I test drove a Tesla Model S 100 D

[Craig T]

I have no idea whether the car has soul or not. I've never been in one. I know the cars are trendy as hell where I live and anybody with a facelift, nose job, or implants in some part of their body has a Tesla.

I do know the company is hemorrhaging money on every car it makes, even with heavy subsidies, struggling to meet production deadlines, etc. It's not a place I want to dump six-figures of my hard earned money. ...but then again, I don't fight traffic, don't have a commute to work, and I'm not sensitive to gas prices. I guess I'm not the target market.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Craig T

I have no idea whether the car has soul or not. I've never been in one. I know the cars are trendy as hell where I live and anybody with a facelift, nose job, or implants in some part of their body has a Tesla.

I do know the company is hemorrhaging money on every car it makes, even with heavy subsidies, struggling to meet production deadlines, etc. It's not a place I want to dump six-figures of my hard earned money. ...but then again, I don't fight traffic, don't have a commute to work, and I'm not sensitive to gas prices. I guess I'm not the target market.

Dead on, I'm pretty close to this whole thing (for a few years now) in a relative sense and it's completely illogical IMHO. A big part of me wants it to succeed but every intellectual bone in my body is screaming WTF?

* caveat... I'm wide open to the idea that my old world thought process simply can't keep pace with the reality of this stuff but honestly it's all uncomfortably silly to those of us in the business, even those of us making good money looking the other way. "Strange days indeed"

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by einreb

Some time later, I ended up with a 70k mile 2013 Volt for $13,000. Its a little peculiar in some ways like a lousy user interface for climate/radio, but holy crap I love this car and am completely sold on the feel of an electric drivetrain. Its surprisingly quick and extremely pleasant to drive. We rarely go past the 40ish mile electric range and when we do the gas kicks in and its no big deal.

Congratulations, Volts are great cars. Mrs WD and I each owned a gen 1. When we retired we didn’t need two cars so sold the both and got a 2017 Gen 2. The user interface is greatly improved and the range is a bit longer. We love it.

[daepp]

I felt like most of you, and then last Saturday I drove a Tesla Model 3.

It simply blew me away. And yeah, for those of us in So Cal traffic it's nice not to have to constantly hit the brakes. Quite simply, it feels like driving my 911 in second gear, except it never seems to run out of torque like my Porsche above 5500 rpms.

I have been quite the naysayer (actually, more of a hater) of the myriad of Prius's and hybrids and plugin's and volts etc. One drive changed my mind about the Tesla.

And no, I wouldn't buy one "for the planet" or "to save money". I would buy it because I want to drive one.

[Norm K]

Combine a fair amount of "moaney" with a large dose of sanctimony and you have the typical Tesla owner.

_

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by daepp

I felt like most of you, and then last Saturday I drove a Tesla Model 3.

It simply blew me away. And yeah, for those of us in So Cal traffic it's nice not to have to constantly hit the brakes. Quite simply, it feels like driving my 911 in second gear, except it never seems to run out of torque like my Porsche above 5500 rpms.

I have been quite the naysayer (actually, more of a hater) of the myriad of Prius's and hybrids and plugin's and volts etc. One drive changed my mind about the Tesla.

And no, I wouldn't buy one "for the planet" or "to save money". I would buy it because I want to drive one.

I would get in an accident with that touch screen i fiddle with radio and climate to much.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by daepp

I felt like most of you, and then last Saturday I drove a Tesla Model 3.

It simply blew me away. And yeah, for those of us in So Cal traffic it's nice not to have to constantly hit the brakes. Quite simply, it feels like driving my 911 in second gear, except it never seems to run out of torque like my Porsche above 5500 rpms.

I have been quite the naysayer (actually, more of a hater) of the myriad of Prius's and hybrids and plugin's and volts etc. One drive changed my mind about the Tesla.

And no, I wouldn't buy one "for the planet" or "to save money". I would buy it because I want to drive one.

My sentiments exactly... I wonder if the Tayman will be better than the Tesla I reserved...

[porsche4life]

I haven’t driven a newer Tesla, but after driving a first gen roadster I know the sensation you guys are talking about. Instant, never ending torque. I could see a model 3 or the new Tayman in our garage for a commuter one day....