Just changed the brakes on my 2004 F150. Already had front pads, got the rear pads off Amazon for $17.98, stores wanted $45+. Rang me up yesterday for plugs and wires. $145. Hell no, got a set on Amazon for $52. I’m no Bezos lover, but I cannot afford local stores.

Everything I read scares me away from new vehicles, ICE or EV. I’m no mechanic, but I can change bulbs and plugs and wires and oil and brakes and air filters, you get the idea. The learning curve seems awfully steep for purchasing a used EV. I’ll have to do it eventually, but damn.

Now EVERY system is fly by wire?! I put on my brakes or turn my steering wheel, all mechanical, fixable, doesn’t need any fucking software updates. Nothing can be bricked or tracked.

Sell me on an EV. I want the Slate truck that’s stupid simple, hope it’s not a POS.

Well that’s fucking stupid

Wasn’t going to get a Hyundai, but definitely not now.

After reading the article this isn’t too surprising. I am not a professional mechanic but i do some advance mechanic work on my cars and you need a programmer to do so many things any more. On BMW’s for over a decade you need to use a programmer to let the computer know when you replace the 12v battery, so this is not a surprise at all. I will say after owning several EVs, you will never replace your brake pads. Even after 150000 miles the message pads show no wear on my daily commuter car

The dumb part is that’s it’s probably due to a change they introduces to the software in the most recent patch. Kinda like how some brands lock the performance boosts behind a ‘special option’.

This is typical on most cars made in the past 10 years or so that’s have automatic electric parking brakes. The car is so new that there’s no aftermarket solution yet.