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Tesla Roadster

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641–650 of 729 posts

Re: Tesla Roadster

#641
post #60

Would ludicrous mode for the roadster go 0-60 in 1 second? the 620 mile range is super impressive. How??? Or is it just that the roadster is super light?

The statement from Elon Musk at the car's announcement was 'Has anyone here watched Spaceballs? What's faster than Ludicrous? That's right, Plaid!' So in the Roadster, there is a 'Plaid' mode which enables the 0-60 in 1.8s acceleration, accompanied by suitable graphics on the 17" screen ;)

Re: Tesla Roadster

#642

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's even more amazing is that F or GM couldn't possibly do this. First mover advantage plus the allure of someone like Musk is what is needed. I know many bash him for spreading himself too thin among all his other ambitions but it gives him good will capital (which can translate to economic capital) when needed.

Ford and GM can absolutely do this. Tesla is "hot", but Ford is successful. People underestimating the big players and cars aren't thinking about the economics right. Ford markets are almost two orders of magnitude more than Tesla is producing. If Ford sees the global opportunity to sell 10-20 million EVs a year they'll build the crap out of them.

Ford sells pieces of shit and then tells you you're crazy every time you report a problem -- until a month after your last complaint when there's a company-wide recall.

I am never doing anything that gives them my money again.

Source: [ashamed] owner of Ford for 3+ years.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#643

Am I the only one who's worried that Tesla is really starting to bite off more than they can chew? Right now their finances are a mess, they are publicly struggling to produce their most important car ever, their CEO is spending time figuring out how to dig holes underneath LA...and now they're announcing a semi truck and a roaster in the same day? Don't get me wrong, Teslas are incredible cars. But this seems like a…

You have been reading too many finance blogs. Their finances are far from a mess, they are just not what finance people like to see. They have cash on hand and a roadmap to execute on. If they don't execute they will go out of business, and they will take my money as an investor with them. I'm OK with that and as long as they continue to have a path to profitability I am all on board. I want to see them burning money…

If Amazon listened to those same finance blogs that are chastising Tesla, they wouldn't be where they are today. Wall Street hates companies that invest every cent they make into future growth; they want solid companies like GE and IBM that pay out regular profits to investors, and end up old dinosaurs because they didn't invest in innovation.

The market analysts and financial blogs may hate companies like AMZN and TSLA, but Bezos and Musk will be laughing all the way to the bank because they didn't focus on short-term profits at the cost of long-term innovation.

Remember, every company on this planet has to constantly reinvent itself, or it will be disrupted by someone else. Musk is doing that. Don't listen to the financial blogs and analysts.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#644

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$250mil sounds a lot - until you remember they currently burn through $400mil of cash in a month

They also just laid off a ton of people, so maybe that burn rate is going to lower quite a bit.

They laid off "a ton of people" but a small fraction of their workforce, not affecting their burn rate much. Watch out for those financial press headlines, Tesla is one of the most shorted stocks out there.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#645
But you have to get out of the car and remove the roof to use it as a convertible. Then I think I'd stick with a BMW 438i convertible which takes the entire roof down at the push of a button in about 20 seconds. Driving isn't all about acceleration.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#646

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rolling acceleration and track handling are more important than Drag racing. Bit fed up of 0-60 times being such an important feature. 50-70 more important, handling a bit more important again. And of course for most people build quality, running costs and environmental credentials.

Environmental credentials are important for supercar buyers?

"Why choose when you can have both?"

Re: Tesla Roadster

#647

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The people around the car jerk a bit. Could be camera motion, scared spectators, altered video; I’m not an expert.

I'm curious as to why you choose to believe that their was a conspiracy to release a sped up video rather than the fact that the car really is just that quick. Cognitive dissonance? Shorting Tesla stock? It's not like you're mentally deficient or anything so there has to be a logical reason in your mind as to why you ended up thinking this. I would be very keen to know what that is.

I don't think it's altered video. I'm just describing possible things that people could see in that video, which might lead to that conclusion:

1. an odd camera motion;

2. scared spectators jerking; or,

3. altered video.

I do, however, think the people downvoting me have significant reading comprehension problems. However, that's a thing they will have to reflect on, internally, and has no bearing on me.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#648
post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Elon Musk is an engineer. If his production line isn't as efficient as it should be it will get fixed 'scientifically'. I'd agree with you if his background was different.

> Elon Musk is an engineer. If his production line isn't as efficient as it should be it will get fixed 'scientifically'. I'd agree with you if his background was different. I forgot that Elon Musk is single handedly changing the way assembly line engineering is done... How about a little respect to the thousands of capable engineers working for every other car company-- building stuff, innovating and making money. A…

Putting words in my mouth.

My point is that he has enough engineering know-how to let engineers do their jobs and prioritise methodical fixes, not that he will single-handedly do the work.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#649

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"First mover advantage" is a concept that applies to platforms, and not to a millionaire status symbol/fashion statement. Most people spending $200,000+ on a vehicle want to be among the only people at the country club with it. This looks like a hot car, but I wouldn't hesitate to test drive Aston Martins or Ferrari's if I was playing with that kind of cash. Also, GM and Ford do highly profitable business with the we…

They DID show a monster of a pickup truck at the unveiling as well. It's almost like a /second/ roadster but aimed at the millionaire truck lover. Of course, they aren't taking reservations for that because someone probably convinced Musk the number of rich truck lovers who also would love electric is small enough that it's not yet worth spending too much energy on the idea.

They did? I watched it and never saw a pickup truck.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#650

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have been reading too many finance blogs. Their finances are far from a mess, they are just not what finance people like to see. They have cash on hand and a roadmap to execute on. If they don't execute they will go out of business, and they will take my money as an investor with them. I'm OK with that and as long as they continue to have a path to profitability I am all on board. I want to see them burning money…

If Amazon listened to those same finance blogs that are chastising Tesla, they wouldn't be where they are today. Wall Street hates companies that invest every cent they make into future growth; they want solid companies like GE and IBM that pay out regular profits to investors, and end up old dinosaurs because they didn't invest in innovation. The market analysts and financial blogs may hate companies like AMZN and T…

Amazon could have had a wildly profitable quarter by slightly slowing their expansion. Doing so would not kill the company.

It's not clear if Tesla can do the same.

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