Thanks for that correction GW, I should probably pay more attention and get my sh!t straight since we will probably end up owning one... :bang:

HELLS YEAH!! :rockin:


Jeff-

Living here in the SF South Bay Area, the Tesla factory is in the old GM plant in Fremont, so lots of them around here. The showroom in San Jose is in an upscale mall, called Santa Row, and the sedan frame is there in the showroom, which shows potential buyers where the motor, batteries, and other drive train components are in the car. Nice looking car, the fact that the majority of the weight and structure is down low makes the a different kind of car. The electric motors do have a ton of torque, and the limited mileage per charge is a concern for long hauls.

As a lot of us see it, the target market is the yuppie crowd that needs to have the newest, best, most unique product on the block, so they can show it off. And in the center of the Tech world, there are lots of people to market the Tesla product to here in the bay area.

Also, there are a lot of people who drive an hour and half one way to drive back and forth to work for a total of 30-40 miles one direction, so no real range and charging concerns for them. And a silent vehicle that doesn't drone the whole time is a real plus. For some of us the drone of the engine, particularly a high performance engine is inspiration, for most it is exhausting, so there are a few intangible benefits that are customer specific.

Working for a large corporation in the Bay Area, there are incentives for these employers to install "Green Energy" stations, and several employers have solar charging stations for their "Zero Emissions" and "Partial Zero Emissions" vehicles. So for some, their "fuel" cost is very low with electric vehicles, as part of their electric vehicle cost is either subsidized or free.

They have a different business model. It is an interesting concept, market directly to customers, with no dealers, and provide financing differently than other manufacturers. Not sure that is really a federal finding thing, as most of the big vehicle credit agencies are funded by the big auto makers, so the finance part of the business would have put Tesla in a bad business position if they followed traditional auto manufacturers business practices. Same thing with the dealer's business model. It is hard to have a single manufacturer at one dealer outside of large metropolitan areas. In smaller markets the Tesla dealer would be sitting along side a Nissan or Toyota or Chevy in the dealership, and the sales staff would have to honestly have to tell the buyer that a hybrid has advantages over an all electric car.

Not a lot of options, small or large batteries, longer range/higher performance electric motor, or standard.

Tesla has had a problem in some states, see the news article link below. Also lack of charging stations in other markets outside metropolitan and suburban areas is a concern, however that will change over time.

http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/18/te...-auto-dealers/

Bottom line is, it works for some, others not so much. The market and driving habits are a huge factor in the decision, even with a low cost optioned vehicle well over the average cost of a new vehicle.

BTW Jeff ---


the "not true" was not to make you look like a liar -- I should have rephrased that beginning...

It's just that I'd heard the same thing and thought "how dumb is that"... thus I asked Tony about it and he showed me the real answer.

.... and for me to be interested at 100 grand (loaded) they need to have a top that disappears!

I read where consumer reports rated it as the best car they ever tested. The limited range is a deterrent, solar recharging would be a big perk IMO. I guess they have already payed back the govt loan.

I got to see a truck load of them a few days ago. One was being delivered a few miles from my house. I nearly crashed gawking at them. Beautiful cars.

The Model X doors are cool........
http://www.teslamotors.com/tesla_the...mes/full37.jpg

The doors are "nothing new" ---- but different... the CAR --- UGLY AS SIN....

The designers of this model should review the Edsel.


The S on the other hand has killer looks -- interior space is awesome... trunk space is awesome. Now... if you could just go somewhere in it! :lol:

I saw this thread title and said to myself "O.k. Somebody wants to pro tour one, and install an ls7 with a t56". Glad I was wrong.
These cars are gorgeous! And if you compare pricing against other total electric models, its a pretty good value. Greg's right however, they should come in a ragtop also.

The owner of my shop has a Model S Peformance will all options. I have driven it a few times around town and commuted to work in it...about 30 minutes. The torque is amazing off the line. Combine that with the lack of noise and one gear, it is a very unique and thrilling ride. The regenerative braking is easy to get familiar with. Braking with the brake pedal is almost none existant. Freeway driving is like most other cars in its class.

A routine is needed on the charging or you will not have energy one day when you need it. We just plug it in at work during the day and when you get home overnight. 220v is a must.

The simple interior is ok. The large screen makes the interior. The front seats should be improved with better support. They are comfortable, but not to the standards as the rest of the car. The body and paint are very good.

Overall, I like the car. The exterior styling and quality is top notch. The interior is ok with an awesome screen. The driving is fun. Lots of torque and no sound. Low center of gravity and firm suspension gives a ride quality I like. Buy it for $100K? If you have it, I would.

Brian