What Is Your First Memory of Tesla

[mrbulk]

Posting here because most on the forums would have heard about Tesla right around when they first brought out the S, but moderators please move if needed.

Anyway I was thinking about how interested I am in all things Tesla, especially product-wise, and what fuels it. Then I tried to recall the first time I became aware of this car. As I recall, my brother-in-law handed me his laptop to show me a photo of this pristine white, large 4-door coupe so gorgeously beautiful it was painful, and it made me feel like I absolutely had to have it. And this was before learning about all its EV features and stuff.

Fast forward less than a decade and my bro-in-law, his wife (my sister) and myself are now driving three of the dang things...

Just wondering what everybody else's first awareness experiences were like.

 

[f205v]

I first learned of Tesla many years a go, when an article on a car's website mentioned the fact that this "small electric coupè called Tesla" was the new fashion for reach Silicon Valley billionaires.
Since then I've been following Tesla development till when I first test drove a Model S in late 2016, placed my order beginning 2017 and received my "La Fulminante" in September 2017.

 

[bradjc]

Great question! I remember reading an article about a new company that was predicted to quickly go broke making a flashy red electric modified Lotus for big money and that George Clooney was a believer and bought one. Interesting but didn't really think much of it until a bit later in 2009 I really took notice when I saw Elon on Letterman (see below) and was blown away by the concept and the design of the Model S, from there I went deep on research and bought into the idea that electric was feasible and the future.

 

[nativespinner]

My first memory goes back to the beginning of the company. I had heard of a company that was trying to build a desirable high performance car back in early mid 2000s. I have been following the company since then and wanted a S when they were first unveiled in 2009. Finally got my wish last year when I bought a CPO Model S.

 

[DukeofURL]

I first heard of Tesla in an article about some company that was trying to make electric cars and having trouble with multiple speed transmissions, but that wasn't particularly memorable. What I most remember was the Model S reveal and how much I wanted one, well hard work and perseverance paid off and now I have one, and love it just as much as I thought I would back then.

 

[Boourns]

I *think* I had heard of Tesla a bit after the Roadster came out, but I don't have a specific memory of it.

My first specific memory of Tesla I can recall was an email thread between a friend and myself in 2011 or 2012. We'd email back and forth to pass the time during work, and the topic of what non-common car we'd get if we had a $100k to spend on it. He said this company called Tesla just came out what a really awesome, totally electric sedan, the Model S. I was like "eh, I'd rather have a Fisker Karma."

Four or five years later I bought a CPO Model S. I guess he was right.

 

[ckoval7]

I was watching something on the history channel, maybe Modern Marvels, and they showed the Tesla roadster. I was pretty young then, several years away from even being eligible to drive. I passively followed Tesla for a few years before falling in love with the Model S shortly after it was released.

 

[Dre78]

Friends would talk about an electric car using Lotus body. How blazing fast a car like that could be, but range would be an issue. Then debating whether Fisker or Tesla would rein supreme; everyone liked Fisker style but felt Tesla was more revolutionary. Wish I had bought Tesla stock back then, when it was lingering around $30.

 

[BoerumHill]

2006 email from a friend with nothing but a link to the landing page of Tesla Motors, which listed the performance specs of the yet to be built Roadster. I still have the email; the subject line is

Not sure how much of this to believe

 

[gilscales]

I had first read about Tesla when the Roadster was announced but what really stands out is the time around 2009 or 2010, I was driving through Santa Barbara and actually got behind one in traffic, just seeing the car for the first time made me want one! then the S was released and I really wanted one as it was a practical, useful car, now with the 3 I finally have one, it was a long wait but worth it.