So getting to my car at Redland Bay marina earlier to discover that I had left a back window open all weekend was different. We had plenty of drizzly rain yesterday. So yeah there's that......
this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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Our Seal has an option to automatically wind up the windows if it detects rain. I haven't tried it yet, but I like to think it would save the interior in a similar situation. Not actually sure if it works when the car is off, or only when its on. Probably should test that theory...
Oh nice. How are you finding it overall ? I imagine it's pretty damn great.
Oh and while I'm here, the update on those LED lights that I changed. So she bought new transformers/controllers. I started to look into it, the output was 12 v DC. I checked the voltage of the lights and could find nothing, just that they are 10 w. She googled it only to find out that they're 240 v AC So another complication avoided, about $50 wasted, and quite a learning curve for me. I feel a bit embarrassed by the whole debacle, but yes lessons learnt. Oops. Oh they're all done and working and she's so delighted that she can control them from her phone now.
Upside is that its super fast, incredibly comfortable (and quiet!), and basically free to run since we charge it with either solar (for nothing) or during the cheap power times (currently 8c/kwh). Powering it works out to around 1c/kilometer. A full "tank" which gets us ~500k costs a maximum of 5 bucks worth of electricity, assuming we use nothing but the paid component and no free solar. Obviously there'll be tyres at some point, and "servicing" at 20,000k intervals, and we had to buy the thing initially... but compared to paying for fuel its crazy cheap.
Downside is that sometime since we last had a sedan (an R33 Skyline back in the early/mid-2000s) and the Seal, everyone else has bought SUVs and dual cab 4x4 utes. The constant glare from other peoples headlights sitting right at eye height is incredibly obnoxious, as is being surrounded by sheet metal everywhere you go so you can't see what's coming when trying to turn / whats in front of you in traffic / what's behind you because its just a rearvision mirror full of ☀️ЯƎӘИAЯ☀️.
Wouldnt be too worried about blowing up some drivers, it happens. I blew up a VSD back in the day because it had 415V input terminals (L1,L2,L3), then neutral, then a low voltage input terminals (+/- 12VDC), then earth. I misread the terminal positions because I was reading it via a mirror, and put 415V on the low voltage input. Turns 415VAC is a little higher than the 12VDC circuit was expecting and the magic smoke came out of it.
What's involved at the 20k service for a vehicle like that??
Making money for Eagers, I suspect?
BYD entered Australia without a dealer network, so partnered with Eagers to sell cars. I suspect the 20k interval servicing is more of a lick of the lolly for Eagers than anything. Could easily be less frequent intervals.
I mean there's diff oils and coolants and what not to check, and its not a bad idea for a pair of qualified eyes to give the thing a once over somewhat frequently I guess. Still a pain to take time off work for though.
One benefit is they do firmware updates to components you cant update OTA. The "IVI" (fancy acronym for screen) gets updates every so often but the drive components need to be done manually. They do things like smooth out shifting, or adjust the pedal feel, or change the way it reacts to LIDAR readings, and probably other way more important stuff that you don't notice.
Apart from all those downsides of driving a sedan, I still prefer it way over a big chunky vehicle.
I'm a big fan of hatches I've decided. Sedans feel just that little bit too big for being super maneuverable in a carpark, but not big enough to cart all of things like a van.
One thing I really enjoy about vans is you can just hoick practically infinite amount of stuff in to it and then shut the door and you're packed. Not like a ute where its all tie downs and ratchet straps and flappy covers to try and protect things from the elements. Just underarm toss your stuff in and as long as the doors close it's all good. 5 seater + cargo area in the back is chefskiss.
Growing up in England and vans everywhere, I'm still blown away at the impracticality of utes for certain trades. Plumbers are probably the largest group that I notice in this regard. Shit everywhere and as you said, having to tie everything down. Then there's the lack of security for all your stuff.
When I first set up as a subby in the fire alarm industry I had a Mitsubishi van. I installed shelving and was set up to attack just about any job. The only things on the outside were step ladders that wouldn't fit inside.
I have had utes with canopies at times since, but I haven't needed to be set up the way I was in those early years. I carry nothing these days but I still have a Falcon Ute because I actually like them.
I must say though, driving my Subaru Outback for a week has been wonderful. It's like a sports car in old person car clothing. ( Good coloured Outback wagon. Boxer 6. Sweet as all heck. ) Makes the ute seem like a tractor.
This was my van circa 2005'ish: https://i.imgur.com/Dpds5AC.jpeg
Old school BrisVans (RIP) racking, and a step ladder mounted to the inside of the roof so you never had to worry about it not being tied down (or getting stolen).
.... And yes, those are 2 x 12" subs in the back.
Ha. Awesome. Great set up for sure. And the side doors make for excellent access too.
Vans are inherently OP.
I'm working outside and I fully believe that sometime this morning we will be rained off and be going home early. That's judging by the BOM forecast. Speaking of bombs the rain bomb looks like it's going to affect people further south than us so that's a relief. Here's hoping it doesn't cause too much havoc and destruction.
Tomorrow here is predicted to be clear skies so that's not so bad. Stay safe everybody.
You get that early mark in the end?
Yup. 11 am. Home for a nap then right back into it. Animal Kingdom that is.