Maybe my next car -- brand new for less than $10,000

[Rooster_Ties]

Saw one of these at the community recycling center today here in KC. Quizzed the owner about it in great detail. She owns one of the very first 100 in the entire country (had it only three weeks). She had nothing but great things to say about it. Had to get it in Colorado, as that was the closest dealer at the moment (and of course had it delievered -- since it would take over a month to drive from Denver). She's thinking about even opening her own dealership here in Kansas City, or so she said - and I think she was serious.

Max Speed: Up to 40 mph (65 km/ph) [actually, 45 mph -- but they only advertise 40]

Max Range: Up to 40 miles (65 km) [between charges]

Charger: Onboard 110 Volt AC

Motor: DC

Seating: Up to 4 (Max 500 lbs.)

Battery: Gel Cell

Classification: 3 wheel motorcycle (Zero Emission Vehicle)

Dimensions: 10’ Length (290 cm) x 4.66’ Width (142 cm) x 5.05’ Height (154 cm)

Options: Upgraded Radio/CD, Color, Leather Seats

Colors: Ocean Blue, Zebra Flash, Kiwi Green and Lipstick Red (as seen below)

Target Price: Under $10,000

Reserve yours Now!

Deliveries to begin Summer 2006.

VIDEO: CLICK HERE

ZAP Xebra (at www.zapworld.com)

I'd be buying this to be our household's 2nd car (our primary car would be the 2006 Prius we just got three months ago). Can't imagine very many times that both my wife and I would need to be going highway speeds on the same day. Her daily commute is less than 10 miles (round trip), and mine is barely 4 (round trip). Nearly everything we do on any kind of frequent basis is within 10 or 15 miles of where we live, and 98% of the time we venture out any farther, we'd always have the Prius to go in.

I've always said we really only need 1½ cars, at most --- well, 99% of the time, anyway.

Edited September 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[chris olivarez]

Interesting that she bought that in Colorado because I don't see that as a high elevation car but if it works for you that's great. Good Luck.

[Rooster_Ties]

I'm in Kansas City (so's she), which is pretty flat (well, mostly). But you're right -- it's funny that there would be a dealer in Colorado -- given the hills and mountains there.

By the way, I figure I'm probably at least 2 or 3 years away from getting something like this, maybe even 5 years. How ever long my current vehicle lasts ('93 Honda Accord sedan, with only 150K miles on it at present), which could easily be 5 more years (it's in great shape).

Edited September 24, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[marcello]

My company owns two GEM cars that we drive clients around our housing tracks

When we bought them 3 years ago, there were all sorts of rebates and and incentives that amounted to more than 50% of the cost. They are registered and have plates so they can be driven on roads, but they only have a top speed os 25-30 mph and they are made of plastic or acrylic.

I wouldn't want to get on a accident with one!

[Dmitry]

Cute little toy. Not worth the 10g's imo, but cute.

Now, if you add another 90k, you can have a real machine -

http://www.teslamotors.com

[Rooster_Ties]

Another possibility, the Tango...

http://www.commutercars.com

[marcello]

Now that looks like a death trap!

I wouldn't drive it in bad weather.

[Jazzmoose]

Cute little toy. Not worth the 10g's imo, but cute.

Now, if you add another 90k, you can have a real machine -

http://www.teslamotors.com

Oh man, I'm drooling here!

[sheldonm]

Saw one of these at the community recycling center today here in KC. Quizzed the owner about it in great detail. She owns one of the very first 100 in the entire country (had it only three weeks). She had nothing but great things to say about it. Had to get it in Colorado, as that was the closest dealer at the moment (and of course had it delievered -- since it would take over a month to drive from Denver). She's thinking about even opening her own dealership here in Kansas City, or so she said - and I think she was serious.

Max Speed: Up to 40 mph (65 km/ph) [actually, 45 mph -- but they only advertise 40]

Max Range: Up to 40 miles (65 km) [between charges]

Charger: Onboard 110 Volt AC

Motor: DC

Seating: Up to 4 (Max 500 lbs.)

