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Toshi Clark

@shikataganai.bsky.social

830 followers 330 following 3.6K posts

@toshi.clark on threads, was @maximumcharacte over on the old site before deactivating. Diagnostic radiologist, occasional polymath. Cyclist, skier, and musician among many other things.

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Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · Nov 16

if you get an EV then you'll still be traffic. only you'll be electric traffic now.

what you _really_ want but just probably haven't come to terms with yet is less time in your life of being traffic, less being in a car.

this requires good, safe biking infrastructure as well as an e-bike for many.

280 million e-bikes are slashing oil demand far more than electric vehicles

E-bikes and scooters displace 4x as much demand for oil as all of the EVs in the world.

arstechnica.com

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Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 4h

You don’t have to plug in the numbers to see how that’s just not going to math with those residuals: sale price of $72k or even $71k with Costco, $40k residual, meager CO, non-zero interest. It’s like GM doesn’t want to move any metal the rest of the year.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 4h

Found a courtesy transportation vehicle: 10% discount off $80k. Before transport fee would creep in under 80 and thus at least be good for $3.5k CO.

But then I asked what the post-BBB wrecking ball lease terms are on the always helpful Edmunds forums.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 4h

The things I do for fun:

Very idly considered the prospect of a lease deal on a Lyriq V, as that model fixes the steering ratio idiocy (and gets some alcantara here and there, and 615 hp because why not). Only a dark interior is a mild minus but at least glass roof standard.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

And I’ve seen two Hummer EVs in my neighborhood and a third on the freeway this same past week

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

Someone actually bought one! I’ve actually seen two or three the past week. Non-temp tags on this one in Park Hill tonight.

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Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

on the upside I’m still decades from having to rely on market returns for my retirement income and this latest fuckery might offer another opportunity to buy equities on sale

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

note that I already did half an hour of MSK moonlighting this morning. just not feeling the drive to log some body cases.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

oh, they might leave

to police Glenn Cove or Westhampton instead of driving into the city along the LIE every day

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

rehearsal on 10/21!

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 7h

I logged in, looked at the worklist, and decided that actually, I did not want to make some extra money in exchange for my time tonight. so that happens once in a while. who knew

I also picked up the trumpet for the second or third time since breaking my shoulder and blew a few notes.

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Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 9h

They need to move a lot of metal compared to their anemic efforts now, for sure

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

But also 80% SOC in a Gravity is a lot more range than 80% in any trim Ioniq 5, no?

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

That article covering random one-time charging instances from equally disparate starting SOCs was pretty sad indeed

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

and as such I've scheduled a demo drive for this upcoming Friday: they were booking online as soon as Tuesday afternoon when I just did that, fwiw.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

with the whole wall of screens interface (albeit nicely below my eye level, and with glass area and cowl height fine as well) the impression while actually driving will be the key to whether I'd be even slightly interested in their "cheap" 2026-bound $80k variant or not.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

heated wheel/seat controls are two edge of screen (bottom, then left edge) touches away. not ideal but could be much worse, a la Sensus.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

things that were evident: having mirror and seat controls on the screen are annoying, but with memory then they wouldn't be a deal killer. per Google CarPlay is available, which is a pleasant surprise after Rivian, etc. seat massage was not super intense but was fine

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

being a test-sit rather than a test-drive (no such drives on Sundays, and otherwise by appointment as they have one Gravity in their demo fleet with the others out in the garage apparently just being staged for delivery), I only got to mess with the UX elements applicable when stationary

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

back to space: I hit the glass roof in the third row, and the D pillar is thick and blocks vision out. not a minivan yet. second row had a full hands-width of headroom, and didn't even test in the first: roomy.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

also chintzy was a 2nd row power seat motor (yes, all powered, including for the motion to get access to the 3rd row) that sounded like it was from a Lego Technic set, and which didn't allow the rightmost middle row seat to go as far back as the left two. QC much? apparently not.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

speaking of which that carpet felt cheap. as did the lower panel material all around at knee level and below, particularly evident when sitting in the third row. not quite Cadillac Optiq weird-ass materials bad but bad nonetheless. and totally unacceptable on a $100k trim, imo.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

space is the big draw of it, and it does have some good features. little carved out areas laterally in the cargo area behind the 3rd row show someone was paying attention. and it indeed has the deep like a minivan-with-stow-'n-go-seats pocket behind that row.

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

the profile definitely feels more like a station wagon than an SUV. giant wheels do that, but moreover the ability to see right over it does as well: 65". funny how that little metric makes a difference. tall people probably think most vehicles are short. anyway

Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 10h

I test-sat in a Lucid Gravity today and I have some thoughts. as you might expect by this point.

(photo with the metal gate down was from 10:55, before their store opened. I did not break in to sit in it.)

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Toshi Clark @shikataganai.bsky.social · 13h

UPS My Choice is useless: true story