Questions, Coffee & Cars #72 // EV rebate going away!

[@paulclancy1831]

Another story about lane keeping being a very important feature. Was on I5 in Washington in the inside lane at 70 mph and fell asleep at the wheel in my Subaru at 9am after a nights sleep and several cups of coffee . I was only on the road for half an hour. I'm 63 and this had never happened before or since. The lane keep assist beeping woke me as the car was headed toward the line and a car next to me , nudged me back in my lane and I was able to avoid any impact. I will not buy another vehicle without LKAS as it literally saved my life and my wife's life - possibly the occupants of the car next to me as well.

[@rodgood]

As a truck driver fear of death kept me awake , never trust your life to another entity . pretty soon every one around you will be sleeping and driving .

[@paulclancy1831]

So how would fear keep you from having a stroke or any medical issue? We are all the best driver on the road - until we're not.

[@JimTrumbley]

I’m a huge fan of your production. It’s my go-to for vehicle ratings and information. Thank you and keep it up.

[@lucagiordano6406]

Shout out to Zack for calling out the virtuous in a polite respectful matter with facts and information.

[@Quince828]

Gotta agree with Andrea about the screens. Our Subaru screen is turned off 90% of the time and we prefer it that way. Unfortunately it does leave a big black hole in the centre of the dash and that’s kinda ugly.

[@danb9048]

These big screens drive me crazy,too distracting

[@kevinn1158]

I think Volvo’s cloth seats are the best alternative to petroleum based or leather seats. I have to say, I saw leather processing in India and the chemicals were being dumped into the river. It’s brutal. I wish the car companies just offered really nice woven seats.

[@billurban1581]

I had a rough texture woven upholstery in a 1973 Volvo 140. I can still remember the comfort.

[@kevinn1158]

@@billurban1581 I’ve been test driving cars and I sat in a new Volvo with cloth seats and I thought wow this looks really nice. I’m no anti leather warrior, but pragmatically we need to recognize how things are made and reduce the environmental impact.

[@palebeachbum]

I find cloth seats much more comfortable than leather or leatherette because they breathe much better. Manufacturers should commonly offer a high-quality cloth standard.

[@barpatron]

Oh go buy Birkenstocks!

[@kevinn1158]

@@barpatron I have 3 pairs!! LOL

[@In-obscurity-n7j]

Today I actually used my coffee break for a perfectly timed episode QC & C. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@10OF9OFBORG]

Great video Andrea! 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻 About the seats, I remember you show one of vehicle has suede seats sound awesome and I am a little surprised you haven’t mentioned that.

[@m3rdpwr]

Pleather. 😁I've felt the Subaru StarTex(sp?) material and it's not bad.

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

Mazda's synthetic leather is very comfortable too.

[@robertt9342]

I was surprised by the Hyundai implementation of the dash screen, as seen in some models like the Elantra hybrid. I honestly thought I’d hate it, but it seems really well done. I like it much better than the glued on tablet looking devices seen on many cars.

[@ryanzeid146]

I have a ‘24 Toyota Venza Limited with the black SofTex leatherette seats and they’re terrific!

[@phonepup06]

Oh my gosh, I’m so glad he was able to pull over safely still.

[@KimKirchner-i6j]

All this talk about leatherette.... the song "Warm Leatherette" keeps playing in my head!😂

[@zaxxon25]

join the car crash set!

[@jonclassical2024]

Great watch today Zach! Totally agree Zach, stop the charity for the rich, its outrageous the government is wasting tax payers money to help rich people buy EV's, few others can afford, aside from the Chevy Volt and a few others.

[@nexxusk]

To be clear this "charity", is a rebate from the carbon tax. This means those who pollute provide the incentives to those who choose to reduce their carbon footprint. People in the lowest income brackets usually don't own cars. They do receive carbon tax rebates as a cheque which exceeds there tax paid out. The rich idiots who pollute pay. The rebate is capped at the low end of EV market. it does not cover higher end EV's. Please read up on how the system works.

[@bcluett1697]

I feel as though there are enough people that are easily distracted by these screens activity that there should be an "airplane" mode or a classic selection that reduces everything to just the necessary guages like speed and fuel/battery. Some people can't ignore this stuff especially if they are used to older vehicles.

