It is a 2024 Subaru Solterra. I have always been a “car guy”. Now after going electric with a small SUV that has 50/50 weight distribution and the center of gravity being at ankle ride height, everything else is boring/wasteful. I have to ponder what to do with the current driving fleet of a SLK320 and Jeep Liberty, the Benz will live in the garage as the fancy fun roadster, the Liberty is staying around because it hauls and is great in bad weather. I am getting rid of a 1987 Honda CRX, a 1984 Porsche 928S, and a 1968 Triumph TR250. Everything has become boring and I am tired of chasing parts. To a lesser extent, as with any old car “The cheapest part of owning a Ferrari is buying the Ferrari.” I am done with cars, maybe old lawn tractors or boat conversions is next.
My daily trips are now pennies on the dollar for transport costs. The Solterra has an autopilot feature that makes interstate driving a passive experience. The unit is built by Toyota as a BZ4X and a different nosepiece and badges are put on as part of the co-venture. They are great vehicles.
I’m glad you’re happy with the purchase! Honestly, I haven’t heard too much good about the bZ4x/Solterra siblings in comparison to other EV rivals, but I’m sure especially hopping to a modern car from driving mostly older used cars feels like a big upgrade regardless, and at the end of the day, I’m sure a lot of the complaints are very nitpicky.
Well my brain is certainly broken in a different direction, and from that perspective… sad Electric crossover, the bane of passion. With a little help from parts availability.
I can see why. I have built up a giant collection of old cars - but I spend more time fixing than driving. Whenever some car is fixed and I enjoy it, another one crumbles like a cookie or doesnt start, and honestly it is impossible as a one man show. Not to forget I paid recently 300 Dollar for a worm out starter from Africa for an old Nissan Diesel that is barely better than the one that failed, or 7000 Dollar for electronic suspension components from Japan… Just to find out its for the wrong model year.
But, I have taken it way too far with the hobby and backing off seems Impossible. So, I can only congratulate you that you pulled the plug before it is too late.
I bought it in 2000 from a friend who owns a scrap yard. His brother bought it at an auction and died before he could get it running. It has 58K miles and is what is called a ROW or rest of world edition, because Porsche could not trust the USA with proper octane. I will be pulling the car out of storage and getting pics later this summer.
There was not any other EV that has this configuration where I can pull the battery with a lift and hand tools. There are also very few under 70K that will climb my half washed out driveway after these storms we have been getting. These have an honest range of about 230 miles with the AC or heat on. The 2026 models are supposed to have another 100 hp and 100 miles of range. I was not planning on the newest being an EV because the ones I like were out of my price range, this one happened to fall into it.
Electric crossover, the bane of passion. With a little help from parts availability.