[jonknee]

> The Tesla Model S is an amazing car. But claiming that it's more convenient, or is a better car in every way but range, is a vast overstatement. It would be absolutely awful for me, and many other people with similar needs.

Obviously convenience is different for different people. The OP is probably someone who finds car maintenance very inconvenient and as the owner of a used station wagon I am guessing you are not. If you don't take frequent road trips and have the ability to charge at home, the Model S is indeed very convenient--never have to worry about fuel and hardly ever have to worry about maintenance.

[lambda]

I too find maintenance inconvenient; but my used station wagon doesn't require much of that either. In the past three years, I've only ever had to have it inspected, tires replaced, and oil changes. Now, the Tesla doesn't have oil changes, so that one aspect is removed, but it does have annual maintenance. So, I'm looking at maybe two oil changes per year, vs. one annual servicing; a small improvement in maintenance hassle, but not amazing.

But anyhow, I'm not claiming that there are no convenience advantages of a Tesla; just that there are also a lot of things that are quite inconvenient, especially if you don't have a driveway or need to take long trips. Claiming that the Tesla is better in every regard but range is vast hyperbole. For some use cases, it may be more convenient; for mine, far less.

Beyond that, the price is a major disadvantage; at 4 times the price of a new economy car for the entry level model, and twice the price of lower-end luxury brands, it's well outside many people's price range; and you don't even save that much because you're not buying gasoline, as the combined cost of electricity plus replacement batteries winds up being pretty close to the cost of gas you would pay for the same number of miles (depending on exactly how long the batteries last, and assuming that the relative costs of gasoline vs. electricity don't diverge too much; of course you could say that gas prices are likely to go up faster than electricity, but they may go down too).

[ericd]

The Model S may not be the best at everything, but it appears to be the best overall car you can buy right now. It just scored an almost unheard of 99/100 from Consumer Reports (I believe the Civic got in the high 70s to mid 80s this year)

[kiba]

Do you have the math worked out for the total cost of ownership or at least a citation?

[zevyoura]

>If you don't take frequent road trips and have the ability to charge at home, the Model S is indeed very convenient--never have to worry about fuel and hardly ever have to worry about maintenance.

Doesn't the maintenance bit kind of remain to be seen? It seems to me there are two factors working against each other there: the high failure rates in new product categories, and the low failure rates associated with a simpler engine. I don't know that you can say which will win out yet.

[sbierwagen]

The Model S is much, much, much simpler than a gasoline car.

  - No engine.
  - No fuel system.
  - No alternator, starter, or belts.
  - No oil.
  - Single speed transmission! No shifting, 
    no transmission fluid.
  - No fuel system.
  - Lower brake wear, thanks to regen braking.

The downside is that the battery costs ~$10,000 and has to be replaced every 8 years.

[Jabbles]

I imagine that in 8 years' time an equivalent battery will cost must less.

[jonknee]

I suppose, but its not needing oil changes alone is a big win for convenience. Tesla also will come to you for all service (and leave a loaner), so if it turns out to need some time in the shop you should not have to waste more time than it takes to make a phone call.

[cloudwalking]

You never need to visit a gas station. That's 15 minutes per week that I'd save myself.

[twoodfin]

You really spend 15 minutes fueling your car?

[cloudwalking]

You have to drive to the gas station and then drive home.

[SPSteinbeck]

That's not how it usually works Mr. Ignorant.

[freehunter]

If you have to go five minutes out of your way then spend five minutes filling up, that's fifteen minutes. That's not uncommon, not everyone has a gas station on their route to and from every place they go.