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Bob Lutz, car-guy-to-the-max, former VP of GM and Chrysler, with time at BMW before that, wrote this recent article --
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a26859/bob-lutz-tesla/
The opening paragraph is gloomy:
Tesla's showing all the signs of a company in trouble: bleeding cash, securitized assets, and mounting inventory. It's the trifecta of doom for any automaker, and anyone paying attention probably saw this coming a mile away. Like most big puzzles, the company's woes don't have just one source.
and the prognosis goes downhill from there mentioning competition from Audi, the lack of enough dealers to attract more buyers and other problems.
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sillema sillema nika su
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Marco2G on Friday October 30 2015, @07:34PM
Well, while your eyperience certainly is valid, don't you think that lynching a whole company with the failings of one sales rep is a tad overzealous?
I went there, just like you, in regular clothes. I had an extremely nice chat with the sales rep during the drive and when his next appointment fell flat, he stood there and chatted with me for over an hour and told me about pros and cons (!) of Tesla Model S cars. At no point did he ever let on that he thought about this as wasted time even after I made clear that I would probably not be able to own a Model S due to financial reasons.
The aspects of the car you mentioned are completely a matter of getting used to it and taste. The rearview camera combined with the side mirrors leaves next to no blind spot on the car.
Yes, there are certain design 'issues' and some of them seem to have to do with the Steve Jobs mentality of Musk: If it doesn't fit into his philosophy, it doesn't go into the car no matter the demand.
Still, even after driving it the Tesla is the first car I actually yearn for. I'm sorry that your mileage varied, but come on... it's to be expected that a product can't be perfect for everybody.
(Score: 1) by daaelar on Saturday October 31 2015, @12:50PM
Oh, I'm not out to lynch a whole company on one sales rep. As I stated, I don't agree with Mr. Lutz that the company is doomed. I was simply offering a counterpoint to the parent post. There can be both good and bad people at the same company and that doesn't mean the whole company is rotten. However, your point about the "Steve Jobs Menatality" is what really puts me off. The design of the S went further with the X. I really wish the S didn't have those issues because I dearly want to buy one. The drivetrain and the charging system are phenomenal. I just wish the cabin design was less "look at me!" and a little more conventional. Who knows, maybe the Model 3 is something I'll like, though I secretly want an updated Roadster to come out with the old interior and the new drivetrain.