I'm getting a Tesla in the morning!!!

EdFred said:
$60,000 used for a Tesla S
I paid $25,000 for my Vette, used.

I've put about 45,000 miles on it since I bought it. At 25mpg avg (and yes, that's what I average) I've burned about 1800 gallons. Even at an average of $3.50 for premium, I've only spent $6300 in fuel.

$25,000 + $6300 = $31,300
Subtracting from $60,000 I still have $28,700/8200gallons/200,000+ miles of "free" fuel left.

You sound like one of those people that thinks it's better to keep paying interest on a mortgage because of the tax deduction.
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Fit 4 people and a trunkload of luggage in your Vette and I'll consider what you're saying a fair comparison. They are completely different cars, as someone earlier said, the Tesla is more of a luxury car that happens to go fast.

I'm thinking about putting some money in Tesla stock. I think the Powerwall batteries are going to be big, not necessarily for home use at first, but for commercial.

Big question is if they can keep the Model X on track and get the Model 3 out the door on-time (big 'if' as Tesla has a history of delays).
 
flyingcheesehead said:
T
Oh, and they're FREE. Does GM give you free gas for your Vette?
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[nitpick]They're not "free", Supercharger access is a $2000 add-on to the price of the car.

You can still use the superchargers if you don't pay the $2000, but it'll be normal L2 charging rates, and not DC Quick Charge.

--Carlos V.
 
Fredbob711 said:
Fit 4 people and a trunkload of luggage in your Vette and I'll consider what you're saying a fair comparison. They are completely different cars, as someone earlier said, the Tesla is more of a luxury car that happens to go fast.

I'm thinking about putting some money in Tesla stock. I think the Powerwall batteries are going to be big, not necessarily for home use at first, but for commercial.

Big question is if they can keep the Model X on track and get the Model 3 out the door on-time (big 'if' as Tesla has a history of delays).
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Swap out Corvette for a 2013 CTS with the 8 cylinder.

I can pick one up for $40,000 and still have $20,000 in "free" fuel.
 
FastEddieB said:
Not far from my exact scenario:

Let's say you owe $100,000 at a fixed rate 3.75% with a 30 year term.

Uncle dies, leaves you $100,000. (This part is fictional.)

Option 1: pay off loan.

Option 2: invest the $100,000 and use the monthly interest to pay the mortgage each month. 4% return should be realistic, albeit with some risk.

Option 2 advantages:

Advantage 1: keeps the deduction, leaving more of your own money in your pocket year after year.

Advantage 2: with inflation, you're paying off that loan with smaller and smaller dollars - hugely significant over 30 years.

Nothing wrong with Option 1 if you're philosophically opposed to debt. And with Option 2 one must pay tax on dividends, unless one chooses tax free vehicles, which pay a lower rate.

But my point is that choosing Option 2 is hardly irrational. And one that I have de facto chosen, since I could pay off my small mortgage if I wanted to, but choose not to. Similarly, I always tried to make additional principal payments on past mortgages. On my current one, I no longer do, assuming there are more productive uses for that money.
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But, both options ignore risk. Yes, the numbers work, but many Americans will tell you horror stories about what CAN happen to you. Don't forget to calculate risk. It can make your great scenario crumble quickly...
 
EdFred said:
250 mile range is all those have? That's worse than I thought. And puts me right in the middle of Cook County when the battery goes dead. And how long do I have to sit in that **** hole while it recharges?
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Yup

As as far as the 0-60 numbers, skid pad, etc. I can say from experience my C6 stick is near those numbers and the new vettes just get faster and faster for the most part.
 
Unbeliever said:
[nitpick]They're not "free", Supercharger access is a $2000 add-on to the price of the car.

You can still use the superchargers if you don't pay the $2000, but it'll be normal L2 charging rates, and not DC Quick Charge.
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Is the $2000 add-on the use of the Superchargers, or is it for the optional CHAdeMO port required for the DC Quick Charge?

And when you say "normal L2 charging rates" you mean time-to-charge and not money, right? My understanding is that you don't pay any extra money to hook your Tesla to the Tesla chargers.
 
PeeGee said:
for the interstate network they're largely done

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger
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There's a lot, but they do have a ways to go. The major omission currently, IMO, is I-80 between Chicago and SLC and in PA. But there's also I-10 west of San Antonio, I-20, I-29, I-30, I-35 north of KC, I-40 east of OKC, I-44, I-55 south of St. Louis, I-64, I-70 east of St. Louis, I-81, the Southern Tier Expressway (I-86 and I-88) in NY, I-94 from Billings to Minneapolis, and I-95 in ME.

When you click "2016" it looks like they're planning to have all of those filled in in a couple of years except I-29 between Fargo and Omaha, so they're getting there. I hope they continue expansion to some of the more frequently used US highways as well.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Is the $2000 add-on the use of the Superchargers, or is it for the optional CHAdeMO port required for the DC Quick Charge?
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There's no CHAdeMO or SAE Combo CCS on Teslas. The same Tesla connector can do AC or DC fast charging. The hardware for both AC and DC charging are already on the car, it's just a software setting to say "this guy paid for Supercharger access."

