Tesla's new SUV wannabe

Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 6 months ago to Technology
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Here's my obvious gripe: This ISN'T an SUV = it's a standard four-dour sedan. Despite the claims, there's no third seat here - a basic for anything I would consider in the SUV or minivan class.

And the range of only 250 miles isn't really a selling point to anyone here in the West.
SOURCE URL: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-30/tesla-s-new-model-x-is-the-best-car-for-dads-and-moms-


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  • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 6 months ago
    Many cars advertised as SUV's don't have 3rd row of seats. That's what a 3rd row means to me; I can't tell what the idiot author is talking about. I agree that the range is limiting. Eventually technology will solve that problem and the people who do so will put Tesla out of business unless the looter who runs it gets a bail out from the taxpayers. I completely agree that this vehicle is not what the US buyer thinks of when they think SUV. Of course, the US market didn't want SUV's until the auto makers decided that trucks should be luxury vehicles in response to government interference. That vehicle is about as useless as a standard sedan for bringing home material from Home Depot, but the guy who has $100,000 for one of these isn't an average guy who does his own home improvement projects; he will have a contractor, or own a real work vehicle to use for that. That buyer is just pretending to care about the environment when he buys a Telsa; he wants it for the 0-60 in 4 seconds, imo.
    What is your SUV favorite, blarman, and what are your requirements? (Just curious; I do not sell cars ;^)
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    • Posted by $ 8 years, 6 months ago
      I love the Chevy Suburban, but I grew up with them when they were brand new and slightly more affordable (didn't have all the bells and whistles).

      My req's in an SUV:
      - steel frame. I want to be driving something as close to a tank as possible.
      - towing. It has to be able to do more than 10,000 lbs and come with a hitch installed. I like toys and the ability to pull out tree stumps.
      - 4-wheel drive. It's not an SUV without it. Period.
      - Min seating for eight ADULTS. When I go water skiing or river rafting, I'm hauling adults, not 60-lb children.
      - heavy-duty suspension. It's not an SUV if I can't take it off paved roads without worrying about ruining the shocks/struts.
      - high clearance. Again, if I'm worried about the undercarriage getting beat up going over a speedbump - let alone on the mountain roads where I'm going hiking/hunting - it's just not an SUV.

      Things I don't care about:
      - GPS. That's what my phone is for. (Though having USB outlets would be on the "nice to have" list)
      - OnStar. Thanks, but I don't need someone knowing where my vehicle is 24x7 - nor do I need some bored hacker or law enforcement officer driving alongside to decide to control my steering, etc. (Yes, this has been proven - see my post on it from a couple of months ago which contains a list of affected vehicles).
      - heated seats.
      - electric windows and door locks. Yeah, they're nice, but not worth an extra $2K to me
      - in-dash DVD player. I don't need any distractions while driving. (Though if you want to mount one in the ceiling for passengers in back, I'm okay with that)
      - electrically adjustable seats. The mechanical slide rail works just fine - and I can fix it myself.
      - automatic transmission. Though I can't find an SUV with a stick, I love the manual transmission - especially if it has a 1L gear for putting boats in the water.
      - fancy tires or rims. Mine are going to be covered with dirt anyway.
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      • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 6 months ago
        Sounds like you need a low mileage used suburban from the 20th century;^)
        A friend who worked as a doctor also loved his Suburban because he had seen what people looked like in the emergency room too often.
        He wasn't crazy about my 2- seat convertible ;^)
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  • Posted by BrettRocketSci 8 years, 6 months ago
    I'm still working towards one of my big goals to have a Tesla car some day. And I'll recharge it from batteries powered by solar panels on my roof. Expensive as hell, but totally self-sustaining and independent!!
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    • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 6 months ago
      You have a battery manufacturing plant in your back yard?
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      • Posted by $ 8 years, 6 months ago
        Yeah. Battery life is 4-5 years and a new set is currently about $10K. It's one of those things salespeople tend to gloss over.
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        • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 6 months ago
          Technology will eventually improve this, too, but it will be a while before it's really self-sustaining, not that that is a critically important feature in an SUV. I agree with BrettRS that having your own solar recharger is a great feature. I expect government to impose significant travel taxes on electric powered vehicles soon to replace the loss of revenue from fuel taxes, too.
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          • Posted by $ 8 years, 6 months ago
            I agree. There is already substantial talk of mandatory mileage reporting for road tax purposes because of hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles only speed this up.

            Coming from the West, however, I still see a lot of need for gas-powered vehicles, however. Electrics might work fine for the daily commute in the big cities, but they don't cut it out here in my neck of the woods.
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