Tesla.

[2o6]

How do you guys feel about Tesla?


I like the Model s, but I have my reservations about the company as a whole, and I can't get behind the idea that everyone thinks Tesla is saving the world, environment, and changing the face of the auto industry with a luxury product that many cannot afford.


There's a Cartoon called 'The Oatmeal' that did a glowing commentary on the Model S and Tesla and I kind of rolled my eyes during the entire thing.

[SJ_GTI]

The model S is interesting but for me i won't go electric until there is more infrastructure.

If supercharger stations were even half as common gas stations i would be all over a model S.

[MexicoCityM3]

I think what they have done so far is great but the jury is definitely still out - there is a huge amount of unknowns to overcome yet and they have several not-stupid and very deep-pocketed competitors who will not lie down and take it.

As per the car, my contact has been limited to visiting a showroom in Austin where I sat in it and what I've read in reviews. I do think it's great, it would be on my shortlist for next car if sold here.

[Raza]

Not for me.

[ifcar]

Tesla isn't instantly changing the auto industry, but it is for sure a disruptive force in the marketplace. It has a revolutionary product that is very well-executed both on the tech and everyday fronts, and that -- while expensive -- is priced within reach of many high-volume cars, especially factoring in fuel savings. It is demonstrating the viability of such a product both from both the consumer and business standpoint, and people are noticing. Not bad for a start-up, especially in a marketplace with such a high cost of entry.

Imagine if we still thought the best of electric luxury was the Cadillac ELR.

[SJ_GTI]

Imagine if we still thought the best of electric luxury was the Cadillac ELR.

Ouch! 

I actually like the ELR as well, but IMHO it is too expensive for what it is (a more stylish Volt).

[SVT666]

I would take a Tesla but there are no supercharger stations in my neck of the woods.  I would take a Cadillac ELR because it's sexy and the drivetrain makes more sense to me.

[2o6]

I don't think the ELR is as sexy in person

[GoCougs]

As a company, Tesla is doomed if but for a few/many/all of the following: continued irrational exuberance, corporate charity, government handouts, regulation manipulation, incentives to buy and to own (HOV pass lol) cars, and ridiculous automotive financing consumerism.

As a car, it's interesting but it's just a car and a lot less than perfect (some problems with fit-n-finish and reliability). It's also not innovative - same old battery tech just lots more. Established automakers could've built this car long ago but nobody is gonna buy a $100k Chevy or Nissan Model S.

Tesla is doing interesting things in manufacturing WRT to automotive industry and it's great to see them try to break the awful franchise model, but all in all Tesla is a wealth and resource destroyer and will never be self sustainable with anything close to its current tech.

[12,000 RPM]

I like when the engine go vroom vroom

Not from the speaker though

Electric car would actually make sense for wifey with real ~200 mile range. But for like $25K, not $100K. And it would have to be established well enough to have some kind of predictable residual. I think a lot of Tesla fans are just tech for tech's sake kind of people.

Here is a fun comparo.

2014 Tesla Model S vs 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550! - Head 2 Head Ep. 54

[MexicoCityM3]

As a company, Tesla is doomed if but for a few/many/all of the following: continued irrational exuberance, corporate charity, government handouts, regulation manipulation, incentives to buy and to own (HOV pass lol) cars, and ridiculous automotive financing consumerism.

As a car, it's interesting but it's just a car and a lot less than perfect (some problems with fit-n-finish and reliability). It's also not innovative - same old battery tech just lots more. Established automakers could've built this car long ago but nobody is gonna buy a $100k Chevy or Nissan Model S.

Tesla is doing interesting things in manufacturing WRT to automotive industry and it's great to see them try to break the awful franchise model, but all in all Tesla is a wealth and resource destroyer and will never be self sustainable with anything close to its current tech.

My understanding is that they are now hovering very close to BEP without subsidies and or income from eco-credits (which was zero the last quarter AFAIK).

I think they might be overvalued, but not able to survive?

