Top Gear responds to Tesla • Hacker News Board

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#11

Post by machrider » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:28 PM UTC

dman wrote: post #3

olivercameron wrote: post #2

I just can't see how Tesla can win this case in court. As anyone who has ever watched Jeremy Clarkson will tell you, you know he would rather resign from Top Gear than apologise for this.

I think any victory in courts is going to be a pyrrhic one. Ive said it before on earlier threads and I will say it again here - Tesla is alienating a large section of auto enthusiasts by going after Top Gear. It might be that some marketing guru has figured out that suing Top Gear is a cheaper way to get headlines than running a campaign. But they have picked the wrong target - Top Gear is at the heart and centre of…

I don't know, I think if you're an enthusiast who cares about the environment, Clarkson isn't your favorite guy ever. I felt like the piece on the Tesla was pretty offensive in how biased it was, and I normally like the guys on Top Gear.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#12

Post by akashs » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:34 PM UTC

First, Top Gear is testing on track conditions, and that will certainly give different results than the 220 mile range found on the EPA's ideal testing conditions. Top Gear has previously shown that a BMW M3 gets better mileage than a Prius in track conditions, but I don't think anyone believes this is representative of the cars on the whole.

Second, there's very few data points on the range aside from Tesla's press releases that I can find, but the two I can find are much closer to Top Gear's number and were also from less aggressive testing than what Top Gear did: 93 miles: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20080124/green/398811820/163...

95-120 miles (says 105-120, but I think there's a math error on the writer's part): http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/29/so-whats-the-downside-t...

Third, Top Gear says Tesla calculated the 55 mile figure themselves, so not sure how they can sue them for that claim.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#13

Post by sliverstorm » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:34 PM UTC

Considering the tenuous relationship between the presenters and the studio as portrayed in the show, it's pleasing to see the rest of the company getting behind Top Gear and providing a united front.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#14

Post by Klinky » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:34 PM UTC

CoffeeDregs wrote: post #6

Seems as though a better plan would be to challenge Top Gear to a rematch of some sort. Make something fun out of this and get the auto enthusiasts cheering. Southwest did this perfectly: got sued, took it to the ring, arm wrestled over it, got crushed, paid the other guy, laughed all the way to the bank and everyone cheered them on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwU9m4oCtRE&#38 ;

Suing over a stolen slogan is a bit different than suing over slander/libel. When you read this excerpt from the article it does sound like Tesla is trying to either force Top Gear to give a better review or give them more publicity:

Why even last night the Top Gear office accidentally received an email sent from a Public Relations firm to The One Show, asking if it would like to have the Tesla spokesperson on their programme to talk about the case. It says: “PHA Media represent Tesla and this could make for a fantastic interview.” And the PHA man’s not finished there. “The presenters could have some fun with this.” He adds. “Matt and Alex could even take the Tesla for a spin and test it out, reaffirming its virtues?”

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#15

Post by redthrowaway » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:34 PM UTC

Cherad wrote: post #7

olivercameron wrote: post #2

I just can't see how Tesla can win this case in court. As anyone who has ever watched Jeremy Clarkson will tell you, you know he would rather resign from Top Gear than apologise for this.

While I'm sure Tesla wouldn't accept just an apology from Jeremy Clarkson, there'll be "lost sales" damages in the squillions, this is very true. Clarkson's offended entire countries without remorse and everyone involved moves on and gets on with their lives. Does anyone know the jurisdiction for this legal action? I suspect treatment of the case in the UK will differ to that in the US.

Actually, the papers they've filed with the courts specify damages http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/default/files/tesla_-_claim...

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#16

Post by joeguilmette » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:35 PM UTC

olivercameron wrote: post #2

I just can't see how Tesla can win this case in court. As anyone who has ever watched Jeremy Clarkson will tell you, you know he would rather resign from Top Gear than apologise for this.

I dont watch Top Gear and while I follow tech news and new technology, I'm not a car person.

That said, this public débâcle has not played out in Tesla's favor to this consumer. It seems to me that they got an unfavorable review and aren't happy with it, and it seems that Top Gear is winning the war of public relations.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#17

Post by eli » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:36 PM UTC

olivercameron wrote: post #2

I just can't see how Tesla can win this case in court. As anyone who has ever watched Jeremy Clarkson will tell you, you know he would rather resign from Top Gear than apologise for this.

Are you familiar with British libel law? It's infamously plaintiff friendly. People have lost even though the statements in question were, in fact, truthful.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#18

Post by khafra » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:39 PM UTC

machrider wrote: post #11

dman wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think any victory in courts is going to be a pyrrhic one. Ive said it before on earlier threads and I will say it again here - Tesla is alienating a large section of auto enthusiasts by going after Top Gear. It might be that some marketing guru has figured out that suing Top Gear is a cheaper way to get headlines than running a campaign. But they have picked the wrong target - Top Gear is at the heart and centre of…

I don't know, I think if you're an enthusiast who cares about the environment, Clarkson isn't your favorite guy ever. I felt like the piece on the Tesla was pretty offensive in how biased it was, and I normally like the guys on Top Gear.

I do think Clarkson is a bit over the top anti-conservation; but suing him for that seems like the worst possible response. Something along the lines of a clever rebuttal in the form of a short video could've scored them some goodwill points.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#19

Post by timthorn » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:41 PM UTC

eli wrote: post #17

olivercameron wrote: post #2

I just can't see how Tesla can win this case in court. As anyone who has ever watched Jeremy Clarkson will tell you, you know he would rather resign from Top Gear than apologise for this.

Are you familiar with British libel law? It's infamously plaintiff friendly. People have lost even though the statements in question were, in fact, truthful.

I'd like to see references for that. Truth is an absolute defence against libel.

Re: Top Gear responds to Tesla

#20

Post by elliottcarlson » Sat, Apr 02, 2011, 9:41 PM UTC

CoffeeDregs wrote: post #6

Seems as though a better plan would be to challenge Top Gear to a rematch of some sort. Make something fun out of this and get the auto enthusiasts cheering. Southwest did this perfectly: got sued, took it to the ring, arm wrestled over it, got crushed, paid the other guy, laughed all the way to the bank and everyone cheered them on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwU9m4oCtRE&#38 ;

Since I grew up in Europe, I wasn't familiar with this story. Here's some additional information for people unfamiliar as well:

http://www.adslogans.co.uk/ww/prvwis09.html