Comments on: Durham to Get Tesla Dealership? http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/ The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:45:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: SMcDonald http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-1044 SMcDonald Mon, 12 May 2008 13:39:34 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-1044 I own an Elise, and can tell you that this is a great platform for such a car. It is lightweight, small, nimble and sexy. However, it is also not a car for the average consumer. Even if the price were greatly reduced, it would only draw attention from jaw-droppers in the parking lot rather than draw sales in the showroom. Not many people would own one, because they are as far from practical as you can possibly get (on four wheels). So, it is a good platform to test the theory and design, but not for sales to the general public. And I doubt, even at 109K, Tesla/Lotus will recoup all of their investment even if they sold every one. The Lotus, which is a *reasonably priced exotic* (I often joke that our Lotus is somewhere between a *cheap* exotic and an expensive go-cart) still suffers from a small profit margin largely due to the short audience and R&D money going into each model. Even while its sales are good, Lotus continues to build their reputation and money on developing for other manufactures. The concept of the Elise market isn't far from that of the Tesla's: get a few cars out to advertise the technology that this company can produce. That's my theory, anyway. I own an Elise, and can tell you that this is a great platform for such a car. It is lightweight, small, nimble and sexy. However, it is also not a car for the average consumer. Even if the price were greatly reduced, it would only draw attention from jaw-droppers in the parking lot rather than draw sales in the showroom. Not many people would own one, because they are as far from practical as you can possibly get (on four wheels). So, it is a good platform to test the theory and design, but not for sales to the general public. And I doubt, even at 109K, Tesla/Lotus will recoup all of their investment even if they sold every one. The Lotus, which is a *reasonably priced exotic* (I often joke that our Lotus is somewhere between a *cheap* exotic and an expensive go-cart) still suffers from a small profit margin largely due to the short audience and R&D money going into each model. Even while its sales are good, Lotus continues to build their reputation and money on developing for other manufactures. The concept of the Elise market isn’t far from that of the Tesla’s: get a few cars out to advertise the technology that this company can produce. That’s my theory, anyway.

]]> By: Ernest http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-994 Ernest Fri, 09 May 2008 13:43:40 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-994 I would LOVE to own one of these, but the price is so prohibitive :( I'd rather pay $5 per gallon for gasoline than getting into debt for something like this. Why can't they put together a car similar to Saturn Sky. The latter costs below $30,000 and it comes fully loaded. Oh well, we have to wait TOO long for this to happen. I would LOVE to own one of these, but the price is so prohibitive :( I’d rather pay $5 per gallon for gasoline than getting into debt for something like this. Why can’t they put together a car similar to Saturn Sky. The latter costs below $30,000 and it comes fully loaded. Oh well, we have to wait TOO long for this to happen.

]]> By: RaleighRob http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-993 RaleighRob Fri, 09 May 2008 13:06:45 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-993 Wow. If I ever win the lottery, that's the first thing I'm buying! LOL Congrats to Durham. Wow. If I ever win the lottery, that’s the first thing I’m buying! LOL
Congrats to Durham.

]]> By: SMcDonald http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-988 SMcDonald Thu, 08 May 2008 15:41:41 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-988 Haha! Just read that Lotus is in fact the builder of these cars. Haha! Just read that Lotus is in fact the builder of these cars.

]]> By: SMcDonald http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-987 SMcDonald Thu, 08 May 2008 15:40:23 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-987 Website states that it has an equivalence of 135mpg. Guess that's considering the fuel and/or cost to generate the electricity to charge. I like it. Reminds me a lot of the Lotus Elise. Many of the same lines; I wouldn't doubt that they borrowed/bought a lot of technology and styling queues from their neighbor car company. Torque must be great; this will be a very good short track car and a blast to drive. You think Sportdurst Lotus of Durham is getting the dealership? Website states that it has an equivalence of 135mpg. Guess that’s considering the fuel and/or cost to generate the electricity to charge.

I like it. Reminds me a lot of the Lotus Elise. Many of the same lines; I wouldn’t doubt that they borrowed/bought a lot of technology and styling queues from their neighbor car company.

Torque must be great; this will be a very good short track car and a blast to drive. You think Sportdurst Lotus of Durham is getting the dealership?

]]> By: Jerry http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-984 Jerry Thu, 08 May 2008 14:42:05 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2008/05/08/durham-to-get-tesla-dealership/#comment-984 Who cares about the speed, what is the gas mileage? Who cares about the speed, what is the gas mileage?

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