Darn right. Have to give you props for walking the walk. The Xebra is definitely interesting, but a bit too unconventional (and upkeep required) for normal folk to embrace it. But this Roadster now, that will make a lot of people envious. I imagine it'll be a chick magnet. Keep us posted!
Ah, good to know. So after the next 100 we're done. Well, now that I've got you thinking about it let me give you MY gripe that nobody else seems to think about. All the reasons you list are true of course. And everybody seems to agree... but another biggie? Nobody really cares about a stolen bike. If my main transportation is a $5000 bicycle, or a $1000 clunker car - it is a HUGE damn deal if the car is stolen, but is just an inconvenience if the bike is stolen. At least that's how the police treat it. Get caught stealing a car and you're going to jail. Get caught steeling a bike and you might have to give the bike back. So there's very little *risk* in stealing a bike. And you couple that with the relative ease and you've got a winner crime. Will we ever fix that? Not while bicycles are still considered kid's toys. Where'd you get such a great price on a Catrike!? And... I know exactly what you mean, and it is the same with my purple tandem that I ride all over town as my taxi. Harder to find a buyer, and very easy to recognize. Not by much. But yeah, your point that it needs to be backed up by lots of batteries is a good one. THAT can make it a significantly heavier system. But the bigger motor itself? Not so much.
Well, I approximated. It was really $1600-something plus tax. (Villager model, 9-speed, last year before the redesign of the seat back, that added to the price of current ones a bit, but the year before mine it was $100 cheaper, that was my initial expectation). Then I added a rack, fenders, a nice flag, a larger front chainring... it was probably closer to 2 grand before I was settled down with it. Then I bought a $520 veltop (canopy/fairing for rainy days) but haven't needed it yet. I only ride about 3 or 4 days a week anyway, so I can skip an occasional bad day, but in the fall we'll have prolonged rainy spells again. I was nervous about the purchase, but I like it. After a couple weeks to get used to it, I was back to my normal average speed on my commute, and now I feel comfortable going on longer rides. The upright bikes were always uncomfortable for me, no matter how often I rode. I would feel guilty about taking this off-topic, but we're all just waiting around anyway, until Daniel reports back to us...
I agree with Darell that bicycle theft should be treated as seriously as car theft. So, I didn't look at my watch, but it was about a quarter to ten when the truck driver called, and he was already at the place I suggested parking to unload the car. Turns out I didn't need to hurry over because he had to move another Roadster out of the way to get mine out. It was around ten when I drove it back home, maybe half a mile because of the way the streets are, though it was a 5-minute walk to get there. I picked up some odds and ends, drove to the insurance agent's office to get it insured (no hassles, which is one of the things I like about State Farm) and then drove it to the place where the guy is still working on the electric Porsche, about 30 miles from here. I gotta say, punch the pedal and it moves! He was suitably impressed. But he was scared to let me take him for a ride. Merging, passing, no problem at all. Floor it from a stop and I make myself carsick. Just a little. I stopped by a friend's house and took him for a spin on the highway. He, too, was suitably impressed. It was not fully charged when I got it. It said there were about 150 ideal miles on it, and there were about 50 miles left when I plugged it in. Unlike the Leaf, it plugs into any electrical outlet, though I only have the connectors for 120 v and for 220 v 40 a on a 50 a circuit. The latter is what I have in my garage. So it will charge at about double the rate of a Level 2 Leaf charger. The lady at Tesla told me it would probably take about 4 to 4 1/2 hours to charge, since I still had some range left, and in Standard mode it only charges to 90%. I think she said 6 house from dead empty to plumb full. The pictures were taken out in the country, north of Coeur d'Alene, where the EV shop is that's working on the Porsche.
Gorgeous! and the car is nice, too, Daniel ... oh, and DH was drooling on my shoulder looking at your pics... We are so happy for you!
Rene, next time you're in Spokane I'll give you both rides in it if you like, providing I'm in town. (I'll be gone for much of the summer: My usual Canada summer hiking.) This goes for anyone else who can make it to Spokane as well.
Say, Evan, I know you're on the reservation list for a Model S. Are you getting a Signature, or the regular model? And if you're not getting the Signature (which I believe are all 300-mile) do you know which range you're getting? Did you have to specify that when you reserved, or do you get to wait until it's time to place the actual order? After all the nonsense that Nissan put me through, I think you made the right decision waiting for Tesla. Not to mention the uncertainties about the Leaf's battery system. My Roadster is LOUD when it's charging. There's apparently a lot of heat being dissipated. I know the Leaf has a whole different chemistry, but still... I can't wait for tomorrow, so I can drive my car again. When I first got my Prius I looked for excuses to drive it, but it was nothing like this. Tesla did a remarkable job with the Roadster. If they do as well with the S, as I expect they will, it's going to be one amazing car.
Outstanding! And to bring this back on topic- your car is the same color as my Mtn bike! Don't make me show pictures!
I just put down the $5000 reservation for a "regular" Model S. Don't have $40k I can just hand over for them to hold for 3 years. I intend to get the 230 mile version (though I'd consider the 300 if the price difference isn't huge just for the ability to drive to St.Louis/Kansas City/Memphis/Tulsa from where I live--those are the major cities we sometimes fly out of when local flights are expensive and we go to sporting events and conferences those places as well. I haven't had to/gotten to specify anything yet, that will come later when pricing for options is available and they get closer to production. I'm still toying with the idea of grabbing a Leaf if my number ever comes up on that wait list to make it my daily driver and eventually our 3rd vehicle and even more eventually my boys' first car. But the $25k+ that would cost me would set me back a lot on my savings for the Model S meaning I'd likely have to finance most or all that cost which I am not eager to do.
Evan: I'd have gotten the Leaf, and I'd probably have been happy with it, if Nissan hadn't jacked me around so much. Constant stream of lies and broken promises. I'm sure the Leaf is a great car, but Nissan is a crap company and I won't ever buy a car from them now. I have read that the pricing on the Model S will include a $20 K increment for each battery upgrade. So the 300-mile version will cost $20 K more than the 230-mile pack and $40 K more than the 160-mile pack. I'd have a hard time justifying even 230, much less 300, given my driving needs. But I'm glad to have 245 on the Roadster because when you drive a Roadster the way it's meant to be driven (fast and hard) you get closer to 150 miles than 245. A nice twist is that it shows you two range estimates: one based on your driving style over the past 30 or 40 miles, and another showing your "ideal" range if you slow down and drive like a sane person. Even with a Model S I'd need to keep the Prius for my hiking trips to Canada.
Well, I wasn't going to. But I HATE to let my fans down. Let's see... Tesla-orange-matching bike AND Spandex. That's going to take me a moment. Ah... here we are. But this is still my fav: OK, quit pestering me now, boys! Back to my being jealous of Daniel's car...
I believe Evan got in the "repeat customer" line by getting a slot from a Roadster owner. I'm happy that Tesla will practice by building his car so they know what they are doing when they get to mine. Tesla says that the batteries for each 70 mile bump in range is another $10,000 and that the 2 jump seats will be an option. I've started thinking about range as 160 miles is just shy of a round trip to NYC for me. Buying the larger battery with the car will also save the 7% NJ sales tax. I am accepting corporate sponsorships. If you'll pay for the batteries the car can be painted in your colors & display your logo. (Viagra & "male enhancement" drugs need not apply.)
