Why do wealthier people buy anything but Tesla cars?

Flagpole wrote:

What makes a car a douche bag car are the drivers who drive them. Grand Am appears at first glance NOT to be such a car, but then when you see the people who step out of one, the truth is revealed -- douche bag car.

I am fine with putting the Camaro in the same category.

My mother drove a Grand Am for a number of years.

I've only seen average folk drive them.

I don't know who you have observed.

Yes, it's the driver, not the car.

But there are all types of people driving all types of cars.

The car shouldn't take the blame.

Judgmental, blowhard people are insecure.

I'd never buy a Tesla. It's a really ugly car. The interior is uncomfortable, and the fit and finish are cheap. The range makes it largely worthless for road trips. Sure, there are a lot of charging stations on certain corridors, but those are the trips where I'd prefer a train or plane. (And who wants to sit in a Popeye's on I-95, waiting for your car to recharge?) Road trips are for getting off the beaten path.

Also, while the Tesla has crazy fast acceleration from 0-60, it's not a sports car. The handling is just okay. People who really like to drive would probably have more fun in a Miata. And who over the age of 18 really wants to experience 1-g acceleration on any kind of a regular basis? It's the kind of thing you try once.

I am bewildered wrote:

Doing the math, I see zero logic in anyone who buys cars in the $70 to $140K price range buying anything but a Tesla car.

The way I see it: You get huge cargo capacity, you get arguably the fastest car out there, you get crazy advanced diagnostics and control, you get updates that won't leave you with an iPod dock in the car, you get tremendous safety.

I'm no sales person here, and don't have a dog in this fight, and likely won't ever be in the position to buy one of these cars. But really, why does anyone dropping that much cash anyway, not go this direction?

Faster car out there? Crazy advanced diagnostics and control. You're way off base. My BMW M4 makes the Tesla look like a joke. That goes for looks, power, and feel.

Star wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

What makes a car a douche bag car are the drivers who drive them. Grand Am appears at first glance NOT to be such a car, but then when you see the people who step out of one, the truth is revealed -- douche bag car.

I am fine with putting the Camaro in the same category.

My mother drove a Grand Am for a number of years.

I've only seen average folk drive them.

I don't know who you have observed.

Yes, it's the driver, not the car.

But there are all types of people driving all types of cars.

The car shouldn't take the blame.

Judgmental, blowhard people are insecure.

There are exceptions to every rule. Perhaps your mother is an exception. You didn't clarify if she were a douche bag or not, but through context I will surmise that you say not.

Nothing judgmental about noticing a certain kind of car typically has a certain kind of driver. See a minivan, then that's typically a family man driving it. See a Grand Am, then it's almost always a douche bag, so it's a douche bag car. Again, there are exceptions to every rule. I am sure your mother is terrific in every way.

Swing it, man. We like seeing how awesome you are, with the M4 and all.

I've got a GTX that's as un-modern as anything out there, and I wouldn't trade it for your BMW, for what it's worth. The Tesla at $40K is an awesome car, but since everyone here seems to go on massive roadtrips off the beaten path every single day, I guess it won't work for them.

It would work for me, though, for probably 95 percent of the driving I do. For the other 5 percent, I take the road trip car that uses gas, or the Plymouth if I feel like being a jerk. A lot of you know how that feels.

The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.

Have you even driven a Model S?

Even off the beaten path, it has active air suspension that can handle multiple terrains.

Okay:

Extremely Unreliable?ALWAYS Leaving their owners stranded?

Mine has never been unreliable. Never been stranded.

Amateur Interior?

Perhaps simple for the user. Personally, I would define my past cars as Amateur or primitive with all their buttons. I don't know how anyone would call a self driving car, Amateur.

260 miles?

Mine goes 340, not including the regenerative breaking which has upped my percentage life per trip and allowed for longer break life.

Tires wear out due to Torque and weight?

My last Tesla was a P85 rear wheel only. Same set of tires for 3 years and sold with them on. The P100D does not even slip on the roads when flooring it, with its dual motors, and fastest production car in the world 0-60.

Panel Gaps? You can have that, I don't even know what or why that matters.

A guinea pig?

Aren't we all guinea pigs to every new company when we purchase their product? When you eventually buy a Tesla it will be because it has been proven to be the safest, fastest, most efficient and effective transport vehicle. The reason you will buy it is because others bought it before you because you were afraid to commit to something new or believe in a new concept.

Articles about inefficiency:

This is a logical and rational subject to learn about, just have to read both sides. In the end Electric Cars as cleaner/greener currently than the alternative and still a priority and a must do for our human population. More importantly, they show that over time Electric cars will become even greener themselves.

But here are my thoughts:

They say, in any business, you don't break even until 5 years in. Well, with Tesla, they've never said they are immediately reversing global warming, they know it's a lot of work to get to that point. Rather than speaking financially though, the Tesla business won't break even environmentally until electric cars replace gas cars. That's the goal and the goal matters and should be the focus. Let's get there as fast as possible! By buying electric cars!

