Would you buy a Model S?

7492 Views 60 Replies 35 Participants Last post by Buzzar, Aug 7, 2014

Paul_Moxhay

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2012

The Model S looks a great car from all that I have seen but would I buy one?

Well no.

It is way bigger than I ever want as a car. OK, it is about the size of a Jag XF but then again I wouldn't buy a Jag either for the same reason.

Size aside, I would have a lot of trouble spending £50K+ on a car that wouldn't meet all my driving needs. Even with the "Signature" version it will only have a 200-250 mile real world range. With that range I would still need to plan my routes carefully before departure to allow for accidents and diversions and to make sure that I was always within range of a suitable charging station... and by suitable I mean one where I didn't have to wait hours.

Tesla have done a cracking job but any EV right now is not a "get in and drive without planning" option. When there are fast charging stations everywhere as there are petrol stations today then 200-250 miles will not be an issue. Right now it is very much an issue.

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MK AMP

· #2 · Dec 23, 2012

I don't think I would ever go over 130 miles and had been looking at EV / ER alternatives for a long time. The Tessla was always top of my list and I was watching it closely and had contacted the emerging UK dealership, configured my car etc. However, the cost of the high range vehicle was simply too much to justify at the end of the day though the car looks amazing. So I purchased the Ampera. No regrets, the potential hastle of finding working and available mid journey chargers for a LEAF will probably not be resolved for some time. The Ampera therefore has fulfilled the electric car desire and i am really pleased with it and I just got the email with the Tessla price increase, it remains a distant dream!

REB

· #3 · Aug 16, 2013

Hello Paul,

From time to time I see videos on the Tesla.

I thought you would enjoy this one by National Geographic on Mega Factories. I couldn't find the original site however.

Hope the link works for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0GtKfOPZRg

knoxie

· #4 · Dec 10, 2013

It is a superb car there is no doubt about that but I would also agree with you, its too big for me personally apart from the cost issue and you are right to go 200-250 miles you still need to compromise, keep the speed and acceleration down to the point where on a long journey you are going to get in peoples way, that feeling is bad enough in a Leaf its got to be worse in something that costs over twice as much.

The EREV like the Ampera or the I3REX do make sense at the moment for sure, even with the fast rollout of RC chargers their reliability and lack of redundancy may be an issue for some, I think Tesla will address this by installing charging stations, in the states there have been model s owners who are not going to road trip in their cars because of long waiting times behind other cars at the chargers, people with that kind of money to spend are not going to want to waste time, it will be interesting to see how it goes.

If we get a situation where folks cant or are worried to roadtrip in their cars it makes the EREV the far more sensible option, I am pretty sure Tesla will make it work over here they simply have to.

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Paul

· #5 · Dec 10, 2013

200 miles is a long way across the UK, for the states perhaps not so much. I the infrastructure will be relatively easy for Tesla to provide to open up the vast majority of the UK and I imagine there will be fewer of them than LEAFs or any other more affordable EVs hanging around waiting to charge... for me, the only issue with a model S is the price.

dpeilow

· #6 · Dec 10, 2013

At 70 mph the 85 kWh Model S will do 235 real world miles.

Paul

· #7 · Dec 10, 2013

If I can drive from my house to the coast without stopping, I'd be happy. That'll do it, and almost back again.

knoxie

· #8 · Dec 10, 2013

dpeilow said:
At 70 mph the 85 kWh Model S will do 235 real world miles.

Thats even more money though, you will have to keep the speed down to 55mph in the 60kwh version of the car to do 240 miles, that fine for us early adopters and tech geek owners it remains to be seen if someone who is used to long range luxury cars is happy to make the speed compromise.

dpeilow

· #9 · Dec 10, 2013

Well 240 miles is the NEDC range for the 60 kWh version. We've gone on ad nausiam about how inaccurate the NEDC is, but they have to publish it.

If you want generally accurate data for any vehicle, look up the American EPA figures.

Darren Griffin

· #10 · Dec 11, 2013

If I could afford to drop £50k+ on a car I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Reactions: 1

Paul

· #11 · Dec 11, 2013

So all they need to do is get to £20k and we'll all be driving one. Come on Tesla!!!

cjm_2013

· #12 · Dec 12, 2013

I couldn't get one - it wouldn't fit in well with my 'working class hero' pretentions

Seriously, it's way too flashy! I'm still a 'young' 36 & I like the anonymity that the leaf offers. And for me, the rapid charge abilities suit my requirements if I need to go further than 80 miles.

RickMGoldie

· #13 · Dec 15, 2013

Would I buy one? Yes. Then again, Yes. Yes a thousand times, Yes! It's a bugger I can't afford one.

Reactions: 1

jontracey

· #14 · Dec 18, 2013

yes have ordered one, leaving aside cost (yes its a lot of money) for me its a dream car and life is too short to not live it to the full so against all better judgement i ordered one

Reactions: 2

Kevin Sharpe

· #15 · Dec 18, 2013

Paul_Churchley said:
The Model S looks a great car from all that I have seen but would I buy one?

No... while my partner and I love the Model S we both find it too big for practical use in the UK now that our kids have left home.

We will lease the i3 REX and then buy the Tesla "Gen 3" because range transforms an EV into a car... I can also say that the customer support from Tesla is out of this world... it's so good that Tesla should run courses

RickMGoldie

· #16 · Jul 11, 2014

Kevin Sharpe said:
No... while my partner and I love the Model S we both find it too big ...

Have you considered getting a bigger partner ;-)

Brian Stanier

· #17 · Jul 11, 2014

Too long, too wide, too low, too heavy, too expensive.

Reactions: 1

Paul

· #18 · Jul 11, 2014

Brian Stanier said:
Too long, too wide, too low, too heavy, too expensive.

Is that a yes or a no?

Reactions: 1

UKTechie

· #19 · Jul 11, 2014

No it won't fit in my garage

So I would have to buy a new house so need £500,000.

AndyG

· #20 · Jul 11, 2014

UKTechie said:
No it won't fit in my garage So I would have to buy a new house so need £500,000.

Sell the house and live in the car

. As soon as the kids leave home thats my plan, just dont tell my wife

Reactions: 1

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