VinFast VF8 – Ewing VinFast of Plano

January 20, 2025January 14, 2025

First-Time Electric Car Driver? Here’s What You Need to Know

Some people find it quite daunting to go from one car to another, so it’s natural that some would even be worried about moving from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle. After all, if you’ve only been used to pulling up to a gas station, pumping gas, and then driving home, it makes sense to be a little nervous about the adjustment to buying an all-electric VinFast VF8 or VF9. However, it won’t stay that way for long as you will get used to the new norms of an EV.

Wait A Second… Where Is the Shifter?

A VinFast doesn’t have a shifter. Instead, the VF8 has buttons for Park, Neutral, Reverse, and Drive where the shifter would be to make the transition easier and more comfortable. In most EVs, you just get in and either press a start/stop button or just put your foot on the accelerator pedal and go on about your day. VinFast, however, is committed to making the move to EV simple.

Immediate Torque

Once you start driving, you’ll notice an immediate surge of power and torque. Unlike an I.C.E. (internal combustion engine) car, there is no pause between pushing the gas pedal and the movement of the vehicle. So, be careful. Push that pedal a little softer for the first few hundred miles to allow yourself time to get used to the instant performance.

Range Anxiety

As you drive, though, you will start seeing your range go down. Like any car, your driving range is a product of how you drive. Drive more relaxed and don’t do a bunch of 0-60 launches, and you can count on a steady driving range. Treat every traffic light as a drag strip tree, and you will see that range fall quite a bit. The common term for watching your range drop as you drive and being worried about running out of charge before getting to a charger is called “range anxiety.” While gas stations are still more prominent, there are EV chargers nearly everywhere at this point, especially when traveling on the highway. Any time you input a destination into your navigation, your VinFast will route your trip to keep you close enough to chargers every step of the way. So, while range anxiety was a really big deal 10-15 years ago, it’s much less of an issue now.

Regenerative Braking

One of the beauties of having an electric car is using one-pedal driving, which means you rarely have to touch the brake pedal. Instead, because electricity is an on-off thing, once you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, no energy is used to move the car. The brake lights come on automatically, and the vehicle starts to slow down as if you were tapping the brakes. Whenever you take your foot off the throttle or push the brake pedal, you are using Regenerative Braking. Regenerative braking captures the energy lost while braking and sends it back to the vehicle’s battery system to recover the energy. Driving in stop-and-go traffic can actually help to increase your vehicle’s range.

A Quiet Place

The final point to make about what you need to get used to when owning your first EV is silence. EVs are much, much quieter than gas-powered cars because there is less noise being made within the vehicle. In fact, tire manufacturers and VinFast engineers have developed parts of the car to be less noisy so as not to disturb you in the cabin. So, you will notice less harsh road noises from the tires, less wind noise, and the like. But this could lead to you getting annoyed with how hard people breathe in the passenger seat… something you didn’t notice before you got an EV.

Why Choose Ewing VinFast

At Ewing VinFast of Plano, we have the best prices on dozens of new VinFast EVs and used cars. Our well-educated sales staff and finance department will happily assist you with your EV questions and needs. Our fantastic service department will ensure your vehicle stays in the best condition.

We look forward to serving you.

September 10, 2024September 27, 2024

Home Charging vs. Public Charging Costs

Imagine being able to fill your car’s gas tank up at home. Think about just pulling into your driveway after a long day and not having to worry about waking up earlier the next day to stop for gas because you can top up in your garage or driveway for next to nothing. That’s basically what it’s like to be able to charge your VinFast at home.

Cost To Charge at Home

According to MarketWatch, Plano, Texas, has some decently low electricity costs per kWh, with an average cost of 13.9 cents per kWh. That means charging the 87.7 kWh battery in the VF8 from 0 miles of range to full would cost around $12. However, if you only need to charge about 50% of your battery every day when you get home, you will likely spend about $5-$6 per charge. If you do that 30 times per month, you will see less than $200 added to your monthly electric bill. Don’t forget, the grid is smart enough to charge some EVs off-peak hours when electricity is cheapest.