Battery: Gel Cell

Classification: 3 wheel motorcycle (Zero Emission Vehicle)

Dimensions: 10’ Length (290 cm) x 4.66’ Width (142 cm) x 5.05’ Height (154 cm)

Options: Upgraded Radio/CD, Color, Leather Seats

Colors: Ocean Blue, Zebra Flash, Kiwi Green and Lipstick Red (as seen below)

Target Price: Under $10,000

Reserve yours Now!

Deliveries to begin Summer 2006.

VIDEO: CLICK HERE

ZAP Xebra (at www.zapworld.com)

I'd be buying this to be our household's 2nd car (our primary car would be the 2006 Prius we just got three months ago). Can't imagine very many times that both my wife and I would need to be going highway speeds on the same day. Her daily commute is less than 10 miles (round trip), and mine is barely 4 (round trip). Nearly everything we do on any kind of frequent basis is within 10 or 15 miles of where we live, and 98% of the time we venture out any farther, we'd always have the Prius to go in.

I've always said we really only need 1½ cars, at most --- well, 99% of the time, anyway.

...no way I'm getting in one of those things and actually driving on the road with real cars......!!! Reminds me of a McDonald's commercials where the guy rents the car referred to as the "2 door speck"....way too small for me!

m~

[Rooster_Ties]

Actually, I sat in one on Saturday -- and it was pefectly roomy (and I weigh in at about 235 lbs, about 5'11" -- so I'm not the smallest guy ever). Lots of room in the front seats, actaully. Back seats -- not much room -- but I can't imagine ever having more than two people in a vehicle like this anyway.

There's just my wife and me (no kids), and we'll always have a "real" car too (currenly our new '06 Prius), as our primary vehicle.

[Aggie87]

You do realize how slow a top speed of 40-45 mph is, don't you? You really won't be able to get on expressways in the city, let alone interstates. And I'd bet if you do, you're gonna be honked at for impeding traffic.

I'd hate to be in a wreck in one of those, or have any of my loved ones in one, for that matter.

[Dmitry]

For a 4 mile r/t commute you might as well get a bicycle...I did. Didn't cost 10 grand either. Although some do.

[Rooster_Ties]

For a 4 mile r/t commute you might as well get a bicycle...I did. Didn't cost 10 grand either. Although some do.

I do bike some (when the weather is good, and when my schedule allows), but several times a week I also have evening commitments that are about 6 to 8 miles from home (at most), and I can't ride a bike that far in really cold weather, or rain or snow. Also, I'm generally needing to get between work and evening appointments much quicker than a bike would get me there (I often get off work around 6 or 6:30p, and need to be places by 7pm).

City speeds (up to 45mph) would be perfect for about 90% of my daily driving needs -- and on those rare occasions when I'd need to go farther than 40 miles (roundtrip), or faster than 45 mph during the day -- my wife could easily drive the electric vehicle to her work, and let me have the Prius (and she can also often take the bus too, when her schedule allows).

[Aggie87]

One other comment - how much electricity does this thing consume? If you're going to have to plug it in overnight every two or three days, you're going to have a substantial electric bill. Maybe more than the equivalent cost of gasoline for a small Honda Civic or other vehicle.

[Rooster_Ties]

You do realize how slow a top speed of 40-45 mph is, don't you? You really won't be able to get on expressways in the city, let alone interstates. And I'd bet if you do, you're gonna be honked at for impeding traffic.

I'd hate to be in a wreck in one of those, or have any of my loved ones in one, for that matter.

Neither my wife or I have to get on the highway much at all -- maybe once per week at most. I would venture a guess that 95% of all of our driving is on city streets where the speeed limit is 35mph or 40mph anyway.

And I could always take the Prius on those rare occasions when I did need to go on the highway.

[Rooster_Ties]

One other comment - how much electricity does this thing consume? If you're going to have to plug it in overnight every two or three days, you're going to have a substantial electric bill. Maybe more than the equivalent cost of gasoline for a small Honda Civic or other vehicle.

Supposedly it's pennies a day. That's what the owner of the one I saw on Saturday said, and what I've seen on-line indicates the same thing. Can't be more expensive than gas.

