Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

OWNERS! - do you get awkward questions about price tag?

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.
I have a 1980 Ferrari 308. Cost me $20k. Filled it up recently and guy came over and said "What does that cost, about $250k?"

Since people like pics...

308.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 308.jpg
    308.jpg
    57.3 KB · Views: 688
"Question and answer is not a civilised form of discourse."

. - Stephen Maturin


But I usually give the "$50K for the base model" answer and move on to talk about the low operating/maintenance costs and the solar PV system on my roof; if their eyes haven't glazed over I'll mention gen III.
 
I always say "about the same as a BMW 5 series." If you include the M5 as a comparison for the perf, it's generally true. BMW's are a dime a dozen around here, so it doesn't raise too many eyebrows. It avoids talking about actual money, and if they know how much a 5 series costs then they follow luxury cars. If they only have a vague idea that's fine too.
 
I also find it rude that people ask and also find that a LOT of people ask about the price I paid. I give the same response as Robert.Boston.

I have never asked how much someone has paid for a car because it's none of my business. If I'm interested in the pricing I will simply go online to find the pricing and go from there.
 
I am going to say less than my last car, (2010 Porsche Panamera 4S). Anyone who asks this question needs to look it up for themselves and it is really not their business to know what you pay for anything. We have the right in this country to spend our hard or easily earned money on whatever legal purchases we want. We want Tesla Model S's!
 
I don't share that sentiment.

I mostly don't either. It just depends on "how" I was asked, you know? You can usually tell if someone is asking because they are genuinely interested or if they want to start an argument. In uber-red state Nebraska, I've been on the defensive quite a bit since the election and the Romney comments. I try to brush it off as much as possible but there are still those that just want an argument.
 
My wife and I were just discussing this today. I drove a Prius for over 5 years. It didn't bother me at all when people thought "oh he's just a tree hugger." It didn't bother me at all when they thought "oh, that's a shame that all he can afford is a Prius." I've loved the car and have been proud to own/drive it. Along the same lines; It wont bother me a bit to be driving a +100k MS. For me it's the car I've been waiting for. The obvious next step for me after the Prius. I bought all the bells and whistles that the Prius had to offer. I did the same with the MS because I was getting the car anyway/always and I could. I'm gonna love this car, and be proud to drive it. Being able to afford the price has nothing at all to do with that pride.
I do however sometimes wish I was better at explaining (as so many here are) why it is so awesome, and such a quantum leap forward.
 
I was worried about driving my car to work for this particular reason, but really have found it to be a non-issue.

And nobody, that I'm aware, has been jealous. Most are congratulatory. Few people ask how much it is, and those who ask I tell them that it starts in the 50's. If they ask about mine I say (honestly) about 90. They have eyes to see with, they have usually asked about the range, so it's super easy to look up the price on the Internet anyway. Might as well just say it up front. Being coy was never my strong suite...

My neighbor (drunk of his ass at the time, but still) blurted out "you know what, good for you!" and went on with a bunch of why-nots, you worked hard, you deserve it, etc. (And he thoroughly enjoyed his test ride.)
 
Talking about money isn't polite.

Well, that saying is not only so 19th century, you're misapplying it.

First, today everyone knows what you paid for your house AND what it's worth today. Thank Zillow for that. And anyone can easily find out what a car (or any manufactured commodity) costs with a simple search. Your resistance only hides things from people that are too lazy to find out for themselves.

Second, that saying applies to what you earn, not what the things you buy that you take out in public cost.

Most people asking what a Model S costs are interested to know in case they might want to buy one. They're not passing judgement on you. And if they're are passing judgement, then what do you care?

I completely judge people who judge people based on how much money they earn/spend.
 
I usually just deflect comments like these by saying (to the effect) that "it's financed over 7 years and the bank will lend money to anyone who can fog up a mirror"...

If they keep pressing, I just state the range from about $60 to $120k...this is the way I handled such inquiries about the Roadster....

Wondering if, after showing the car to friends and/or family, there are any uncomfortable questions or conversations like:

"wow great car, how much did this set you back?"
"this model was about $85k"
"uhh... wow... okay... didn't know Initech paid so well for those TPS reports."
"uhh... yeah, so... wanna get some pizza?"

i mean, this car should come with a bumper sticker that says "I am either a historically irresponsible financial decision maker - or - I have more money than I possibly know what to do with. You decide."
 
