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MrCincinnati

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"Tesla says that the Roadster will be on the road by 2020 and has opened the order book for the car, which carries a starting price of $200,000. A $50,000 deposit is required to reserve one, but if you want to get to the front of the line you’ll have to pony up a full $250,000 for one of the first 1,000 Founder’s Series cars that will be the first off of the production line."

Translation: We need 1000 people to pay $250k cash up front to fund this effort.
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Dary

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The 200 kWh battery pack is interesting. That means they managed to double the density of their current pack somehow.
 

Hack

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I wonder who would buy something like this (or even the original Tesla). I have no problem with the idea of buying something because you like it. However electric vehicles are generally presented as being good for the environment. Burning tire rubber and wasteful rapid acceleration go counter to that goal.

Kind of like having a company that caters to vegetarians and offering them meat.

The government should definitely NOT be subsidizing vehicles designed only for the wealthy or vehicles that aren't environmentally helpful. Subsidized vehicles should be cheap and useful for general transportation - if it's fair to assume that the government should subsidize anything at all (I don't think they should).
 

Austinj427

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I wasn't talking about traction. I was talking about being able to sell enough of the things to keep production alive. If Porsche couldn't do it - just saying.
What?

Porsche built 918, 918s. They sold every one of them.

I'm pretty sure that was the plan from the get go?
 

ctandc72

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What?

Porsche built 918, 918s. They sold every one of them.

I'm pretty sure that was the plan from the get go?
They killed production. Look at the major recalls and issues they had. They built around 900 before they killed production. If it had been making money, they wouldn't have stopped making 'em.
 

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icormba

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They killed production. Look at the major recalls and issues they had. They built around 900 before they killed production. If it had been making money, they wouldn't have stopped making 'em.
They stopped production at "around" 900 because they hit their target. Like [MENTION=31830]Austinj427[/MENTION] said... their target was 918. 1918 918's built wouldn't have sounded as good in the annals of Car Making History. ;):cheers:
 

Hack

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They stopped production at "around" 900 because they hit their target. Like [MENTION=31830]Austinj427[/MENTION] said... their target was 918. 1918 918's built wouldn't have sounded as good in the annals of Car Making History. ;):cheers:
918 is a ton of cars to make when only a fraction of a percent of people can even afford one. Most other cars at the level of the 918 are only built by the handful.
 

icormba

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If Tesla builds these... I will probably see a whole bunch of them in my neck of the woods, which is Tesla Land as I call it.
 

Austinj427

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They killed production. Look at the major recalls and issues they had. They built around 900 before they killed production. If it had been making money, they wouldn't have stopped making 'em.
They sold all 918 planned vehicles before production ended.

"The production version was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.[9] The 2014 model year 918 Spyder was produced in a limited series and it was developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen. Porsche manufactured 918 units as a 2014 model year and production started on November 18, 2013, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December 2013.[5][6] Sales in the United States began in June 2014.[26] Pricing for the 918 Spyder started at US$845,000 (~ €611,000 or GB£511,000).[4] According to its battery size, the 918 Spyder was eligible to a federal tax credit of up to US$3,667.[27]

As of November 2014, over 800 units had been ordered worldwide, with planned production sold out through late March or early April 2015. Production ended in June 2015 as scheduled.[7] The entire production was sold out in December 2014.

The country with the most orders is the United States with 294 units, followed by China and Germany with approximately 100 orders each, and Canada ordering 35 units.[28][29][30]

According to JATO Dynamics, a total of 105 units have been registered worldwide during the first nine months of 2014.[31] The United States is the leading market with 202 units delivered up to May 2015.[32] As of October 2014, a total of 9 units were registered in Switzerland, 6 in the Netherlands, 5 units in Canada, and 4 in Sweden, 3 in Brazil and 1 in South Africa.[33][34][32][35]
They sold everyone of them 7 months before production ended.

Also, I looked into the recalls and it had three. Two of them for suspension related issues and another where the wiring harness was too close to the radiator and could melt.

Even if the car was a flop, like you had mentioned before, lets take a step back.

>An $840K-$930K hyper car isn't representative of the greater market.

>VW is investing $80 billion into electric.

Like it or not, it's here to stay and in 20 years, we probably won't be able to buy a car with an internal combustion engine unless it's used.
 

ThreeFiveO

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Loosing the $7500 tax break will not stop the Tesla crowd. I know a few folks that own them as third cars. I only own the stock. I've doubled my money on it but it gives me gray hair some days.
 

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TDC

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If I had the cash no question I'd try and get one. I'd be surprised a car guy/gal wouldn't want to experience that level of straight line performance. After tiring of it sell and move on.
 
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zackmd1

zackmd1

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If only I had $200k+ to throw around....

[ame]

[ame]

The bottom one is the best.... Reaction starts at 1:50 mark
 

Firepath

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I wonder who would buy something like this (or even the original Tesla). I have no problem with the idea of buying something because you like it. However electric vehicles are generally presented as being good for the environment. Burning tire rubber and wasteful rapid acceleration go counter to that goal.
I agree with this somewhat. Why can't Tesla (also) make a nice looking sports car with decent (note: not ludicrously ridiculous) performance, and a more attainable price tag? 0-60 in 4.5 instead of 1.9 with a 400 mile range vs 600+. Less motors, less battery, less cost.

It's cool they can make a car get to 60mph in 1.9s and go 600 miles (AT HIGHWAY SPEED) on a charge, as proof that there is little argument for electrics not taking over, but it is overkill. A city car that is small and doesn't need much power and even a lot of range I would think is the biggest market for electrics, but that is one that Tesla is avoiding??
 
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TDC

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Traction management is amazing. It drives all 4 wheels but if it is wearing low profile street rubber than putting down that torque is impressive. Guessing the characteristics of modulating power of an electric motor is easier than an engine.

The video reminds me a bit of an amusement park ride where the g-force thrill is eye opening but the overall acceleration experience is a bit bland; no interesting or exciting noises/vibrations.
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