2013 Motor Trend Car Of The Year

[Jeffery]

The Tesla Model S is the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The luxury American made 5-door electric sedan fought off 10 other finalists for the Golden Calipers trophy, acing the magazine's six judging criteria in the process. Eleven judges reviewed the contenders, including three guests, and for the first time in the award's history all 11 voted unanimously for the winner. Each car was evaluated on advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, and safety and value. While 25 vehicles were eligible to win, judges narrowed down the field to the final few over two weeks of solid testing.

Motor Trend: Tesla Model S Car of the Year - MSN Autos

[sewserious]

Oh, one of the electrics that keeps catching fire! No thanks. I don't trust the car magazines' "best of" or "car of the year" awards. Too easily bought.

[oth47]

We bought a 2001 Ford Focus because of Motor Trend's recommendation.Brand new,was trouble right out of the showroom.Brakes went out about 7000 miles.Recall after recall.I'd never buy another car of the year.Wife traded the Focus for a new Mustang.

[plowjockey]

Don't expect too many cheers from this forum, for a vehicle, that is not petro powered.

"addicted to oil", is not just a silly buzz-phrase.

[beccachow]

It is a pretty car, for sure. I am sure the cost is more than most of us can afford in today's economy. That is one of many reasons I don't own any of the hybrids although I actually like the Prius.

I am not necessarily "addicted to oil," I am addicted to eating, paying the mortgage and clothing my family.

[lostspring]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Don't expect too many cheers from this forum, for a vehicle, that is not petro powered.

"addicted to oil", is not just a silly buzz-phrase.

They tested the high end model priced just under $80,000. Want a couple? Get real.

[beowoulf90]

Originally Posted by lostspring

They tested the high end model priced just under $80,000. Want a couple? Get real.

Thank you!

Saved me the time from posting the costs..

I can't afford $30k let alone $80k..

But then the car of the year must be for wealthy dems who will put it in their garages and tells us how environmentally conscience they are..

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by lostspring

They tested the high end model priced just under $80,000. Want a couple? Get real.

LOL
I'm as real as it gets. Doesn't matter, if it's $20k.

I've been schooled here, dozens of times, that electrical cars, are "just not practical".

Never mind, that coal mines and power plants, are being idled, due to lower electrical demand.

Oh well, gasoline is still under $4/gal, right

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by beowoulf90

Thank you!

Saved me the time from posting the costs..

I can't afford $30k let alone $80k..

But then the car of the year must be for wealthy dems who will put it in their garages and tells us how environmentally conscience they are..

Kinda sad, really. (us, that is)

Although rather pricey, it's American designed and quality built. It do 0-60 in 4 seconds, has a range of over 200 miles, top speed of 133 mph.

In stead of marveling at maybe some of the last of good old American ingenuity, hoping that maybe Tesla can someday be sucessful enough, to build less expensive models, of their cars, all we are capable of, is badmouthing it, as a toy, for the evil "liberal elite".

Maybe with any luck Tesla will go bankrupt.

May China will build the electriccars of the future.

None of us, ever owned a real Saturn V rocket, but we always were glad someone could build one.

Maybe the chickens are really coming home to roost.

[ajaxlucy]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Kinda sad, really. (us, that is)

Although rather pricey, it's American designed built. It do 0-60 in 4 seconds, has a range of over 200 miles, top speed of 133 mph.

In stead of marveling at maybe some of the last of good old American ingenuity, hoping that maybe Tesla can someday be sucessful enough, to build less expensive models, of their cars, all we are capable of, is badmouthing it, as a toy, for the evil "liberal elite".

That sounds like a nice improvement over the electric car I have, whose range and top speed are about half of the Tesla's. There's no way mine will get up to 60mph in 4 seconds, either. Still, mine was a lot cheaper. If you commute in such a way that an electric car would be practical, I think you can still get a Think City in Indiana for around $15,000 (demo model).

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by beowoulf90

Thank you!

Saved me the time from posting the costs..

I can't afford $30k let alone $80k..

But then the car of the year must be for wealthy dems who will put it in their garages and tells us how environmentally conscience they are..

Yup for sure just the green folks that have a such a hot "thing" and dream every night about GW. (And Al Gore) LOL

[bjba]

The Tesla is built in Finland, it is American designed. (part of the green jobs debacle) Consumer Reports bought one to test. Tesla delivered it to the Consumer Reports test facility but they could never get it to run. Tesla finally picked the sample up and Consumer Reports never got to test the car.

[bjba]

Never mind, that coal mines and power plants, are being idled, due to lower electrical demand. Plowjockey

While some energy use had declined, the demand for electricity is projected to increase as much as 35% by 2035. Coal plants still produce more electricity than any other source.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by bjba

While some energy use had declined, the demand for electricity is projected to increase as much as 35% by 2035. Coal plants still produce more electricity than any other source.

Yes it is over 65% of the country~!

[sewserious]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

LOL
I'm as real as it gets. Doesn't matter, if it's $20k.