[@marcprobin1659]

i was at the car show also in Vancouver and told the story to Toyota also about hybrids is the perfect car for many that can't plug-in and that they has it correctly predicted that! I bought the 2023 Prius AWD XLE and I am very happy with my purchase. The one thing that I did though is to put a spare tire using Toyota OEM parts and works perfectly!

[@vancity2349]

Cant plug in your hybrid can you gas it up?

[@timphillips4147]

Always great advice, thoughts and anecdotes, with lots of fun too 🎉

[@stuntmonkey00]

Leatherette can be good, but it's less durable than real leather. I think a lot of people going back a number of years were happy with Mercedes Artico, but the quality seems to have gone down over the years and you see a lot of worn seats that look like the bonded-leather material from worn office furniture. Also: stay away from seats that are leather with leatherette trim stitched in, it never works out in the end. The leatherette will crack and tear first because the tension across the seat cover isn't even as you sit in it. Subaru's a pretty bad about this. Unless it's really nice full-grain leather, most of the stuff is top-grain leather... where it's not the full thickness of the hide and the surface is polished. It looks good for the first few years but then it stretches and puddles... you can use a heat-gun to tighten up the leather and get the creases out (carefully, of course). But in the long run it will wear, and top-grain leather is not the "character" that people talk about when they talk about leather... that's with the more expensive full-grain leather. Where leather is really useful is steering wheels. If there's a trim option that has leather, take that over the synthetic material used in cheaper trims. Leather absorbs moisture and oil and maintains a nice consistent grip compared to non-leather.

[@RigiLiquid945]

14:10 Keep at least some level of lane keep assist on. I know of a nurse who was driving home after a 12 hour shift. She turned that off and fell asleep at the wheel, totalling her car in the ditch. If you are annoyed at the beeping or corrective steering, it's because you don't drive well enough to go without it.

[@ptg01]

Great story about the Lane Keep Asset.... Nautilus: Gorgeous but being made in China causes me to pause...

[@jimcifelli1336]

Agree about means testing for EV credits.

[@russellvoth5161]

Love the lane assist a great feature plus auto cruise which you can turn it off, but my sons don't like how it will bounce between the lines to keep you straight in traffic plus slows down for traffic who cuts in front of you. The rich don't need the rebate with high income for EV's, now after the rebates stops so will the EV sales .

[@siphonsnob]

Rich people buy EV's that are so expensive they don't qualify for rebate. Rebates help those of us on the margin for the $50-$70k price range.

[@billurban1581]

11:45 Andrea: “something you plug in doesn’t always work for everyone.” Agreed, but a PHEV plugging into a normal household outlet, outdoors or in a garage, is less dangerous and an easier proposition than an EV requiring 240 volts. It also allows for worry free trips compared to EVs, a considerable advantage in itself.

[@robertt9342]

I think you took the wrong message from the point being made. It was about the having choices without resorting to ONLY plug-in vehicles, which doesn’t work for some people, such as those who park on the street or condos without plugs. Also, The 240v is not any more/less safe for your example. Many countries have 240v only.

[@TheGbeecher]

That's really funny - I never thought of 'leatherette' as vinyl...my second car was a '79 Dodge diplomat with vinyl, and I hated the vinyl ( leatherette) 😅

[@jeffos8724]

I’d take cloth seats over anything

[@944clogue]

Cloths seats hold your fart smell in....

[@FrankySilverFace]

@@PS-js9oh The America Buffalo is actually a Bison. Clubbing baby seals isn't so bad. Don't knock it til you try it.

[@loveydovey4u]

I'm cheap too!

[@jraheemjefcoat429]

I did hear that the upcoming new Seltos will be a hybrid. I'm not sure if it will be for the North American market. But I will find out and share the link.

[@JohnCasserly-im2ou]

Test drove 2024 mb gla ($50,000 +)with vinyl seats. Very uncomfortable. Walked away!

[@RustyNutsGarage]

Hi, while cow hides are readily available, the real issue is the tannery where hides are processed to usable leather. The chemicals are harsh and banned in many countries and certainly near any populations. I don’t know this for fact but there are no large commercial tanneries in Canada. I was in the leather gloves business and something like 90% of all cow hides go to China, India, Pakistan and Morocco for processing. China produces 4 billion square feet, Canada and the US < 10 million square feet.

