The Buyer's Dilemma

[Nik]

I've now worked myself up to the position where I may be ready to put down the deposit for the Model S. One thing that holds me back is that the dilemma that accompanies any technological purchase - in a year's time the product will probably be better and cheaper.

There are certain disadvantages to being a very early adopter for EV technologies, such as the current lack of infrastructure. Battery technology, too, will only improve, but these are things I understand and can live with.

What I'm more worried about is the improvements made to the car over the first couple of years. From reading some of the threads about Roadsters, it seems that quite a lot of changes were made between early cars and the later ones. Whilst manufacturers will never intentionally make cars worse, it seems that some of these changes were fixes to things that maybe ought to have been right in the first place. Given the current 18-month lead time to get an 'S', I'd hate to have to get it knowing that not only did it have glitches, but that the next version was already announced and it included fixes.

Can anyone describe the evolution of the Roadster and comment on whether the knowledge gained can be applied to the 'S' directly? Did the Roadster use the Alpha/Beta/RC(?) product development lifecycle?

But i have to tell, in a personal discussion with him, he told me, that it may be an advantage for the european customers to get the Model S a half year later but with a 3-phase charger on which he will work hard to accomplish this.

Regarding the above (from 'Photos from Milan Store' thread), were the first European roadsters equivalent to the then-current North American version, or to the first North Amercian version. In which case do we understand the quote to mean that the EU 'S' will/should incorporate a 3-phase charger from launch, or within 6 months of launch. I'm reading the former in to it.

Nik

[qwk]

I think that Tesla has learned a great deal from the roadster, and will incorporate that into the S.

As far as the S getting more features, fixes for engineering/production mistakes ect. as time goes on, that is bound to happen as with any product. This may only be a firmware change though.

I thought about waiting too because I would prefer to get a Model S Sport, but the waiting is bad enough for the original Model S. Then if they announce something better after waiting for the Sport, then you have more waiting for that better model and the cycle could go on and on....

It all depends on how quickly you want a Tesla.

[TEG]

Comparing Roadsters to Model S is a bit of 'Apples to Oranges' at this point. There are so many things different about Model S compared to the way Roadster evolved.

Certainly Tesla learned a lot of lessons from creating the Roadster, and many of those are likely applied to Model S, but they are also evolving their whole approach over time.
I never heard anyone call Roadster variants "Alpha", or "Beta" like that. They used the EP, VP, and then 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 terminology.
Will we see Model S 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, ... ? I dunno.

Anyways, with any product you buy, particularly one with a lot of technology they tend to seem dated soon after you buy. There is the usual "how long do I sit on the fence?" waiting dilemma. Sure you could wait, and possibly get something a bit better, but then will have missed out on time (years?) of the chance to have had one sooner.

If it mattered enough you could always try to sell an early model, and then buy the latest and greatest if you see something you really wish you had.

I suppose these are all fairly obvious observations though...

[Sparrow]

Sure there are going to be improvements to the S as time goes by, but at least with the S you are starting with an EV that is already superior to what other EV buyers will be getting from other companies. A couple of years down the road your older S might not have all the new improvements Tesla will be adding along the way, but it still will be better than anything else out on the road over the next several years.

[Adm]

Also, by the time you will get your Model S, you'll be getting around number 4000, at least, and even though numbers will run by much faster than with the Roadster there will have been a chance for Tesla to fix the first bugs.

[Jaff]

Nik, prior to putting down your deposit, you should already, basically, have a handle on the lack of infrastructure issue based on your driving needs.

I would suggest to you this...if the lack of infrastructure (charging away from your home or work) makes the Model S "fail" your range requirements, then you should probably wait a bit.

However, if infrastructure is not an issue, the time spent driving a guilt-free, incredibly unique performance vehicle is pure gold and should not be passed up imo.

I've now worked myself up to the position where I may be ready to put down the deposit for the Model S. One thing that holds me back is that the dilemma that accompanies any technological purchase - in a year's time the product will probably be better and cheaper.

There are certain disadvantages to being a very early adopter for EV technologies, such as the current lack of infrastructure. Battery technology, too, will only improve, but these are things I understand and can live with.

What I'm more worried about is the improvements made to the car over the first couple of years. From reading some of the threads about Roadsters, it seems that quite a lot of changes were made between early cars and the later ones. Whilst manufacturers will never intentionally make cars worse, it seems that some of these changes were fixes to things that maybe ought to have been right in the first place. Given the current 18-month lead time to get an 'S', I'd hate to have to get it knowing that not only did it have glitches, but that the next version was already announced and it included fixes.

Can anyone describe the evolution of the Roadster and comment on whether the knowledge gained can be applied to the 'S' directly? Did the Roadster use the Alpha/Beta/RC(?) product development lifecycle?


Regarding the above (from 'Photos from Milan Store' thread), were the first European roadsters equivalent to the then-current North American version, or to the first North Amercian version. In which case do we understand the quote to mean that the EU 'S' will/should incorporate a 3-phase charger from launch, or within 6 months of launch. I'm reading the former in to it.

Nik

[tdelta1000]

NIK...

I understand your concerns but if you wait because of the fears of "next years model" or lower prices then you may never acquire the Model S. Therefore, continue your research on the Tesla Motors and the Model S.

Keep in mind that Tesla Motors can not afford to make any mistakes on the Model S deliverable so rest assured that if you purchase a Model S if may very well be the best purchase you will make. Well maybe after a Mac...LOL

[Nik]

Also, by the time you will get your Model S, you'll be getting around number 4000, at least, and even though numbers will run by much faster than with the Roadster there will have been a chance for Tesla to fix the first bugs.

That's a fair point, assuming they deliver all the 'Production' series in number order.. I would be after an EU RHD version. These may get done in batches, which would slightly alter their position in the queue.

I had a good chat with the Model S specialist at Tesla UK on my way home today. He tells me that they have about 30 deposits for UK cars. If they've all come in evenly then that's only two a month, so I can probably afford to wait a little without adding too much time to the delivery date.

[Jkam]

If it mattered enough you could always try to sell an early model, and then buy the latest and greatest if you see something you really wish you had.

Without trying to hijack this thread too much, do you think the first batch of Model S will retain its value? There is some talk that many of the original Roadsters are collector's items. Do you think the original Model S will be similar?

[qwk]

Without trying to hijack this thread too much, do you think the first batch of Model S will retain its value? There is some talk that many of the original Roadsters are collector's items. Do you think the original Model S will be similar?

Highly doubtfull. Maybe the sig series, but the later roadsters are much better. Especially the sports or cars with adjustable suspension etc.