r-kevin-mcnutt
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Agree with all of the above. Not a big deal, really. Certainly better than “Any color you want, as long as it’s grey!” that the rest of the industry uses these days. It’s just a bit frustrating I think as the color choices are actually quite good (imho), but limiting the “design” to just a couple of pieces gives the interior an incomplete, kind of half-assed feel. Another opportunity for the aftermarket to step in perhaps?
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Loren, it seems like the folks at Aptera are completely enamored with the awful thing and we’re going to have to wait for the aftermarket to come up with something sensible.
As to everyone who’s swooning over the yoke because you’ll be able to see the dash, I gotta ask; seriously? In all of the cars I’ve ever driven (and it’s a lot} I’ve never once had an issue with gauges being blocked/obscured by the steering wheel. Yes, I realize that people are built differently but with all of the adjustments available in modern cars I find it hard to believe that the only way Aptera could find to address the visibility issue was to hack off a chunk of the steering wheel.
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Well, I haven’t actually driven a yoke, but I did try an experiment to get an idea of what I’m in for with my (eventual) Aptera. I took some bright green painter’s tape and marked off the section of the steering wheel of my Prius and tried to drive the car for a week pretending that that section was missing. And yes, I realize that my faux yoke was the same as a real one, but close enough on a budget. Anyone else tried this?
Result: Good grief, what a damned nuisance. Lots of awkward arm crossing, pushing instead of pulling, reaching for something that wasn’t there (well,the rim was still there but using it would have been cheating), far too much having to think about the act of steering instead of just driving.
So, is it dangerous? Eh, probably not. I’m certain that someone will prang one grabbing at thin air in an emergency maneuver, but then folks find endless ways of crashing as it is. Time will tell, I guess.
Will I “get used to it”? Probably. Will I actually enjoy it? No. Absolutely no. I used to own a Scion XA with the cluster in the center of the dash instead of ahead of the driver. Always had to turn my head and look to the right to check my speed or any vehicle info. Sure, I got used to it. And hated every freaking minute of it (decent car otherwise). I fear the same with the Aptera.
Still, will wait to see/test the car for myself, even with the Rictus Plushie.
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Interesting vid. Not a whole lot new, but some interesting tidbits.
One thing that stood out to me is JL’s unintentional demonstration of a learning curve for driving an Aptera. Watch and you’ll see he’s all over the road. I’m convinced that it was because he was driving the “small car” of the central body/cabin but didn’t have a feel for the “big car” wide spacing of the front wheels and wasn’t always aware of where the front end of the car really was at any time.
Also, it was clear that this was a prototype in action. I SERIOUSLY hope the front wheels get a very hard look prior to production. Watching them flop wildly around like they were was downright unnerving!
Still, really looking forward to getting mine!
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#15008. Sol, 250mi., hood & roof solar, no accessories, still deciding on the interior. Ordered 12/21/20.