Everything I've read about plug-in Hybrids (which I have read quite a bit about), says that electricity costs per mile are much less than gas prices.

But even if the price of the electricity were the same per mile, I'd still be inclined to get one for two reasons...

1) Reduced impact on the environment. (Not quite "no" impact -- because there is the impact of (most likely) burning coal to generate the electricity. But I've read the current impact is only about 70% of what comes out of the tailpipe of an average fuel-efficient car.)

2) The vehicle cost is half the cost of a new conventional car (only $10,000). AND (or soI've read) on-going maintenance and repairs are next to NOTHING on electric cars --> no oil to change, no water pump to break, no transmision, far fewer moving parts -- just lube stuff when it needs it, and you're good to go.

No, probably not buying this very first year's model. But in 2 or 3 years -- hell yeah!! -- I'm sure as hell gonna be looking at vehicles like this, especially if I can still find one (new) for close to $10K.

Edited September 26, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Jim Alfredson]

Seems to me

[sheldonm]

...right on!!!

[(BB)]

Jim, Thanks for posting. That is cool.

[Rooster_Ties]

OK, I'm seriously starting to think about getting one of these even sooner than I had originally planned. Maybe by next summer even?? My wife's old car (what I'm driving now -- she gets the new Prius most of the time) is in pretty good shape, but it will be 14 years old by next summer - and will probably have about 165,000 miles on it by then. ('93 Honda Accord, 2-door sedan.)

If I can personally save up $5,000 between now and then, I'm pretty sure our tax refund will cover the rest (mostly from my wife's paycheck, not mine - I'm afraid). We could easily finance it (now, even), but we've already got the Prius car payment, and I'd rather not have two car payments at the same time (even if one is half as big as the other). Our credit is fantastic, but try to avoid taking on debt like the plague.

I went over our driving habits in more detail last night, and I think there'll be maybe one or two times a year (at most) when we might get in a pickle needing two "conventional" cars at the same time. But even then, that would mostly only happen when my wife travels for business (when she would have to drive to the airport, about 40 miles north of where we live), and when I would happen to need a conventional car in the same week (a rarity). But there are always airport shuttles (with pickups less than a couple miles from where we live), and there's always just me driving her to the airport, and being our own "airport shuttle" when that rare need arises.

Also, I'm pretty sure this thing will mostly hold it's value pretty well -- and if/when a better electric comes down the pike, I think I could probably get 70% of it's value selling it on the open market, even after 4 years of use.

The only open question I have at this point is how it would perform in snow and ice. Well, that, and seeing how well it performs for actual owners over the next year -- since this thing hasn't even been on the market for more than 3 weeks.

Edited September 26, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Aggie87]

I hope you're never in an accident in that thing.

[Rooster_Ties]

I hope you're never in an accident in that thing.

It's got front and (I think) side airbags too . Front for sure, I know that.

It'd be WAY safer than a motorcycle. Probably no less safe than VW Bug, or Mini, or even a Miata.

[(BB)]

The only open question I have at this point is how it would perform in snow and ice. Well, that, and seeing how well it performs for actual owners over the next year -- since this thing hasn't even been on the market for more than 3 weeks.

I love the concept, but that would be my main reservation. We live at about the half way mark on a fairly significant hill with lots of snow and ice in the winter.

Electric Cars, Hybrids, Bio-Diesel, Air-cars etc... I hope people keep support the innovators of these technologies so they are no longer the best alternative, but just simply the best.

I currently run 20% Bio-diesel in my truck most of the time. I know folks in town with a bio-still, but I’m a little nervous to run pure bio-diesel in an 96’ with 200k on it.

[Jazzmoose]

I hope you're never in an accident in that thing.

It'd be WAY safer than a motorcycle.

Hmmm. Frankly, I'd rather be on my motorcycle and have enough acceleration and maneuverability to avoid trouble rather than be stuck in a pokey thing like this.

[chris olivarez]

I hope you're never in an accident in that thing.

It'd be WAY safer than a motorcycle.

Hmmm. Frankly, I'd rather be on my motorcycle and have enough acceleration and maneuverability to avoid trouble rather than be stuck in a pokey thing like this.

None of the above for me.