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Featured Tesla hits back and some media are having vapors

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, May 24, 2018.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Source: Comrade Musk Wants to Launch “Pravda” Website to Rate Journalists | TheDetroitBureau.com

    . . .
    “Going to create a site where the public can rate the core truth of any article & track the credibility score over time of each journalist, editor & publication,” Musk said in his latest burst of tweets. “Thinking of calling it Pravda …”
    . . .​

    Most of the article is a demonstration of media malpractice. So I posted this comment:

    It is about time!

    A 13 year Prius owner, I’ve seen a stream of misleading articles about the Prius. Elon is fighting back against the same media malpractice. For example, the 2001-07 FARS data clearly showed SUVs and pickups were the leading cause of pedestrian fatalities (see link.) Yet there were huge numbers of articles (even The Detroit Bureau) claiming the Prius needed a noise maker to save pedestrians.

    Toyota was too timid to support the Prius against the scurrilous media articles. Tesla has the testicular fortitude to hit back at media bullies.

    Bob Wilson
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i love it.
     
  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Has everyone actually heard the Prius Noise Maker? My hearing is really bad and I don't know what noise I am suppose to hear.

    I'm sure Henry Ford had similar issues back in his early days as Elon Musk.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    open the drivers window and you'll hear it in your garage, or near a wall in a parking garage.
     
    jerrymildred and padroo like this.
  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    When you can no longer adequately refute the message, attack the messenger.

    IMO, Elon is really beginning to feel the pressure and his recent actions have become questionable. Reducing workforce through contractor firings, several high level positions leaving voluntarily (or not), doubling the price of the Model 3, rushing production, botched factory planning (too many robots), etc. Even a person of his talents, skills, and abilities can succumb to such pressures. Production hell indeed.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems like they are turning out great cars at an ever increasing rate, but some of the press are continually smelling blood where it doesn't exist.
     
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  7. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    There's so much blood the smell gets everywhere.

    The Model 3 price has not doubled. A version with a different and expensive option package has been placed in production. I'm sure that if Tesla lasts long enough the $35000 stripper will be offered to the original reservation holders.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i notice a lot of articles with bloody headlines, but factual reporting.
     
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  9. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    hmm.

    The reason toyota hires contractors is so they can get rid of them, without firing its workforce. They didn't really have a large firing of employees until they closed NUMMI, but they did get rid of a lot of contractors over the years. Anyway, if you are mad at tesla for hiring temporary workers then getting rid of many of the mediocre to bad ones as they try to hire permanent employees, you must be mad at every auto company, and most manufacturers.

    How did they double the price of the model 3? They are requiring 2 options - premium package ($5K) and long range pack ($9K) to get your car. The last I checked 40% more is a lot less than double ;-) Once production comes up and the tax credits expire, I fully expect them to drop the requirement. When the prius was in high demand in 2007, dealers upped the price with options. I don't like the practice, but lets not exaggerate.

    Top executive turnover is another matter. I would expect a fair amount of turnover given the stress, and the great deal of wealth many leaving have accumulated. We will know in a few years when tesla has a lot more employees if its a big problem or a little one.

    Tesla does promises near impossible deadlines, then misses them. Lexus would have planned the model 3 for a 2020 model, and had great manufacturing going the end of next year, with lots of time to test and retest. Tesla seemed to push things past the limit, then has had to retool and have people work crazy hours. I expect the story to repeat again on the Y, roadster, and Semi, but there will be less moaning by shorts and the press.

    I'd say the biggest thing tesla has hyped is autopilot and self driving. This has gotten a lot of competitors to offer part of the system. There has been massive turnover of talent leading the project mainly because musk doesn't appear to understand how difficult the problems are. I think they will get it right, but that cross country trip keeps getting delayed, and they probably need another year to get autopilot working the way it should, and maybe 5 to get self driving (perhaps requiring new hardware.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    elon was back on twitter over the weekend. i agree with some of his complaints, but he is sounding a bit trumpish.:eek:
     
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    and you mean that in a good way . . . .
    ;)
    .
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if that's possible, yes. we all hate fake news, but sometimes it's the eye of the beholder.
     
  13. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Bias?

    IN THE MEDIA?!?!?!?!

    heh-heh-heh....
    Welcome to the fight.
     
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  14. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    We've discussed this in Fred's House of Politics and my takeaway is:
    • Liberals - tend to have multiple independent sources and cross check for accuracy
    • Conservatives - tend to have fewer sources that often cite each other
    The Tesla bashing appears to come from 'the usual suspects' who often have (and still do) bash the Prius. For example, I used to subscribe to Autoweek until they had a changed of editor. Suddenly Prius reviews had fewer facts and data and a lot more snark. I dropped them but sometimes it goes the other way.

    About 3-4 years ago, Consumer Reports did another Prius hatchet job and we dropped the subscription. Then they went through at least two editors in chief and cut the carp. So we resumed subscription and so far the quality has returned.

    Bob Wilson

    ps. This is from Autoweek 2017 where the pointless, backhanded compliments are bold and underlined:

    The Prime drives like, well, a Prius. In other words, it is what it is -- all about efficiency rather than fun. When I got in it, it was charged up so I never heard the engine, just silent EV cruising. So I didn’t experience what I remember from previous Prius drives like the strangely revving engine, spinning CVT, nasty, grabby brakes, and general lack of oomph. In EV mode I actually thought the car wasn’t bad for zipping around town. The brakes felt much better than I remember, throttle response wasn’t bad and – surprise! – the agility in corners wasn’t horrible either. I also thought the steering was quite good, another surprise. Still, a sport sedan? Certainly not. But it’s not supposed to be.
    Read more: 2017 Toyota Prius Prime quick review: All the MPG you could want
     
    #14 bwilson4web, May 29, 2018
    Last edited: May 29, 2018
  15. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Looking for something else, I came across this FOX youtube:


    It appears the speaker wants to avoid being 'rated.'

    Bob Wilson