4 ms·

Why is your car not a compact econobox? If you have reasons other than social/virtue/fashion signal then perhaps your statement is not true at all?

BoorishBears 5y ago
Without taking sides, the reason people say that about the Model S is the price-to-performance ratio when taken holistically: For example, the 0-60 times of the non-Plaid Model S trims are excellent... but the braking is poor across the board, the non-Plaid Model S run out of steam very quickly at higher speeds, etc. So not a great performance value unless you're only looking at the Plaid and plan to drag race... - And the luxury is great compared to an econobox... but again, you get in a $65,000 ICE and the materials are much better, fit and finish are better, noise levels are better (drivetrains are usually not the main source of noise in cars, tires and wind are) So not exactly a great luxury cad, and luxury cars aren't known for value to start. - And the eco aspect, yes you can argue you're doing something great for the environment... but spending $60k+ on a new car is not exactly the best way to save the environment... You could pick up a reliable used luxury vehicle that gets around 35 mpg like a Lexus HS. It'll take almost 3 years driving to even catch up to the CO2 cost of even the lowest capacity Model S (remember it's not just the battery, it's the entire car. manufacturing cars is intensive stuff regardless of drivetrain) - Now all this isn't to say a Model S is a terrible car, but it's something where, if one looks on paper, it's not as easy to justify buying as the sales figures imply. So there has to be something missing... and that's usually the social/virtue/fashion/cool factor. And there's honestly nothing wrong with that, people don't like to be told this but: we all care a little more about appearances than we let on. Even if you're not consciously thinking "A tesla is a fashion accessory", you're more likely to think: - Replacing the center console with a touchscreen is so cool and futuristic! Than the truth: - Replacing the center console with a touchscreen was a way to make things easier on Tesla: Touchscreens are cheaper once you remember how much tooling is involved in a traditional center console, and what it does it tact time
- manicdee 5y ago
  The choice of buying an electric over an ICE is absolutely better for the environment, regardless of carbon payback time — the reduction in fossil fuel consumption starts immediately and there is now an ICE entering the second hand market helping keep second hand car prices low so someone replacing a much older ICE has a 35mpg option over their previous vehicle.

BoorishBears 5y ago

Without taking sides, the reason people say that about the Model S is the price-to-performance ratio when taken holistically: For example, the 0-60 times of the non-Plaid Model S trims are excellent... but the braking is poor across the board, the non-Plaid Model S run out of steam very quickly at higher speeds, etc. So not a great performance value unless you're only looking at the Plaid and plan to drag race... - And the luxury is great compared to an econobox... but again, you get in a $65,000 ICE and the materials are much better, fit and finish are better, noise levels are better (drivetrains are usually not the main source of noise in cars, tires and wind are) So not exactly a great luxury cad, and luxury cars aren't known for value to start. - And the eco aspect, yes you can argue you're doing something great for the environment... but spending $60k+ on a new car is not exactly the best way to save the environment... You could pick up a reliable used luxury vehicle that gets around 35 mpg like a Lexus HS. It'll take almost 3 years driving to even catch up to the CO2 cost of even the lowest capacity Model S (remember it's not just the battery, it's the entire car. manufacturing cars is intensive stuff regardless of drivetrain) - Now all this isn't to say a Model S is a terrible car, but it's something where, if one looks on paper, it's not as easy to justify buying as the sales figures imply. So there has to be something missing... and that's usually the social/virtue/fashion/cool factor. And there's honestly nothing wrong with that, people don't like to be told this but: we all care a little more about appearances than we let on. Even if you're not consciously thinking "A tesla is a fashion accessory", you're more likely to think: - Replacing the center console with a touchscreen is so cool and futuristic! Than the truth: - Replacing the center console with a touchscreen was a way to make things easier on Tesla: Touchscreens are cheaper once you remember how much tooling is involved in a traditional center console, and what it does it tact time

manicdee 5y ago
The choice of buying an electric over an ICE is absolutely better for the environment, regardless of carbon payback time — the reduction in fossil fuel consumption starts immediately and there is now an ICE entering the second hand market helping keep second hand car prices low so someone replacing a much older ICE has a 35mpg option over their previous vehicle.