I have driven the future and it is Tesla

[rwh11385]

the designer of that car is only 25 years old!

meanwhile, the 20-something year old haters in this thread are taking a bong rip in their mom's basement. Why go outside? their E30s don't run anyway. :p

A former classmate of mine is building EV karts in his mom's basement as part of a start-up with another kid. He's taking it to G-Zero Championship Racing Series, although they've already won an international electric kart race. [A race one of my buddies participated in and helped get off the ground during its inaugural year and now is working for Tesla]

It's no E30 nor supercar but certainly gives me hope for the future with entrepreneurship and innovation, instead of pessimism and looking at the world with a sense of defeat.

[rwh11385]

In the news today...

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/05/video-the-tesla-model-s-is-our-top-scoring-car.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-09/tesla-electric-model-s-sedan-grabs-consumer-reports-top-rating.html

Tesla’s Electric Model S Gets Consumer Reports Top Rating

Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA)’s electric Model S, Motor Trend’s 2013 “Car of the Year,” received the highest rating from Consumer Reports in an evaluation of the luxury sedan that led first-quarter North American plug-in car sales.
The Model S from Palo Alto, California-based Tesla scored 99 out of 100 points, the non-profit magazine said in an e-mailed statement. The $89,650 car bought by Consumer Reports “performed better, or just as well overall” as any vehicle it’s ever tested, the Yonkers, New York-based magazine said.

“It accelerates, handles and brakes like a sports car, it has the ride and quietness of a luxury car and is far more energy efficient than the best hybrid cars,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing, in a statement.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-08/tesla-posts-first-quarterly-profit-on-model-s-deliveries.html

Tesla Surges After Posting Profit; Value Exceeds Fiat’s

Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), the maker of electric cars run by billionaire Elon Musk, surged 24 percent after posting a first profit, beating estimates

Tesla reached $69.40 at the close in New York. Its market capitalization totaled $8 billion, exceeding the $7.8 billion for Turin, Italy-based Fiat SpA (F), the majority owner of Chrysler Group LLC.

btw, if you invest in Tesla at the beginning of the year, you'd have more than doubled your money after today. And with First Solar, up 52%.

Tesla is one of the top 10 most shortest stocks on the market and so far, those people have been losers betting against Musk. I look forward to future developments and the third generation EV from them.

[TYBG]

Call me a bong rippin basement boy but I don't think I could ever give up gas motors. They just do it for me ;)

[GillesBigCowboy]

Very impressive, but also very expensive... I am surprised that Consumer Reports rated it so well. I am not a CR reader but I thought they were more cost-focused.

[Solarian]

I think electric cars are a great thing for motoring, even if I prefer ICEs myself. Think of what cars did to horses. People still ride horses, but for fun, for pleasure. Nobody commutes around on a horse anymore. It's going to be the same with ICE vs electric. All of our daily/commuter/beaters are going to be electric, but those of us that are really into cars will have an ICE powered car to rip around on the track, or possibly weekends. Best part is, if we make the switch soon, there'll be more gas left over to have fun with.

[rwh11385]

I think electric cars are a great thing for motoring, even if I prefer ICEs myself. Think of what cars did to horses. People still ride horses, but for fun, for pleasure. Nobody commutes around on a horse anymore. It's going to be the same with ICE vs electric. All of our daily/commuter/beaters are going to be electric, but those of us that are really into cars will have an ICE powered car to rip around on the track, or possibly weekends. Best part is, if we make the switch soon, there'll be more gas left over to have fun with.

I was just remembering after TYBG's comment about the quote from Top Gear between James May and Jay Leno on Series 12, Ep 7 about the hydrogen powered Honda FCX Clarity - that cars helped horses stop being beaten while used for transportation and now better kept as a hobby. Leno was saying that hydrogen (or likewise now EVs) would save the petrol for the MGs and weekend cars. (As you mentioned) I don't think there are many bigger petrolheads than Leno, but even he knows that simple transportation and commuting needs to be more sustainable for us to keep up our gasoline-driven loves.

