You can choose a drive train that has been more-or-less unchanged for many decades, with all the money spent on the interior, or you can choose a revolutionary drive train, with a basic interior.
It's simply your choice.
You can, for some models, but often not any more. Modern drivetrains include dual-clutch transmissions, which have only appeared in the last 10 years (despite actually being invented before WWII).
>with all the money spent on the interior,
Not really. A lot has been spent on combustion engine efficiency, for instance. I drive a twelve-year-old Renault Megane, not a wasteful car at all at its time, but new ones consume at least 30 % less gasoline.
Of course I'm biased. Owned six Volvos. Always thought you couldn't buy a better interior. Simple tactile controls. Best seats in the business. And I loved the waterfall console in the three that had it.
I think I'm over cars for the most part, but if anything could tempt me it'd be the new S90. Makes a Model S interior look like cheap junk at half the price.
Can you share more evidence to justify that claim? Not that I have any reason specifically to doubt it, but this seems like it warrants a lifetime analysis of the expected manufacturing and repair costs of Teslas.
If in the past years manufacturers had to cheat on emissions in order to present improvements to performance numbers, then there doesn't seem to be much innovation or the tech has stagnated.
On the other hand, there seems to be lots of room for improvement/innovation on the electric side.
The cheating is rather insignificant when compared to the actual decline in emissions over couple past decades.
Internal combustion engines have become more efficient all the time; there is a lot that has been developed there over the years.
Many of those things, such as the material technology, probably benefit also electric vehicles. Tesla as we know it wouldn't be possible without the pile of innovations done with combustion engine cars.
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/02/18/many-awards-tesla-won-in...
http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-tes...
This article alone turns most Tesla enthusiasts into apologists immediately. Its a revolutionary drive train, no one has done this before, that's why its having issues. Or we can expect Tesla to fix the issues, or whatever.
Sure, but it doesn't change the fact that Tesla is performing awfully in practical long-term tests. IE: apologists, as opposed to enthusiasts.
What other long-term tests are you referring to?
edit: Apologies, I read the Edmunds blog wrong. You were right, they're on their 4th drive unit.
What does it have to do to count as not preemptive? Burst into flames at 70mph?
> If you're keeping score, our Model S is now on its third drive unit: the one that came with the car, the one that was replaced in November, and this latest one. And that wasn't the only thing that was replaced on this service visit.
This is when Edmunds replaced the drive unit twice. Look at the date, Feb 2014.
Later, in July 2014: http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-tes...
Yet another drive unit replacement. Their Tesla S went through four drive trains (the first one came with the car, and then three replacements) in two years.
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Consumer Reports also had an issue with their long-term test.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a27...
Consumer Reports is a survey methodology, as opposed to a single data-point like Edmunds. But the fact that reliability concerns are hitting the major, reputable, reviewers is worrisome to me.
This isn't JUST an Edmunds issue. Everyone is reporting reliability concerns. In part, its somewhat okay because Tesla the company stands behind their warranty and fixed the problems without issue. So as a consumer, you get excellent service.
On the other hand, dying in the middle of a highway and being forced to call a tow-truck is not an experience that should be common on a high-end luxury vehicle. The question is if Tesla has solved these issues in time for the Model 3 / mass market.
I see you've never owned a German luxury vehicle.
Good one. +1.