Episode 81

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Published on:

7th Dec 2023

EVs Are Less Reliable Than Gas Powered Cars - According To Consumer Reports

00:00 - OPEN - Electric Vehicles Are Less Reliable Than Gas Cars According To Consumer Reports Latest Member Survey

Which do you think is more reliable?  An EV or a Conventional gas-powered car?  Well in moment I’ll tell you about some surprising, and maybe not so surprising reliability results for Electric Vehicles from Consumer Reports.

00:50 - INTRO - Are EVs Really Less Reliable?

Each year, Consumer Reports puts out an in-depth reliability survey to their members that covers a wide range of the types of consumer products, including automobiles. The results of this year's survey indicated that Electric Vehicles have a lot more issues than their gas powered competitors.

02:10 - Survey Says: YES!

  • EVs from the past 3-years had 79% MORE Issues compared to gas-powered vehicles
  • Hybrid vehicles had 26% LESS issues compared to gas vehicles
  • And PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid-Electric Vehicles) were the worst performing category with 146% MORE issues compared to the typical gas-engine vehicle

05:55 - Why Does This Matter To You?

If you’re considering an EV or a conventional late model used car with a high fuel economy rating in the next year or two, your best option may be a hybrid.  I think a hybrid continues to be a better option for most people – at least for now – compared to an EV. 

Fuel-Saving Vehicle Options:

  • Get a Hybrid Vehicle, such as a Toyota Prius, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or a Toyota RAV4 Prime, then enjoy the fuel savings without range anxiety
  • Buy an inexpensive used EV and combine it with an SUV for weekend adventures

09:25 - CLOSE

If you’re in the market for something that uses less fuel, whether its gas or electric or in between, just remember that by the numbers – at least Consumer Report's numbers – EV’s in general, still have a way to go to match the reliability of gas-powered cars.  Plug in Hybrids have even more issues, but Hybrids seem to be the most reliable choice in a fuel-efficient vehicle, for now.  Of course, your mileage may vary, but you’re more likely to have good luck with a late-model Hybrid.

LINKS: Consumer Reports - https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/electric-vehicles-are-less-reliable-than-conventional-cars-a1047214174/

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!