OK, I quit - just deleted PriusChat and What Drives Us podcasts from my itunes queue

Steve; sorry the podcasts did not work out for you and maybe an "edited" version that cuts out the side tracks, etc is in order. but for me, its just not about data. it is really about a way to get a bit closer to people i interact with online all the time. it brings more meaning to what i read, type and do here and that only comes from knowing the "person beyond the words"

now, maybe i have an advantage in that i have met these people in person so there is more of a bond than one would normally have, but i will admit that the live broadcasts are 10 times more enjoyable since i do get to interact with them and others.

another thing to keep in mind; the chats really mirror real life. people do not stay on topic. they dont do it here and they dont do it in real life. this is not a board meeting. its simply another way to get together

 

If this rant is all about knowing details of Tesla's d/c of the roadster then I cannot get too excited. FWIW, my understanding is that Tesla's contract with Lotus is coming to and end and Tesla is not renewing with Lotus. Even if Lotus is not planning to continue producing the current Elise (?) body, presumably Tesla could agree to a contract for a different auto body, so OP's understanding sounds incorrect to me.

Irony

 

If you want something scripted, with well-researched and possibly inside knowledge of hybrids and electrics, and reasonably entertaining...well, all I can say is, good luck with that.

We know the panel isn't infallible, and most 'live' shows are rife with misinformation, even (especially?) the ones where the panelists/guests are paid. The panel doesn't make any claims to be all-knowledgeable. Obviously being better informed is good, and maybe having a list of things to talk about that has researched is good, but you lose all spontaneity if you can't go off-topic, or take user feedback (they have live chat).

 

Amen to that. i am a pretty avid listener of Science Friday by NPR News and they make mistakes. in fact, they frequently will clarify a point on a previous show.

but that is pervasive thru out history when it comes to communication. there is few sources that most of the time and none that are right all the time.

fact of the matter; we have been lied to, misled or purposely kept in the dark on a multitude of subjects all our lives.

most media manipulators know that first impressions carry the most weight and no amount of retractions or corrections later is as effective and they use that to their advantage to sway public opinion.

granted this not what happened here, but lets just say; dont believe every thing you hear or read. that rule has been true all along and nothing has changed

 

all i saw was this..

then don't listen to it

 

I could not disagree more with this temper tantrum thread. I stopped listening to Autoblog podcasts myself the second time around, because all they offered were favorable opinions according to the types of cars the panelists preferred. Cutting & pasting posts does not make anybody an expert IMO.

All you are getting from Autoblog is the same rumor information that is floating around, cut & paste throughout the web, sometimes translated incorrectly by software.

 

Report: Toyota RAV4 EV Scion iQ EV won't be sold to the general public *UPDATE — Autoblog Green

I give them credit for correcting the story and issue a link to the previous post. I don't see why this member is so frustrated.

2012 Toyota RAV4 EV will "definitely be sold to the general public"

 

Steve,

As one of the What Drive Us panelists who hadn't heard that the Tesla was being discontinued, let me say: I'm sorry.

I try to keep up on "news." It's inevitable that some slips by any, or all of us. I admit, I don't have money to invest so I did not pay a lot of attention to Tesla's IPO report. I tried to be honest last week that I'd been surprised when it had been mentioned the week before. That didn't mean I hadn't read up on it in the interim, but frankly, my focus and interest is in new cars coming to market -- more choices for consumers -- than keeping track of the cancellation of old ones.

I can also tell you that I am stretched pretty thin this summer. Our public library -- first ever in our city -- just opened June 29 with 38,000 square feet and more than 60,000 titles in stock, and I'm on the Friends board, so you can imagine the planning and work that was involved with that. I just resigned from our city's Resource Conservation Commission because I couldn't give it the five or ten hours a week that it deserved. I resigned this spring from the committee that plans our city's annual festival, because I couldn't give it the time it deserved either. I volunteer for the International Crane Foundation, am the neighborhood association secretary (my sixth year), volunteer as a Prius Expert on facebook (which is why I had the Plug-in Prius last summer – unrelated to What Drives Us), maintain a couple dozen hybrid and EV-related Yahoo groups, volunteer for a number of political causes and candidates in which I believe, try to keep as close to full-time as I can with my freelance work, and have been looking hard for a real job to provide some health insurance. And then there's Green Drive, which is full-time “plus†in the months leading up to the Expo.