I had the electrician who was installing the 14-50's in my garage ask me how much the car cost. I'll admit I wasn't prepared for the question. I ended up saying "a lot, but I'll save money on gas."

A
 
I usually just deflect comments like these by saying (to the effect) that "it's financed over 7 years and the bank will lend money to anyone who can fog up a mirror"...

You aren't kidding on that. I got my loan through my bank. Who I also have a mortgage with. When I went in to close my loan I kept getting asked if I wanted to buy 2 cars, or another house? And she was deadly serious! Which baffled me because they should have seen how much of my income would be dedicated to payments back to them. And if they looked at my banking accounts they would see that I would be paying them more than I deposit*.

* I have two banks and split my paycheck between 4 accounts. Don't ask but there is a method to my system, ... (i think, i could just be crazy).
 
Why not just say: "It costs about as much to own as a <blank>" and then fill in the blank with an appropriate vehicle for your audience. You can pick just about any ICE car that costs $20000 less. I would usually say "It costs about as much to own as a BMW 5 series."
Because then you lead in to the TCO discussion and how much 100000 miles of fuel will cost you in the long run, which is what is important anyway.

If someone is asking you about the price, and what they really want to know is if they can afford one, you need them to think about TCO and not sticker price.
 
Agree with you 100% on this El...the Model S is a good car that is affordable for middle class to UMC folks ...no one should be apologetic for the fiscal benefits of hard work and risked capital, despite what the media and socialists think.

Well I disagree on a couple of points. I could not afford a $80k Audi A7. The fuel costs would put me out. The operating costs of the Tesla are significantly less than a comparable car. The 40kWh car over 5 years is about equal to buying a $35-40k BMW 3 (or Subaru STI) if you include the rebates out there. And it gets even cheaper the longer you hold onto cars. And sure buying the performance makes the car a 'toy'. But a lot of people are using the S as their workhorse daily driver.

I agree it isn't an every(wo)man's car but it certainly isn't in the 'toys for the rich' level. I wouldn't consider myself 'rich'. Upper middle class most definitely. But I live fairly frugally, and saved a bunch for this car. It really is about priorities. And well I have messed up priorities where I think sinking a ton of money into a sweet ride is a good idea.
 
Why not just say: "It costs about as much to own as a <blank>" and then fill in the blank with an appropriate vehicle for your audience. You can pick just about any ICE car that costs $20000 less. I would usually say "It costs about as much to own as a BMW 5 series."
Because then you lead in to the TCO discussion and how much 100000 miles of fuel will cost you in the long run, which is what is important anyway.

If someone is asking you about the price, and what they really want to know is if they can afford one, you need them to think about TCO and not sticker price.

Even the sticker price is very comparable to 5 series (once you've deducted the tax credit for the S). A fully loaded 550i is 82K and a loaded non-perf is 92K. The M5 is 90-105K and the S perf is 88-104K. Since the base price for the 5 series is 48K it captures the range very nicely.
 
I'm not a fan of non-answers. Reminds me of politics. While I agree it is rude to ask such a question, if you are going to ask me, I'll tell you. Your perception of my answer is your problem. You have no idea how I live, save, plan, how many scratch-off tickets I've won, inheritances, wife who earns significantly more, second job, etc. etc. etc. And I'll follow up with all the benefits that I see in buying it.

I don't own a Tesla... yet. But if I was fortunate enough to own a Model S, I would also not be shy about discussing both the initial cost and the total cost of ownership. It's a good chance to let people know the benefits of EVs: substantial savings on money spent on fuel & low level of required maintenance.


I mostly don't either. It just depends on "how" I was asked, you know? You can usually tell if someone is asking because they are genuinely interested or if they want to start an argument. In uber-red state Nebraska, I've been on the defensive quite a bit since the election and the Romney comments. I try to brush it off as much as possible but there are still those that just want an argument.

That's tough. If someone gave me a hard time about a Tesla for "political" reasons, I'd probably turn the tables on them, and ask why they were attacking capitalism, entrepreneurship, innovation, American manufacturing, and wealth. Then I'd ask them if they thought they had the right to tell me how I spent the money I earned.