Gravity; SUV or Minivan

[DrLucid]

Hmmm. I wonder if the insurance databases are beginning to accumulate enough data on Lucid repair costs (which can be astronomical) to show up in rates? When I first purchased insurance for the Air over three years ago, State Farm told me they were quoting based on the purchase price because the car wasn't yet in their underwriting database. However, I haven't seen subsequent premium increases out of line with what I've seen on our Tesla and our Honda. I wonder if that will change when I add the Gravity.

Our annual premiums right now are:

2021 Tesla Model S Plaid: $1674.70
2022 Lucid Air Dream Performance: $1753.04
2018 Honda Odyssey: $1646.70

Interestingly, our minivan costs far more to insure as a ratio to purchase price than our two EVs -- despite being 3-4 years older.

My premium for bmwx5 50i is 900+ for 6 months and that for lucid air GT 2023 is 2400+. I don’t know if it’s that high because I am in California or is it everywhere? This is with Geico
As of now lucid is the only car that I owned with zero maintenance cost. I spent more on the bmws in the past. It’s a reliable car and still the insurances are charging high prices!

 

[Kevmark58]

I think the Gravity looks a lot like the Aviator. So, is anyone saying the Aviator is a minivan? Not that I know of.

So why is it an issue with Gravity? Is it because the roof is flatter?


View attachment 25290

View attachment 25291

Aviator looks like a van, gravity looks like a sleek, fast, slippery car!

 

[hmp10]

It’s a reliable car and still the insurances are charging high prices!

Auto insurance doesn't cover reliability issues in the car. It covers loss due to accident, theft, or liability to others. When our Lucid Air was wrecked, the repair estimates were excruciatingly high -- finally reaching the point that the car was just declared a total loss. It's a very complex car under the skin, and only Lucid-certified body shops can work on it. As Lucid requires that body shop personnel go to Lucid facilities for training and certification, only high-end body shops that have hourly rates well above the community rates insurers want to pay sign up to become certified. (Lucid won't sell parts to non-certified body shops.)

From other posts on this topic, it appears that insurance carriers vary widely in the cars for which they levy higher premiums. I suspect State Farm's rate structure is more reflective of theft loss data than with collision repair data. Hondas have one of the highest theft rates, while EVs very seldom get stolen. That's the only reason I can think for why State Farm charges such low premiums for the Tesla and the Lucid compared to the Honda.

 

[msaunders9430]

I want to get rid of my Tesla X. Had it for five years. Has been ok. But out of everything I’ve studied, it’s the Gravity for me. But as a retired teacher I can’t ever afford a $100k car. I can manage one in the $60s or $70s. I hope Lucid gets the lower priced model out the door by autumn. I’m in the market right now but this current price point is stopping my purchase of one.

Definitely stay in touch with this forum. Gravity may not be in your price range now, but in about 2 years or so, you may be able to grab a used one in your price range.
Maybe you can find a deal from an owner who don't find the speaker grilles elegant enough.

The whining should be less. You can offer us some cheese while you wait.
Just know, those who are born-to-whine will whine about your cheese.

 

[msaunders9430]

Saw a post on Reddit about a new ID. Buzz owner who waited 8 years for the ev.

I want my first ev really bad.
I'm encouraged by the original Air owners here who waited several years for their ev.
The main word that works for me each day as I wait for the Gravity Touring, is "patience".

Eight year wait!?
Not sure I could do that.

Funny this about the Reddit post, there are almost 200 comments.
The OP responded once to a question about the price. No other responses from her.
Others are commenting about the price, the look, etc.
Nothing from her. Why? Because she doesn't care and is busy enjoying her new ride!

https://www.reddit.com/r/electricvehicles/comments/1i3tju5/been_waiting_8_years_for_this_beauty_and_shes

 

[Knucklehead]

Saw a post on Reddit about a new ID. Buzz owner who waited 8 years for the ev.

I want my first ev really bad.
I'm encouraged by the original Air owners here who waited several years for their ev.
The main word that works for me each day as I wait for the Gravity Touring, is "patience".

Eight year wait!?
Not sure I could do that.

Funny this about the Reddit post, there are almost 200 comments.
The OP responded once to a question about the price. No other responses from her.
Others are commenting about the price, the look, etc.
Nothing from her. Why? Because she doesn't care and is busy enjoying her new ride!

https://www.reddit.com/r/electricvehicles/comments/1i3tju5/been_waiting_8_years_for_this_beauty_and_shes

I bet her winter range is 120 miles. No thanks.

 

[olld blue]

Remember, Rivian and GM Products do not have the option for CarPlay, which is a showstopper for me.

See the forum; carplay available very soon if not now.

 

[Elfin]

Why? Because she doesn't care and is busy enjoying her new ride!

Because it's a bus not a minivan.

 

[Bobby]

See the forum; carplay available very soon if not now.

I am not sure which forum you mean, but currently, as far as I know, Tesla and Rivian do not plan on including CarPlay in their vehicles.

 

[msaunders9430]

Because it's a bus not a minivan.

She doesn't care what anyone calls it and is busy enjoying her ride.

