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Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

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Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#141

Post by ghaff »

lloydde wrote: post #73
throwaway98121 wrote: post #3

We sold our vehicle because the monthly payment, insurance, gasoline, and parking costs were adding up to about $1000 a month. I planned on downgrading from an Infiniti to a 3 year old Honda Civic or Fit. I visited three dealerships in my area. The experience was horrible at all three. I consider myself a decent person, but I now judge people who work in car sales or car sales management and not in a good way. Anyway…

Your post reminded me that I’m still smarting from my used 2017 car purchase last year. The windshield is pitted and replacement is the only real option and is expensive. We couldn’t see the speckling. We really noticed in the summer.

Have you checked to see if insurance will cover the windshield? In Massachusetts, cracked or "unsafely" pitted windshield is zero deductible.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#142

Post by khaledtaha »

mdeeks wrote: post #81
FireBeyond wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you can really compare the interior/build quality of the Model 3 to the A4, though. The 3 squeaks and cracks when you push on the dash, has cheaper and cheaper-looking materials, as compared to the A4 (I've driven a 2015 and 2017 A4, and an Model 3).

I tried to keep these out of the calculation and discussion since it is highly subjective. For example, I'm the exact opposite of you. I can't stand my Audi interior now that I've ridden in a Model 3. I find the seats far more comfortable and the minimalist aesthetic far preferable than the million buttons, dials, and pointless displays in my A4. <- This probably triggered a lot of people (Sorry!) which is why I want…

I agree. I has the 2017 S-Line Prestige Edition and I much prefer the interior of a Tesla Model 3.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#143

Post by nightski »

Retric wrote: post #63
nightski wrote: post #37

The cheapest Tesla will be $46k once the tax credit expires at the end of the year. While that is a lot cheaper than before, it's still out of reach of the vast majority of Americans. I'm rooting for Tesla but that is a huge gap to close.

That’s way off the mark. The federal tax credit is only 7,500$ and it’s not removed only dropping ~4K. As to affordability, it’s the used car market that attracts discount buyers making the sticker price largely irrelevant. Which is why even a new Honda Civic runs 20,000+$.

What's off the mark? That is the price listed on Tesla's website. It's obfuscated by the fact that they incorporate "gas savings" into the displayed price, but if you click the info button they give you the "real" price.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#144

Post by Retric »

nightski wrote: post #143
Retric wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s way off the mark. The federal tax credit is only 7,500$ and it’s not removed only dropping ~4K. As to affordability, it’s the used car market that attracts discount buyers making the sticker price largely irrelevant. Which is why even a new Honda Civic runs 20,000+$.

What's off the mark? That is the price listed on Tesla's website. It's obfuscated by the fact that they incorporate "gas savings" into the displayed price, but if you click the info button they give you the "real" price.

The credit is only changing by 3,750 on January 1, it’s not hitting zero.

  $7,500	On or before December 31, 2018
  $3,750	January 1 to June 30, 2019
  $1,875	July 1 to December 31, 2019
That’s not to say the low battery range Tesla 3 will be out by June 30th, but the difference is not dramatic.

You can argue how ‘real’ that gas savings is, but gas is not free and it’s going to be more relevant when someone is buying a used electric vehicle. The gas savings is just as meaningful in years 5-15 but you’re not paying MSRP.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#145

Post by nightski »

dkhenry wrote: post #72
nightski wrote: post #37

The cheapest Tesla will be $46k once the tax credit expires at the end of the year. While that is a lot cheaper than before, it's still out of reach of the vast majority of Americans. I'm rooting for Tesla but that is a huge gap to close.

The top selling automobile in America (Ford F150), has a base price of 43k. The Second best selling automobile ( Chevy Silverado ) is at 42k. In total the Average sale price of an automobile in America is 34k Tesla is still above that, but not by much. I think people discount how much all those trucks and SUV's they see rolling around cost.

Consumers buying a pick up are not going to be buying a Tesla. They are completely different categories of vehicle used for very different purposes.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#146

Post by nightski »

Retric wrote: post #144
nightski wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's off the mark? That is the price listed on Tesla's website. It's obfuscated by the fact that they incorporate "gas savings" into the displayed price, but if you click the info button they give you the "real" price.

The credit is only changing by 3,750 on January 1, it’s not hitting zero. $7,500 On or before December 31, 2018 $3,750 January 1 to June 30, 2019 $1,875 July 1 to December 31, 2019 That’s not to say the low battery range Tesla 3 will be out by June 30th, but the difference is not dramatic. You can argue how ‘real’ that gas savings is, but gas is not free and it’s going to be more relevant when someone is buying a use…

So it will be $44k+ in July (vs the stated 46k). I stand corrected...