[@TalismanPHX]

Vegan leather was previously known as "naugahyde".... but the naugas became endangered so the manufacturers stopped using it.😅

[@ricardogil7665]

I love the show but i would like to know when Zack is coming back on live show on SUNDAY at the usual time . greetings from Lima Perú

[@chrisv8526]

I would like to know this too!

[@Motormouth...]

Taking a break, too much travel and videos

[@andreaspencer9813]

The Live show will not be coming back, we are just too busy now and something had to go. We are thrilled the channel has grown so much and thank everyone for the support.

[@richardhale2117]

I think you guys cover many of the same questions here on Q, C & Cars. It's much harder to submit a question here, though. @@andreaspencer9813

[@ricardogil7665]

@@richardhale2117 i really miss the sunday show , i love how professional is Zack when he is answering questions on his show.

[@ianjay5301]

The Centre High Mounted rear brake lights did not appear first in Canada. 1986 brought them on all cars. We did have daytime running lights first.

[@owenmcdonald5922]

Am I the only sceptic who thinks car prices are increased when subsidies are available, so it's the manufacturer who benefits.

[@billurban1581]

As reported in Automotive News, March 4, Consumer Reports analyzed the fuel costs of conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles in California, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington…. The firm considered consumers who drive 40 miles a day, charge their EVs and PHEVs each night, and take four 500-mile road trips annually. The battery range of the three PHEVs averaged 29 miles. The cost to propel an EV was only 2.1% lower than a PHEV.

[@jraheemjefcoat429]

Speaking of Santa Fe, when are we going to get a review of the all-new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe? I absolutely love it. I think it will be a smash hit!

[@andreaspencer9813]

Maybe in the next few week or so, it's arriving in the Vancouver press fleet soon.

[@jraheemjefcoat429]

@cardiogirl798 You can disagree. But it does have a target audience, and it's stands out on the road. I'm so tired seeing the same shape of SUVs. Not everything has to be all cookie cutter. That's just my take. And besides, I always wanted a Land Rover, but never could afford it. The new Santa Fe is pretty much a poor man's Land Rover, and I'm all here for it!

[@jraheemjefcoat429]

@@andreaspencer9813 Awesome! I can't wait! I think it will be my favorite SUV of the year!

[@DBenton2610]

The Lincoln Nautilus looks great on the exterior. Seems like the wrap around screen on the interior would be a major disctraction.

[@SpyderRichard]

Another great QC&C! Zach, you should have had the oysters! 😆

[@gb23a]

Does it matter how much you make a rebate is a rebate if they stop the rebates on electric cars that will stop the sales of electric cars

[@srmashwani]

I use LKA On all the time. It helps with fatigue on long drives. Day n night difference.

[@danhall3450]

Another thumbs up for Niro, I'm on my 2nd one. 1st was a 2019 PHEV (with US rebate it was virtually the same cost as the HEV, great city car and no problems for 20,000 miles. I wanted a little more room so got a 2023. HEV (didn't get the PHEV because without the rebate in the US and the fact that I only drive less than 7,000 miles / year the payback was almost 10 years). It too has been a great car & I'm averaging almost 48 mpg thru winter months, expecting 52-54 in summer. They are comfortable, great safety tech, pretty loaded, easy to drive city cars. Terribly under promoted so not well known.

[@Snoopymk37]

I love the seats in my '24 RX. They are amazing.

[@techpappee]

I believe a lot of the loss in EV sales for some but not all manufacturers has *a lot* to do with what they offer as well. Ford made waaay to many lightning’s at top or near top spec. 100k for a F150 and they wonder why they’re not selling? Those who offer both high end and mass market (some budget) EVs, Tesla, HMG etc are selling their EVs. It’s those 60, 70, 100K EV that are not.

[@rz4128]

Thought on big screen - If electronics have a glitch, you lose everything!

