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That just indicates that you make enough money to buy a more expensive car, not that the Tesla is not significantly more expensive (i.e., about double what you

That just indicates that you make enough money to buy a more expensive car, not that the Tesla is not significantly more expensive (i.e., about double what you are paying).

toomuchtodo 13y ago
That's entirely fair. I didn't look at it that way. What do we consider affordable? I haven't had the time to do this, but you could take US Census data (average/median income per zip code), derive a formula for percentrage of income someone can spend on transportation, and thereby determine what affordable is. A Model S is definitely a luxury item at this time; on the other hand, if it was self-driving, and could roll into bays to recharge all in software, with access being on-demand (Uber, with no drivers), they wouldn't be expensive. It would be the same as a company buying airplanes and selling seats on said expensive aircraft. Maybe we're looking at Tesla wrong. They're not selling luxury cars; they're bootstrapping a mobility company by selling to the wealthy.
- Locke1689 13y ago
  Maybe we're looking at Tesla wrong. They're not selling luxury cars; they're bootstrapping a mobility company by selling to the wealthy. I would agree with this statement 100%.
  - darkmighty 13y ago
    It's the best strategy also because it makes sense to them to produce a car that has a controlled demand, since they're essentially limited by battery production. It also showcases the quality of the brand, associating it with reliability and luxury -- and it's a sedan, which has a smaller power requirement than other luxurious classes.
    - toomuchtodo 13y ago
      > and it's a sedan, which has a smaller power requirement than other luxurious classes. Model S vs the new Corvette Stingray https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VOqWlOrlkIg https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VOqW... If you need more power than that, you might as well bolt a turbine engine on your car.
- Tossrock 13y ago
  That is actually what Elon Musk has explicitly said: http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-p... "1. Build sports car 2. Use that money to build an affordable car 3. Use that money to build an even more affordable car"
  - toomuchtodo 13y ago
    Yes, but you're assuming those affordable cars are for purchase. If Elon can make them self-driving, you get the benefit of never having all the expenses that go with vehicle ownership, and he makes the spread between an expensive electric transportation appliance and people paying dirt cheap rates to get from A->B (because electric is so much cheaper per mile than petroleum).
    - Tossrock 13y ago
      What? I'm not assuming anything. All I did was post a link to Elon Musk's own words.

That just indicates that you make enough money to buy a more expensive car, not that the Tesla is not significantly more expensive (i.e., about double what you are paying).

toomuchtodo 13y ago

That's entirely fair. I didn't look at it that way. What do we consider affordable? I haven't had the time to do this, but you could take US Census data (average/median income per zip code), derive a formula for percentrage of income someone can spend on transportation, and thereby determine what affordable is. A Model S is definitely a luxury item at this time; on the other hand, if it was self-driving, and could roll into bays to recharge all in software, with access being on-demand (Uber, with no drivers), they wouldn't be expensive. It would be the same as a company buying airplanes and selling seats on said expensive aircraft. Maybe we're looking at Tesla wrong. They're not selling luxury cars; they're bootstrapping a mobility company by selling to the wealthy.

Locke1689 13y ago
Maybe we're looking at Tesla wrong. They're not selling luxury cars; they're bootstrapping a mobility company by selling to the wealthy. I would agree with this statement 100%.
- darkmighty 13y ago
  It's the best strategy also because it makes sense to them to produce a car that has a controlled demand, since they're essentially limited by battery production. It also showcases the quality of the brand, associating it with reliability and luxury -- and it's a sedan, which has a smaller power requirement than other luxurious classes.
  - toomuchtodo 13y ago
    > and it's a sedan, which has a smaller power requirement than other luxurious classes. Model S vs the new Corvette Stingray https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VOqWlOrlkIg https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VOqW... If you need more power than that, you might as well bolt a turbine engine on your car.
Tossrock 13y ago
That is actually what Elon Musk has explicitly said: http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-p... "1. Build sports car 2. Use that money to build an affordable car 3. Use that money to build an even more affordable car"
- toomuchtodo 13y ago
  Yes, but you're assuming those affordable cars are for purchase. If Elon can make them self-driving, you get the benefit of never having all the expenses that go with vehicle ownership, and he makes the spread between an expensive electric transportation appliance and people paying dirt cheap rates to get from A->B (because electric is so much cheaper per mile than petroleum).
  - Tossrock 13y ago
    What? I'm not assuming anything. All I did was post a link to Elon Musk's own words.