Alexis wrote:
The new model 3 is $ 35.000. That’s the price of a typical VW.
I recently bought a new full sized, well equipped Japanese car nicer than a typical VW for $20,300. There was no reason to do otherwise.
Silvaire wrote:
I recently bought a new full sized, well equipped Japanese car nicer than a typical VW for $20,300
Over here, we brag about how much we spent for the car, not how little…
I recently bought a new full sized, well equipped Japanese car nicer than a typical VW for $20,300
Don’t let the WH hear that, or it will be the last Japanese car you get for that price. May I ask what model that is?
achimha wrote:
Over here, we brag about how much we spent for the car, not how little…
Really? My experience is otherwise… especcially where I live people keep very quiet about prices unless they were a bargain.
achimha wrote:
Over here, we brag about how much we spent for the car, not how little…
I can’t speak for the European car market, but the main American market matured beyond that in I would say the 1970s. After you’ve worn out and replaced a seemingly endless string of cars, it becomes an appliance purchase.
Mooney_Driver wrote:
Really? My experience is otherwise… especcially where I live people keep very quiet about prices unless they were a bargain.
Every car has a builtin price tag, everybody knows what it costs. It is an important status symbol just like Swiss watches are important status symbols. Silvaire would probably say the Casio is waterproof and exact while the IWC isn’t so the Casio is the superior watch and IWC customers are victims 
That’s true but fortunately for those working in the luxury industry, there are lot of people who see things differently.
Actually I buy all kinds of funny things (I own 13 vehicles including my planes) by my interest is in quality and fun, not falling victim to silly status games…
Silvaire wrote:
I own 13 vehicles including my planes
And you are not a victim ? LOL Not a victim of fashion maybe, but ….
More than 400k persons has pre-ordered a Tesla model 3. Obviously Tesla’s main problem will be to deliver as promised, without cutting corners on quality.
IMO, what ultimately decides is cost. Electric vehicles is soon to become cheaper than a traditional vehicle. Already today it is cheaper in total, although more expensive to purchase. The same will happen to airplanes. Sure, given the choice, people would like 6 seats, 1000 NM range, 200+ knots cruising speed etc. You can get one today, but how many do? Very few due to cost. So, the whole notion that electric aircraft will not somehow “succeed” because the current technology is incapable of producing an aircraft with such a mission profile, is rather moot. We can ever take it down a notch or two, and consider the C-172 market. Even fewer people purchase a new C-172. Again, an electric aircraft cannot compete with a C-172, is a slightly more moot point than a larger cruiser.
I wonder how many vehicles Topper has.
Curiously in France the car market seems to be dividing roughly into two segments, the compact and the SUV. My Peugeot compact is very similar in looks and performance to those of other manufacturers. This is convenient as everyone drives at about the same speed and the proverbial French greyhound complex (got to get ahead) has almost gone. SUV 4×4 are increasing, which seems paradoxical as road infrastructure is good in France. I think they are mostly lifestyle or family choices. My car dealer confirmed that he mostly sold the compact and the SUV (Peugeot 2008 or 3008).
Around 200,000 Nissan Leafs have been sold since their introduction in 2010. Dacia sell over 40,000 vehicles per month. VW sold over 300,000 Polos in Europe last year.
I cannot imagine buying an electric car in my lifetime. I have good fuel economy and excellent range, along with a good heater in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer. If Minister Hulot bans such cars, his party won’t get my vote. A flat battery on an electric car means towing to a charging station. This has occurred several times with my electric bicycle and it is inconvenient. They say you can pedal an electric bicycle normally, but it is more like a gym bicycle due to the inherent motor friction.
My Californian Tesla-owning colleague is no champagne socialist (limo liberal over there) as he likes performance and has no eco pretentions. However, his profession at his location has a median income of $500,000.
Simon