[@ianjay5301]

The removal of rebates will not affect my buying decisions. I prefer plug in hybrids (had a 2012 Volt for 10 happy years), bought a 2023 M3 which was a disappointing car so it is gone. Have a Maverick Lariat hybrid now and a Prius Prime on order. I will be happy when the rebates go poof as they seem to make manufacturers favour Quebec and BC residents at the expense of the rest of us (my Prius was ordered Oct 23 and I have been told it may not arrive until early 25 - I live in Ontario).

[@zekew7546]

Toyota hybrids & plugIn prime? Can anyone buy one that waiting on a car lot without loaded fees/markups?

[@robertt9342]

So can you use a PHEV like a regular hybrid, or will this affect the battery or motor somehow?

[@cohacyn]

It's not that we don't want to buy EV's (well I'm still on the fence), it's the prices are astronomical. I'll drive my paid for pickup until it dies.

[@jrd5403]

How do you like the Zenith Pilot? Looks great, on my shortlist!

[@Motormouth...]

Good eye

[@OneHungLee]

You guys must be in West Van; they don’t need rebates.

[@devibeharry254]

I need a SUV and consider the NX, which one would you recommend and trim? Thanks

[@vikramsrikanth]

Big follower of your channel! I'm interested in the Chevy Equinox EV 3 RS. Do you know what's the timeline on that and/or are you planning to review that car anytime soon?

[@efejoao]

I miss the Friday videos on the used special cars

[@LouisHansell]

How long will auto insurance companies cover underground parking?

[@mijas-rus2715]

What about federal EV rebates? Are they going away any time soon?

[@jefff7287]

Since your videos listing "best SUVs" only include those that are at least hybrids, I can assume that you want to have your channel represent what is good for the environment while also best for consumers. That is admirable. As a fan of your takes typically, I'd ask for a bit more reflection when it comes to leather interiors, along the same lines of how you rank only vehicles that are at least hybrids. If we think about it in economic terms, it is not like slaughterhouses are simply GIVING leather to car manufacturers, as implied by simply labeling leather as a byproduct. Rather, it is a paid-for product in and of itself. As such, a reduction in consumption of the product by having less leather in vehicles may well lead to more cost of beef, etc, and hence less meat consumption. Less meat consumption from a terribly polluting industry such as industrial farming is in keeping with a goal to lift up the best vehicles for the environment, and provide consumers with better choices. I'd hope that your 342k subscribers can hear more nuance along those lines.

[@judih.8754]

In the old days vinyl was marketed as Naughahyde. You know, from the Naugha-beast.

[@timcreelman3540]

I used to own a 2012 Mercedes C63 which had a feature that detected my alertness while driving. Sometimes the car would warn me with a screen message that said it detected I was "drowsy". That was the word it used. And I never felt drowsy, but the car said I was!

[@billurban1581]

19:04 Z: No oysters? At school, this was years ago, I once participated in an oyster experiment. We were each given a dozen on the half shell before the test, cocktail sauce was optional but had no effect on the outcome . . . Results: only nine worked.

[@travisreaveley9606]

The BC EV rebate went up to $4000 from $3000, and as you mentioned, became means tested.

[@kmooney1954]

Sorry, didn't get any of your video - too distracted by the lovely German Shepard (and owner) 🙂

[@i6power30]

All apartment owners should be required to install EV chargers for tenants and get government rebates.

[@lloydcrowder1283]

My 1972 datsun 510 came standard with vegan leather and cloth was an upgrade. How times have changed.

[@lloydcrowder1283]

If the rebate goes away the price of the car will drop by the amount of the rebate. We are all being screwed

[@debbiekinnovascotia7011]

I’m quite surprised that the leather seats in my 2011 Kia Soul are still looking perfect and I don’t do anything except very occasionally wipe them. I’ve seen several newer cars, most of them more expensive than my car with cracked leather seats. I’m waiting until EVs improve a bit more and shrink in size before buying one.

[@Supercruze]

HI - My wife and i just purchase a new 2024 Acura MDX SHAWD w Tech pkg. It would be interesting if you guys would address current car safety systems and instances of false ghost situations with lane keep assist and emergency braking. Like you, I am a bit annoyed with the lane keep assist which in the Acura is not all that intrusive, but still a bit disconcerting to the unaware driver. Also had an instance on a curvy two lane road with oncoming traffic where the car mistook an oncoming car in the other lane and quickly applied the brakes and flashed "BRAKE" in the instrument cluster. Again, a bit unnerving. I assume these ghost instances are something all manufacturers struggle with. Another feature is automatic Hi- Beam headlights which I find annoying. I think the car manufacturers are trying to take too many things out of the driver's hands. I gather the benefits outweigh the small amount of annoyance from false readings. Appreciate your thoughts.