Cost To Fill Up a Car with Gasoline

Comparing that to a gas-powered car, where the average gas price is about $3 per gallon in Plano, car owners would spend about $225 at the pump if they filled up a 15-gallon fuel tank five times in a month. However, most of the best-selling vehicles in Texas are pickup trucks, meaning that just three fill-ups of a 26-gallon fuel tank puts you over $230.

The Cost to Use A Paid Public Charger

If you must charge your EV on the go, the average cost per kWh at a public charger is about 50 cents in Texas. According to Axios, it costs about $26 to charge a VinFast from 10-70%. If you had to charge from 0-100%, which is not likely, you would spend about $45.

Check To Find Free Local Chargers

Charging at home can save you lots of time and money compared to charging on the go. Obviously, if you are taking long road trips, you will have to charge at Level 2 and 3 public stations. It should be noted that some grocery stores, movie theaters, malls, colleges, etc., have free public charging stations. In total, there are 139 free public charging stations in Plano, which accounts for 52% of all chargers in the area, according to ChargeHub.com.

We look forward to serving you.

September 5, 2024September 27, 2024

Leasing A VinFast VF8 vs Other Cars

As we have discussed before in the blogs about the VinFast VF8, and it is pretty common knowledge among experts and car buyers alike that it is best to lease an electric vehicle over purchasing one new. The reason for this is because battery technology is advancing at such a fast rate that within three to five years it is highly likely the battery pack in your EV is old tech compared to what is available on a brand new car.

Loads of Standard Features for A Good Price

The 2024 VinFast VF8 has two trim levels available: the Eco, which starts from $46,000, and the Plus, which starts from $51,800. As we have written about before, the VF8 comes standard with pretty much everything a car buyer would want, including a Head-Up Display (HUD), a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and the best EV warranty of all production cars, which covers the battery system of the VF8 for ten years and unlimited miles, a dual-motor battery pack, and all-wheel drive.

Current VinFast Lease Offers

The current leasing specials for the 2024 VF8 have qualified customers able to pay just $199 per month with $0 down for 36 months for the base Eco trim or $249 per month for the Plus trim level. The lease allows for 10,000 miles per year. There is no car company, especially no other manufacturer of electric cars, that will over this.

Nissan Ariya vs. VF8

Nissan’s EV, the Ariya, has a base MSRP of $40,980 for the Engage FWD trim level, which is a bit less expensive than the VF8. Granted, the Ariya only has a range of 216 miles compared to 264 miles for the VF8 Eco. Nissan is offering their EV, which has a slightly lower base MSRP, for $289 per month for 24 months, with $4,119 due at signing. There is less range and fewer standard options, but higher monthly lease payments and more due before buyers can drive away.

The Germans vs. VinFast

Many luxury brands have nice EVs. However, they are all costly, especially for what you get. The BMW iX xDrive50 is a new SUV-like electric vehicle from the German brand. With $6,419 due at signing, owners can drive off paying $699 per month. It’s a similar situation when you look at leasing a 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+, which will cost you $7,093 at signing, only to still pay $599 per month over 36 months.

Ford and Chevy vs. VinFast

Let’s say you want something more American. If you want a Ford Mach-E Premium AWD 4P, you can have one for $307 a month for 36 months… after you put down $5,516. Or, you can go for one of the new Chevrolet EVs, the Blazer or Equinox EV. For a 2024 Equinox EV 2LT FWD, buyers can pay $299 per month for 24 months with $3,169 down or $369 per month for 24 months with $3,139 due at signing for a Blazer EV LT eAWD.

What Are You Really Paying For?

All of these lease “specials” beg the question: what are you really paying for? While each one of the previously mentioned EVs are nice vehicles, can you truly say you are getting more vehicle for your money? It doesn’t seem like it.

We look forward to serving you.

