Just sold my Ferrari to buy more TSLA

Most of the naysayers are really just arguing "I dont like this change, I dont want change"

The human race evolves and its technology evolves with it. Every shift results in a new group of vocal deniers, but things move forward anyhow.

Anyone who truly believes that in 50 years there wont be a huge number of autonomous electric cars on the road, and that some number of them won't be Teslas, is simply going to be wrong.

The *vast* majority (and i mean VAST majority) of people think of a car as a transportation appliance. They also tend to hate oil companies and like clean air. Not everyone hyper politicizes everything. A car that silently drives you to work everyday, that can maybe even be owned partially in a time share model, and never requires a trip to the gas station, is *hugely* appealing to *most* people.

The wishes, hopes and desires, no matter how passionate or angry, of a relatively minute number of enthusiasts can't even *dent* this macro trend.

Some enthusiasts bemoan this as some sort of huge loss, but honestly there is no more fragmented community than the enthusiast community anyway. There are millions of words wasted on "holy wars" about manual vs automatic, hydraulic steering vs electric steering vs unassisted steering, RWD vs AWD vs FWD, even pushrods vs OHC. At least the "I dont care about cars" crowd agree that a car is just basic transportation that should be easy, reliable, economical and efficient. Hence it is *no surprise* that all of these trends are designed to check those *exact* boxes.

 

The Tesla Model S Is The Most-Loved Car In America - Forbes

and this

Top Picks 2014 | 10 Best Car Models of the Year - Consumer Report

 

You lost me here. If that were the case in the VAST majority of people only cared about getting to work or school as efficiently as possible, then a Smart car or Mazda 2 would be the runaway sales hits for years. Cheap & efficient way to move from home to work for sveral years on your way to your last ride in the back of a hearse...

But they aren't sales hits, in fact people drive cheap cars because they have to. For most people that have dirt cheap new or used cars it is due to their financial situation. They cannot afford anything better. People that could care less about cars also usually don't drive luxury sedans, they get a minivan or crossover for $35k and drive it into the ground.

The Tesla is not a cheap car at $75k, and the chances of them ever building an inexpensive car that I would define as less than the median price for all cars (about $30k today), the chance of them doing so is basically zero. So Tesla will always be a premium vehicle selling at premium prices. It is a four-wheeled Apple product.

The number of people able and willing to spend $65k, $60k, or $50k on a limited-range car using new technology with zero long-term reliability data will remain extremely limited.

 

False? $35k > $30k last I checked.

 

Is the Third Drive Unit the Charm? - 2013 Tesla Model S Long-Term Road Test

read some of the other stuff on edmunds.

maybe they got a lemon...maybe not.

 

Jerry,

Can you imagine a Tesla Like powertrain in your ex-430? Ofcourse peering through the rear windshield will no longer be thrilling but Hey, IMHO, the lines and curves on the 430 blow away the Model S. Looks alone, the 430 or any Ferrari, draws serious attention. Can you imagine saving all that $$$$ on your fcar maintenance and repairs when your Fcar has the simplicity of the Model S power train? We may have to speak to Elon's peeps. Anyone willing to donate their 430 chassis? Hmm...maybe pickup a high mileage Rossa Corsa F430 for Elon's team to doctor up? Then again, i'm sure he can afford to do that himself if he wanted to.

 

So in the last two posts directed toward me you have implied I lied (making false statements), as well as being a troll.

You are clearly buying everything Musk says. He may intend to build a factory that will be capable of consuming the world's supply of Lithium raw material. He may intend to build a car that is less than half the cost of his current offerings (and cheaper than any viable EV before it).

At this point both are just promises, not unlike huge range entensions from the battery pack that he has promised. Picking the low-hanging fruit of Li-Ion energy density is one thing, sustaining that rate of improvement as the technology matures is something else entirely. But it sounds great to prosepctive investors who want to follow momentum.

Slick move BTW on attempting to redefine my statement as defining true cost of ownership. Not what I posted and you know it. Purchase price under $30k is what I said. So who is making false statements?

Think of all the things that could easily cause Tesla to crash and burn as a stock. Right now it is the media darling. What happens when fickle fashion moves on to the next big thing, or stocks tank in general? Tesla may survive or thrive as a company, that doesn't mean the stock will be where it is today.

I get that you sold your 430 to buy more stock and hopefully turn it into Enzo-type money. Good on you for taking the risk, I look forward to seeing pictures of your Ferrari collection when you cash in the stock someday. Your tone when anyone states obvious impediments to Tesla taking over the world four wheels at a time however is very off-putting.

BTW, most trolls don't survive to have thousands of posts.

 

The rechargeable revolution: A better battery : Nature News & Comment

Interesting read.