[@midlifemom5829]

Had the same glitch with my MDX, it did the same "BRAKE" flash and applied brakes when as I approached an offramp with a construction plastic lane post

[@zoner__]

I prefer the Lexus vegan. Personal trivia, I was a model for the facial sensing test of the system in a Mustang EV. Got to see and sit in the car before public release. Better yet I was paid to sit while they put hats, sunglasses on me and calibrated the system. There are opportunities like this if you live in the Detroit area as I formerly did. I miss being at the center of the auto universe.

[@srikanthnarayanan]

Quebec buyers get $5000 on PHEV only for models that do both of 1- go farther than 50km on battery power, (most do) and 2 - have batteries larger than 15 kWh (most don't except RAV4 Prime and a few others). Most PHEV models get $2500 rebates of Provincial money, plus $5k federal money ($7500 together)

[@berthogendoorn2133]

ICE engines it is not only about C02 emissions, but even bigger is the pollution that causes higher mortality, California is already noticing large decrease in lung related mortality due to reduced emissions. Mind you CA is much more involved than Canada, as they have much higher requirements even for refuelling, capturing the Gasoline and Diesel vapours at the pump dispensers. Here in Canada there is no regard for reducing pollution.

[@mannythegoodguy]

What about Lexus Hybrids?

[@saiya25]

Do you think there will be a huge boost of EV selling in Quebec before it runs out or the EV sales will completely go down? Is it a good idea to buy one now like the new model 3 2024 or simply let go because prices are still to high?

[@Kered-9]

Imagine if all vehicles were hybrid, that would save way more gas than 4% of people driving a full EV.

[@billurban1581]

My Volvo AWD PHEV with a 41 mile battery gets 3X the mpg of my last RWD ICE, and it has 80% more power.

[@mickeyli-q1x]

I don’t care what material.however I have both the driver and passenger seat synthetic leather seats changed while still under warranty for my bmw x3😢 because of cracks in materials

[@slighwentwalking2024]

You always provide such great information. Thank you very much. Is it possible to have features like adaptive cruise and lane keep assist installed on every car. They are safety features that make the roads safer for all. Perhaps even if it were subscription based. For safety and efficiency I see future roads mapped for vehicle travel. Who am I kidding 😂 I see people everyday no seat belts smoking with kids in the car....but....I live in Florida.

[@brucedunham1463]

We have a 2022 BMW X5. The lane keep assist is very aggressive. Actually scary in the winter months. I turn it off.

[@billurban1581]

My Volvo “pilot assist” is OK on highways 55 to 65 mph, not so good on slower, secondary roads, jerky.

[@michaelsylvester7272]

Let me say I have enjoyed your channel so much.

[@kybruce1]

100% agree tax or government incentives should be means tested. Also think any government incentives goes against supply and demand realities, artificially inflating demand that is not really there. Until EV's can outsell ICE on their own merits and value government should not be wasting resources on EV cars. We love our 2023 Outlander PHEV which we bought used with no incentives. Drive 80% in EV more. Love your channel

[@jimmyv8307]

Toyota played the long game, they got a lot of flack for resisting full EVs but in the the end they were right

[@frankkeel8410]

I am still waiting for HEATED FLOORS

[@christophercheek8464]

There’s been a lot of discussion lately on your episodes regarding Hybrids(for obvious reasons). I haven’t heard either of you talk much about The Hornet R/T Hybrid. Not fans? Dodge won’t give you veh’s to review? Not a critique, just curious.

[@Motormouth...]

We drove the Alfa version, not impressed

[@bobstevenson4396]

I was under the impression the federal rebate is only funded until March 31, 2025. Is that correct?

[@calebwany8422]

I haven't heard your thoughts on the new Cadillac QX80 Discovery

[@midlifemom5829]

Will the new Acura subcompact come in hybrid model? Im waiting to check out your review on the hybrid Toyota Crown Signia!