September 1, 2024September 27, 2024

VF8 vs Lyriq

The VinFast VF8 is being seen as a good luxury EV that doesn’t break the bank. Compared to most other luxury electric vehicles on the market, the VF8 is not just a bargain but also continues to get better and better with over-the-air (OTA) updates.

VF8 Power and Performance

The VinFast VF8 features two trim levels for buyers: the base Eco and the Plus trim. Both models have an 87.7 kWh dual-motor battery pack with standard all-wheel drive, which are two things that are typically optional in most EVs. The Eco trim has 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque that can get owners from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Stepping up to the Plus trim gives buyers 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and will reach 60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds.

Cadillac Power and Performance

Cadillac’s Lyriq EV comes standard with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive optional. The RWD model comes with 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, while AWD models have 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. This makes the Cadillac faster than the VF8 to 60 mph, which takes 5.7 seconds in RWD form and 4.6 seconds with AWD according to Car and Driver.

Pricing For Both EVs

For 2024, the base Cadillac Lyriq Tech RWD has a starting MSRP of $58,590, which swells to $62,090 for a standard Tech trim with all-wheel drive. The VinFast VF8, on the other hand, has a base MSRP of just $46,000 for an Eco model and $51,800 for the Plus model. When leasing, buyers can get the Eco nationwide for just $249 a month with $999 down for 36 months or $299 per month for the Plus. Cadillac is currently offering the Lyriq Tech AWD for $479 a month for 24 months, with $4,899 due at signing.

Sony RIDEVU

All VinFast vehicles also come equipped with something that the Cadillac can’t have: RIDEVU, which is a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment that provides the ability to stream thousands of shows and movies from Sony’s collection to be watched straight on the in-car 15.6-inch infotainment screen, or via a laptop, smartphone, or tablet that is connected to the vehicle’s WiFi.

Quite Possibly the Best Warranty in The World

The pièce de resistance with all VinFast vehicles is the electric battery system warranty. The Cadillac Lyriq EV comes with an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty system, which is pretty standard in the industry. However, VinFast takes this up a notch and gives owners a 10-year, unlimited-mile warranty for the battery system.

We look forward to serving you.

August 27, 2024

The VinFast VF8 Is The First Honest EV

Car manufacturers are synonymous with using flowery language and various tactics to get you into the dealership to buy or lease a new car, truck, or SUV. The problem is that they will advertise the price of a car and you’ll think, “Wow, what a great price!” only to be surprised when you get to the dealership and notice that great price is for a base car that has maybe two options. In order to get the vehicle pictured you’ll need to add about $10,000 or more to the purchase price.

VinFast Believes In Getting Your Money’s Worth

VinFast does not believe in this practice, as all of their cars are well optioned, even for the base models. Take, for instance, the VF8, which comes in two different trim levels: Eco and Plus. You would think that you’d have to move up to the Plus to get meaningful options, especially special features like Head-Up Display, premium interior materials, and special safety features. However, that isn’t the case, as even the “base” Eco model comes standard with HUD (Head-Up Display), premium vegan leather, and every safety feature available, including 11 airbags.

No Hidden Fees Or Paywalls

Some automakers are even hiding some of their best features behind a paywall or subscription service. Or, if they aren’t doing it, they’re talking about doing it to make more money after you have already bought your car. This isn’t the case with VinFast. Every feature and option is laid out for you to choose from the moment you spec your car, or when you pick a specific model on the dealership lot. No hidden fees, no pay-for-features, just an honest EV that gives you what you need without trying to convince you to pay more.

A Warranty That Products Your Investment

More than being honest, VinFast also believes in their product, and they want customers to feel protected and like they won’t be stranded if something happens. That’s why every new VinFast receives a 12-year, unlimited mileage warranty just for the battery system alone. That means that if you purchase a VinFast today or at the end of a 36-month lease, you will have 12 years of free coverage if your battery has any issues, or if you start to see major range degradation. No other automaker has that sort of guarantee. Not Mercedes-Benz, not Tesla, not BMW, not Volkswagen, not Ford, not General Motors; no one.

We look forward to serving you.