So, I'm sorry that I don't always go above and beyond the facts contained in whatever article we are discussing. I'm sorry that I let you down with my lack of knowledge of the Roadster, among other things. I can only offer that I was completely honest when I said that I hadn’t heard it was being discontinued – I did not try to pull the wool over your eyes and make you believe otherwise. There are only so many hours in the day, and the most current car news is not always on the top of my radar. Sometimes trivial things like an ill pet capture my attention instead. Again, I apologize for not being the best you want me to be on What Drives Us.

I've always looked at the podcast as more of a discussion of topics than a reporting of hard news, and felt comfortable in that role. It's clear that you disagree about what this podcast should be. This is very valuable feedback, and I'm sure Russell and Danny appreciate it. Again, I apologize for my part in your dismay. I will strive to do better, or make room for someone who can.

Best regards,
Linda Weidemann

 

No need to apologize Linda, you are doing just fine. the show simply is not what the OP is looking for. now, his need to vent is his right and he has done so and will move on.

but you said it perfectly. its not a news show. its a "talk" show. you occasionally bring on people in the industry. they talk, you ask questions and that is that. but having guests are not always possible, so you take news stories and comment on them.

now; news stories are frequently inaccurate, misleading, incomplete or are written with a specific unbalanced agenda in mind. that is life. there are many that are ok with that and enjoy what you are doing and i am one of them.

 

About the temper tantrum thread, it could have been worst, remember the recent Driveby Prius pooding attack(my favorite story BTW)!, but no, the member chose to deal with the issue like an adult.

PriusChat and what drives us were the best sources of information I found during the recalls, Steve wozniak on CNN who did not know how his DRCC works, James Sikes and the lady in Connecticut the following day.

This was about the time I found PC, followed for a while and a member once I registered for the PHV. Nobody understands hybrids and the Prius as well as PC, what drive us and Prius owners group because it's like they are constantly testing, reviewing and feedback.

And the press(God bless them) just reports anything they are told. If someone calls a local station and reports he had just witnessed a shark attack inside a 7-Eleven, this story is going national in less than 15 minutes.

I read at least 2 badly written stories like this daily!
The Electric Range Of The 2012 Plug-in Prius: Toyota's Excuse

 

I appreciate all of the work Tony, Evan, Linda, Jason, and of course Danny and Russell put into the show. As a regular listener of the show I find it very entertaining and informative. Maybe I find it more entertaining because I know these cats personally and think they are great people. *shrug*

Maybe the show is not for everyone but I bet it provides useful information and entertainment for some. I suggest joining the live chat and helping to keep us on track like Dave does.

 

I look forward every week to the podcast with Danny, Russell, Tony, Linda, Jason and sometimes Evan. I believe that Prius owners, the websites and the podcast thru constructive criticisms will continue to help build each new Prius vehicle. Prius owners even have a list of improvements for future Prii on the site. Other car manufacturers pay for research information about their customers.

 

You are getting to the point that has pretty much been pussy footed around so far.:rockon:

This whole Prius Chat thing is a collaborative effort and no one knows it all. Anyone coming here with the attitude that PC (or any other forum or blog) owes him perfect information is divorced from reality.

 

buh bye

I'll just offer the following as one of the creators of the show, the producer of the show, the news editor and the person who hosts it 50% of the time.

I love each and every one of our listeners, and I mean that. I think anyone who spends the time to listen to what we do is wonderful and amazing. Obviously, we make the show to be listened to but we also make the show we want to make. Speaking only for myself, I no desire to make the most popular car show on the web. I want to make the coolest, most informative and fun show that I can make. And I know that, by definition, that's not going to appeal to some people. That's as it should be. As Microsoft says, that's a feature not a bug.

As for the one specific allegation presented, that somehow one panelist's reaction to story was the proverbial straw, well, that's one mighty weak camel. And there's not much I can or would care to do to change that. And I think it's stinks of someone looking for an excuse to belittle the show. The idea that the Tesla story is somehow the biggest or most important story of the year is a rather subjective observation. Maybe in your world. I think that we've already seen more important stories and will see some more before the year is out.

Of course we're interested in presenting facts and I think we do a very good job of it. When we're wrong, we make corrections and admit to our mistakes. I think we're very good at labeling our opinions and speculations differently from factual content we're discussing.

I have enormous respect for the wit, knowledge and wisdom of every panelist (as well my co-host). There's already a car show with two know-it-alls as hosts. It's a great show but I have no desire to re-invent that wheel. What I wanted to do was bring together people who I enjoy listening to. All of whom know more than me on a wide range of subjects.

In short, thanks for feedback. If that's really the way you feel and the reasons for your described actions then by all means, enjoy your BBQ.