[@andreaspencer9813]

The plan for Acura is to go straight to pure electric vehicles, so at this time there is no plans to bring in a hybrid unless Acura changes their strategy.

[@-kt6dq]

Traverse is hitting lots. Can you discuss that

[@l.n.6132]

The fake leather in our Lexus was really nice!

[@trippinwithdumas1382]

Thanks!

[@Motormouth...]

Thank you!

[@andreaspencer9813]

Wow thank you very much!

[@trippinwithdumas1382]

I'm like 1 year out from buying my Miata. Convertible. Not RF. If 8s pretty but

[@jeanpierremichaud5275]

I think that car makers will push Hybrid and PHEV more than EV because it will bring more money to the dealer mechanical shop.Compared to EV Hybrid and PHEV need regular maintenance.

[@powerguymark]

I would take a Toyota Venza over a Santa Fe all day everyday.

[@JimAllder11]

I was wondering what you guys would think of the update enacted by the Biden Administration. Thanks, guys, you're the BEST!

[@josephpanozzo4815]

Auto dealers have strong lobbying. They got millions in buyouts if they didn’t want to invest in the infrastructure to service EV’s, especially Buick. I was at a Chevrolet dealership, and the salesman told me they have only one EV charger, and it’s out of order most of the time!

[@SarhalRam-pq6bs]

Can you guys review a ford ranger 2022

[@vicp8772]

Id like a 100% canadian government rebate!

[@dansanger5340]

A case could be made for EV credits early on to jump start economies of scale (especially for batteries) to make the industry economically sustainable. Economies of scale have been jump started. In November or December of 2023 (I forget which) the actual selling price of new EVs in the US was only $2k more than the market average for all vehicles. We're basically at price parity already. The most logical way to approach it policy-wise is a tax or fee for the privilege of putting CO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere. And, the money shouldn't go into government coffers but given back to the people in the form of an annual check, since it's the people who own the atmosphere.

[@letsgo4834]

Those companies were not forced to make electrified vehicles. They chose to do it because they thought concentrating all of the “greenness“ in some all electrics would offset their gas guzzlers. They could’ve just as well focused on making hybrids, which is what the market wanted instead of chasing what was trendy with a very small demographic. Toyota did it correctly. Honda did it correctly. These domestic, brands wanna blame the government and it’s not holding water.

[@LetMeCook86]

Santa Fe has 4 star crash test. PASS!

[@H2SO4H20]

It was around 2019 that Transport Canada stopped synchronizing headlight standards with the U.S. which is why adaptive high beam headlights are allowed in Canada while still prohibited in the U.S. I totally hated MB-Tex in our 1979 240D even more than my dislike for the SofTex in the Prius we still have. Vinyl upholstery makes me sweat like a pig. Maybe the reason Andrea is OK with Lane Keep Assist is that she signals lane changes and that "someone else" doesn't.

[@kevinn1158]

Re Quebec. The govt supplies the electricity so I wonder how much they’ll get back from those rebates. For them it’s just not such a big money pit. This is why I don’t understand why the Ontario govt doesn’t offer a rebate. Get people using the govt power. Why not?

[@nexxusk]

Our wonderful DOUG FORD cancelled the Ontario EV Rebate program. It was up to $14000 at the time he was elected to office. Vote wisely next time.

[@kevinn1158]

@@nexxusk I live in Ontario. 14k was ridiculous. Having said this, our nuclear plant runs whether we use the energy or not, so get the accountants out and calculate the return. And don't make it a money pit like the NDP would.

[@nexxusk]

@@kevinn1158 14k was fantastic. Which plant? We have more than one nuke. The rebate came from the cap and trade program with California. It was brilliant. Companies bought carbon credits.

[@kevinn1158]

@@nexxusk well all of the plants are Ontario. As for carbon credits. I’d like to see the data on that. I’m not sure it works that well. And if other countries don’t follow we are just making ourselves less competitive.

[@brucefredrickson9677]

Has Kia and Hyundai fixed their engine issues?

[@vancity2349]

Do none Tesla brands not make money on EV's because of low sales, or is it because the legacy brands dont know how to build them efficiently due to antiquated production methods???

[@witsendcottage595]

FJB....