Thread: What do you think about the Tesla Roadster as part of the American car scene?

Hey everyone. A friend of mine just had his 2010 Tesla Roadster featured on a Washington DC car website and it got me thinking. Do you think of the Tesla as more of a "American sports car" or more as a "eco-friendly car?" What do you think: Owner of the Week – Mel Hsieh | CarLove DC

Funny never ever thought about it that way. It is such an "eco-friendly car" icon.

Well when I think Tesla, I think "eco-friendly". Never saw it as an American Sports Car..

Tesla is an odd duck. The first time I looked at one on the road, it seemed to scream "LOTUS". Indeed, we know in some sense, it's some kind of hybrid, almost harkens back to the days of Carroll Shelby taking a British made chassis and body, stuffing in a Ford engine into it and selling it as an "American built" vehicle.

The Tesla chassis (and body?) are built in the UK but according to Wikipedia, only a 6% overlap of shared parts between the Exige and the Tesla Roadster. The sedan will be fully built here in the Bay Area (Fremont) and I believe it starts production next year.

But the Roadster is final assembled here in the states (batteries, electric motors, etc.). So if you believe in the Carroll Shelby philosophy of an "American Built Sports car", then you are probably right.

Personally, first and foremost, I view them as a sports car first, then an electric car second; I think back on the BMW prototype hydrogen car and would you consider them eco-freindly or just a sports car:



Obviously not American built but hey, BMW does have a plant in the Eastern US, correct?

So when I look at a car, it's whatever comes to mind. In todays world (I'm a relic of the 60's), there's car design, engine/motor choice, and region of production that have all become somewhat "world" built. So to say something is American built v.s. European v.s. Japanese, isn't quite as delineated as it was when I was growing up.... we assemble "some" VW's, BMW's, Honda's, Hyundai's and of course, Tesla's here in the United States but their parts come from all over the world. It's splitting hairs for sure. Just something to jaw about I guess.

*EDIT*

Just one more thing to think about. Cars have always been the icon to which people assess other people, and in "the era" the car was produced. In the "golden age" of American cars, there were plenty of manufacturers, but the genre of cars reflected their owners. For example, Cadillacs were the car of the wealthy, followed by Lincoln, and even Buicks and Oldsmobile. Chevrolet and Ford were for the average American.

Within these genres were era's that defined some of the terms we still use today: Classic American Cars (1900-1930's), Hot Rods (1930's - 1940's), Rat Rods (more of a cultural phenom and span 1930's - 1950's) , Cruisers ( 1950-1960''s), Pony Cars (smaller and more affordable 1960's), and Muscle Cars (1960's - 1972). Your year may vary but that's how I see them.

I bring up this point because these cars are now collectors and when you see these cars are car shows, notice how they group them. Now, let's say a 65' Original Shelby Cobra shows up to the party... where the hell do you put it? It is after all, an "American assembled" car... but NOBODY want's that car in their respective category. It's one reason I don't show my roadster (replica) to any show. And to put a fine point to it, there are kits that can be bought to replicate a 1932 Ford yet, Factory Five Racing put out a fiberglass 1933 Ford kit and the Hot Rodders don't believe it should be entered because it's a replica - it's the "it ain't real if it ain't steel"... fine, then, I feel sorry for Corvette owners then with their fiberglass bodies... there ought to be a sports car category but that spans just as many decades and the 'average American' is too lazy to think about a sub-category like sports cars. (sorry for the rant) but I'm guessing the term "sports cars" conjure up MG's, Sunbeam's and Cortina's... to exotic to be American... riiiight....

The point here is Americans have this notion about how cars are categorized and if you think about, we view sports cars in the same vein as European sports cars were built: two seats, short wheel base, and maneuverable. Speaking only of the 60's, the Corvette was truly America's sports car but Americans don't want their favorite icon to be overshadowed by any thing else, even if say, a VIPER can out gun a Vette, or the Tesla Roadster might pull better times in an autocross event. IIRC, the Dodge Viper when it came out, was not given much comparison to the Vette back in the 90's, by executive orders from the parent group, GM. IMO, by all rights, the Viper should have succeeded as the new American Sports Car, but as the ads say, "Chevy runs deep" and Vipers are no longer in production. I have love for both mind you because I love sports cars, just pointing out how fickle the American public can be.

^^^ excellent post.

I see the Tesla as an eco-statement more than anything else. Although the car is a competent performer, it is in no way suited for even a single track day. By the time you get a few good laps in, you're down for an 8-hour charging session. Realistically, the modern full-electric vehicle is only good for a short run around town or a decent commute if you have a charging station at work. Spirited driving or road trips are not on the Tesla's agenda...

I thought the company was awesome and pretty important in a sense. As much as I dont like to think about it, the future for the automobile is coming in some other form than our addicting combustion engines. Our society does not think electric cars are cool. Nobody gawks at the technology and "cool factor" of a prius, we just dont. But the person/company that came make electric cars cool, in my opinion are the worlds next billionaires.

I think Tesla got sort of close to making electric cars cool, but definitely did not make it happen. I wanted to work for the company when I get out of college next year, but after some research it was kind of disappointing. The company is quickly loosing money, they aren't selling cars, I have heard its a nightmare working there, and the biggest shock to me was the fact that they petitioned for auto bailout money. (not the most respectable thing in my opinion)

i think the tesler, fisker and all the other electric cars are just a fad

Mhm....Good question.

I was lucky enough to test drive a Tesla Roadster 2 weeks ago. I was amazed how fast that thing accelerates and how good it actually looks. Floor it and off you go, without any lag. But when the salesman told me that it costs € 150,000 and only has a reach of max. 300 km and a top speed of 200km/h, I really didn't see the point in buying one.

I mean, yes it is amazing because this is a completely different car than a hybrid or electric saloon. Its fast, its high-tech and its super fun. It could even be considered a sports car. But it has no use in the everyday world. It needs 1 hour to fuel up for 100km for example.

If they increase the practicability of the car, it would be a great piece of fun. But at the current price point, I'd get a KTM X-Bow and a BMW 1M instead, giving me the same amount of joy and is more useful as a DD.

i thought toyota bought tesla, so the thought of "american" car never crossed my mind, more eco friendly with a kick i guess, love the car.