 

[hmp10]

She doesn't care what anyone calls it and is busy enjoying her ride.

Probably.

Of course, from the company's perspective, VW is in a very different position from Lucid with anyone calling the ID.Buzz a bus. The old VW microbus is iconic in automotive history and had a wide and hugely loyal following in its day. There is no reason they should mind anyone calling it a bus and evoking its storied history.

The term minivan conjures up a very different image for much of the buying public, and I'm still guessing that calling the Gravity a minivan rankles in the Lucid organization.

 

[msaunders9430]

Probably.

Of course, from the company's perspective, VW is in a very different position from Lucid with anyone calling the ID.Buzz a bus. The old VW microbus is iconic in automotive history and had a wide and hugely loyal following in its day. There is no reason they should mind anyone calling it a bus and evoking its storied history.

The term minivan conjures up a very different image for much of the buying public, and I'm still guessing that calling the Gravity a minivan rankles in the Lucid organization.

True about VW's position.
It's somewhat ironic, I remember back when the VW bus/van was out. I recall some calling it a camper van and others calling it the VW bus.
It kinda depended on how a person used it.
If Gravity becomes iconic in history, perhaps one day people will assign dual labels (suv/van) to it as well.

As for the minivan label rankling Lucid, that's a good question to ask someone at Lucid (does being called a minivan bother them).
They refer to it as an suv because it literally is more suv than minivan.
However, I wonder if they share your concern about the minivan label from a sales perspective.

The likely response is "we don't care what people call it or how they see it because it is the best suv. If you want to call it a minivan, it's the best minivan".
My guess is they would say they don't care because it's the best of either label put on it.

 

[Batteryman]

In those two pictures, the Gravity seems to have less ground clearance.
For some, that is reason enough to see it as a minivan.

The Navigator has more ground clearance and is taller with a steeper windshield angle. A boxy look.
Typical of the traditional suv.

Honestly, so may even say "I don't know why. It just looks like a minivan to me".

Gravity has a sleeker look. Some liken it to a sleek wagon. Works for me. Love the Audi Avant look!

In the end, there is no consistent rationale for people's opinion.
Sometimes, we don't even know why we think what we think.
That's the joy of being a human.

For me, call it a freaking schoolbus for all I care. I'm getting one!

Its the front bonnet lenght...gives some people that impression.

 

[Batteryman]

Aviator looks like a van, gravity looks like a sleek, fast, slippery car!

Gravity looks more a slightly elevated sport wagon rather than a minivan.

 

[borski]

I hate this entire thread.

I’m with this guy.

 

[bryway]

My premium for bmwx5 50i is 900+ for 6 months and that for lucid air GT 2023 is 2400+. I don’t know if it’s that high because I am in California or is it everywhere? This is with Geico
As of now lucid is the only car that I owned with zero maintenance cost. I spent more on the bmws in the past. It’s a reliable car and still the insurances are charging high prices!

The annual premium on my 2022 Model X Plaid is $2400. $100 comp deductible, $1000 collision deductible, and several other bits and bobs such as towing, rental reimbursement, etc. I’m in San Francisco.

 

[Gravitas]

I don't think any speaker grills are much of a weight contributor. I like the way Lucid integrates the speaker grills into the design lines of the interior rather than calling attention to them.

For example, I find this speaker integration far more elegant:

View attachment 26075

than this garish excrescence in a BMW I7:

View attachment 26076

I concur; I prefer Lucid's approach to speaker grills - plastic fantastic and elegant.

When I upgraded my X5 Speakers and Subwoofers with aftermarket ones,
I also replaced the plastic grills with the shiny aluminum Bang & Olufsen grills.
After a few days, I found them very annoyingly distracting and pretentious.
I promptly reinstalled my stock speaker grills back on.
Thankfully the trash truck hadn't yet come to collect the recyclables!!!

 

[Neurio]

I hate to revive this wonderful thread, but Peter Rawlinson seemed to weigh in on the debate yesterday. He believes it's the evolution of the SUV, much like other technological advances like the iPhone etc:

Peter Rawlinson on LinkedIn: #innovation #technology #electricvehicles #lucidgravity #thesuvreimagined | 40 comments

There are moments in time when breakthrough products redefine our perspective, a clarity of vision fusing art and science to eclipse the status quo. When… | 40 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

 

[momo3605]

I don't think any speaker grills are much of a weight contributor. I like the way Lucid integrates the speaker grills into the design lines of the interior rather than calling attention to them.

For example, I find this speaker integration far more elegant:

View attachment 26075

than this garish excrescence in a BMW I7:

View attachment 26076

Huh? I thought we all liked lucid for premium materials, metals, fabrics, leather etc… and lack of plastics.

I guess a model 3 might fit your bill if you like minimalist plastic design

 

[JB67]

I will say after my wife and I went to a bunch of dealerships last week, and compared a EV9 right next to a Kia Carnival, and came away with two things:
1) no way do we want a combustion vehicle again
2) we are really looking forward to a EV that has the third row fold like a minivan, and lot’s of interior space! The EV9 was a disappointment when comparing the two side by side.