Reporter's Notebook: More Notes From Southern California
As I also mentioned before, I went through a few loops thrown at me on my last trip. I came out alive. That’s all that matters, really.
Don’t say that you’re “over” something unless you are committed to being “over” it for good.
On social media – and on here – I basically said that I’m done flying. I complained about the lack of assistance – or, the quality thereof – on the two trips I took in August as a disabled traveler. Not to mention, the packed flights, the intrusion of space on said flights – both physical and otherwise, the mixed of levels of customer service, and the extra unnecessary hoops in trying to ensure a safe and sane travel to and from my destination.
As I also mentioned before, I went through a few loops thrown at me on my last trip. I came out alive. That’s all that matters, really.
It appears that the next trip will be by automobile. Five-to-six hours to the Chicagoland area. I was surprised about this, too. It is for work. I’m sure we’ll be posting a lot from this upcoming trip.
Looking back at last month’s adventures, if there was positive one thing that came out of my weekend trip to Southern California, it would be brother’s glee and pride in purchasing a battery-electric vehicle.
For years, I tried to explain to you how different my brother and I are. He loves technology and wants to do good for the planet. Me? I love my internal combustion engines – the greater the power curve, the better.
I knew that his purchase of an EV was part of a build up towards doing so. After all, he bought a Toyota Prius after a couple of Camrys. That turned into a Prius Prime, the plug-in version of the leading hybrid automobile.
The EV Matthew chose surprised me. It shouldn’t, to be honest. Let me explain.
After decades of loyal Toyota ownership, he decided to skip that brand for another volume selling one. This is a brand our family is very familiar with – Chevrolet.
On our mother’s side, we owned decades worth of General Motors products. Mainly, Chevrolets, thanks to our uncle Phil who was a mechanic at a couple of dealerships in Southern California. Throughout my life, we had a 1960 Corvair and a 1967 Impala Sport Coupe. My grandmother had a 1964 Bel Air sedan, a 1971 Bel Air sedan, and a 1983 Cavalier wagon.
My brother got a Bolt EUV in a very beautiful blue color. The choice of a Bolt EUV did surprise me, but it shouldn’t. That is, if you consider the price of one compared to other EVs in its size class.
Price may be a favor in choosing the Bolt EUV. However, its popularity is based on its versatility for its size. It also shows that you do not have to get a larger EV to get the practicality one needs for everyday life.
We finally met up at a Starbucks in Redondo Beach across from the South Bay Galleria – a mall that was once bustling some 20 or so years ago. He pulled up in the Bolt EUV looking happy as ever. I had the Alfa Romeo Giulia that gave me more frustration than satisfaction. I’ll spare you the details…
I will admit digging the Bolt EUV. Not a huge stan for the brand and its products, but I do respect one’s purchases and pride in ownership.
Southern California may have the impression of having a higher-than-national-average acceptance of battery-electric vehicles. The freeways were chock full of the usual suspects from Tesla, Rivian, General Motors, Ford, and the Hyundai Motor Group. There may have been a Lucid or two around.
One thing I did not see was a vehicle from VinFast. That was until I got to the site of our brunch at Del Amo Fashion Center. There was a VinFast storefront a few doors away and I decided to check them out.
With all due respect from the people at VinFast, I was unimpressed.
I get what they were going for. They hired Pininfarina for design work. They added a head-up display to keep the driver’s eyes on the road and away from the large center screen. The idea was there, but I was let down by the execution. Let alone the ownership model.
We want to own our EV – battery included. Leasing everything is not going to completely cut it. That is, if you plan on keeping a VinFast for 2-3 years and jump tp another EV. VinFast would rather have you jump into another one of their’s after you’re done with your current one.
A few weeks later, I was running around in the loaner CX-5 back in the Twin Cities and found myself at the Polestar Minneapolis showroom in Saint Louis Park. They had an example of the new Polestar 3 SUV. If there was an EV that really piqued my interest and widened my eyes – it was that one.
Execution is a measurement on how a vehicle should engage with its occupants. It has to be done very well – regardless of if it’s a three-year lease or outright long-term ownership. To say that the Polestar 3 “nailed it” is an understatement. To use some “Star Wars” vernacular: “This is the way.”
Maybe we’ll drive one next year. I would be looking forward to that.
These thoughts have been bouncing in my head since I came back from Southern California. There’s more to parse out, but between looking at how my travels have turned out and the continued presence of the battery-electric vehicle, these were topics I cannot ignore. After all, I get asked a lot about these and other topics.
It is easy to be “over” something you want to set aside and let stew on its own. Somehow, you have to face it, acknowledge it, and move on.
Cover photo by Randy Stern