DDB

I'd consider myself a potential buyer of a Tesla vehicle, Roadster or otherwise. I'm also looking at other vendors. Trouble with the EV market, is there isn't much to choose from. But if it's to succeed, I and many others can't go plunking down $100K for a crappy car. I'm going to be careful, and help it succeed whether it's Tesla or someone else.

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Dave

'05 Passat powered by Biodiesel
'54 Corvette

TEG

Sports cars tend to attract a fan base of passionate loyalists. All of the different make/models of sports cars I have owned had their own crowd of faithful. None were one voice happy gatherings. People would criticize certain options packages, years, colors or whatever as being sub-standard. Sports car fans tend to be a rather opinionated passionate bunch. Now take EV enthusiasts. Another variation of fanaticism. Mix them together and you have a real recipe for heated debate.

Here are a few random examples illustrating the point:

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

(click twice on the video above and check out the 300+ comments)


99 Cobra VS 2001 Cobra [Archive] - Mustang Forums at StangNet
Lotus Elise vs. Ford Mustang Cobra - Car Forums and Automotive Chat
Porsche Panamera. - GM Inside News Forum
New Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Unveiled In Beijing
(check the comments)

Tesla made a point of launching with a web presence and opportunity for the masses to provide direct feedback. I hope they find value when people try to give honest assessments be they glowing or dim.

vfx

I would expand TEG's sports car obsevation to many more types of cars.

There are your manufacturer sites some have customer input. Then there are the truck sites. micro cars, and the midsized cars that the street racers frequent, and don't froget SUVs and muscle cars. Each make has a site and they all have fanboys and blogs.

And here is the message for Tesla. !!THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS NICE!!

Feedback makes for better product and service. Communicating with your customers and future customers is what PR is for.

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The world loves to be deceived.

TEG

Tesla, and Tesla fans, are stuck being "underdogs" though.

• New, unproven car company. (history is littered with attempts)
• Bucking the status quo (to heck with gas, right?)
• Based in Silicon Valley, not Detroit.
• Divided climate with regards to global warming politics.
• US economic downturn in progress. (quick, sell in Europe!)
• Staff turnover and angst related to delays.
• Chairman is trying to juggle two massive undertakings at once.
• Business model has them holding a lot of people's cash in advance.

I don't suppose it is too surprising that you find naysayers and troublemakers surfacing here and there.

Personally, I have come very close a few times to just abandoning this site and spending my time elsewhere, but then some little bit of interesting signal pops up again amongst the noise.

Unfortunately, Martin's blog seems to have "jumped the shark", and I have given up on trying to contribute anything over there.

I suppose if Martin shut his site, and this one shut down the same people would just resurface over at autobloggreen or some such.

(I like this site because I can post images and video links)

dpeilow

We're just a few months behind you on that one

vfx

TEG

Just a note to let you know that your thoughtful and informative posts here are appreciated.

vfx

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The world loves to be deceived.

Kardax

Fortunately for Tesla, none of their problems are unfixable.

If most of these things (especially the big ones like Martin's car and the delivery backlog) are resolved, I think the hostility toward the company will fade away.

-Ryan

DDB

I don't think hostility is the right word per se. Most people here constructively criticize, short of Chris H--hate to call you out, but...

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Dave

'05 Passat powered by Biodiesel
'54 Corvette

Chris H.

but... what?

It's kinda curious just how many of the things that I said turned out to be true.

Is that what you meant?

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Don't forget about the real world...

Chris H.

BTW Dave, did you notice this news story...

Ouch! World Bank says biofuels responsible for 75% rise in food prices - AutoblogGreen

Still driving biodiesel?

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Don't forget about the real world...