OK, I have to state it.

[stamperben]

Glenn Beck and I are in agreement!

Glenn has had it with “Texas’s Tesla Tyranny”

Recently I had the chance to test drive the iPhone of automobiles, a Tesla. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever driven.

Yet Tesla, which sells cars direct-to-consumer, can’t sell me or anyone else a car in the state of Texas.

Yes, you read that right: Enterprise is not free in the state of Ted Cruz and Ron Paul.
​

Musk just seems to not be giving enough.

Tesla attempted to have the Texas law changed earlier this year, but the company's efforts were quashed by lawmakers who took in more than $2.5 million from car dealers in the 2012 election cycle, TPJ reported.​

Well, this IS Texas, where at least the buying and selling of politicians is still free enterprise.

 

[grasping the after wind]

It takes a reasonable person to admit that an opponent is not always wrong. Not everyone would do that. I doubt Iwould ever have the financial resources to buy a Tesla but if one of the 1% wants to buy one why should Texas stand in the way. Probably there is an element of jealousy by Texas oil interests toward the coal industry which remains the big winner where the electric car is concerned as it is still well ahead ( about 39% to about 1%)of oil when it comes to electricity production.
What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

 

[NightHawkeye]

Glenn Beck and I are in agreement!

Glenn has had it with “Texas’s Tesla Tyranny”

Recently I had the chance to test drive the iPhone of automobiles, a Tesla. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever driven.

Yet Tesla, which sells cars direct-to-consumer, can’t sell me or anyone else a car in the state of Texas.

Yes, you read that right: Enterprise is not free in the state of Ted Cruz and Ron Paul.
​

Musk just seems to not be giving enough.

Tesla attempted to have the Texas law changed earlier this year, but the company's efforts were quashed by lawmakers who took in more than $2.5 million from car dealers in the 2012 election cycle, TPJ reported.​

Well, this IS Texas, where at least the buying and selling of politicians is still free enterprise.

That's why the legislators are only allowed to meet every other year ... it minimizes the amount of damage they can do.

Every other year they must go home and face the wrath of their constituents. Don't you wish our legislators in DC were similarly constrained?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

They can't sell in Michigan either, because they won't set up a dealership there, or they won't work with a dealership.

I am confused as to the specifics. But I can't afford a Tesla anyway so I don't care.

 

[iluvatar5150]

They can't sell in Michigan either, because they won't set up a dealership there, or they won't work with a dealership.

I am confused as to the specifics. But I can't afford a Tesla anyway so I don't care.

From what I've read, at least some of these laws were set up to protect dealerships from mfg's coming in and setting up competing businesses that undercut the dealers. I don't necessarily have a problem with protecting against that, but when a mfg has no dealers in an entire state, I don't see the point, aside from protectionism.

 

[stamperben]

They can't sell in Michigan either, because they won't set up a dealership there, or they won't work with a dealership.

I am confused as to the specifics. But I can't afford a Tesla anyway so I don't care.

Then what? You don't care what billionaires and huge corporations pay in income taxes either because you don't make that kind of money? It really has nothing to do with who can or can not afford the car, it's like Beck said, who has the monopoly?

 

[grasping the after wind]

From what I've read, at least some of these laws were set up to protect dealerships from mfg's coming in and setting up competing businesses that undercut the dealers. I don't necessarily have a problem with protecting against that, but when a mfg has no dealers in an entire state, I don't see the point, aside from protectionism.

Free enterprise is based on free competition if a government requires a dealership for a manufacturer to do business then it is engaging in fascistic crony capitalism. It is favoring one group over another. If a manufacturer can undercut a dealer then the dealer is obviously superflous to the transaction and is actually fleecing the consumer. The government would do better to outlaw dealers to protect the consumer than to outlaw manufacturer's selling directly to consumers to protect a group of people that do not need to exist for business to be conducted. The best solution is to allow the two to compete with each other for the benefit of all. Additionally, I seriously doubt that any current dealership would be losing much of its business to Tesla motors as the two products i.e. a regular automobile and a Tesla are in no way appealing to the same customers.