I've been schooled here, dozens of times, that electrical cars, are "just not practical".

Never mind, that coal mines and power plants, are being idled, due to lower electrical demand.

Oh well, gasoline is still under $4/gal, right

They are not being idled due to lower electrical demands. Don't know who fed you that line of bull! They are being idled because the current administration blatantly stated that they would shut down coal-fired power plants and make it impossible to build new ones. The cost of electricity is rising and those cars are not efficient. There have been studies after studies that show they are not cheap to own or operate (any hybrid or all-electric car). They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. Fuel is not cheaper and they are not environmentally friendly. What do you think makes the electricity they use? Once we have no more coal-powered plants and we get all our electricity from solar and/or wind and there isn't even enough to power homes and businesses, how are you gonna charge the darn thing?

[ajaxlucy]

Originally Posted by sewserious

There have been studies after studies that show they are not cheap to own or operate (any hybrid or all-electric car). They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain.

I don't know about study after study. I know from personal experience that mine cost about $15K. It is my primary vehicle that I drive about 500 miles/month. My electric bill shows that charging it costs me $10-12/month. We've had it for almost a year and a half and have put 8000+ miles on it.

Since it's a new product from a new company, we took a risk in buying it. We'll see how long it lasts, how it holds up, how repairs are handled etc. I'll keep you all posted if you're interested.

[beowoulf90]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Kinda sad, really. (us, that is)

Although rather pricey, it's American designed and quality built. It do 0-60 in 4 seconds, has a range of over 200 miles, top speed of 133 mph.

In stead of marveling at maybe some of the last of good old American ingenuity, hoping that maybe Tesla can someday be sucessful enough, to build less expensive models, of their cars, all we are capable of, is badmouthing it, as a toy, for the evil "liberal elite".

Maybe with any luck Tesla will go bankrupt.

May China will build the electriccars of the future.

None of us, ever owned a real Saturn V rocket, but we always were glad someone could build one.

Maybe the chickens are really coming home to roost.

When you couple this with the closing of a lot of electric plants (coal fired) how do you expect to charge this thing?

At $80k for the car, who do you expect is going to buy them? Middle class conservatives?

Built in Finland? Why?
I bet because Unions here would double the costs.. Yet liberals claim to want to put Americans to work..

Plus it only goes 200 miles, well that will get me to the cabin, maybe, but it surely won't get me home again, since there is no power at the cabin..

Guess I would be walking home.. So why would a middle class person even consider it?
Because it wouldn't make financial sense..

Oh and it was liberal hollywood types that stated yes they own big gas guzzling SUV's, but they knew how to drive them and only they should be allowed to own them, not us peons in the real world.. They same liberal hollywood types also claimed to drive this type of car, so they can save the world..

Maybe be you should fire the liberal hollywood types and AG so the rest of us don't get the wrong impression of liberals..

I'm still waiting for my briefcase car like in the Jetson's and my work day to be 2 hours...

[Bret]

And when you get home from work, you can plug your homestead into it so that you can do the milking and bake the bread and can the venison, order the garden seed on line...

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by sewserious

They are not being idled due to lower electrical demands. Don't know who fed you that line of bull! They are being idled because the current administration blatantly stated that they would shut down coal-fired power plants and make it impossible to build new ones. The cost of electricity is rising and those cars are not efficient. There have been studies after studies that show they are not cheap to own or operate (any hybrid or all-electric car). They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. Fuel is not cheaper and they are not environmentally friendly. What do you think makes the electricity they use? Once we have no more coal-powered plants and we get all our electricity from solar and/or wind and there isn't even enough to power homes and businesses, how are you gonna charge the darn thing?

You couldn't spend 90 seconds on google, before responding?


AEP 3Q earnings fall on lower power demand

Electric power demand in the U.S. and in AEP's service territory has been falling because of a slow economy and conservation programs that have helped residents weatherize their homes and adopt more efficient appliances.

AEP 3Q earnings fall on lower power demand - Yahoo! Finance

When adjusted to remove the effects of weather, which gives investors a picture of underlying demand, AEP electricity sales fell 1.4 percent in the quarter.

Falling coal demand hits Norfolk Southern

Increasing use of cheap natural gas and last winter’s mild weather have pushed down demand to move coal sharply. Norfolk Southern reported coal volumes down 12 per cent in the second quarter on last year.

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. Falling coal demand hits Norfolk Southern - FT.com

CSX, the larger of the two big eastern rail operators, has announced still sharper coal volume declines in the past year. It said in July domestic utility coal volumes had been down 35 per cent in the second quarter against the previous year

Falling coal demand hits Norfolk Southern - FT.com

[bjba]

I think you can still get a Think City in Indiana for around $15,000 (demo model). Ajaxlucy

Think USA announced that the price of the first 100 units was US$41,695 before any incentives.

If you can get a Think City for $15000 they must be the Yugo of electric cars
the depreciation is a precipitous 64% in two years. Perhaps that depreciation just indicates a real lack of demand.