SabrToothSqrl
Active Member
Just buy the damn car .
"I wish I never bought a Tesla" - Said no one. Ever.
"cool Prius" - Also... no one... ever.
"I wish I never bought a Tesla" - Said no one. Ever.
"cool Prius" - Also... no one... ever.
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That's interesting. With all the reports of problems with the S, from door handles to multiple drive unit replacements, is it fair to say that your family has had good experiences with your Teslas? (I would guess that those who have issues are more likely to post about them than those who haven't had any.)My family has 3 Tesla's and a fourth before year end. I really think it is the best car to buy right now.
Nobody could have said it better! Thanks! I felt the same when we purchased our 2011 Leaf. Now it's four years old and nearly worthless in the eyes of many, yet it still zips us all around town better than any other vehicle I've tried (well, except my bicycle on a perfect autumn day). Yes, that even includes the Tesla. I much prefer the smaller Leaf with higher clearance and headroom for everyday grocery store trips. Of course, the Tesla is a much better road tripper.Sounds like you've done a lot of work and have come to a crossroads. My wife and I were in a similar situation when we bought ours. We were concerned that friends and family (and co-workers) might judge us for spending so much money on a car. Neither of us had ever bought a luxury car before and were worried about bosses making the argument that we don't need raises if we were able to buy a Tesla. The truth of the matter is I'm supporting the things that I want to see flourish. Elon changing the rules for the entire industry is a big one for me.
I can give you some data on experiences after the purchase:
1) Very happy with the car (I just can't stop looking at it in the driveway or parking spot).
2) You will lose money in depreciation and you have to be okay with that
3) I am comforted when I see a car accident and know that this car is probably the safest car ever made.
4) We are the people in the covered wagons heading west. We are all leaders. Everyone buying an electric car in the future will be following our path.
5) No matter when you buy the car it will be outdated in a few months.
Sounds like you've done a lot of work and have come to a crossroads. My wife and I were in a similar situation when we bought ours. We were concerned that friends and family (and co-workers) might judge us for spending so much money on a car. Neither of us had ever bought a luxury car before and were worried about bosses making the argument that we don't need raises if we were able to buy a Tesla. The truth of the matter is I'm supporting the things that I want to see flourish. Elon changing the rules for the entire industry is a big one for me.
I can give you some data on experiences after the purchase:
1) Very happy with the car (I just can't stop looking at it in the driveway or parking spot).
2) You will lose money in depreciation and you have to be okay with that
3) I am comforted when I see a car accident and know that this car is probably the safest car ever made.
4) We are the people in the covered wagons heading west. We are all leaders. Everyone buying an electric car in the future will be following our path.
5) No matter when you buy the car it will be outdated in a few months.
Another thing to note (we have a LEAF too), there are really only two companies that are making this happen; Tesla and Nissan. Pretty much all other car makers are running EV programs that are made to limited in nature or are in response to others EV programs. The EV revolution wasn't going to happen without Tesla and would have been weakened without Nissan.
It's not really on topic here, but you're giving Nissan *far* too much credit, and completely ignoring the largest player in making it happen, at least at the beginning: GM.
Until GM worked with AeroVironment on SunRaycer and Impact, electric cars were powered by DC motors and the power to weight ratios were horrible. The same drive inverter technology and AC motors live on in the Tesla Roadster, licensed from AC Propulsion (founded by Al Cocconi, the lead AeroVironment engineer on the Sunraycer project.) The Roadster is also built off of a platform codeveloped by GM and Lotus.
The Impact was also what convinced CARB that EVs were practical, and led the zero emissions mandate and to lots of other folks getting involved in EVs. GM's later contributions are somewhat less clear, but the average Volt driver does more EV miles than the average Leaf, and the car doesn't have the same issues with the battery pack. And, of course, GM and Toyota built Tesla's current factory - and after closing it sold to Tesla for cents on the dollar.
We wouldn't be here without Tesla - but Tesla wouldn't be here without GM, either. I'm not sure if the Leaf would exist without the Volt - it was first shown as a concept after Nissan saw the public's reaction to the Volt production announcement.
But as I said, this is kinda off-topic. My main thought for the OP is similar to what someone else said: If you can comfortably afford the S, as a described fan of Musk/Tesla, buying the S (or possibly waiting a few weeks and buying an X,) is the best thing you can do - all of that "wasted" money goes in to Tesla expanding and building more EVs.
Walter
Forums such as this one are typically full of problems and complaints regardless of car make. My Model S has 52k miles and is over two years old:That's interesting. With all the reports of problems with the S, from door handles to multiple drive unit replacements, is it fair to say that your family has had good experiences with your Teslas? (I would guess that those who have issues are more likely to post about them than those who haven't had any.)
I'm probably going to buy one. But my reasons are lame. Maybe some of you can allay my reservations and tell me you don't think they are!! Help me get to the purchase point and I'm 99% sure I won't have any remorse....
Cons[/B]:[/SIZE]
[*]I don't need a sportscar or a luxury car and neither aspect appeals to me.
When's your current car going to need to be replaced? When I got my model S, the car I was driving was on its last legs and was requiring >$5000 of repairs per year, but I was swearing that I was going to hold out until the Model S was available....[*]The Model 3 will be out in 2 years and I could just wait for a "more modest" car. Please talk me out of this!!
So don't get red.[*]I hate the idea of being seen as pretentious or being someone who cares about "conspicuous consumption" or displays of wealth.
Nobody's reported much vandalism. Vandals don't tend to recognize the make, I think?[*]I occasionally have to travel to (and park in) bad neighborhoods. Vandalism target, no? (I'm thinking of keeping my Prius for THIS reason only! But really don't want to own two cars.)
Correct. Your only other option is to wait. There aren't even any used "Dual Motor" models on the market yet, or I'd tell you to get a used Tesla and save some money.I don't much car about performance or handling. But I want an all-electric with good range and AWD, so there's really no other option, correct?
There is no negative stigma to the Tesla brand. Everyone realizes that although expensive your are helping to push to world to a more sustainable future. The model 3 will be great when it comes out. Buy now if you can afford it. You will NOT be disappointed.
I don't know that the fuel savings is that much of a selling point to someone who previously drove a Prius. At the very least, the difference won't be all that dramatic. With gas prices around $2.50, I'm spending about 5 cents per miles in the Prius, while I spend 3 cents per mile in the Nissan Leaf (13 cents per kWh for me). Seeing a range of ranges among Tesla owners, let's call it 3.25 miles per kWh and call it 4 cents per mile where I live. That's not an earth shattering difference even over a year. Now if you're coming from an SUV that costs at least 16 cents per mile
I've been driving a 2002 Honda Accord V6 for the past 7 years, and I am now driving that car 75 miles round trip each day. It could probably last me another 3+ years, but I'm spending quite a bit on gas and maintenance now, almost more than the car is worth each year in gas alone. Before that I drove a 1995 Geo Prism (a.k.a Toyota Corolla) for 10 years. I drive my cars until they die or cost too much to maintain.
I had some of the same reservations you did, but after piles of reading/researching (a lot of that here, thanks everyone!) and a little bit of YOLO, I'll probably be ordering a S70D in the next few months after shuffling some finances around. Working on getting a test drive set up now, but it's a little difficult to do that here in Michigan.
I'm sure I'll get noticed a bit more than others might as I work for an automotive industry supplier in the Detroit Metro area. I kinda hope people (especially those in the industry) take notice in some ways.