Recent content by TFCooper

Given that my AT is restricted to under 50kW at V4 Superchargers, I don't think you have much to worry about.

Yes

FWIW, I think that $200 charge is legit. They need to repair the wheel, and $200 to fix wheel rash is very reasonable. I paid $300 per wheel a few years back to fix an admittedly deeper rash.

Totally agree. All these analyses that determine the "money factor" or true interest cost (down to the basis point!) just serve to obfuscate what's more important. Since the residual value assumption dominates the lease-or-buy decision, it's important to figure out what it is for you. For...

Got it, thanks! So if my (opportunity) cost of credit is (say) 4% for 3 years, I can back out an implied residual value from the lease payments. If that residual value is higher than I think it should be (56% seems very high to me), I'd prefer to lease. If it's lower, I'd prefer to purchase...

Makes sense. But are there other combinations of interest rates and residuals that generate the same monthly payment? Off the top of my head, 0% and a (net purchase price-residual value) equal to the sum of the payments?

If you know the interest rate, you can back out the assumed residual value. If you know the assumed residual value, you can back out the interest rate. The interesting question is how the assumed residual value relates to the actual residual value.

I am new to this leasing thing, but doesn't the assumed residual value loom large? Larger than the interest rate over a 3-year term? It sure seems like electric cars depreciate dramatically, and that goes double for high-priced launch-edition cars. FWIW, my 20-month-old 2023 MSLR has lost...

In the past few months, my 2023 AT exceeded my preset charge limit by about 6% on Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Maybe it's the BMS recalculating the SOC, but that does seem like a lot.

I saw 43kw in Augusta, ME

On the off chance that you're serious, do you view hospitals as good examples of fair pricing and transparency?

Ditto for universities!

You're kidding, right? In case you're not: states like Florida and California have joint underwriting associations for homeowners insurance (hurricane and earthquake), since the for-profit insurers pulled out. The insurance premiums they charge are high, but not high enough. Those...

Context is important. First, property/casualty insurance companies are not extraordinarily profitable. These increases in profitability are coming after a few years of underwriting losses. Second, based on the industry's capitalization, $88 billion in earnings may not be that much. A recent...

Just checked, and mine are still lent out at 12%