Do People Who Say They Want To Buy A Tesla Really Want The Car Or Do They Want THIS?

Let's be real. Electric vehicles have had a tough go at it. While cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf were thought to be game changers, no one has really proved success. Except Tesla. Yeah, I said it.

Now don't go get the confetti and throw a ticker tape parade yet. There's still quite a road ahead. BUT, I do have to admit, I have seen MORE Tesla Model S' in the New York Tri-State than I have seen Chevrolet Volts and Nissan Leafs combined. I've also seen MORE Model S' than BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrids, Mercedes-Benz S400s and Porsche Panamera Hybrids as well.

Here's the funny thing though: We've noticed that people who buy the Model S aren't talking about their gas savings. They're talking about other features the Model S brings to the table.

Take, for example, its LARGE center stack with its easy-to-use interface. It's definitely the biggest screen we've seen used in a car. And you should see how people become transfixed on that element when they get in the car.

If you're at dinner with a Model S customer I'd bet they're more than happy to show you how they can control the vehicle via an Apple iPad application; however, one of the last topics of conversation is the kind of mileage they're getting and how often they're charging it.

That leads us to ask: when people want to buy a Tesla are they really into the electric car movement or do they just want that HUGE screen and techno gadgetry?

Also, we like to believe that other automakers are not sitting on their hands as these cars continue to gain attention. Who will be NEXT to the party with a MASSIVE screen and user interface that's this good?

nguyenvuminh - 5/7/2013 12:12:08 AM

+1 Boost

Very interesting question 00R, and I think you're right. People may be think about going green but when they saw the vehicle, these "things" sold the car. Kinda like the iPhone when it first came out (poor battery life, expensive,but the unique things like hand swipe, etc. sold the product). Let's face it, there are a lot of things that make these Tesla owner's friends go "wow" when it's shown to them (I remember I was like "whoa" when I open the "hood").

nguyenvuminh - 5/7/2013 12:21:47 AM

+3 Boost

What I tried to say above it Tesla is a cool car. Being green and economical are not cool in of itself. It's that Tesla can be green while also be cool.

ATrain - 5/7/2013 4:46:16 AM

+1 Boost

Hard to say but I know I certainly don't worry about spending $50 or $100 a week on gas so that wouldn't move me... No 'wow' factor.

The few people I talked to who owned or test drove a Tesla were all about the torque and the weirdness of the silent propulsion. All three raised that up front. Not one ever mentioned the screen.

For what n=3 is worth...

jeffgall - 5/7/2013 6:20:11 AM

+2 Boost

Perhaps it is for the first time a manufacture made a green car that does not look like a weird, nerdy hybrid. It looks more like a mid size luxury car. Lets face it, every other green car has ugly hybrid wheels and front facias.

I have to disagree on 00R's mention of how common they are in NY Metro. I live in a fairly affluent town and have not seen one on the road.

monster - 5/7/2013 10:05:43 AM

+1 Boost

I have to agree with OP. I live in the NY Metro and I see quite a few Teslas. As a matter of fact there is one always parked 2 blocks away from my house.

TauronB2G - 5/7/2013 7:33:16 AM

+1 Boost

I don't know any owners and haven't seen any here in Dallas, but last week I was in Phoenix and went on the Tesla test drive. My impressions of the screen are that it is cool but would be hard to manipulate at speed. I think the car needs a few buttons. More importantly I loved the power. It's super fast and very comfortable. I would buy it for the speed. I smoked an unexpectant Camaro at the light. The only thing that bothered me about the car is that when I floored it there was some major lift at the front end as if the 2 front wheels were actually off the ground for a second or so.
Either way I'm really thinking about it.
T

atc98092 - 5/7/2013 8:34:46 AM

+1 Boost

I'm more interested in the upcoming Model X, but I sure hope they lose the gullwing doors. I wouldn't be able to open the doors inside my garage.

I like gadgets in my car, but I would certainly appreciate the lower operating expenses. I spend about $350 a month on gas, and electricity in the northwest is fairly cheap and mostly green (hydro). The Leaf is funny looking and the Volt isn't large enough (have two grandkids and one more coming). I would be reasonably comfortable with the Tesla driving range, and I'll always have a 2nd vehicle.

LJ745 - 5/7/2013 10:32:09 PM

+2 Boost

How do you figure that electricity in the Northwest is mostly hydro? It only makes up 15% of the total, which is higher than places like the South, but still not "mostly hydro."

nguyenvuminh - 5/7/2013 11:59:51 AM

+1 Boost

I visit Portland Oregon quite a bit and live in San Diego. I see a fair number of Tesla, everyday, in both cities. I can see them being popular in Portland but San Diego was a surprise (naval town, defense industry) as I was expecting the demographic that favors muscle cars, PUs and SUVs, which are certainly there, but the number and frequency of Tesla seen on the road is a pleasant surprise.

TauronB2G - 5/7/2013 11:54:54 PM

+1 Boost

I wrote my comment this morning and this afternoon saw a Model S on the street in downtown Dallas.
T

ghosthunter - 5/7/2013 9:10:06 PM

+1 Boost

i would certainly buy a model S if my car dies right now.

the calculation is very simple. i spend, on average, 600 dollars on gas every month. my wife and i spend over 12k a year on gas, which is probably the third biggest recurring cost after tax and after mortgage.

with model S, i can substantially reduce my gas bill, for about 50K (after tax credit) i am also getting performance that no sub 100k sedan can match (well, there probably some, but my point stands, it is a very very fast car with great acceleration). i would be able to flood my car all day everyday yet still cost me much, much less (as many company provide free charging station). and you might be able to hop on to HOV lane (not sure).

i suppose i should ask my question this way: why would you buy a 50k to 100k sport 4 door sedan over Tesla Model S?

ghosthunter - 5/7/2013 9:14:30 PM

+1 Boost

also, san deigo is hardly a navel base driven economy. yes, it has a base and UAV industry, but it also have quadcomm, which is as giant as it can be. it also have numerous high tech communication company, optics company, medical company, software company. if you are looking for navel based economy? go to Newport news. almost half the people directly work for gov project of some sort.