 

[stamperben]

From what I've read, at least some of these laws were set up to protect dealerships from mfg's coming in and setting up competing businesses that undercut the dealers. I don't necessarily have a problem with protecting against that, but when a mfg has no dealers in an entire state, I don't see the point, aside from protectionism.

Of course it's protectionism. $2.5 million buys a lot of protection.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Then what? You don't care what billionaires and huge corporations pay in income taxes either because you don't make that kind of money? It really has nothing to do with who can or can not afford the car, it's like Beck said, who has the monopoly?

Dude. Did you miss the at the end of my post?

 

[BigDaddy4]

I've driven a Tesla. They are REALLY nice cars that I would never buy due to price and it being a REALLY nice car. Too many crazy drivers and too small of parking spaces these days!

I'm a proponent of a sensibly regulated free market that encourages competition. This does not. It doesn't even make sense. The Tesla price point competition is more of the luxery car market (BMW, Mercedes, etc.). Definitely not something the majority of Americans could afford (Honda's, Chevy's, etc.).

 

[iluvatar5150]

Free enterprise is based on free competition if a government requires a dealership for a manufacturer to do business then it is engaging in fascistic crony capitalism. It is favoring one group over another. If a manufacturer can undercut a dealer then the dealer is obviously superflous to the transaction and is actually fleecing the consumer.

Dealers are part of the distribution, marketing, and support network and not superfluous to the transaction.

Additionally, I seriously doubt that any current dealership would be losing much of its business to Tesla motors as the two products i.e. a regular automobile and a Tesla are in no way appealing to the same customers.

Depends on where you live and how affluent the people are. IIRC, a Model S runs between $65k-$100k, which is comparable to a lot of Porsches, mid/upper-level Mercedes, and upper-level BMW's and Corvettes. I used to see a lot of Teslas when I lived in Boston (and more lower-level BMW's and Mercedes' than domestics). But the Model S isn't their only car - the Model 3 they're working on is supposed to come in at $35000 before incentives, which would put it in direct competition with any full-sized sedan.

?Elon Musk Says Tesla Model 3 Will Cost $35,000 Before Incentives

 

[NightHawkeye]

The beauty of a car like the Tesla is that we can now expect all of the caring environmentally conscious Democrats to buy one.

It doesn't matter how much it costs. It doesn't matter that it can only go a few hundred miles without needing hours to recharge. It doesn't matter that more pollution is created recharging these beauties than a conventional gasoline powered vehicle creates.

It's about feeling good. Kinda like with the lead-infused Toyota Prius.

 

[iluvatar5150]

The beauty of a car like the Tesla is that we can now expect all of the caring environmentally conscious Democrats to buy one.

Like I said, I've seen a lot of people driving them. I know several more who'd consider them once they release the cheaper version.

It doesn't matter how much it costs. It doesn't matter that it can only go a few hundred miles without needing hours to recharge.

The superchargers can do it in about 30 minutes.
Supercharger | Tesla Motors

Though I wouldn't argue that this is a good car for a long road trip, it's more than enough for the daily commuting needs of most people.

It doesn't matter that more pollution is created recharging these beauties than a conventional gasoline powered vehicle creates.

source?

It's about feeling good. Kinda like with the lead-infused Toyota Prius.

Most car purchases are about "feeling good." Most people only need a fraction of the horsepower, "sporty" features, or cargo capacity they buy.

 

[stamperben]

The beauty of a car like the Tesla is that we can now expect all of the caring environmentally conscious Democrats to buy one.

I didn't know you thought of Glenn Beck this way.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Like I said, I've seen a lot of people driving them. I know several more who'd consider them once they release the cheaper version.

The superchargers can do it in about 30 minutes.

Nope - only 170 miles. Tesla batteries are little different from more common batteries in regards to charging.

That quick charge simply maximizes range versus charging time. You want full range, then hours of charging are required. I don't know about you, but stopping every couple of hours for 30 minutes or more isn't quite the way I drive when I travel cross country.

Though I wouldn't argue that this is a good car for a long road trip, it's more than enough for the daily commuting needs of most people.

It'd work for me. I only drive about 7 miles to work. I'd only need to recharge that sucker every week or two, about the same frequency I recharge my cell phone. I sometimes get eight or nine days between recharging my cell phone.