[veeman]

I like when the engine go vroom vroom

Not from the speaker though

Electric car would actually make sense for wifey with real ~200 mile range. But for like $25K, not $100K. And it would have to be established well enough to have some kind of predictable residual. I think a lot of Tesla fans are just tech for tech's sake kind of people.

Here is a fun comparo.

2014 Tesla Model S vs 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550! - Head 2 Head Ep. 54

That compare makes me want to get a Tesla even more.  The merc won because it had a better interior and a slightly better ride.   The Tesla is more of a sporty car than a luxury saloon though.  If I had more money and a shorter commute, I would get one.

[GoCougs]

My understanding is that they are now hovering very close to BEP without subsidies and or income from eco-credits (which was zero the last quarter AFAIK).

I think they might be overvalued, but not able to survive?

Actually, they're quite a bit in the red still in the core business of making and selling cars, and they still have a lot of it. -$91MM on $562MM in revenue in Q1 2014.

Thing is there is no real avenue to profitability for Tesla save for maybe the "gigafactory" which is in itself corporate charity from Panasonic (to the tune of up to $5B, or almost 5 years of Tesla revenue).

[Rich]

it's great to see them try to break the awful franchise model,

So much this.

I think it's insanity that a company that creates a product can't operationally control the sales interaction with their potential buyers. 


I also enjoy the freshness of the Model S quirks with the large display and the updates/new features Tesla has been pushing to existing owners.

[GoCougs]

I found the display a huge distraction.

[12,000 RPM]

A car shouldn't need perpetual firmware updates

Automakers can barely get basic things like ignition columns right. I don't want to be a perpetual beta tester

[2o6]

I hate the large display. Design wise, it looks really lazy. And it looks high-maitenance and hard to use.

[GoCougs]

I found it easier to use than the dual touchscreens + joystick of the Infiniti Q50. It's just GINORMOUS and IMO a display for display sake. It's distracting.

[Laconian]

A car shouldn't need perpetual firmware updates

Automakers can barely get basic things like ignition columns right. I don't want to be a perpetual beta tester

There's some upside to it. Some Tesla firmware updates have improved the range.

[ifcar]

A car shouldn't need perpetual firmware updates

Cars get updates all the time, including for programming fixes to things as significant as transmissions. And there are other things that people *wish* they could fix and can't. This is just additional flexibility; you don't lose anything by having a car that can be easily updated.

[Laconian]

I think the fear is that the updates might not have as good of quality control given how easy they are to deploy. Video games these days are buggy messes because the developers just think "eh, we'll ship a patch for that later."

[hotrodalex]

I think the fear is that the updates might not have as good of quality control given how easy they are to deploy. Video games these days are buggy messes because the developers just think "eh, we'll ship a patch for that later."

I would hope the programmers' attitude for a car is different than a game, however.

[Char]

I was an Electric Car hater (and still am) until I read into what the Model S has done. It's exceptionally well executed and built, so much so You wonder how Chinese cars and VW's fail so miserably at simple things. It really is a marvel that a smaller company could build a product that was so innovative and polished, in such a crowded market place on it's first try.

[2o6]

Are we pretending the Roadster never existed?

[68_427]

Are we pretending the Roadster never existed?

yes

[Char]

yes

.

[Laconian]

The Roadster was Tesla's beta test at carmaking, they made no bones about it.

[GoCougs]

I was an Electric Car hater (and still am) until I read into what the Model S has done. It's exceptionally well executed and built, so much so You wonder how Chinese cars and VW's fail so miserably at simple things. It really is a marvel that a smaller company could build a product that was so innovative and polished, in such a crowded market place on it's first try.

Not at all on the Model S. There's not one I've seen or been that doesn't have a lot of fit-n-finish issues.

It doesn't do anything innovative other than convincing people that buying a ~$100k electric car is a good idea.

[Char]

Not at all on the Model S. There's not one I've seen or been that doesn't have a lot of fit-n-finish issues.

It doesn't do anything innovative other than convincing people that buying a ~$100k electric car is a good idea.

Oh you know, besides a safe, sporty and practical Electric vehicle.

[cawimmer430]

I did enjoy my Tesla Model S shoot for Motor Talk. Amazing car.