AP would be cool, but I've gone 36 years without ever experiencing it and probably wouldn't spring for the option at first.
Elon's Model 3 Deception
- Thread starter powertoold
- Start date
On my delivery estimator (see below) the $35K version is only 8 weeks behind - so imho it's perfectly reasonable to call it a $35K car - today or 8 weeks later - not a big deal to me. Autonomous driving - again, so what if it adds 25% - it's not even available on other vehicles. nor was part of the original promise of a $35K electric long range sedan for "everyman." AP2 is not vaporware - it's essentially indistinguishable in performance from AP1 as of now - the narrative that it's half baked crapware is very outdated but myths die hard.
Exactly... It isn't a surprise. And it isn't a bad deal.
But even to the extent a $35,000 car is an "affordable" car, Tesla isn't making or delivering an "affordable" car at this point. It is making and delivering an ~$50,000 car. And that's a whole different deal. Will they eventually start actually offering a $35K car? Probably. but they haven't done it yet, just announced that they plan to do it. Since the extra ~$15K in mandatory "options" is probably where all the margin is, I'd suspect they'll delay offering an actual $35K model for as long as possible. And if the $35K model isn't on offer, it's not fair to call this a $35K car. (side note: I felt the same way back when Tesla kept citing the promised S40 base price as the base price for the S, even though the S40 wasn't yet delivering).
I hate to break this to you, but deception ≠ disappointment. Most of your rant has to do with your personal disappointment after reading a bit too much into Musk's statements and building up unrealistic expectations. That's not deceptive on Musk's part, just foolish on yours.
Nah, not quite that simple IMO - there was some hype there too. Elon left stuff hanging and said things where he should have known better.
So he set high expectations, I still don't think that rises to the title of "deception". That's exceedingly harsh. Now with Enhanced Autopilot and related matters, I might tend to agree.
Canuck
Well-Known Member
Right, how dare Tesla announce plans to sell a $35k Model 3 before they actually sell one. The should sell it first, then announce it. Then again, there'd be no reason for the announcement if they were already selling it for that price, but let's not let logic get in the way of bashing Tesla, like you rightly did with the 40. Now that story would have made sense, and actually had a point to it, if they never sold a 40, after they announced it, but again let's not apply logic since it gets in the way of making sense of your arguments.
Would probably need deeper analysis than I can be bothered with.
Agree that EAP is different, though.There was never a point at which the S40 was simultaneously (i) available for actual delivery and (ii) offered for sale to folks who hadn't preordered/reserved while it wasn't actually available. They essentially cancelled the product and only then offered to deliver it (or really a software limited 60) to folks who had preordered the S40. To me, that's the definition of vaporware. I'm not saying that their intent all along was to never really sell the S40, I'm just saying that this is what wound up happening.
Fascinating description of vaporware - here is the product we advertised and was sold to customers as promised, but we cancelled due to lack of demand.
what other new definitions do you have?
Lloyd
Well-Known Member
The average fuel stop is 12 minutes. I leave my garage with a 'full tank' of electrons every morning. I spend less time charging on my longer trips at superchargers than I would have If I have to spend the 12 minutes at the gas pump every time I fill up!!
After you have been driving an electric car for awhile you will 'get it '!!
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Sour grapes -- $35,000 car is coming in Dec-Feb for current owners and new buyers who had faith in the process on Day 1 are getting in Quarter 1 2018. For those waiting to 'show me the money' product before reserving -- sure, there's 400,000 reservations ahead of you and that may put a damper on your purchase --- for those, there's always the Leaf
Uncle Paul
Well-Known Member
Don'f forget...a $35,000 Model 3 is actually a $25,000 for those getting a $10,000 tax credit. Makes it a pretty good bargin for all that you get. You also get some ongoing savings with electric miles being less expensive than gasoline miles.
JSkrehot
Member
It absolutely does not further legitimize it. Sounds like you put your deposit down site unseen. Good for you. I did not know about this car until 36 hours after its unveil unfortunately. However, you watched the unveil and the car has delivered everything it promised. So why the gripe? Sounds like you were set on a 35k version from the get go, awesome. When they unveiled it, they estimated 215 miles and you seemed to comment you were excited then, so why not excited now with 220? The interior is better than the current S models (not knowing what type of material seats will be made of in the base version) but the door pockets, center console and such. I just am not understanding the disappointment? Did you watch any of the videos from the rides after the event? They looked amazing.
lynnpt2001
Cookie Monster MX & M3
Not sure if I am in the right spot but I cancelled my reservation today, I have been emotional all day since then. I LOVE tesla in so many ways but as I have read in here I am also so dissapointed with the pricing of this car. I would consider getting a used S with Autopilot #1, you get so much more car for the money. I priced a model 2 rear wheel drive only it would add up to over 60K....sorry but that is too much for what you get......maybe the future will change and I can reconsider.
You're disappointed that Tesla priced the car at $35K as they promised eh? Anyway - buying a used, depreciated high end car will always give you more bang for buck than a new, cheaper car - that's economics. Applies to new C class Benz vs used S Class, BMW, Audi and everybody else.
hockeythug
Active Member
I am beginning to think that the "spaceship" like control that Elon mentioned could be referring to the fact that Model 3 uses software, two dials in steering wheel and touch screen to control everything, including vents direction control, opening the glove box, side mirrors adjustment, steering wheel adjustment.... etc.
Lack of demand was their claim, though. I guess some people do not believe that is true and that other reasons caused it to be cancelled and thus the 40 kWh battery indeed ended up as vaporware. Mind you, I'm not saying there was any deception as those who ordered got replacement cars (software limited 60 kWh), but 40 kWh did end up as vaporware.
The given reason of lack of demand is problematic. After all, a car Tesla only took pre-orders for in very limited regions, for a limited time and then cancelled is hardly proof of longer-term demand. Just like it isn't when ICE manufacturers make an EV, limit its availability radically, and then say there was no demand. It is very hard to analyze from that what the actual demand might have been.
IMO it seems likely Tesla's profit margin on the 40 kWh played a part.
While a cancelled, radically different steering wheel is possible, and we know they worked on different steering wheel designs, I am still leaning on an augmented reality HUD having been a part of that plan (possibly with a different steering wheel, of course, or not). Whether or not one appears later on remains to be seen.
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