smorgasbord
Active Member
By that definition ("a passenger car in a three-box configuration with A, B & C-pillars and principal volumes articulated in separate compartments for engine, passenger and cargo."), Model S is not a sedan, either.
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By that definition ("a passenger car in a three-box configuration with A, B & C-pillars and principal volumes articulated in separate compartments for engine, passenger and cargo."), Model S is not a sedan, either.
Yeah I never got the difference between hatch and sedan. They use it pretty interchangeably these days.
TMC is our forum, so we're surely not going to sell anybody a car!:wink:I'm not sure I agree with this.
I think TMC would run out of prospects due to the current price of the car rather than running out of folks who want a (feasible) electric car...(outside of gearheads and those whose livelyhood depend on ICE vehicles of course...)
That's exactly the technical difference between hatchback and sedan. However, some hatchbacks look exactly the same as a sedan, so they blur the line (the Model S is an example, another good one is the Mazda 6 hatchback that is identical to the sedan in looks).My distinction: If the rear window opens with the trunk lid, it's a hatchback (or station wagon, SUV etc, many possibilities here). If the window stay in place, it's a sedan.
TMC is our forum, so we're surely not going to sell anybody a car!:wink:
If you look at the sale volumes for MB, BMW, and Audi, it's clear that the global market for $50k+ cars exceeds 1 million vehicles/year. So Tesla Motors is not at risk for running out of people who are willing to plunk down enough money to buy a Model S; the question is whether the Model S can compete head-to-head with other premium sedans (rather than competing for market share in the EV space).
I think there is zero risk that the existence of next-gen EV cars in 3-5 years will impact the resale value of cars like the BMW M5 or MB E63.
We will know in 9 months whether they will stumble out of the gate, but we won't know for 2-3 years whether they are on a long term path to viability.
Depending on how the gas price develops, it may very well have an effect on the 5 year value. Especially if people change their minds about the impact of oil dependence, which many still don't take serious. At some point, things may change quickly.
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I would gladly take the bet that the absolute delta in terms of utility/features between a 2013 Model S and a 2018 Model S (assuming company existed) will be a TON bigger than the delta between a 2013 M5 and 2018 M5. There are simply fewer engineering dials to turn and the pace of change in the underlying tech ecosystem is slower. And this assume constant price. I think the Model S in 5 years will be 20% cheaper (while still being better).
Again, the Model S seems awesome. I an NOT knocking it. I just think you guys are "spending" more than you may realize--- which is also fine.
Why? The only technology that I see developing that will affect a Model S vs. a future Model S vs. an M5 is battery technology. I don't see major improvements coming in way of electric motors, regen braking, etc. And the rest of the Model S is "car stuff" that any manufacturer can apply to their car.
Assuming battery density improves at 7% per year, in 5 years, you should be able to buy an 85Kwh battery for the price of a 60Kwh battery today. So yes, people lining up today are paying $10K (+ future value of money etc etc etc) more. Plus whatever typical improvements get driven into cars in general.
That $10K is one of the prices of being an early adopter. However, if the current Model S meets your needs and you can afford to buy it, well, that sounds like a personal decision to me. How do you like to spend your money.
For me, that extra $10K means I get EV instant-acceleration and quiet now (well, in the spring) instead of in 5 years.