Everyone in the car world is excited about the possible future of solid-state batteries, and for good reason. Solid-state batteries would last longer, go farther, and be far more stable than the sometimes fiery stuff we have now. Unfortunately, this tech is taking so long that the Volkswagen ID. Buzz might actually go on sale in America before we get solid-state batteries.
Matt wrote about solid-state tech this morning, using a photo of Toyota’s progress on solid-state batteries. But, well, oh dear, Toyota may have chosen the worst photograph to depict the solid electrolyte used for the tech. Urban Runabout said what at least some of us were thinking:
What’s up w/ the Toyota Buttplug?
Now, a lot of you must be having a fun Friday because the jokes today were just too good. Today, Jason wrote about the origin of the Fiat Panda’s name. But in true Jason fashion, he had to go pretty silly on his way to the explanation. TriangleRAD points out the hilarity:
The magnificent content buffet that is the Autopian is now complete. Turns out all that was missing was Classical nudity and panda bashing.
You won’t find content like this on any other site!
Earlier today, Lewin wrote about how a Chinese company made a giant underbody casting, which sounds like a total nightmare for repairability. It also doesn’t help that it’s hard to focus on the casting when the images are all pixelated. From Arch Duke Maxyenko:
With all of that blurring, I thought it was made in Japan.
Finally, let’s stop at today’s Shitbox Showdown from Mark. As you’ve probably read, we’re launching a marketplace for Autopians, by Autopians! We’ve decided to announce this marketplace by having David and myself write about how much we hate trying to sell our cars, followed by seeing which car you like the most. I love the way Mark wrote the post as if it was any other Shitbox Showdown. Chris Stevenson gets it:
Wait a minute, I know these cars…
As did Mrbrown89:
I love how the ownership was not mentioned anywhere in the article and we treat this as random vehicles on the internet lol
Wanda has my vote, that Leaf looks like a coconut tree fell on it.
I wish Jason Roth was right here:
Guys, don’t vote, it’s a trap! Whoever votes is legally obligated to buy from Mercedes & David.
Good news! I did sell Sheryl’s BMW last night. It’s going to be someone’s first car and I hear it’s going to get slammed to the ground and fitted with huge wheels. David Smith’s response is perfect:
It’s good to learn the “Life is Suffering” lesson early in life.
Have a great evening and weekend!
Oh my comment made it 🙂 great way to start my Monday, boss is out of town for the week, cars are working great, weather is beautiful here in Michigan.
Life is good
Finally, we will have a Butt Plug-in Hybrid.
*takes a bow*
Congrats on selling the BMW!
There are those who still deny the continuous improvement in battery performance, durability and power density, but I have no doubt that these new technologies will soon allow that “Sands of Time” Toyota buttplug to vibrate it’s way into the future with more power and range than ever before.
That Energizer Bunny better watch his ass?
There’s a hole lot of truth in that.
“better watch his
assbuns” – there, FIFYI’ve heard about “plug-in” hybrids, but this is ridiculous.
What a way to find out that Toyota has been influencing the outcome of chess championships.
I never knew that about the Fiat Panda before, but it’s well known at least in car-guy circles that the VW Golf isn’t named after the game of golf.
Rather, the game was named after the car when the first foursome was emerging from the course and had to name their new sport, and they were in the parking lot. Rejected names include Escort, Lamppost, Pigeon and No-Left-Turn Sign.
Whenever someone posts a depreciated old German car on /r/RoastMyCar with a title indicating they’re young and it’s their first car, my stock response is “Ever wonder why people buy Corollas? You’re about to find out.”
These are hilarious and I just have to point out that this is gold:
Username: AlterId
“Only a short time ago, who would have imagined that in a matchup such as this the least rusted offering would have been David’s car?”
I guess that is one of the reasons he is selling it 🙂
Oh man, that kid is gonna be brooooooooke!
Right? I was like “a BMW for a first car AND they’re going to undertake the expense of suspension work and giant wheels and tires?! Must be a helluva afterschool job they have.”
I mean, good for them. Now is the time to be dumb with your money.
Presuming he can even get underneath. Remember, the jack points are badly rusted…
When you live in the land of the rusted out shitbox, you learn to jack from the suspension arms.
The ’79 Passat I had in college had holes in the floor where you could see the asphalt, so I carried a shovel head in the trunk to place under the rusted out lift points when I had to change tires.
Smart!
Woooohoooo