“The Tesla Model S is our top-scoring car”

Post by GFischer » Thu, May 09, 2013, 5:55 PM UTC

maratd wrote: post #19

bane wrote: post #8

There's something that's been bothering me about this whole thing. Not the Tesla, but the rest of the market. Is that it? Is it that easy? A guy who made his money selling a phonebook and then an online payment processor can read a few books, hire a few people out of the same industry he's disrupting and build a goddamn amazing car (electric or not)? Why can't the existing industry do this? Why all the mediocre produ…

> Why all the mediocre product that's the tail end of pumping billions of dollars into R&D staffed by largely the same folks Tesla has been hiring? In an established firm, existing product lines pay the bills. No company is an island onto itself. Companies have partners, large clients, relationships, etc. Bottom line? To keep existing product lines healthy, you must pay respect to your loyalties. You start seeing the…

Post by jfb » Thu, May 09, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

jfb wrote: post #39

moconnor wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The classic "Innovator's Dilemma" attempts to address this - the idea here would be that electric cars are disruptive technology, one which otherwise good management practices more or less prevent market encumbents successfully exploiting. Read the book, I highly recommend it if you're interested by these kinds of questions!

But electric cars aren't a disruptive technology. The only thing that might qualify as disruptive about Tesla is their direct to customer sales model, and I have a hard time seeing how they'll get around the entrenched interests there. The Model S is by all accounts an excellent car, and I want one, but I am bearish on Tesla the company.

Post by bifftannen » Thu, May 09, 2013, 5:58 PM UTC

spodek wrote: post #7

I have learned cynicism and skepticism about a lot of media, but Consumer Reports remains one of the few sources -- the only one I can think of offhand -- that I trust without a second thought. I like their business plan and focus on doing what they do well. Their reviews mean something (even to someone like me who lives in Manhattan and doesn't drive).

Post by orangethirty » Thu, May 09, 2013, 6:01 PM UTC

wiredfool wrote: post #134

orangethirty wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Music hath nothing over Ferrari V12 engines. May I present the sounds of a Ferrari Formula 1 V12 from 1994 . Turn up your speakers. Get a hair brush ready. All of your body hair will stand up as the wonderful sound of God's engine crawls up under your skin and makes your essence tingle in pleasure. You might want to smoke a cigarette afterwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXUOomynxw

Eh, I prefer V8's with open headers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_itM5B9fvo

Post by arh68 » Thu, May 09, 2013, 6:02 PM UTC

forgottenpaswrd wrote: post #54

bane wrote: post #8

There's something that's been bothering me about this whole thing. Not the Tesla, but the rest of the market. Is that it? Is it that easy? A guy who made his money selling a phonebook and then an online payment processor can read a few books, hire a few people out of the same industry he's disrupting and build a goddamn amazing car (electric or not)? Why can't the existing industry do this? Why all the mediocre produ…

"Why all the mediocre product that's the tail end of pumping billions of dollars into R&D staffed by largely the same folks Tesla has been hiring?" Because they have hundreds of billions already invested in factories. That's why. You want to drive an electric car? Great, this means that the kilometer assembly line making gears, piston and other stuff is now completely useless. The investment goes down the drain. In R…