How's The First Week Going?: Vibe Check
We did it! The World According to Cars — which I’m going to start referring to WAC more often going forward — made it through the first week. A few soft hitters is nothing to fret in these early days of this blog. The second week should bring some more material as we keep it going.
Something you should expect to see regularly at the end of the week: Vibe Check. The Pontiac Vibe remains a slice of buttered toast aimed to give you the simplest pleasure without excess. Reading the news should be the same experience; you get your fill before it’s too late that you find yourself doom scrolling through the trudges of depressing reports and ruining the day.
Vibe Checks will be a mix mash of automotive hodgepodge that gathers the hottest news and opinions. Sources will range anywhere from Twitter (can’t X me out, Elon) that went viral to reviews of cars that yield a surprising result. I’m sure the factors to determine what lands on the front page will be refined over time, but for today, let’s focus on toast without the jam.
1st Shift: Anticipated Cybertruck Continues To Disappoint
We’re kicking off the first-ever Vibe Check with Tesla, a company known to avoid becoming a PR nightmare and absolutely manages to escape every controversy at the helm of Elon Musk. This bodes well for the launch of their most hyped product in years: the Cybertruck.
However, like the way he attempts to rebrand Twitter, this is proving to be an idea that should’ve stayed in his head. Daniel Golson went viral this week for photos and footage he posted of a Cybertruck caught on a California beach.
Not even the matte black wrap can mask the truck’s quality flaws. Things like an uneven tailgate mount that doesn’t flush with the rear lights and the wheel moldings that threaten to come loose. Virtually none of the body panels fit congruent to the body, which is ironic given this is styled after the wooden block you store kitchen knives in.
It’s hard to believe 4 years has passed since the Cybertruck was first shown and Elon promised bulletproof abilities. So far, that is proving to not be the case. This and the impressions it gave on the beach could mean that once it does go on sale, popularity could very well drop off once people start to delve into the ownership quarrels.
Now for my favorite part of the Vibe Check because it brings forth a pun when I attribute a score from 1-10 based on the source material and how this reflects the topic at hand. To put simply; is this better or worse than a Pontiac Vibe?
In the case of the Matte Black Cybertruck, I say nay:
2nd Shift: EV Demand Is Slow Because They’re Expensive. What About Volvo?
Speaking of Tesla, it’s reportedly the only company that makes a profit off of EVs. But demand is slowing because electric cars remain expensive no matter how many incentives the government can throw at it to make it more affordable. Average purchase prices are down to about $50,000 from $65k a year ago. But, that’s still a lot of money to sneeze at.
Carmakers recognize this and are hard at work to push out options that are more affordable. But Volvo has struck first with the EX30. Starting at $36,145, it’s a surprise to see this come from an established luxury marque for Chevrolet money.
What’s the catch? Well, it manages to be smaller than the smallest Tesla in every way except height:
The interior is also not too shabby:
Simplistic without looking cheap; that’s the trick. If the materials used rival those inside of a Honda, it’s a solution that keeps everyone happy. Even better, Volvo is hoping to achieve up to 265 miles but that has yet to be verified by the EPA.
In all, for the price it brings to the table — assuming Volvo doesn’t fall into the same trap that Ford did with the F-150 Lighting EV — the EX30 is a win for now.
3rd Shift: Yellow Can Alleviate The Boredom Of A Toyota
We’re not straying too far from The Autopian with this one, a comprehensive review of a Toyota hybrid that has all the means to be a snooze fest. It’s not fast and the price is on the higher side for what we used to consider expensive at $35,565. But that is for the most expensive Corolla Cross coupled with a hybrid powertrain and the most tech equipment squeezed into the small SUV.
Add in Acidic Blast/Jet Black two-tone paint and a fuel mileage estimate that hovers in the 40s with all wheel drive, the pros start to outweigh the cons. I’ll pull a quote from the review that best sums it up:
It doesn’t set my heart on fire. I will not write poems about it. It’s just a great idea, executed well, at a price point that’s hurting for choice. -MH
The fact is most people aren’t car enthusiasts. So they have different expectations of what to expect as a buyer. If we cut through all the complications and red tape and factors that become tendencies to reject a vehicle purchase, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid comes out as a compelling option.
Since everyone’s happy, this is an easy 10.
Your Task For The Weekend: A Classic Movie With Great Wheels
Do you want a taste of action with tasteful cars? Look no further than the Robert De Niro flick concerning a Euro-grunge heist. Getaway vehicles featured include an Audi S8, an E34-gen BMW M5, a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, a bunch of Peugeots, and one Citroën. The transportation set the scene for what is otherwise a slow-moving narrative that doesn’t pick up the pace until somebody gets behind the wheel.
Might I tempt you? Have a peak and see if it’s worth streaming on HBO’s Max:
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Well, that does it for this week’s first edition of Vibe Check! A soft opener to what is relatively a pretty quiet launch for a blog I’ve tried to kick off several times. For now, this is more for my writing sake of keeping the habit up before the focus turns to expanding the audience. Once again, any growing support is appreciated.
-TA
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Photo Credits: Daniel Golson, The Autopian, HBO Max, Volvo