150 People Line Up at Decatur Tesla Store To Pre-Order New Tesla 3
Decatur Metro | April 1, 2016 | 1:30 pm
As you may have already heard, the new, more affordable Tesla 3 was announced last night to great fanfare. The car will reportedly cost $35,000, have a range of 215 miles, go from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds and seat 5 people, according to Tesla.
Our resident Tesla fan, David, sent in this report and cool drone photo from Decatur’s Church Street Tesla store late yesterday…
Today at 10:00am, roughly 150 people were lined up to put down $1,000.00 on the Tesla Model 3 at the Decatur store. A car that no one has seen yet and will not be available for 2 years. This is an earth changing event. The car will be unveiled tonight at 8:30 pst with online ordering happening at the same time. People are guessing worldwide that there will be at least 100,000 reservations.
Closing in on 200k pre-orders (globally).
It could have been a great April Fools prank. Take the wrappings off an old Vega.
This would have been a great one too, except they released it a day early.
http://www.snopes.com/trader-joes-april-fools-day/
Wonder how many people will end up not qualifying for the $7500 federal tax credit?
Did anyone see any lemmings in the crowd?
I’m curious as to what makes you ask that question. Not that I was there (I love my current gasoline powered go-fast car too much), but I see a positive paradigm shift in the making.
I agree with the principle, but it certainly reminded my of the folks have must have the latest, greatest, sight unseen and untested. It’s like they were lining up for an iPhone that would be available 2 years hence.
Ah, good point. The early adopter syndrome. I’ve never been one, which has saved me countless hours of not waiting in lines. 🙂
And, one can get a good used Nissan Leaf with reasonable mileage for half or less what one of the Teslas will cost. Granted, it’s not as large and the range isn’t as great, but it’s available today and reliability is proven..
What makes a Tesla better than the current crop of EV’s on the market is their free SuperChargers for long distance travel. No other car company has that vision. Of course, waking up every day to a full tank of regulated energy that will take me over 200 miles is also nice. I was a lemming before and did what everyone else did (drive an gasoline powered car) and then I opened my eyes and saw a better way.
You may be able to go further on a charge, but you’ll have to wait a long time to get behind the wheel.
Steve, In the last 3+ years, I have spent exactly zero time refueling my Tesla in a gas station. 3 to 5 minutes, 2 to 4 times a month – that time adds up for a gas car. Plus you have to pay for it. My Model S refuels at night when ‘fuel’ is cheaper and I am asleep. Furthermore, if I take a trip and refuel at a SuperCharger (conveniently placed roughly 150 miles apart), it takes me 30 to 40 minutes to charge but in that time, the family can stretch, go to the bathroom or get something to eat. And once again, it is free to refuel so I don’t mind the wait. You are just looking for any excuse to criticize something that is actually better.
I’m not criticizing the vehicle or the technology. I’m criticizing the lemmings who stand in line to get something that they may not see for 2 years. Like I said, it’s the same syndrome as folks who line up to buy a yet unreleased smartphone that they won’t see for a long time. I wish Tesla well and i think they have good products and a unique marketing concept. If I had waited a year to purchase my last car, I may very well have gotten a Leaf, which, BTW, I could have driven off the lot that day.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/04/04/the-car-industry-has-never-witnessed-what-tesla-is-about-to-go-through/
Good article, thank you.
I’m conflicted about EV technology. On one hand, I do believe it has a very strong future. Fossil fuel needs are minimized, emissions are zero, simpler mechanics and low maintenance, quiet, etc. So many positives, and few negatives.
On the other hand, I grew up an amateur grease monkey, and still love wrenching on cars. I would miss the sounds of a high-flow exhaust, big air intake and a finely-tuned engine. And spending time with other car guys, debating the merits of turbo 4-bangers vs. small-block V8’s.
Time moves on, and I will be left behind.
The emissions are not zero. They just occur at a place other than the car’s exhaust.
I think the Model S is a cool car, but count me among those who plan to be “left behind” with gas cars, at least until the range of EVs increases very dramatically. Over $60k for a car that can’t go more than 220 miles or so? It’s borderline crazy, IMO. Even if Tesla charging stations were everywhere — and they are not — 40+ minutes to recharge is a major detriment as compared to a gas car, which can be refueled virtually anywhere and within minutes.
Not to mention, for a performance car, a lack of engine noise is a bug, not a feature.
Electric cars combined with clean power generation will be better for the environment. I agree totally on the range issue. I will be waiting patiently for the range to increase to a realistic day of driving (500 miles + for me). Otherwise, I will miss engine noise about the same amount I miss the cord that used to connect the handset to the phone.
it’s a bug found in many modern performance cars, electric or not. that’s what the speakers are for.
May not be as good of a deal for some as they think it will: http://upstart.bizjournals.com/entrepreneurs/hot-shots/2016/04/06/teslas-model-3-buyers-may-miss-out-on-government.html