12 Months with a Kia EV6 GT — Putting the Hoons in Their Place

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We met up with Shayne and Amy Aberhart at our Bundaberg EV show as a part of Agrotrend. Amy was there to take care of the First Help wants of the attendees, and Shayne got here alongside later to talk about his Kia EV6 GT. In a fortuitous flip of occasions, Amy occurred throughout our Tesla whereas she was in search of a spot to park. We talked her into leaving her automobile to be a part of our show. We had been in dire want of extra EVs, as we solely had our Tesla Mannequin 3 SR and John Baldwin’s MG4 to point out the general public.

We had beforehand had a short take a look at the Kia EV6 GT in Gympie, the place it was touted because the world’s finest efficiency automobile. However the salesman didn’t actually know the automobile.

Now was an opportunity to speak to somebody who had lived with and loved the Kia EV6 for a 12 months. Shayne shared his love of the Kia in dialog with Majella and I smelled an fascinating article cooking in my head, so right here we go in his personal phrases:

By Shayne Aberhart

I assume I’ll begin off with some priming info. I journey motorbikes primarily — a GSX-1300R and a ZX-14R. Some record-breaking machines, so that you perceive that I like to go quick.

I selected the KIA EV6 GT as a result of I needed to go quick and have enjoyable, whereas sustaining a sufficiently subtle look to mix in, however slick sufficient to be proud to personal by appears alone. My accomplice needed a automobile that she may match extra in and have extra floor clearance than the previous 2007 Chrysler 300C SRT we used to drive day by day. We’ve since bought the Chrysler and rely solely on the EV6 since we’ve got complete religion in it after round 6 months. I primarily earn a living from home with a second job, so there’s no arguing over who takes it for the day, however once we exit collectively, I all the time insist on driving. It’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable.

We checked out just a few vehicles over every week, and notably a WRX STI. After that take a look at drive the salesperson requested the way it was. “Extremely underwhelming” I stated with confidence and my response shocked the poor man. You’d anticipate one thing with an STI badge to rise up and out the gate like a mad bull on a mission, however as an alternative it simply kinda moseyed alongside like a wounded cow. I additionally drove a Hyundai Kona…. However we gained’t speak about that.

There weren’t many different vehicles that might even examine. Teslas round city had been all second hand and in my view have changed the Holden commodore in recognition round cities. I needed one thing I hadn’t seen usually. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its retro-futuristic look and Inoiq 6 had been an in depth second and third alternative. Some notable choices had been the Jaguar E-Tempo and even a Vary Rover hybrid, which we didn’t take a look at drive, sadly.

Our job consists of generally being known as at early hours of the morning, and the Kia EV6 GT is ideal for sneaking away at night time with out disturbing the neighbours and even the native pets within the space.

Amy and I work as funeral administrators. Amy does all of the day work, assembly with households, trade companions, and travelling between a number of websites many MANY occasions a day. I help with the night time duties together with Amy and we’ve been doing this collectively for effectively over 10 years. Throughout the day, the automobile is normally sitting in a parking lot round very prosperous buildings, so it matches in very effectively amongst some excessive priced Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche vehicles to call just a few. Throughout work providers, it’s even utilized by colleagues to sneak away with out disturbing proceedings. However we’re fairly positive they simply need an excuse to drive it.

We’ve had the automobile (affectionately known as Eevee) for nearly precisely 1 12 months on the time of penning this and haven’t regretted it for a second.

Charging has by no means been a problem. By no means acquired caught out in the course of nowhere, and each different EV proprietor will both transfer on to a different charger nearer to their vacation spot if we REALLY wanted to cost or no one was on the stations and it was a breeze.

Lack of charging stations isn’t a problem, as I’m positive you’re conscious. It’s lack of high-powered charging stations that’s a problem. Although, I’ve no issues with strolling round and grabbing a espresso or having a fast feed whereas I discover the native space.

Lengthy distances to locations I’ve by no means been within the automobile generally is a little nerve racking, however when you’ve achieved it as soon as and plan the route, these worries disappear the subsequent time.

Individuals touch upon the automobile on a regular basis, need to know what it’s, vary, comforts, and so forth.

And getting appears from the footpath are all the time ego boosting, simply want I had an engine to rev although. However the sound system by Meridian is high tier, very pleasing to the ears, and I do know they will all the time hear the thumping coming from the little subwoofer within the boot.

I’ve taken on many automobile lovers (each Japanese and muscle) — newer drivers which can be inexperienced and imagine their vehicles are sooner than sound, normally sporting a P-Plate on their automobile and fairly just a few motorbikes for a drag — since I’ve had it. The Kia handles like a rollercoaster and takes off like a reduce snake. At all times met with smiles afterwards and feedback like “Holy S#*t that factor’s quick.”

Being in a small city hasn’t induced many points. I can get from one aspect to the opposite with stop-go visitors and the automobile solely makes use of possibly 5% battery. However that’s all relative and dependant on temperature, air-con utilization, and whether or not I resolve to ever take it out of sport-mode.

Truly, I see numerous Kia EV6s getting round city, however simply the bottom fashions they usually have authorities plates … normally parked on the hospital or the division of transport.

I’m glad the police are beginning to look into EVs for his or her vehicles. They’ll sustain with nearly the whole lot on the street with the low centre of gravity, however the yellow color will most likely make me snigger if I see one in particular person. It’s simply not a flattering visible for the EV6.

After I first acquired the automobile, I took my retired police pal for a journey in it and it blew his socks off, he couldn’t imagine it was that fast off the showroom flooring.

I additionally took my very rich boss for a journey and now he needs one. He even stated, “You’d pay for a high greenback Porsche to get this clean and quick of a journey.” After these experiences, I all the time inform individuals to place their heads on the headrest earlier than displaying them what it might probably do.

At all times my go-to for a enjoyable hoon session and placing XR6 turbos of their place. But when I need to showcase, be a nuisance, beat anybody on the street and get away… it’ll be the bikes.

Thanks, Amy and Shayne — appears just like the Queensland police have been listening. See the information report in this video. It may be price the price of a ticket to be pulled over by considered one of these. Within the regional metropolis of Bundaberg, the longer term is vivid and electrical.