Are we friends with Tesla drivers?

[erics75218]

I've been seeing a lot of these UGLY little buggers around town here in Los Angeles. Are we supposed to be friends...they look at me as if we are brothers.

But I don't think I like it..I know I don't like the Tesla...I know we share a chassis...but is that enough?

[delise]

We share a bit more than a chassis, I went and checked one out at the dealership and everything looked very familiar including the same yokohoma LTS specific tires. They are built by Lotus, the key difference is the carbon fibre body, and of course the batteries/motor - which is why they are so much more expensive.... other than that - they are a Lotus through and through. The showroom sales staff did not seem too thrilled that I pulled up and parked in their parking lot and the customers all came out to see my car

In my experience in LA , Tesla owners tend not to notice that an Elise is passing by. I work right down the street from Mahalo.com (Mr. Musks new startup search engine company) in Santa Monica and there are usually 2-3 Teslas parked out front and driving around the area.

[smicker]

Originally Posted by delise

We share a bit more than a chassis

We actually don't share a chassis--although it is built by the same company (Norsk Hydro) that builds the Elise chassis.

Only 7% of the Elise parts carry over to the Tesla. More information can be found here:

Tesla Motors - Marketing

[Murix]

Originally Posted by delise

We share a bit more than a chassis, I went and checked one out at the dealership and everything looked very familiar including the same yokohoma LTS specific tires. They are built by Lotus, the key difference is the carbon fibre body, and of course the batteries/motor - which is why they are so much more expensive.... other than that - they are a Lotus through and through. The showroom sales staff did not seem too thrilled that I pulled up and parked in their parking lot and the customers all came out to see my car

In my experience in LA , Tesla owners tend not to notice that an Elise is passing by. I work right down the street from Mahalo.com (Mr. Musks new startup search engine company) in Santa Monica and there are usually 2-3 Teslas parked out front and driving around the area.

That explains I lot. I always see Teslas in front of that place. Never knew it was Elon Musks company. I live right down the street from there.

[chapster5]

Tesla's are the enemy! take them down at all cost!

[delise]

Originally Posted by smicker

We actually don't share a chassis--although it is built by the same company (Norsk Hydro) that builds the Elise chassis.

Only 7% of the Elise parts carry over to the Tesla. More information can be found here:

Tesla Motors - Marketing

"Factual data " Coming from the mouths of the Tesla marketing department -hehehe - they are in absolute denial over the Tesla being a Lotus and their sales staff will hardly acknowledge the fact. They avoided pretty much every question I asked in regards to the subject. Snooping around and sitting in one in person you notice a hell of a lot more than %7 parts I can tell you that right now. Tesla also "plans" on buying a Detroit factory and making 100,000 cars a year that only cost $50,000 ! Only problem is they have not figured out how to get the money or how to make 100,000 people buy their non existant $50,000 cars ! Elon Musk is a big dreamer to put it politely....

Funny thing in the showroom I noticed that the front windscreen/assembly are identical to my Elise and I saw an older gentleman and his heavy wife hanging from the windscreen with their entire body weight to exit the car. I gasped and told the sales person - um you probably want to tell people NOT to do that , it is not a structural part of the car and can break.

[delise]

Originally Posted by Murix

That explains I lot. I always see Teslas in front of that place. Never knew it was Elon Musks company. I live right down the street from there.

Well technically it is Jason Calicanis's joint but Musk is a major player / investor. The company is not doing too well it seems. Taking on Google is not a great biz plan it seems. I think one of those Teslas is Jason's actually, but I have seen Musk on several occasions zipping around the area

[A7594217]

I see one guy all the time around where i live. I looked over to give a little thumbs up and he acted like he didnt see me. Pissed me off so I say no! I feel like they think we have a cheap version of there car. Just one bad apple though.

[smicker]

Originally Posted by delise

"Factual data " Coming from the mouths of the Tesla marketing department -hehehe - they are in absolute denial over the Tesla being a Lotus and their sales staff will hardly acknowledge the fact. They avoided pretty much every question I asked in regards to the subject. Snooping around and sitting in one in person you notice a hell of a lot more than %7 parts I can tell you that right now. Tesla also "plans" on buying a Detroit factory and making 100,000 cars a year that only cost $50,000 ! Only problem is they have not figured out how to get the money or how to make 100,000 people buy their non existant $50,000 cars ! Elon Musk is a big dreamer to put it politely....