There IS a separate CHAdeMO adapter you can buy if you're not near Tesla Superchargers. And since Tesla's underlying EVSE interface is J1772, there shouldn't be a reason why there won't be a CCS Frankenplug adapter, either.

flyingcheesehead said:
And when you say "normal L2 charging rates" you mean time-to-charge and not money, right?
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Sometimes correct. They used to have the software setting say "No Supercharger access whatsoever" for the baseline models and for people who didn't pay supercharger access. But I've seen reports that newer cars without access do start charging at the supercharger, but at a slow rate. (which is actually kinda rude to those that paid the access, either as an add-on, or part of the base cost of the model they chose). I think they did that because Tesla announced that they are pretty much planning on dropping the "option" of buying SuperCharger access and making it a mandatory part of the cost of the car.

Superchargers are actually a profit center for Tesla. They're still making money off those $2000 access fees, even with the buildout and electricity costs.

Edit: I can't find that report anymore where an S60 was able to charge without supercharger access. I only find reports of "No supercharger access enabled, not charging" now.

--Carlos V.
 
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Or down to the Rio Grande Valley on I69. That's 1.5 million people in those 4 counties.

--Carlos V.
 
JimNtexas said:
Why didn't Tesla put Superchargers between San Antonio and El Paso on I-10?



That's a straight wide road with an 80mph speed limit.
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Demographics. (Income, etc). Plus, it's TX. More likely to see pickup trucks, than electric cars.


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ggroves said:
Demographics. (Income, etc). Plus, it's TX. More likely to see pickup trucks, than electric cars.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Tesla's are thicker than fleas on a dog's back here in Austin.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Love the Fusion Energi. I'm averaging about 66 mpg overall, and saving $75-$100/mo in gas costs compared to my old car (Volvo S60 T5). And yes, that is after correcting for the extra cost of electricity.



Gas mileage will vary depending on how much you can drive it as an EV. I think the rated EV range is 21 miles, but you can do better than that if you drive it right. It's also better in warmer weather than colder weather.
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My electricity is similar enough to your price to ignore it in the calculations.

Your car would save me $35 a month on a daily 74 mile commute at current fuel prices.

If fuel goes to $4 again, $95 a month.

I don't think Ford will sell me one for that. ;)

And I know my insurance would go up from the current $350 a year. ;)

Cool toys though.
 
I have noticed auto fuel prices creeping up again as summer approaches. I paid $2.80/gal this morning for regular.
 
I find the calculation of money saved by buying an alternative fuel car - whether it be diesel, electric, or whatever - to be funny. I'm not wealthy by any measure, but what I spend on auto gas, electric bills, water, and so on is all lost somewhere down in the noise. Nobody is buying a Tesla because it's saving them $150/month on gas.
 
denverpilot said:
My electricity is similar enough to your price to ignore it in the calculations.

Your car would save me $35 a month on a daily 74 mile commute at current fuel prices.

If fuel goes to $4 again, $95 a month.

I don't think Ford will sell me one for that. ;)

And I know my insurance would go up from the current $350 a year. ;)

Cool toys though.
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so, my wife has a similar commute, and the deciding factor for me is her ability to charge at work for free. I'm sort of pushing a volt because it'll save fuel and we can get half the juice for free.
 
PeeGee said:
so, my wife has a similar commute, and the deciding factor for me is her ability to charge at work for free. I'm sort of pushing a volt because it'll save fuel and we can get half the juice for free.
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Yeah, I should recalculate. I was saving $75/mo charging only at home. Now that the weather is a bit warmer, I'm taking the charger and an extension cord with me and charging at work, the airport, etc for free.

I haven't bought gas in two months! And on my current tank I'm well over 100mpg.
 
PeeGee said:
so, my wife has a similar commute, and the deciding factor for me is her ability to charge at work for free. I'm sort of pushing a volt because it'll save fuel and we can get half the juice for free.
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Hold out for the 2016 Volt. It is much improved and with the Federal Tax credits a pretty reasonable choice, but it it's just about saving money, buy a Hyundai Accent.
 
when getting rid of my BMW, I was looking at alternate fuel cars. I drove a couple of them, but ended up with a 2015Toyota Tundra instead.... oops, wrong way! I now have 2500 miles on the Tundra, and I love the vehicle, but my 60 miles per day driving drinks gas.

I was fixing up the yard on a house and towing a trailer with 3 pallets of SOD. There was a sucking noise coming from the truck, I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Then I looked at the fuel gauge, and that explained it! 120 miles, 7,000 lbs of stuff and it was drinking gas like it just ran a marathon!

I like EV cars and might do one, if I put in Solar panels first.
 
As soon as they roll out something with a battery that will hold up to at least 10 years use and recharge fully in 30min or less with a 250mi range I'll be really interested.

