While the BMW M5 has a base price of $89'900,- in the US, it has a base price of over $319'000,- in Norway, due to the extreme taxes we get charged at first time registration of a car... A "minimal configuration" 3-Series with just the bare essentials; Xenon headlamps and small navigation package (the rest standard), would cost me roughly $70'000,-.
As EVs are free'd from these one-time registration taxes, the Tesla Model S, is i Norway a pretty cheap car - it isn't threatened by competition at all.
So, by choosing this electric premium sedan, I get the best of two worlds - a (for me) cheap car to buy, with the same comforting luxury as a much more expensive vehicle.
Adding on that the savings of gas costs and its really a no brainer.
Out calculations show, that as of today we spend 6000 NOK on car financing/month, another 6000 NOK on fuel, followed by about 1500 in insurance and road tax.
With the tesla the financing will be (considering we don't know the european price yet, but giving an estimate of $80'000,- for a ok equipped 60kw model, it will cost me 4500 NOK /month, and 405 NOK / year in road tax. Insurance I am guessing will not be that much higher, so lets call it a flat 7-8000 NOK (- $1400,-) / month in total, means I have a net savings of 6000 NOK / month by switching to a Model S.
I got confirmation that my tax return is due this week (was expected in July, but were postponed), so I will pay for me reservation on Wednesday, and hopefully get my sought after Production number next week. Lets just hope I'll get my Model S before 2014 then...