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Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

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Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#221

Post by stevewilber »

kzahel wrote: post #17

"With a track record of zero deaths or serious, permanent injuries since our vehicles went into production six years ago, there is no safer car on the road than a Tesla." I recall one Tesla caused death[1], and I'm sure there have been more. Not that I really think Tesla is any more dangerous than any other car in this regard though. [1] http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2014/02/07/tesla-driver-blames...

There was also this[1] accident where a Tesla utterly destroyed an Accord in a head-on collision. Again, the fatalities were not occupants of the Tesla.

The Model S weighs roughly the same as a midsize SUV. I wonder if the difference in weight distribution makes it more or less dangerous for the other car in an accident.

[1] http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming...

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#222

Post by nailer »

lotsofmangos wrote: post #125
nailer wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medium is famous for internet drama, and more recently parody articles about Medium and internet drama. If I read something 'by Elon Musk' on Medium I normally: - Assume it's not Elon Musk, but rather someone who hates Elon Musk - Start reading it in an Elon-Musk-Bond-Villain persona

I haven't seen any fake Elon Musk articles on there. Can you show me some of them?

I didn't say any existed. Re-read the comment.

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#223

Post by danielweber »

chongli wrote: post #187
downandout wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Do you mean ridiculous as in you believe that he is exaggerating, or ridiculous as in it is amazing that the car held up so well? I doubt that he would simply make up verifiable facts concerning a specific, well publicized accident to make his company look better. That said, it is quite clear from these facts that this driver is lucky to be breathing today regardle…

It's ridiculous how much emphasis the media placed on the fire while ignoring the extreme speed and consequently minor injuries involved in the crash.

Most normal cars survive "normal" crashes just fine, don't they?

Tesla buyers tend to be sports car buyers who want to drive fast. Whether this means we should expect accidents with more force or that Tesla should anticipate this and design accordingly is debatable.

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#224

Post by steveklabnik »

johnward wrote: post #129
JohnBooty wrote: post #58

In a sense, Teslas are the least safe cars on the road, because I'd kill every single one of you in order to own one.

I would really love to drive a Model S. I'm not sure if all of the Californians on HN realize how special CA is for seeing awesome cars. I saw cars that I never thought I would see in person (in my lifetime) when I was in CA. Not only that but you would see them a handful at a time. I know of 4-5 Model S' in the Pittsburgh area but rarely see exotics.

Pittsburgh has more interesting cars than I'd expected: I've seen an orange lambo or two, and an Enzo...

Not to mention all the cool stuff that comes out during the Vintage Grand Prix.

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#225

Post by sp332 »

johnward wrote: post #157
squigs25 wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

exactly my point - this is purely a marketing stunt.

Well the chances of actually penetrating the aluminum shell of the battery pack seem pretty low anyway. They are just answering the media shit storm they get for any little problem with an equally over kill replacement that will lead to media shit storm.

There's no such thing as bad press. As long as Tesla has people looking at them they're going to use the opportunity to push their product.

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#226

Post by Locke1689 »

dangayle wrote: post #209
fooqux wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's not that different from Apple in that respect; random mp3 player breaks, no problem. iPod breaks and the torches and pitchforks come into view. Considering that a "random mp3 player" costs $6 on Amazon and that an Apple iPod costs over $200, I'd say people are totally justified to get upset. They spent the extra money expecting a product whose quality matched its price. I'd say this is true of cars as well. Whe…

Teslas aren't exceedingly expensive. They're not cheap, but they're not iPod vs Amazon MP3 expensive.

Compared to what? A Tesla isn't anywhere near my price range (and I drive a C-class).

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#227

Post by DVassallo »

chongli wrote: post #187
downandout wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Do you mean ridiculous as in you believe that he is exaggerating, or ridiculous as in it is amazing that the car held up so well? I doubt that he would simply make up verifiable facts concerning a specific, well publicized accident to make his company look better. That said, it is quite clear from these facts that this driver is lucky to be breathing today regardle…

It's ridiculous how much emphasis the media placed on the fire while ignoring the extreme speed and consequently minor injuries involved in the crash.

True. Here's what happens to a Ford Focus that crashes into a concrete wall at ~100mph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmRkPyuet_o

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#228

Post by toomuchtodo »

Locke1689 wrote: post #226
dangayle wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teslas aren't exceedingly expensive. They're not cheap, but they're not iPod vs Amazon MP3 expensive.

Compared to what? A Tesla isn't anywhere near my price range (and I drive a C-class).

My Infiniti payment is something like ~$550/month. To go to a Model S would only cost me ~$800 more per month, which is 5 hours of my time from a billable perspective.

Yes, the payment is higher, but I'd have no fuel expenses (currently ~$350/month), so technically its only $450 more a month (3 hours of my time).

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#229

Post by Houshalter »

marvin wrote: post #181
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet, I can't help but feel they're being very, very defensive over it. I can't blame them, of course, given how something trivial like a car fire (trivial given the average frequency of them) is turned into a national news event. At the same time, Tesla's attention to quality and perfection and what-have-you will end up in them being heavily scrutinised. It's not that different from Apple in that respect; random…

Tesla is very, very defensive over this. This hasn't been stated explicitly, but it is very clear if you read between the lines of their PR initiatives. According to statements from the company, the media coverage after the fires last year caused a sharp decline in the rate of Model S reservations. It has since recovered, but after these events Tesla started viewing poor public perception as an existential threat. Th…

Man are we going to have a difficult time with self-driving cars.

Re: Tesla Adds Titanium Underbody Shield and Aluminum Deflector Plates to Model S

#230

Post by JeffL »

DVassallo wrote: post #227
chongli wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's ridiculous how much emphasis the media placed on the fire while ignoring the extreme speed and consequently minor injuries involved in the crash.

True. Here's what happens to a Ford Focus that crashes into a concrete wall at ~100mph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmRkPyuet_o

That's not really comparable, though, because this video is going straight into a super reinforced wall. The Tesla accident was hitting the roundabout, going on into another wall, then going on into a tree, so each of those is much less of an impact than smack into a reinforced wall.
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