There's a decent amount of people out there who are upset about this or that. I am a little bit disappointed about a few things...but that's life. We can't all get what we want.
Let me just take a moment to put things into perspective and offer my view of why I think much of this anger is misguided:
I'm sure this list can go on and on. I might be a little off with a few facts here and there, but overall this list is pretty accurate.
But for everyone who's upset about what this car DOESN'T have...for everyone who is thinking about dropping their reservation because it doesn't have adaptive cruise control, a backup camera standard, lane departure control, HUD, etc...well, find me another car that has the things above. Keep it in perspective. This car has a lot of sh*t-cool features that make it extremely unique--a game changer. Things that aren't listed at all on the options page...even though they're revolutionary.
No BMW, Leaf, Infiniti, Lexus, Fisker, etc. can match these features. Sure, they might have many neat features that the Model S doesn't. But guess what? The features above make it extremely unique--they make you stand out on the road...they give you interesting things to talk about with friends.
So if nothing in the above list moves you or inspires you, then fine. Get a BMW 535i, a Leaf, an i-Miev, or a Toyota Corolla...whatever suits you.
Just keep it all in perspective, and don't take your eye off what the Model S is really about.
Let me just take a moment to put things into perspective and offer my view of why I think much of this anger is misguided:
- Tesla is the only car company on the planet (as far as I know) that has ever been this open and responsive about the development of a new product with its customers.
- The Model S will be the longest-range production EV on the planet. Even if you get the base car, it's essentially the same car on the outside. Most other people on the road won't know the difference.
- The Model S will be the 3rd or 4th (I think) quickest sedan on the planet. Even if you get the base car, it's essentially the same car on the outside. Most other people on the road won't know the difference.
- Most people think the Model S looks pretty damn sexy on the outside...it's often confused with a Maserati or Jaguar. Even if you get the base car, you get that.
- The Model S will have the largest digital interface to the car's functions on the planet. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S will be one of just a small handful of cars that can be fully heated and air conditioned before you even get into it. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S will be one of just a few (or perhaps the only?) car where you can watch it driving around from your smartphone. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S will have one of the largest cargo spaces in its class. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S will be a relatively rare vehicle, which lends a bit of exclusivity. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S is the only (or one of the only) cars on the planet with door handles that retract and extend for you. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S is the only vehicle that I can think of in which you can put all of your groceries under the hood, and still store a surfboard, 50" flatscreen TV, and mountain bike in the back. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- The Model S is probably the lowest center-of-gravity sedan on the planet. If not the lowest, it's right near the top of the list. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- The Model S never needs an oil change, transmission repair, or a starter replacement--and rarely needs brakes. Even if you get the base car, you have that.
- The Model S is single-speed. No jerky shifting. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- The Model S is extremely quiet, extremely stable, and extremely smooth. "We're going to go there and say it: we haven't felt a ride this smooth since driving the Rolls Royce Ghost, a car that starts at nearly $250,000." Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- With the Model S, you never have to go to a gas station again. For 95%+ of driving, you never have to go out of your way to refuel. Even if you have the base car, you have that. Sure...long distance travel is trickier...but for most that's a small percentage of overall driving, and there are alternatives.
- With the Model S, your cost per mile is about 1/10th that of a gas car. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- With the Model S, your greenhouse emissions are about half that of a gas car...worst case scenario. They could be zero. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- With the Model S, you have energy independence. You free your scrotum (if you have one) from the grasp of OPEC. Gas cars don't. Even if you have the base car, you have that.
- The Model S has the largest panoramic roof on the planet--and (perhaps?) the only one controlled by a touchscreen. For just $1500 over the base car, you can have that.
I'm sure this list can go on and on. I might be a little off with a few facts here and there, but overall this list is pretty accurate.
But for everyone who's upset about what this car DOESN'T have...for everyone who is thinking about dropping their reservation because it doesn't have adaptive cruise control, a backup camera standard, lane departure control, HUD, etc...well, find me another car that has the things above. Keep it in perspective. This car has a lot of sh*t-cool features that make it extremely unique--a game changer. Things that aren't listed at all on the options page...even though they're revolutionary.
No BMW, Leaf, Infiniti, Lexus, Fisker, etc. can match these features. Sure, they might have many neat features that the Model S doesn't. But guess what? The features above make it extremely unique--they make you stand out on the road...they give you interesting things to talk about with friends.
So if nothing in the above list moves you or inspires you, then fine. Get a BMW 535i, a Leaf, an i-Miev, or a Toyota Corolla...whatever suits you.
Just keep it all in perspective, and don't take your eye off what the Model S is really about.
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