Is that why TSLA stock is up today?
doubtful. it's not a real award like COTY or International Engine Of The Year.
2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
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Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#12If they can get to volume production, I think the $50-60k models, leased, could be great sellers. The really interesting thing would be to rip off Better Place's model and lease the cars at a discounted monthly payment plus a per-mile "fuel equivalence" charge. It's just accounting, but you could basically price the Model S at BMW 3-series lease rates (or even Toyota Avalon!), plus a per-mile fuel cost which was 10-20% less than gasoline. Combine that with the quality of the Model S, the environmental/status benefit (90+% of the girls I've polled would be more impressed by a Model S than a 2-3x as expensive Ferrari), and HOV lane access, and it would be great.
The Leaf, which basically sucks by comparison as a car, is essentially free in California ($200/mo lease, $2500 California incentive tax credit covers the first year, fuel, HOV lane, and toll savings vs. a less-efficient gas car pretty much cover lease payments IMO).
I'd have a Leaf as a hold-over until Teslas ship in quantity if I had a second parking space.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#13Now the galleries would look a lot better if they used normal photographs; instead of hideous HDR and heavy photoshopping.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#14They need a lot more dealerships. Look at the map of their dealers and there's a huge hole in the middle of the country. A couple in Chicago, one in Denver, and one in Houston. That's it. If you live in say Tennessee you're looking at close to a 10 hour drive to even see one.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#15When will the Google self-driving fleet include a Tesla?
Tesla is actually the perfect partner for google's robocars, as the other big manufacturers are bound to lose from declining number of autos, tesla could in fact gain.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#16If they can get to volume production, I think the $50-60k models, leased, could be great sellers. The really interesting thing would be to rip off Better Place's model and lease the cars at a discounted monthly payment plus a per-mile "fuel equivalence" charge. It's just accounting, but you could basically price the Model S at BMW 3-series lease rates (or even Toyota Avalon!), plus a per-mile fuel cost which was 10-2…
> (90+% of the girls I've polled would be more impressed by a Model S than a 2-3x as expensive Ferrari)
maybe in SF (or US in general, I don't know). around most of Europe flashy loud cars are still cool, fortunately.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#17They need a lot more dealerships. Look at the map of their dealers and there's a huge hole in the middle of the country. A couple in Chicago, one in Denver, and one in Houston. That's it. If you live in say Tennessee you're looking at close to a 10 hour drive to even see one. http://www.teslamotors.com/locations
They need something to sell first. All those showrooms can do right now is sell reservations for a possible 2014 sale.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#18Good for Tesla. I have seen and sat in, the Model S at their showroom in the Park Meadows Mall in Denver (well, south of Denver). It is an impressive looking car and everything just feels right. I have not driven it, however.
That screen in the center console is huge. Was it on and if so how was it to use? Looks pretty useful for mapping.
I find it way to huge, and kind of out of place as the rest is subtle and clean.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#19Even if Tesla do not survive, ten years from now every new electric car will be a descendant of the Model S in all the major ways - floor-mounted battery pack, lack of physical buttons, etc.
The Model S is a revolutionary car, but I really hope the the big touch display without physical buttons doesn't become the norm. I really prefer the feedback you get from them while keeping your eyes on the road, especially for common functions like the temperature and basic stereo control.
People will disagree with me, but I have really grown to like the current iDrive system which lets me keep my looking up high while my hand sits in a comfortable position.
Re: 2013 Automobile of the Year: Tesla Model S
#20If they can get to volume production, I think the $50-60k models, leased, could be great sellers. The really interesting thing would be to rip off Better Place's model and lease the cars at a discounted monthly payment plus a per-mile "fuel equivalence" charge. It's just accounting, but you could basically price the Model S at BMW 3-series lease rates (or even Toyota Avalon!), plus a per-mile fuel cost which was 10-2…
That's a really great idea. It's kind of like the Solar City model applied to cars. I wonder if anyone has thought of that?