Funny thing in the showroom I noticed that the front windscreen/assembly are identical to my Elise and I saw an older gentleman and his heavy wife hanging from the windscreen with their entire body weight to exit the car. I gasped and told the sales person - um you probably want to tell people NOT to do that , it is not a structural part of the car and can break.

Del, the 7% figure comes from a diff of the parts list--it's not marketing spin, it's simply fact. Look closer next time you're in the showroom, the windshield is different.

The planned Model S production volume is 10,000/yr not 100,000/yr , and the factory location will be in California, not Detroit.

--Paul

[aschen]

Originally Posted by smicker

We actually don't share a chassis--although it is built by the same company (Norsk Hydro) that builds the Elise chassis.

Only 7% of the Elise parts carry over to the Tesla. More information can be found here:

Tesla Motors - Marketing

I would love to see how they calculate that figure. You see this extrusion has the holes drilled in a different spot so its a completely different part. We use a different supplier for bolts and there are 350 of them in the car so 350 parts are different in that respect.

Im sure the cars dont share tons of parts but I'd put the number at about 50% by weight

[delise]

ahem cough cough Wired magazine interview June 15th 2009

Jalopnik - Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wants $10 Gas, To Build A Kabillion Cars - Wired Live
(The user comments below the article are comedy gold )

Seriously you don't want to try and defend Tesla marketing's "factual data" it is kind of a running joke that their "facts" are a bit dreamy and spun.

[mopho]

Originally Posted by delise

Seriously you don't want to try and defend Tesla marketing's "factual data" it is kind of a running joke that their "facts" are a bit dreamy and spun.

And yet the "facts" being spun around the internet are somehow the "truth"


Certainly we don't want to miss the opportunity to start yet another bash Tesla thread now do we?

[Marlonius]

I give them a thumbs up anytime I see them but none have ever given one back.. But I really think that they didn't see me.

[delise]

Originally Posted by mopho

And yet the "facts" being spun around the internet are somehow the "truth"

It's an article covering a wired live talk with Elon Musk, that is what he said at the event

[mopho]

Originally Posted by delise

It's an article covering a wired live talk with Elon Musk, that is what he said at the event they are quoting him .....

I was not referring to the article

[smicker]

Originally Posted by delise

ahem cough cough Wired magazine interview June 15th 2009

Jalopnik - Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wants $10 Gas, To Build A Kabillion Cars - Wired Live

Seriously you don't want to try and defend Tesla "factual data" it is kind of a running joke that their "facts" are a bit dreamy and spun

The article you're quoting refers to long-term manufacturing plans to get us off foreign oil and end environmental damage. Model S is a step in that direction, as is the Roadster.

You're entitled to your own opinion about the veracity of the facts, believe what you want.

[delise]

Originally Posted by mopho

I was not referring to the article

hmm

[delise]

Originally Posted by smicker

The article you're quoting refers to long-term manufacturing plans to get us off foreign oil and end environmental damage. Model S is a step in that direction, as is the Roadster.

You're entitled to your own opinion about the veracity of the facts, believe what you want.

You corrected/questioned my 100,000 figure and detroit factory plans, I supplied my sources - thanks for playing.

[smicker]

Originally Posted by delise

You corrected/questioned my 100,000 figure and detroit factory plans, I supplied my sources - thanks for playing.

Del, the $50,000 car you referred to is Model S. Nowhere in the article does it mention this. This will be built in California, with a planned stat volume of 10,000/yr. The mass-produced car (100,000+ voume) from the Wired article you're referring to is a future third model priced far less.

Hope this clears things up.

[def]

Man these tesla threads go downhill way too quick.

I see more tesla's on my commute than I do lotus up here. I've waved at a couple when in my elise, and will continue to do so. It may not be a car that you guys would buy, but why the hate on the drivers!?