Friends and Fam Review, Insurance Still Rising, Cyber-Hollow

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

It’s Thursday and we’re going to review the recent Kain Friends and Family event in Lexington, KY. We’re also talking about the continued pricing pressing on car insurance, as well as a revealing look at a teardown of the Tesla Cybertruck

Show Notes with links:

• Kyle to give summary of what he observed, learned at Kain Friends and Family

• Just as car buyers breathe a sigh of relief from decreasing vehicle prices, a new hurdle is emerging—skyrocketing insurance rates. Darin Davis's experience epitomizes this shift, as his insurance for a 2024 Cadillac XT4 nearly doubled upon renewal.
  • Car prices drop as pandemic-related supply chain issues resolve, but insurance costs surge due to repair complexities and climate-induced damages.
  • Auto insurance rates have soared by 22.2% over the past year, marking the largest increase since the 1970s, contrasting with the stabilization of vehicle prices.
  • Darin Davis, a 56-year-old from Dallas, felt the sting of rising insurance costs when the rate for his new 2024 Cadillac XT4 nearly doubled at renewal. This unexpected increase dimmed his excitement over the car, making him reconsider his vehicle choice due to the financial strain.
  • "It takes the fun out of owning a new car when you’re paying so much money," reflects Davis on the unforeseen hike in his car insurance rate.
    
• The Tesla Cybertruck's design continues to both intrigue and baffle, with a new teardown revealing a massive but oddly half-full battery pack. This discovery raises questions about Tesla's engineering choices and the vehicle's efficiency.
  • Sandy Munro's preview of a Tesla Cybertruck teardown unveils a surprisingly empty battery pack, despite its large 123 kWh capacity.
  • The Cybertruck's range has fallen short in tests, with independent evaluations showing only 254 miles, and potentially as low as 200 miles under certain conditions.
  • Speculation arises on whether this design choice aims to reduce weight or reflects Tesla's cost-cutting strategies, with an upcoming bed-mounted range extender expected to add significant range at the expense of cargo space.
  • One lead Cybertruck engineer responded to the findings on X, responding “Looks half full to me.”, yet.

Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
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