Real live Vinfast BEV review at a dealership

Looks like zero dash controls of any ilk, everything on a touchscreen.
And of course: no spare.
Guess I'm on a fool's mission...

 

I like RunFlats. It’s a pain checking the spare tire pressure on the Prius. Some vehicles nowadays have no spare, no RunFlats, and only fix-a-flat goo. For those, including my Scion iQ, I have plans to use RunFlats with appropriately sized rims…

 

Don't run-flat suck at efficiency? I personally haven't had a flat in years (knock on wood).

 

You’re right. Personally I’m willing to sacrifice that. My son took over our Honda Clarity PHEV so I let him help me make a decision on what tires. He actually chose “non-RunFlats” based on the better efficiency. (RunFlat tires are roughly 10 lbs more heavy, and that inertia does do a number on MPGs). RunFlats also don’t have (so far for all I’ve seen) rim curb rash protection. (For the Clarity I had already purchased a Rim Guard product but since Goodyear ElectricDrive GT has rim protection I did not install them)….

 

I did not watch the video I confess…

The VinFast VF8 feels like a true luxury brand product. We have a Mercedes EQB 250+ lease and from my memory the doors on the VF8 feel more solid than even the Mercedes. I am not surprised at their lowered EPA rated range. They hired Pininfarina to design it, and not sure that design house had EV experience yet.

My wife told me she got her $200 back for the VF8 reservation. I still have my VF9 deposit with them. They failed to deliver by the end of ‘23 so I’m not sure what happens to my stay at a Vietnamese 5-star resort, nor my $5000 discount on it…

 

Oh, @Mendel Leisk , the EQB has buttons/knobs, along with an annoyingly over sensitive mousepad…

 

Another vehicle with no Nationwide service centers. Just what I'm looking for

.

 

If it helps any they plan on expanding their dealerships. (Also, I believe at least back when they started, they noted some sort of loaner drop off and vehicle pick up, or mobile service of some sort). I’m not sure if they’ve caught on to making the mistake of pickup across state borders though.

 

They also tend to cost more. Possibly have worse ride too Friend with a Sienna AWD went with standard tires when it was time to replace.

Since all new cars have TPMS now, getting run-flats is an option for all. Pretty sure the goo can fix anything a run-flat can handle, and it may not require getting that tire repaired right away like a run-flat.

 

looks like a large bolt

 

Unfortunately the goo can takes time to stop, and handle/use. Similar to the tire plug kit I bring (especially since OEM goos have expiration dates and horribly expensive replacement. I think Tesla goo is the cheapest. Also Slime makes kits that don’t seem to have goo expiration)…

Yes RunFlats have hard sidewalls, tend to ride rougher, and tend to cost more than regular tires. Unfortunately as I found so do EV specific/engineered tires, (my purchase of GoodYear ElectricDrive GTs).

I have not seen a stranded RunFlat, and with my initial ‘04 Sienna experience of not following directions to a T (not resetting the TPMS each time pressure adjustment was made), obliterated a RunFlat before any warning showed on the display. Their benefit lies as a means to get somewhere, in that case the nearest Walmart, without having to stop…

 

There are several third party goo kits that are cheaper than the OEM ones.

EV specific tires tend to at least be lower rolling resistance to reduce some of the negatives from the weight.

That is a good benefit of runflats. Just need to remember you need to drive like on a temporary tire when they lose pressure. I can see people not realizing this even with a low pressure warning.

 

I did not delve into weight comparison between RunFlat and EV tires, but I’m afraid I sloppily wrote. The cost felt pretty much the same as a RunFlat, my only intention. I do believe they are structurally reinforced for the extra (battery) weight as you note…

Back to the VF8, sorry I rode this thread off topic. The side of the seat where there is a plastic panel and controls, that was not built well. (My wife noted/pointed this out to me as I was enamored with it and blinded by my love for it). It tended to develop a gap between plastic and seat vegan leather. I got to test drive one very very early, prior to that they were only giving ride alongs. The one I test drove would not go above 10 - 15 MPH. Of course I did not realize this until we left the parking lot and realized we wouldn’t make it across the street as the traffic light was changing, and I slammed the brakes. We crawled across the intersection and I turned into a residential street. Our VF rep took over, verified that there was a serious problem, then they came and swapped in another one. After that my wife refused to test drive one. I’m guessing that was over a year ago when they were just a few days prior to delivering actual VF8s to customers here in the US. I remember because we had to drive to Marina del Rey which is not the nearest studio/storefront as that was where they had them for some reason…

Still waiting for more models with 3rd row seating…..

 

I live about 25 miles south of the Vinfast plant being built in NC. The nearest major newspaper is newsobserver.com from Raleigh. It is part of the McClatchy brand of smaller newspapers. Probably paywalled.

front page today below the fold. " Turnover, delays and missteps plague Vinfast's Arrival in US.

Cites generally negative reviews, payment of excessive amounts to influencers and reviewers (apparently that is the way thing are done there), higher prices that Tesla comparative models, monitored driving trials by reviewers, etc

Concludes with "Real talk, this car isn't ready." referring to the VF8 even after changes were made to address specific ares mentioned in prior driving reviews.