patrick_y

Any AMG drivers try out a Tesla Performance Vehicle?

EvoTechnik

You really cant compare a 15 year old e55 to a new car.

tw2

I don't think I would want to touch a Tesla. I don't think that company has ever made a net profit and certainly has millions of dollars in debt servicing each week. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes pop one day. There is also a lot of promising electric car tech in the not so distant future that will obsolete-ify the way tesla powers their cars, thousands more miles on a single charge. Yes they have amazing performance but there are other considerations if you actually want to own one. I would stick to AMG's for a few more years at least and then make the change once there are a few more stable players in the electric market and the cars are a lot lighter.

patrick_y

True, that'd be an unfair comparison. I'm more thinking it's a replacement to the E55.

patrick_y

Tesla is finally on the track to profitability.

Tesla is definitely the leader in electric vehicle technology; a strong leader in the motor section, their motors use less electricity and provide higher performance figures than any other product. Definitely a generation ahead. Tesla batteries are also significantly better in technology than competitors. Tesla's infrastructure is also ahead when it comes to charging.

Other brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche are all joining the electric family; cars will need automotive electricians, not automotive technicians; the current existing teams at dealership service centers may not be able to adequately service the cars. Tesla technicians are trained from the ground up as automotive electricians. And not all the Mercedes/Lexus/Audi/BMW automotive technicians will be able to convert themselves to retraining as a successful automotive electrician.

Tesla makes a convincing product. There are Tesla airport shuttle vehicles with over 400,000 miles that are running quite well; so it appears long-term reliability is good. I'm definitely interested to see what else Tesla can do with themselves. The performance is decent; mostly compatible as a replacement to an E55 AMG for someone who is accustomed to a powerful car.

Try it out. You don't have to buy it. I was really pleasantly surprised.

tw2

If I was in the market I would certainly give them a look over. They may have the best product both now and potentially in the future but I would certainly like to see what happens when the European brands catch up and there is a few years of serious competition. I don't know what their range is now but 400 miles is a lower limit in this country, there are very few charge stations even in the larger cities and you need to be able to get a full day's driving out of a single charge.

PieRat

I seen a few around, I try to aggro them :P I always wonder how they get em with all the delivery issues thought NZ market would be the last to get anything ahaha.

drothgeb

I interviewed for a position at the gigafactory and got to take the model S fast version what ever it is for a drive afterwards. Launches like a ****ing rocket that's for sure. They have some seriously well engineered traction control plus the torque and response of the electric motors. You can't compare the launch to a gas car. The best thing to compare the feel of the launch to legitimately is probably the neck snapping take off of the fastest roller coaster I've been on. Any ways, obviously it tapers out on the top end we can all see on 1/4 mile videos, I didn't get to get that fast on backroads in the hills, but I can say down low they are ****ing awesome. As a stop light racer day to day driver they will be untouchable haha. Only hope is to catch one at 40-60ish on a freeway and smash in their faces from there.

Also, no altitude affect :-[ I can't say I have the luxury of that in my 55.

cfmistry

Yuille36

Well I guess that I'm an old dinosaur, destined for extinction. Because the very fiber of my being can not except an electric car. Not until I see George Jetson zooming along in one, and the world has run out of gasoline.

lseguy

friend has the Model X. I've driven it. Amazing in every aspect. Incredible to believe that in just a few years (especially compared to all of the other actual carmakers), a tech company..designed and created for mass production such advanced, incredible vehicles. Handling, steering, braking, acceleration, tech features, reliability. To the point where Consumer Reports, for the first time in history, had to completely revamp their rating/scoring system because Tesla was ranking off the charts.

Cant argue with that level of success. Shows the power of disruption. If Tesla didnt come about, would any of the carmakers be where they are now in pursuing electric vehicles? No. The power of industry disruption.

All of that said? Keeping my E55. LOL

K507

2 words...Range Anxiety!

Yuille36

Until, there are charging stations as numerous as current gas stations, you'll continue to have range anxiety.

MaschioneCazzuto

Ay, OP. No comparison

w204_racing

hayseed

iTrader: (2)

the model s goes like stink and eerily quiet ,, pretty nice ,,, but I like my 55,,, 10% of cost for 90 % of the fun - I wonder what repairs on that will be when its 15 years old

trabots

I have an E55 with ONLY an 83mm fixed pulley and a RaecIQ tune with a totally stock exhaust system. I have driven a Tesla S and my E55 reminds me of it because it is so quiet which makes it feel faster than the 11sec car it is. My SL55 however with headers and no cats and much more, sounds like a top fuel dragster when you jump on it. It is a much quicker car but because of all the noise a totally different experience.

MaschioneCazzuto

I word describes those kind and those who buy NEW e class with the electronic gauges, glued iPad and needing little gadgets.

patrick_y

I was impressed as well with the acceleration. I imagine the acceleration is quite good on the highway too. But in California; the speed limit on the highway is only 70 mph, so it's unfortunate that we can't really enjoy the acceleration for very long.

patrick_y

I'm not a huge fan of the exterior of the Model 3 as well; especially that "platypus" front. The rear of the Model 3 looks good, but makes the car look small and therefore inexpensive. But wow, that Model 3 Performance seemed to be a very nice driving vehicle!

patrick_y

I am totally with you there! But I tried one out, and now I'm "shocked" (pun intended) at the power an electric car can provide.

patrick_y

I'm keeping my E55 too. But I'm definitely considering an electric car for the next car! The E55 is my daily, but I could be considering an electric car as my daily someday.

patrick_y

That is a big problem.

Practically speaking; with the amount of money saved by driving electric; for those seldom taken long-trips, I could just rent a car. But dealing with the awful people at Hertz, the long lines, the incompetence, etc., kind of not worth the aggravation.

drothgeb

National Emerald Club or Avis Preferred. Walk straight to rental car isle, get in any car in the isle, drive off. Only have to give your ID to the person at the exit gate. 75% travel for my job haha, so I can understand the annoyance of rental car counters.

equitiesguy

People with Teslas will end up with cancer, just like people are starting to find out how terrible an idea it was to talk on cell phones pressed up against your brain for hours on end, year after year.

Why they chose 3 phase AC motors is beyond me (it's actually not, I know they did it for power consumption ... but what is the long term cost to the consumers' health)

As far as the model S/P90* series ... I wasn't even impressed when I was in the car. The interior is mediocre. Musk built a car for millennial twits.