This week we explain how the Inflation Reduction Act has changed the federal EV tax credit for new EV and plug-in hybrids; how miles per gallon is converted for electric vehicles into MPGe; should anyone really care about how many gears a transmission has; and is it necessary to ever service your car’s transmission? Go to for ratings and reviews.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – Question 1: Which CR recommended midsize SUV qualifies for the Federal EV tax credit?
06:57 – Question 2: When is it necessary to service a car’s transmission?
10:35 – Question 3: How is the MPGe calculated on EVs and PHEVs?
16:23 – Question 4: Is there any difference regarding the number of gears in a vehicle’s transmission?
20:05 – Question 5: Should the first model year of an all-new or redesign EV be avoided?
25:08 – Question 6: Is the extra cost of a hybrid worth it?
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Which EVs Qualify for the New Electric Vehicle Tax Credit? It’s Complicated.
Electric Cars and Plug-In Hybrids That Qualify for Tax Credits Under the Inflation Reduction Act
EPA Fuel Economy
With Gas Prices So High, Some Hybrids Pay for Themselves Immediately
Cars Most Likely to Need a Transmission Replacement and What to Buy Instead
Car Reliability Is Hurt By Some New Technologies
To Get the Most Reliable New Car, It Pays to Wait
Hot, New Electric Cars That Are Coming Soon
Why Hybrid Vehicles Are a Smart Choice Right Now
2022 Toyota Highlander
Guide to Car Safety
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I can answer the first question in the title without hearing the answer. The answer is a clear yes, and as it pertains to automatic and CVT transmissions, the servicing recommended by auto manufacturers tends to be inadequate, IF you care to be driving to 200k miles and beyond without replacing the transmission.
At 80k miles, it may be too late to begin servicing the transmission.
Search good mechanics on YouTube regarding this.
Michael’s question is essentially, i want a low cost of daily running cheap compact suv with an average or better CR reliability rating. Kia Niro PHEV.
Joel’s question: LOL. But CR is correct. It’s how the transmission is tuned and reliability. Like don’t get a vehicle with a Nissan CVT. For putting around, a Toyota CVT is fine. If you love cars, you want a modern ZF8 or PDK.
LOL on Mazda 3. Can’t see back or lane change, no worry, b/c race car
Honda does recommend changing the fluid in the transmission around 80,000km, 50,000 miles. It’s a simple drain and fill. Like you mentioned, it depends on the manufacturer.
Yes, the lubricant for my manual transmission is changed with top spec product every 5 years/ 60,000 miles😉
Love that edition of answering questions. Good job guys.
I’ve heard many times to not change transmission fluid after you have high mileage on it…….but why? Does it have memory that gets screwed up with fresh fluid ?
I used to work as a regional operations manager for a national chain of transmission repair shops. Once a car has high mileage, it’s risky to change the fluid; the fluid itself may have particles in it, that are – essentially – acting as a glue, and keeping things together. At least, that is what I was told. We’d refuse to do the flushes after a car reached a certain mileage. If the customer insisted that we do it, we’d make them sign a waiver. 30% of the time, the trans would fail shortly thereafter.
@Steve Bier I suspect there is a different reason behind failures being associated with fluid changes. The customer notices the transmission is slipping or acting strangely, so they decide to bring it in for a fluid change, hoping it will fix the problem (which it won’t). When it fails a few thousand miles later, it has nothing to do with the fluid change, but the underlying problem that was already there.
And the taxpayers get to pay for all these rebates. I’m sick of paying for other people’s stuff.
Become a multimillionaire, then you won’t have to pay any. Problem solved.
Starting 2024, the 7500 will come off the price and not at the time of filing returns.
Talking about Toyota, the BZ4X has not been a crowning glory for reliability. 🙂
What also wasn’t mentioned about the tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, it leans favorable towards low cost GM cars like the Chevy Bolt, and punishes you for buying a better quality EV from Hyundai or Toyota. Correct me if wrong but that’s also what I got out of my IRA research.