Imho

[Miracleman89]

After the most recent vehicle voice survey, I have began thinking about VV and what they should be doing! These are just my opinions but tell me what you think!

1.) Venture Vehicles should go back to pml flightlink and renegotiate! The in-wheel electric motors I think was the way to go in the first place! Now Ian claimed that in-wheel electric motors are not ready for prime time, but if I am not mistaken they have in wheel motors now going into full production to be sold to big name automakers! It is just my opinion here but I feel like Ian and the crew have waisted a lot of time and money on a completely different propulsion system that does not have near the capability and will cost more to produce!

2.) Venture Vehicles needs to sit down and renegotiate with A123 systems for the battery they had originally planned for the V1! Because of the poor battery choice they have reduced the ability to have a decent ev range!

3.) Venture Vehicles needs to step up to the plate! Now in their latest survey they are claiming a fuel economy of only 75/85! A vehicle of this size with a hybrid system should have no problem reaching 100 MPG. Performance has fallen, MPG has fallen, top speed has fallen. Enough with cutting corners! If they want to create the greatest affordable vehicle ever then they need to act like it! Quit screwing around and really get to work on the above mentioned issues!

Today, after taking the last survey, I find myself in a position I never thought I would be in! I am seriously considering if this vehicle is worth the time and enthusiasism I have devoted to it! If Ian Bruce and The big shots at VV don't pull their heads out of their rears soon they may lose many potential customers!

These are just my opinions and I am sure I will hear about it but please let me know what you think!u:n:s;ure;5(

[RAN]

I have to agree MM89. I've become a fan of PML's hub motors. I'm seriously considering a conversion using them (if I can get them). If they're good enough for the Lightning, a $200,000 car, then they should be good enough for the V-1.

There are certainly better batteries around than VV is looking at (without having to go with LiIon). With those and the in wheel motors, I think they could approach a 40 mile EV-only range, and get back some of the performance they've lost.

I also agree with dgl's post in the " Ian's July 2 Update" topic about the importance of a real internet presence and website.

It is now officially August, and still no word on the Alpha prototype. Even my cynical prediction was that it'd be finished by late July. My enthusiasm for the V-1 has been steadily waning with each passing month, every broken commitment, and every downward projection of performance. I hope that Ian can turn things around, because the way things are going, I will have an EV conversion before the V-1 ever gets outside of CA.

[MVRacing]

Well ....
IMHO the original 100 mpg/100+ mph was a bit agressive. I'd just like to see them get something on the road for a V1. Save the hub motors and higher EV range for the V2.

Besides, that will give us something to fly the road with ... and modify =y:
I'm still hopeful ... as long as the price doesn't top $25K.

[Mark Tomlinson]

I'm still optimistic. My feeling was that the survey was intended to gauge the limits of what we will accept. Nonetheless, I would still consider the V1 as viable at 75 mpg (more than three times my current mpg) and $25,000 (with the airbag and skimpy 20 mile pure EV range).

I think they are too far along in the design to go back and reconsider. We'd have to go back to the drive train mule and start over.

[Miracleman89]

Well, I actually expected more grief for suggesting that they go back and basically start over! I know it would make for a bigger delay but at this point I am not that impressed with the V1 as I was when they started!

[MVRacing]

MM89,
I know how you feel. Me, I've taken a deep breath, remembering it's just a survey, and hoping for better numbers from the Alpha.

[Charles]

Hi Chaps,

I've read all the comments about the survey on the official site and the club site and I can see both sides of the argument. I would like to think the survey was posed to mislead. However, if it was real then my enthusiasm is waining. I just hope that the NARO car gets funding. This is the only vehicle that nears the effect of the Carver/V1. Maybe Mercedes will resurrect their threewheeler!!!! I hope that we get some news soon.

Charles

[Jake]

I would be happy if it was possible to have them import a stripped down Carver to come in at a more realistic price.