Originally Posted By: fdcg27
You may not have to worry too much about buying this car from Tesla.
People are basically putting down deposits for a car of unknown performance as actually built offered at an unknown actual price.
A volume model will bring new legal challenges to the direct selling model and EM is no match economically or politically for ten thousand dealer principles who'd all like a shot at a piece of this action.
Also, the build to order inventory model doesn't work well with a moderately price volume production car and the carrying costs of inventory are one of the primary reasons that the dealer system was developed to begin with.
Not really build to order, they just produce a number of Model 3 with various options then inform whoever on the list to come to pick it up.
Without dealer markup and no advertising Tesla may save few thousands a car, this saving either improve their bottom line or passed the saving to buyer.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I think that this car, if actually produced in the volumes forecast, will bring significant changes in Tesla's business model or will bring an end to the Tesla marque.
Too bad, since the Model S seems like a pretty reasonable alternative to a big Benz or BMW for those who don't need the range offered by any IC car.
WRT the Model S being the best car ever built talk, hogwash.
Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and Infinity are all fully capable of building something at least as good and they do.
Consumer Report rated it more than perfect score of 100. They had to modify the rating system because of Model S. MB, BMW, Audi, Porsche ... never get close to 100.
How about satisfaction ? Tesla Model S and X are more satisfy with their purchases than owners of any brand.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The difference is that their cars can be driven another four or five hundred miles with a ten minute fuel stop and that isn't the case with any Tesla.
I'd not want to be in West Texas or Montana or South Dakota in a Tesla, and I have driven through all three.
No doubt about the convenience of ICE vehicle, you can travel all over the world with very little time needed to refuel.
If Federal, State and local governments didn't have any mandate about zero emission vehicle, Tesla would not exit and no car company in the world would spend a dime developing EV or fuel cell vehicle.
Blame the existence of Tesla on Government of all levels.