[herbivor]

Very impressive, but also very expensive... I am surprised that Consumer Reports rated it so well. I am not a CR reader but I thought they were more cost-focused.

It's in the same class and price as a 6 series or M5 and better than both, so in comparison, it's actually a great deal for a far better car. Any one who has the money to blow on a $100k car is an idiot for not at least considering a Tesla S.

[MF DOOM]

Ferrari made a vow to never make an electric car. High five ferrari.

[Solarian]

I was just remembering after TYBG's comment about the quote from Top Gear between James May and Jay Leno on Series 12, Ep 7 about the hydrogen powered Honda FCX Clarity - that cars helped horses stop being beaten while used for transportation and now better kept as a hobby. Leno was saying that hydrogen (or likewise now EVs) would save the petrol for the MGs and weekend cars. (As you mentioned) I don't think there are many bigger petrolheads than Leno, but even he knows that simple transportation and commuting needs to be more sustainable for us to keep up our gasoline-driven loves.

Yea, I actually forgot where I had heard that, but that was it. I agree with it wholeheartedly, and I really think there's plenty of room for both. I think a Model S would be a great family car to go with a fun weekend/track car.

[enigmaticdream]

Ferrari made a vow to never make an electric car. High five ferrari.

Just like BMW has stuck with high revving NA cars. Oh, wait...

[MF DOOM]

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...130344501.html

[Schnitzer318is]

I would love to own a model S as a daily driver. I mean LOVE. Would cut our monthly gas costs from like $300+ to less than $100. But... I don't have that kind of cheddar. Plus it would take about 40 years for the car to pay itself off at that rate. I doubt it would last that long... lol.

Then again if gasoline prices rise sharply that could change the equation a bit.

[rwh11385]

I would love to own a model S as a daily driver. I mean LOVE. Would cut our monthly gas costs from like $300+ to less than $100. But... I don't have that kind of cheddar. Plus it would take about 40 years for the car to pay itself off at that rate. I doubt it would last that long... lol.

Then again if gasoline prices rise sharply that could change the equation a bit.

How many years does it take for the Panamera to pay for itself? Or any other car for that matter?

[Schnitzer318is]

How many years does it take for the Panamera to pay for itself? Or any other car for that matter?

Not sure if you are being witty or? Guessing you are being facetious but who knows with R3v sometimes.

I was talking about the gas savings paying for the car over a 40 year period, which in and of itself is not a feasible argument for buying a car like this. Or any car.

The model S is a perfect city car for my situation (other than the 90k pricetag, that's a little less than our house cost us). Wife and I drive (we commute together) about 60 miles per day for work. Then for pleasure days you figure maybe 200 miles. Plus it looks amazing, handles reasonably well, is quick enough, and has every creature comfort. That's why I say I would love to own one. Would probably put 1 tank of gas in each of our 4 ICE cars once every other month. Hell, we might even sell one or two of them and save more money.

[rwh11385]

Not sure if you are being witty or? Guessing you are being facetious but who knows with R3v sometimes.

I was talking about the gas savings paying for the car over a 40 year period, which in and of itself is not a feasible argument for buying a car like this. Or any car.

The model S is a perfect city car for my situation (other than the 90k pricetag, that's a little less than our house cost us). Wife and I drive (we commute together) about 60 miles per day for work. Then for pleasure days you figure maybe 200 miles. Plus it looks amazing, handles reasonably well, is quick enough, and has every creature comfort. That's why I say I would love to own one. Would probably put 1 tank of gas in each of our 4 ICE cars once every other month. Hell, we might even sell one or two of them and save more money.

I was pointing out exactly what you said, people are looking at the Model S because it looks cool, handles, is quick, is luxurious. The competing Panamera has the same qualities which creates demand. No one ever rationalizes the purchase of a Panamera on the payback period, mostly because there isn't one. The gas savings is an added bonus to an already top notch car, but for some reason people try to make the argument that it has to pay for itself to be logical, whereas the vast majority of new cars don't "pay for themselves", and certainly not luxury cars. If people only cared about price and gas savings rationalizing the purchase, we'd all be driving Fiestas (or used cars) and then Ferraris wouldn't exist.