Imagine you're in a parking lot. It's dark and raining softly with just enough breeze to chill you thoroughly. The man who is delivering your new car is looking at you funny. You think it's because you're winded from running seven blocks on a full stomach from the dinner party you were attending. No, unfortunately the look is because he can't get your new car to switch on so he can move it off the trailer.
He rolls down the electric window just as the electrical system dies completely. Just then the rain gets much harder as the wind blows an amazing amount of water off the roof and right into your car through the window you have no hope of getting back up.
Not an auspicious beginning.
No amount of key jiggling and muffled curses could get more than a flicker out of the electrical system after that. A call to Sean (the dealer) indicates that the ignition switches on these things are a known weak point. We push the car down off the trailer. I almost drive off the ramp. The windows (and glasses) are all fogged up. Did I mention it's dark? I'm not sure the lightweight plastic car really appreciates two guys pushing on it. We get it off the trailer and through the parking lot and down the alley. I have my head stuck out the window to see better. Bummer, the turn into the parking space is on the right side where I can't see. I nerfed the raised curb at the corner and put a big scrape on the right side of the undercarriage. We back up and try again. Some backing, some filling required.
We get it parked, sort of. Sean has tossed in a 'free' car cover. Good thing to keep the drifting rain out of the open window. I don't think you're supposed to put a car cover on a dirty wet car, it's bad for the finish. I'm WAY beyond caring. To open the hatch you just turn the third key in the 'close' direction and push the button. The struts help you open the hatch half way, just enough to scrape your face. Really, the hatch only opens half way. Revolution Motorcars Engineering oversight #83. If you don't duck your head just right the back of your pants gets wet and you can see stars on even a cloudy night.
Picked myself up off the ground and got it right the second time.
The power connection/cord was carefully and thoroughly designed by a dyspeptic halfwit suffering from severe myopia and a very bad Monday. Even cheesy appliance cords are allowed to be six feet long fer-sakes, what's with the four feet? Not even 1.5m. Bet they saved a BUNCH of money on that one.
I can sort of imagine why you'd have a lockable cover on your gas filler door, but what are they going to steal here, electrons? The second key opens the charge port door. You also need the key to close it, so you'll be needing it later. I think they showed a lack of imagination. There are five locks in the car, why not five keys? With a little more thought, a requirement that you get out and lock/unlock the passenger door, from the outside, every time, with a separate key could have easily been arranged. The 'car' end of the cord appears to be a bad copy of a three pin marine connector. Not only CAN you jam it on wrong, it's not even all that hard. Wonder what happens if the 'hot' and ground leads get crossed. There is also no strain relief and the wires are exposed. I think I'll do the final 'plugging in' over at the wall. I'm NOT touching that other end while it's wet.
The car cover doesn't go on with out a fight. Wet, Dark, Cold, Blowing. Got it sorted enough to get it mostly over the car. Went around to the driver's side to check the coverage of the open window. There's a hole in the cover just about window-sized. It's collecting the water from that side of the car and pouring it inside. Hmmm, quaint. The cover has had a hard life. In fact there are five holes. Can't decide if it was wrapped around a wheel and dragged. Guess I can't complain at this 'free' price. Shifted around a ways it does keep additional moisture from entering the vehicle.
What to do after such an adventure?
Head back to the dinner party of course.
They have lots of wine there.
"Hey, hows your new car?"
Dead. Shaddup.
