father than its electric range the gas engine took over to make electricity to power the motor and I still saw like 45-55 mpg depending on wind and driving conditions.

I hope PHEV's become the norm.

 

Going to be our next vehicle purchase.