Coda EV pics, video
The February SFEVA meeting was a huge hit! Standing room only for the presentation; countless test rides. Coda has built a OE grade car, the best fit and finish of any start-up EV company we’ve seen. That’s a reflection of their impressive network of suppliers and JV collaboration with Lishen. They still have some marketing quirks to work out (Slogan: “100% fuel deficient”...? Gotta drop that ASAP) but the tech side inspires a lot more confidence. The remaining obstacle will be competitive pricing against the Nissan Leaf.
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Coda EV at SFEVA meeting, this Saturday!
February 6th, 11am - 1pm
SF Electric Vehicle Association
Right here at Luscious Garage!
Everyone welcome!
Come see, touch, and (maybe?) test drive the brand new highway-capable EV coming from Coda Automotive! Talk directly with Coda reps! This is an outstanding opportunity to preview the vehicle expected for sale in California in Fall of this year.
For more info on the vehicle, check out the article in Green Car Congress:
Coda Automotive to Bring China-Built Electric Mid-size Sedan to California Market in 2010 via GreenCarCongress.com
Posted by Carolyn
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Prius headlight problem, D4R HID bulbs *still overpriced, not covered under warranty*
Owners of 2006-2009 Toyota Prius equipped with HID (high intensity discharge) headlights will receive an apology letter from Toyota this month, in response to their overpriced parts and/or incompetence. Toyota has reduced the price of the bulbs to $150 from $300, and will reimburse anyone the difference who paid more than $150 for one. They will also reimburse you for any charges incurred to replace the headlight control computer (ECU) in case a dealer technician misdiagnosed the problem.
If you had your bulbs replaced here, at Luscious Garage, you are not eligible for this reimbursement because we have always charged around $100 per bulb, which is less than Toyota charges even after this good will campaign. Yes, ours are OE Philips D4R XenEco brand, the exact same as Toyota sells. Current price is $94. And no, we have never sold a Headlight ECU. Why would we? It’s common knowledge that the problem is just the bulbs.
But what of the installation price, which is repeatedly quoted at $250-$300, allegedly to “pull the front clip” (front bumper) to access the bulbs? The Toyota letter mentions nothing of that crooked sales pitch. As I have said to many customers here in person, if the dealer technicians are actually pulling the bumper to replace the bulbs, they are idiots. I am quite sure they are not, rather replacing the bulbs from above (which is what we do, which takes 10 minutes or so), which only makes them crooks. But I would rather have a crook working on my car than an idiot.
Needless to say, here at LG, you don’t have to deal with crooks or idiots. We continue to charge $30 for installation per bulb. Price of bulb, install, and tax, out the door, is $132.93.
And we have a box of them here, in stock, and can do it while you wait. Email for an appointment
For our original blog on HIDs: Prius HID D4R D2R Headlights
Posted by Carolyn
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LG quoted in AP article
Why is it that, after hours on the phone with a journalist, my least eloquent comment is inevitably the one chosen?
“Cars present a challenge to me,” Coquillette said. “I can think it’s a pain in my butt, or I can think this is why I’m paid to do this job.”
High-tech vehicles pose trouble for some mechanics via Yahoo News
In response to the article as a whole, FWIW, LG has never met a hybrid it couldn’t fix, and has fixed many where the dealer repeatedly failed.
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LG in the Press »
Holiday Schedule 2009
LG will be open Monday-Wednesday the weeks of Christmas and New Years:
Monday, Dec 21st - Wednesday, Dec 23rd
Monday, Dec 28th - Wednesday, Dec 30th
We resume our normal Tues-Fri schedule the first week of January (closed Monday the 4th).
If you have an emergency or a burning question, as always you can get the “hybrid hotline” number off the shop voicemail: 415-875-9030.
(pic of LG’s new Techstream scan tool under the fiber optic tree)