As humans, we know we are creators. This is why we are the most destructive species on the planet. Almost everything we create is not truly sustainable and causes harm. Appliances, Bikes, parking lots, shoes, clothing, cell phones, etc and many other items in our daily life only exist at the expense of something else being harmed, taken, removed, or tainted.

Knowing this takes a level of humility and acceptance in order to move forward and, therefore, Try!

So, trying to make the world a better place, always will involve struggle, harm, negativity, resistance at first. But, that does not mean the end result will look like that.

A great quote for you, 'Don't let perfection be the enemy of good.'

So, there is the question, 'if you had the opportunity to cause less harm, would you?' But an even more important question for a logical, rational working person, would be the humble question, 'Would you harm something initially, in order to cause much much less harm later?'

That's the question we need to understand as reality and as a human that participates in a normal society. If not, then living off the grid, in the trees is always available. And honestly, very respectable and noble for one self. But does not address a global scale issue.

Imagine yourself trying to single handedly solve a global scale issue. And you are the only person/company who is doing it through a large sector/transportation. Seems like as a person, you could be more empathetic towards Elon and simply HELP! Live in the woods or help. The only other option is to bitch and never really try.

My favorite quote, 'You are either an activist or an in activist.'

You are either active or just a blob of nothingness.

Well it's obvious you don't drive much or know much about cars.

Anyway I got through about 75% of your post and am now retracting my previous post and agree with flagpole (gasp) that tesla owners are Douche Bags.

Keep drinking that Musk Kool aide you brainwashed loonie.

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Ok wow I managed to read the remaining 25% and am now doubling down on my insults.

Douche bag!

I am bewildered wrote:RE: Why do wealthier people buy anything but Tesla cars?

Who says I only have a Tesla?

Is there anything constructive you would like to add? Or just call me a douche bag for responding to you without ignorance.

I would say that I drive quite a bit and know something about cars. I am a mechanical engineer, stripped and rebuilt 5 cars when i was in high school and college. Quarter mile raced, drifted, and rally.

But I'm the arse?

I don't need to add anything I stand by previous post.

Thanks

Lamborghini Veneno.

Duracell wrote:

Exactly. Some people here are really underestimating the battery/charging issue with Tesla's.

They are great for shortish journeys, say to work then put it on charge and drive back at the end of the day. But for a road trip, or long journey's to areas with limited infrastructure for charging. No chance.

Tesla's as stated, get around 200-250 miles of range with normal driving. The 'supercharger' takes SEVENTY FIVE MINUTES to fully charge. That's if you can find one. The ordinary chargers are up to SIXTEEN TIMES slower.

I can fill my tank in seconds.

OP must work for Tesla.

I agree that this is my main dislike for electric cars, not that I can afford a Tesla. First of all, I'm in Alaska, so the infrastructure isn't there. If I'm in the lower 48, I'm on a road trip and often in remote locations.

It's been said that on a road trip, you'll want to stop to take breaks anyway. But, when I stop on a road trip, I don't want to spend 75 minutes hanging out at a charging station, I want to stop at a park to go for a run or hike.

Also, electricity is actually more expensive than gasoline in some locations, even at relatively low current gas prices. I read an article recently that that is the case in San Diego for example. I did the calculations for where I live, and an electric car (or plug-in hybrid like the Prius Prime plugged in) costs about the same as gasoline. There's no savings for using an electric car here unless gasoline prices go up more than my electric rates.

It's cool, then, that the Tesla car isn't the only car on earth. You can drive something more appropriate for where you do your driving.

At some point, the car you drive WILL be electric. And the world will still continue to revolve, as they say.

Hurl wrote:

Swing it, man. We like seeing how awesome you are, with the M4 and all.

I've got a GTX that's as un-modern as anything out there, and I wouldn't trade it for your BMW, for what it's worth. The Tesla at $40K is an awesome car, but since everyone here seems to go on massive roadtrips off the beaten path every single day, I guess it won't work for them.

It would work for me, though, for probably 95 percent of the driving I do. For the other 5 percent, I take the road trip car that uses gas, or the Plymouth if I feel like being a jerk. A lot of you know how that feels.

The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.

No one's asking you to trade your GTX for an M4. The GTX might be worth as much as the wheels on the M4. I never said I was awesome for driving an M4. I was just stating that it's not even comparable to the Tesla. Completely different engineering. However, I don't think there's even an argument when it comes to the powertrain and looks of the car.

be serious! wrote:

ryan foreman wrote:

Test drive a Ford Raptor, then let us know if you still want to discuss this topic.

If you drew a Venn diagram of potential Ford Raptor buyers and potential Tesla S buyers the intersection of the 2 sets couldn't fill Hayward Field.

Ha! Here in Aspen, the wealthy and trust funders either want/have a Tesla or have a Raptor. Nice coverage of both opposite, but similar spectrums. Around town the richest people choose a Tesla because they want to appear more green or just have whats new. It's not a function of price or value.

Still pleeeeeeenty of Q7s, Range Rovers, MB GL and G's rolling around town though.