Is anybody else impressed by the Tesla Model S?

[lockup]

Ooo, range anxiety
Ooo, replacing the batteries
Ooo, but the power's generated by burning coal

etc.

All this aside, I can't help but be impressed by how quickly the electric car has come along. It doesn't seem so long ago that if you drove one, it was likely to be a G-Wiz which made you a bit 'special'.

This Model S thing is a proper 4 door saloon with 200 mile range and M5 bothering performance. I'm unlikely to ever have the money to burn on a new family car, let alone an 80k job, but if I did I'd put this on the shortlist.

Ten years takes us from this to this. Who isn't impressed by that?

[dry664]

I think you would be hard pressed to get 200 miles using the M5 bothering performance

[kambites]

I'm quite impressed by the numbers, but you've got to wonder whether an executive car is the right place to put this technology, given that they're designed for doing long motorway runs.

[Superhoop]

As nice as the Model S is,I wouldn't buy a Tesla, I wouldn't fancy the idea of being sued if I said anything bad about it.

[GingerNinja]

I think it's a lovely looking thing with good performance, but certainly still has problems.

It'll be 80k - 100k when it gets here, which puts it up against some amazing competition.

Recharging requires planning if you deviate from home base. Recharging takes too long. Range in cold weather is quite badly impacted.

What happens when that integral battery chassis floor needs changing?

[LukeBird]

dry664 said:

I think you would be hard pressed to get 200 miles using the M5 bothering performance

What are the chances on getting 200 miles out of a tank in an M5 if you used it's performance?

[GavinPearson]

Any car that can win a variety of magazine "Car of the Year" awards is generally impressive at the time.

It looks quite nice, has a nice interior, by all accounts handles OK and accelerates and stops very well. The fact that it runs on electricity and does everything else well is impressive.

[Disco You]

LukeBird said:

What are the chances on getting 200 miles out of a tank in an M5 if you used it's performance?

How long does a fuel stop take in a Tesla?

[McWigglebum4th]

Disco You said:

How long does a fuel stop take in a Tesla?

15 seconds if you use the car as most people do

as in driving 50 miles a day and leaving the car parked at work or overnight on your drive