Quinn NelsonJun 3, 2023
You can now get a base-model Tesla Model 3 for $30,330 with the now-$7,500 federal tax credit and price markdowns. Say what you will about Tesla but you’re not going to find a better new car than that at such a price. Fantastic deal for a very good car.
Show threadJason Schertzinger Jun 3, 2023

@snazzyq Elon keeps making it harder and harder to want a Tesla, but I try to remember that he's only 1 of around 100k employees, and I'm not hurting him by not getting the right vehicle at the right price for my family.

If the board sees that he is hurting the brand among non-cultists and that cutting prices is the only way to maintain demand, I hope they'll give him the boot.

Show threadTed TodorovJun 3, 2023
@virtzinger @snazzyq Tesla is the only car company that doesn’t advertise, while GM, Ford, Toyota, etc. spend billions of $$ *each* a year, and yet all put together sell a small fraction of EVs compared to Tesla. Indeed the Model Y is the best selling car (not EV) in the world.
While I agree that Musk buying Twitter was really dumb, the idea that firing him would help Tesla sales would be equally stupid. Musk functions under “there is no such thing as bad publicity”
Show threadJason Schertzinger Jun 3, 2023

@TedTodorov @snazzyq I believe that firing Musk would result in Tesla producing a better product. His extensive cost cutting measures and over reliance on Vision (removal of USS and rain sensors) and his hubris (yoke and removal of stalks, absurd FSD pricing) have made the product worse.

Absolutely there was a time in Tesla's history that it needed someone like him to take big risks, but I think that time is past and he's actively detrimental to the company now, both from a product and brand association perspective.

Show threadTed TodorovJun 3, 2023
@virtzinger @snazzyq the yoke is polarizing, but some users prefer it, and at any rate new buyers now have a choice for the Models S & X between a conventional wheel and a yoke. The lower prices only benefit users — the alternative is higher prices and lower production, which benefits only the competitors (even with low prices Tesla has the best margins)
The jury is still out on Vision — the fact is that Autopilot is still radically better than Blue Cruise/Super Cruise.
Show threadg.earth
@TedTodorov i have the yoke and LOVE it, minus the dumb off-center horn button. Also, early ones would peel with wear, but they replace them under warranty, and new revision fixes this. Tesla still needs Elon during this growth (to 20 million per year) phase. And they’re going to do it as long as he’s in charge.
Jun 4, 2023 at 5:46pmIvory for iOS