If they can get the low battery range Tesla to mid 20s then we'll be talking. But if it is in the mid to upper 30s then the numbers don't really add up and the vehicle remains a luxury.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#147

Post by drdeadringer »

smsm42 wrote: post #129
throwaway98121 wrote: post #3

We sold our vehicle because the monthly payment, insurance, gasoline, and parking costs were adding up to about $1000 a month. I planned on downgrading from an Infiniti to a 3 year old Honda Civic or Fit. I visited three dealerships in my area. The experience was horrible at all three. I consider myself a decent person, but I now judge people who work in car sales or car sales management and not in a good way. Anyway…

There are places where you can't get by on public transit. E.g. most of the Silicon Valley. And I had pretty good experience buying my car via a site where I could configure it online, get price from a dealer (online), come in, see them honor this price (which was not the best possible but quite ok) and get a car without an exhausting sleazy spiel. Unfortunately, this was years ago and the site that did it is long de…

> There are places where you can't get by on public transit. E.g. most of the Silicon Valley.

I am in Silicon Valley and I have been doing fine on public transit for several years now even if I ignore the very occasional rental [taxi, uber &c, car rental].

What "most of Silicon Valley" are you meaning? Is there an element of "what I want where I want when I want at a moments notice" in your statement? Something else I'm not understanding that necessitates me owning a personnel vehicle?

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#148

Post by cjhopman »

_ph_ wrote: post #137
cjhopman wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but that was also true of 2017.

Tesla was quite explicit, that deliveries of the Model 3 started with the high end models first and work downwards from there. They actually started with a middle level model - long range battery but only rear wheel drive. That the production ramp-up was slower than hoped for is known. Mid 2018 they added the AWD model and the performance AWD model, later the mid-range rear wheel drive. Next step, that is clearly com…

I'm sorry, but you are simply rewriting history. As late as July 2017 (when the Model 3 launched), Tesla was claiming that the base model would be available that year (https://electrek.co/2017/07/29/tesla-model-3-production-spec...). They had been saying the same thing (that a $35,000 would exist and be available in 2017 for the previous 3 years).

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#149

Post by smsm42 »

drdeadringer wrote: post #147
smsm42 wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are places where you can't get by on public transit. E.g. most of the Silicon Valley. And I had pretty good experience buying my car via a site where I could configure it online, get price from a dealer (online), come in, see them honor this price (which was not the best possible but quite ok) and get a car without an exhausting sleazy spiel. Unfortunately, this was years ago and the site that did it is long de…

> There are places where you can't get by on public transit. E.g. most of the Silicon Valley. I am in Silicon Valley and I have been doing fine on public transit for several years now even if I ignore the very occasional rental [taxi, uber &c, car rental]. What "most of Silicon Valley" are you meaning? Is there an element of "what I want where I want when I want at a moments notice" in your statement? Something else…

> I am in Silicon Valley

Within a short distance of San Francisco, I presume? Do you have a family? Kids?

> What "most of Silicon Valley" are you meaning?

Anything not within short distance of BART station, basically. All of San Jose, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto (excluding maybe Stanford campus), Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, etc.

> Is there an element of "what I want where I want when I want at a moments notice" in your statement?

If by "moment's notice" you mean getting somewhere within 30 mins vs. getting there in three hours, if you're lucky and no mass transit failure happens - then yes, "moment's notice".

> Something else I'm not understanding that necessitates me owning a personnel vehicle?

Yes. It's literally not possible to do simplest things - like buying groceries, getting to doctor's appointment, going to work, eating out (and I don't mean Michelene starred restaurants, I mean local sushi joint within 2.5 miles of your house), etc. - using public transit in most of SV unless you are prepared to spend literally hours on commute, and you're good at walking distances. If you're lucky to live in SF, some parts of Berkeley/Oakland, etc. - possible. If you live in San Jose and have a family - nope.

Re: Detroit News Vehicle of the Year is a Tesla

#150

Post by fhrow4484 »

mdeeks wrote: post #82
fhrow4484 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

6k insurance over 5 years is $100 per month. That's lower that'd I've expected for a Tesla and Audi. What insurance are you using if you don't mind sharing?

I'm using Geico. They are configured with the exact same plan and deductible: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvcNZP5UwAA76pc.jpg:large

Thanks!
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