(disclosure: I'm long TSLA)
I don't think GM is even trying anymore. Just when you think a company can't get any more bloated or innovate any less, GM manages to lower the bar yet again. I'm speaking this time about the announcement that the new Cadillac ELR hybrid sedan will be available for sale in January starting at $76,000.
I'm an old Cadillac man from way back. My mom used to drive me to school in a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado land yacht, and I've owned two Eldo's myself over the years. For a blue collar kid growing up when and where I did, a Cadillac was the ultimate status symbol (it simply wouldn't occur to you to buy something foreign). So it's disappointing for me from a nostalgic standpoint to see the brand cheapened so badly over the years. And now this.
The Cadillac ELR is basically a Chevy Volt for twice the money. You can try to church it up with a nicer interior and LED headlights, but otherwise it's the same car. Hell, it even looks the same. So why would anyone pay $76,000 for a regurgitated Chevy (which didn't sell worth a shit, btw) when they could get into a Tesla Model S for the same money?
Before you start screaming about how unrealistic it is to street a Model S for $70,000 (I know, I've built one online), just think about what you're getting for your money. It's an electric vehicle that actually works. The technology is head and shoulders above GM's. And while you're probably going to finish up between $100-110,000 all-in on the Model S, doesn't that make better sense than dropping $85-90,000 on a Chevy Volt Cadillac ELR with the same old tech that didn't work all that well for the Volt (at less than half the price)?
I think GM should stick to what it does well and leave the big ideas to those less constrained by corporate bureaucracies and decision making by committee.
Would any of you lay down $80,000 for this Caddy?
Plus, there's this. Wow...just, wow.
This is the Tesla Model X that debuted at the new Tesla store in Palo Alto over the weekend.
Want.
i know they paid back the loan + interest pretty quick, and did a big restructuring in their chapter 11 reorganization, but at the time how did you feel about the government bailout of GM? how about now? should they have been allowed to fail?
Yo, GM, where's your 100x forward multiple? All the investors that chose you over Ford are waiting.
In all seriousness, I'd buy a Cadillac CTS-V over either car. Or a M3/M5. Or a Nissan GT-R. Not that I would spend ~100k on a car. To me, once you hit the 50k+ range, a car is a car.
That's why I buy used 100k cars that look EXACTLY like their 2014 counterparts. A new 50k bmw 3 series just doesn't do it for me, so you gotta go with the 30k 7 series.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgI…
I'm assuming you're joking but it is actually very smart to buy a car that is used for ~2 years. Depreciation for the first two years is significant so why not let the original owner take the hit?
I'd have no problem buying a 2011/2012 luxury car now that had 30k on it.
Implying that a used GERMAN car (a 750, at that) with almost 100k on the odometer is "cheaper" than a brand new one with a 4 year warranty.
You should run that idea by a mechanic.
Agree with your overall point, but the linked 750 isn't the best example. Considering that car has 100k miles on it already and the maintenance costs on beamers, you're not going to save as much as you'd like. That being said, you are getting a 750 (which is your point, obviously)
I've had great experience buying cars at ~30k miles and getting great value until about ~100k miles. I put a lot of miles on per year, so selling the well maintained car at 100k seems to have been a sweet spot for me.
It's just like everything else in this country. Let's not try to actually compete with the rest of the world, let's just stick to the old school way of thought of "this being America" say fuck innovation and just keep the status quo, hoping that someone somewhere will create a company like Tesla to still keep America relevant.
As far as GM goes, they should not have been bailed out. Ya, it would have been unfortunate for all those workers and I feel for them, but we can't bail out shit companies, you just can't. There has to be failure in order for there to not only be growth, but true innovative growth.
Agree. Just look at the political impediments to hyperloop.
STILL not as bad as an Escalade Hybrid that Obama's homies parade around in.
QFT
At least GM is getting with the program, electric cars are without a doubt the future.
Those that are saying they would prefer a comparably priced sedan over the Model S have never driven one; it is by FAR the most incredible car I've ever driven.
Awesome thanks.
Looks like some buyers are looking to flip this car... that's a dangerous game if the sentiment were to change. It is insane that the Norwegians so willingly pay a $70k premium over the American market. I think the gov't should be more accommodating and reconsider the tax policies on such a "green friendly" car.
"Don't half ass two things. Whole ass one thing."
-Ron Swanson
What comes to mind regarding anything GM.
relevant discussion from Joe Rogan's latest podcast talking to an ex Ford employee
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