I think that's coming in the next decade too, I really do. Right now the cost and battery limitations make it not worth it for me.
 
cowman said:
As soon as they roll out something with a battery that will hold up to at least 10 years use and recharge fully in 30min or less with a 250mi range I'll be really interested.

I think that's coming in the next decade too, I really do. Right now the cost and battery limitations make it not worth it for me.
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Tesla is very close to those numbers right now.
 
kayoh190 said:
While the Vette is certainly a capable sports car, I'm think you're looking at two different types of buyers. The Tesla is more like a high tech luxury sedan that happens to accelerate nicely.
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Exactly. The P85D Tesla I drove was the replacement for a series of S-Class Mercedes, A8 Audis, and 7-Series BMWs.

The owner claims they are hooked for life on electric cars with Tesla type features.


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kayoh190 said:
While the Vette is certainly a capable sports car, I'm think you're looking at two different types of buyers. The Tesla is more like a high tech luxury sedan that happens to accelerate nicely.
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Anyone who compares a Vette to a Tessla, doesn't know much about cars.
 
RalphInCA said:
Anyone who compares a Vette to a Tessla, doesn't know much about cars.
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I've owned vettes, they're fine and fun cars...
I would buy a tesla because I like the car, it just so happens to be electric. But I'm not cross shopping it with a vette :no:
 
RalphInCA said:
Anyone who compares a Vette to a Tessla, doesn't know much about cars.
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Agreed, lol. The C7 does everything except tote kids, extremely well. The Model S goes to 60 fast and is great for kids, but will still get obliterated by the C7 Z06
 
FastEddieB said:
Karen's son, Silas, turned her onto this cute bio of Elon Musk:


I would not want to bet against him!
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Thanks for sharing that. It was fun. I too am an Elon Musk fan even though I think I would likely not like him at all in person. I like his ideals, his accomplishments and his single minded drive to a seemingly impossible goal.
 
ktup-flyer said:
Agreed, lol. The C7 does everything except tote kids, extremely well. The Model S goes to 60 fast and is great for kids, but will still get obliterated by the C7 Z06
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A C 172 will obliterate your C7 from Phoenix to Albuquerque. You see the ignorance in your comparison? Speed while shopping for vehicles is the least important factor for many if not most people.
 
Dav8or said:
Thanks for sharing that. It was fun. I too am an Elon Musk fan even though I think I would likely not like him at all in person. I like his ideals, his accomplishments and his single minded drive to a seemingly impossible goal.
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The ideal of making lots of bucks on government mandates and subsidies, or did you mean a different ideal, like one of the ones in the staged press announcements? LOL.

Dude is laughing all the way to the bank.
 
denverpilot said:
Dude is laughing all the way to the bank.
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I know I am!

At yesterday's close I've just covered my $9.99 commission in and I'm up $1.35!

18228746365_71050627f8_c.jpg


Now is where my dad would have cautioned me not to spend it all in one place!
 
NJP_MAN said:
A C 172 will obliterate your C7 from Phoenix to Albuquerque. You see the ignorance in your comparison? Speed while shopping for vehicles is the least important factor for many if not most people.
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Let me pick the day, and I can beat that 172 in a C7. Probably by hours.
 
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steingar said:
Were I in the market for a supercar I'd buy a Vette. 90% of what the fastest supercars can do at a quarter the price. A value in the book of Steingar. And they're pretty spanky.
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Eh, Vettes are for rednecks, albeit, ones with disposable income.
 
write-stuff said:
Eh, Vettes are for rednecks, albeit, ones with disposable income.
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It's the Camaro that's for rednecks. You see wwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy more guys wearing wife beaters in Camaros than Vettes. in fact, I've never seen a guy in a wife beater get out of a Vette.
 
write-stuff said:
Eh, Vettes are for rednecks, albeit, ones with disposable income.
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Call me a redneck then. I'd love to have a C7 and C3 more than any other production built sports car. European design just doesn't do it for me most of the time and when the C6 and now C7 can go head to head with whatever the rest of the world can come up with regardless of price tag, what's not to love? It's the additional disposable income I have trouble with. If I didn't fly and own a plane, I could have them.
 
Dav8or said:
What I really, really want is a merger of both. I want fully electric, drop top Vette! Sadly, GM, or anybody else do not have that planned for me.
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You could build it rather easily, Tesla has put all his patents in Public Domain if you want to build custom, or you can buy the major components from him and the conversion fab work to make it slick would add another $20k. My guess is that to power a Vette with a Tesla drive would run around $70k, add a bit more for heat and AC. If you can find a wrecked S that had all good systems to salvage, you may come in cheaper, not sure what the salvage market on them is.
 
Henning said:
You could build it rather easily, Tesla has put all his patents in Public Domain if you want to build custom, or you can buy the major components from him and the conversion fab work to make it slick would add another $20k. My guess is that to power a Vette with a Tesla drive would run around $70k, add a bit more for heat and AC. If you can find a wrecked S that had all good systems to salvage, you may come in cheaper, not sure what the salvage market on them is.
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As always, it's all about the battery pack and nothing else... That is the tough nut.:(
 
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