Of course, my cell phone is running continuously, the Tesla would be much more intermittent.

source?

Most car purchases are about "feeling good." Most people only need a fraction of the horsepower, "sporty" features, or cargo capacity they buy.

I consider myself pragmatic. My little Jeep gets 30 mpg when I can get ethanol-free gasoline, goes over 400 miles between fillups, has a "lifetime" warranty and cost me new a fraction the price of a Tesla. I just don't see replacing it with the Tesla. The lifetime warranty especially is just too sweet to give up.

 

[stamperben]

Dude. Did you miss the at the end of my post?

Oh, I saw it, but as with most posts here I went by what the words said more than the smilie that could mean a range of things.

 

[NightHawkeye]

I didn't know you thought of Glenn Beck this way.

Glenn Beck is the perfect consumer for such a vehicle. He would get super-car performance out of it while being able to hammer the hypocritical Democrats for not following his lead.

But ... has he bought one yet?

 

[stamperben]

Glenn Beck is the perfect consumer for such a vehicle. He would get super-car performance out of it while being able to hammer the hypocritical Democrats for not following his lead.

But ... has he bought one yet?

It sounds more like he'd be hammering the accelerator down when he can buy one in-state.
“I thought I was going to pass out”

 

[iluvatar5150]

It'd work for me. I only drive about 7 miles to work. I'd only need to recharge that sucker every week or two, about the same frequency I recharge my cell phone. I sometimes get eight or nine days between recharging my cell phone.

Of course, my cell phone is running continuously, the Tesla would be much more intermittent.

Regardless of how long people may sit in traffic, I think few people have commutes of any great distance, which means they ought to be able to get to work and back home w/ plenty of reserves left to recharge the car overnight.

Right.

I consider myself pragmatic. My little Jeep gets 30 mpg when I can get ethanol-free gasoline, goes over 400 miles between fillups, has a "lifetime" warranty and cost me new a fraction the price of a Tesla. I just don't see replacing it with the Tesla. The lifetime warranty especially is just too sweet to give up.

The Model S has an 8 year, unlimited mile warranty.
Infinite Mile Warranty | Tesla Motors

People seem to love the handling and performance; and it gets great safety ratings. Obviously, it doesn't compete on price against a Jeep, but for someone considering an expensive luxury car, it's definitely competitive. I'm interested to see the Model 3 when it comes out. I'm really tall and don't fit too well in the Model S, so I'm not too optimistic, but the Model 3 would be about the price range and timeline I'd be looking at, so we'll see.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Regardless of how long people may sit in traffic, I think few people have commutes of any great distance, which means they ought to be able to get to work and back home w/ plenty of reserves left to recharge the car overnight.

No argument. If a cheap little golf cart would work for my commute, I'd use that rather than put miles on my road car.

Right.

Noting that even the Sierra Club couldn't sugar-coat the reality of pollution caused by electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicles: Myths vs. Reality | Electric Vehicle Guide

A caveat to consider is that when coal plants supply the majority of the power in a given area, electric vehicles may emit more CO2 and SO2 pollution than hybrid electric vehicles. Learn where your electricity comes from, what plans your state or community has for shifting to renewables, and whether you have options for switching to greener power.​

The Model S has an 8 year, unlimited mile warranty.

Noting that my little seven-year old Jeep already has well over 100,000 miles and is in tip-top condition. I reasonably expect a fifteen to twenty year lifetime from it ... with nearly all repairs covered under the lifetime warranty ... zero-deductible, btw.

So far, repairs have been limited to a differential leak and shocks ... not enough to cover the cost of the warranty yet, though not that far away either.

People seem to love the handling and performance; and it gets great safety ratings. Obviously, it doesn't compete on price against a Jeep, but for someone considering an expensive luxury car, it's definitely competitive. I'm interested to see the Model 3 when it comes out. I'm really tall and don't fit too well in the Model S, so I'm not too optimistic, but the Model 3 would be about the price range and timeline I'd be looking at, so we'll see.

Let me know how well you like it after you've had it eight years and have paid to replace the batteries.