 

NJ tells Tesla that cannot sell direct to consumers:
NJ bans Tesla from selling cars directly to consumers | Fox News

 

I think the Tesla Model S is amazing and the people I know with one agree. But it is luxury car and relatively low production. It remains to be seen if a low cost/high volume product is possible and I personally don't believe Tesla can bring a 3-series fighter to market at $35K.

Musk's genius was understanding that an electric drivetrain is incredibly expensive and the incremental cost only makes sense in the luxury segment where an extra $10-20K for the drivetrain is not that big a deal - people pile on options that high in the S-Class, 5 Series and Audi A8. Notice that Tesla only offered prompt delivery on the top-of-the-line P85 - and you simply cannot get the entry level car at all any more (I am not sure if any were really made). Add a very sleek touchscreen and pleasant, conservative styling and you have a great alternative to those looking for their next luxury sedan. Finally, the timing was perfect to get loans, public and private.

It remains to be seen if an electric car can be practical and affordable for people of average or less means or who don't love cars. No other manufacturer has been able to bring a great car to market at under $35K with range enough to make it an only car, and I have to think most or all have been trying. The Nissan Leaf is not there, nor the Prius, Volt, or any other product. I think Tesla has a huge challenge if it wants to be a volume producer of an inexpensive all electric vehicle that can be an only car.

 

He has plans to bring a 30k car to market for 2015 or 2016. He's been preaching his business model for years and so far it's working. High end sports car to grab attention for what an electric car can do, mid market with the Model S, and then low end high volume for phase three.

 

Model S is not mid-market. It is luxury. I can believe an economy content car for $40-50K but I will have to see it to believe it at $30K.

 

I find it very interesting we have a lively discussion about electric cars on a Ferrari car forum.



Ago

 

Long summary of tesla by Goldman-Sachs, but I would tend to put more credence in their analysis than any opinions in this thread, including my own.
What Is Tesla Worth? According To Goldman It Depends If Elon Musk Is Steve Jobs, A Maytag Repairman, Or Henry Ford | Zero Hedge

 

I thought Tesla was using standard "18650 form-factor" batteries that are commodities in the consumer electronics market.

I understand there is more to it than stringing together a bunch of laptop batteries, but I question your comment about Tesla's leadership in batteries.

 

I own a Ferrari. I own a Tesla. Both great cars, but for different reasons. I did not buy a Tesla for the eco benefits. I did buy it because the driving experience is like nothing else. No seven passenger vehicle can touch it (it has a third row). We traded a BMW X5 to get it. Also, none of the dollars spent to fuel our Tesla benefit dictators in Venezuela, Iran, or anywher else. It runs (indirectly), on all-American natural gas.

It has been observed above also that Tesla may not have made an entry level model after all. Not true. Our car is the 40Kwh model. They produced enough to honor the orders of people like me who made an advance deposit. They delivered these cars, and then decided to phase out the 40kwh model, due to low demand. My car in fact has a 60kwh batterry which is software limited to 40kwh range (about 120 miles in real world conditions). I can pay to have the extra battery capacity "unlocked", but I have found I don't really need it.

So far, 12k miles in 9 months with no issues at all. The thing just works. Maybe the Edmunds reviewers did get a lemon.

That said, the stock price is silly, and I might short it.

Scott

 

Independent car dealerships are starting to lobby against Tesla. A sort of turf war since Tesla has no conventional dealerships. States (such as Arizona) are contemplating legislation to even the playing field. Weird thing is Arizona is in the running for their factory.

 

+1
Tundaphile definitely not a troll, so relax with the confrontational attitude. I happen to agree with him on most of what he says and if it was me, I'd sell every bit of the Tesla stock I owned, consider myself lucky, and by another Ferrari. It is an absolutely overvalued stock considering the boutique market and that is a small player who thinks it can make the rules (i.e. no franchise dealers, etc.). Time will tell.

 

This is America, which is exactly why Tesla will either cave and conform, or lose. It's the same reason we have to ask, "Why do we have ethanol in our fuel?" Unfortunately, that is just how it works here in the "good-'ol-US-of-A." On the otherside, there is no place else in the civilized world, I'd rather live. Anyway you cut it, Tesla is completely overvalued and the market will correct, its just a matter of when.

 

I did not pay attention to the Tesla until recently because I don't drive too many miles a year, and I love the sound of 12cyl. engines ( my idea of beautiful music). My 2 daily drivers get decent mileage for the amount we drive them.(4cy.) Anyway this no dealer thing: There has to be a lot of overhead in the fancy showrooms and the car salesman sitting around waiting for customers. Also the free charging stations will go to pay charge when the ele. cars get more popular. And I also believe the stock price is inflated.


Ago