Twitter / LenosGarage: Test drove the Tesla Model ... Video review to follow in a few weeks apparently. I don't particularly care for him, but I would think its good PR given his demographic.
Does this post imply something about whether he has test driven before? I wonder if he has a reservation.
Cant wait to see the video. He is definitely out of place but not anti-EV as he has videos on his website for the Ford Focus electric and Bob Lutz's new EV truck project. The MSP is definitely more his style. Additionally he is proud of his EV from the early 1900s. Jay Lenos Garage - Ford '12 Focus Electric, '13 Fusion Hybrid - Video - NBC.com Jay Lenos Garage - Via Motors VTRUX - Video - NBC.com
A vote of confidence from Jay would be another feather in the cap for Tesla Motors. I too can't wait for the video review.
Jay will likely be positive on the Model S, his competitor (Dave Letterman) has had Elon on the Late Show, and Dave owns a Roadster... Jay has to "keep up with the jones's", or in this case, Dave he also has plenty of money to be able to afford it. When Dave met Elon...and his Tesla Model S | Green Tech - CNET News Tesla Fanboy David Letterman Lets Motormouth CEO Off Easy Elon Musk on Letterman ~ ©CBS Broadcasting Inc. - YouTube
Jay also reviewed the Karma with Henrik. Overall, positive review: Jay Leno's Garage - 2012 Fisker Karma | Fisker
I've embedded the video here: [Video] Jay Leno reviews the Model S - Blogs - Tesla Motors Club - Enthusiasts & Owners Forum
The whole video it seemed like he was depressed. Maybe because he realized that his precious ICE cars are going the way of the dodo.
He should be happy as hell. Like a perfectly preserved dinosaur skeleton, one day his collection of (then) antique ICE's will become priceless.
Besides electric and internal combustion cars, Jay has at least one external combustion car as well, and the best of the type, a Doble. Even his ICEs are not limited to reciprocating pistion, he also has at least one gas turbine. Sounds like some commenters here don't know Jay very well and are underestimating him. He is a big picture guy and his collection shows it. GSP
It does make me wonder why he's held back on the Model S though. Even if Tesla wasn't going to make it in his mind a few years ago, it would have been a collectible. He drives a Volt everyday so it's not like he demands S class luxury for his daily driver. I really hope he ends up ordering one.
Jay is not the type to get the latest thing for top dollar. He usually has the benefit of decades of hindsight to pick the most interesting and significant collectibles. He also waits for one to be offered for an attractive price. He was cool to the Volt at first, and did not get one of the first cars when some dealers were asking $5000 over MSRP. He is not in a hurry like most of us here at TMC, he is collecting history. GSP
As wonderful as Tesla is, no car manufactured in these volumes has ever been (or likely will be) a collectible, as that word is thought of by car collectors such as Jay. Shelby Cobras are probably the highest production highly collectible car, with about 1,000 produced, and these had a long period where they were not thought to be collectible and so many were lost and good ones became rare. Even the roadster production volumes will consign it to be a depreciating asset (though a wonderful one). Even the signature roadsters will not be collectible, being really nothing more than cosmetically different (though the highly inferior 1.0 drivetrain and crappy interior is... distinctive!) Enjoy and drive the crap out of your Tesla... it's the highest and best use of a great piece of machinery. Keeping the miles low or the car perfect may stem your depreciation slightly but it's not going to make your car a collectible...
Yeah. I knew the Roadster was not a good investment if I was looking for it to be a collectible but it's been fun to drive. Maybe Jay will get the Model S as a daily driver.
The only way that electric vehicles (Tesla, Leaf, etc.) will become investment collection items would be if a political movement outlaws them via some loophole or makes them exorbitant (kinda like the US did with foreign automobiles in the 70s). Certainly not out of the question considering our state of government in this current day and age.