For you guys in the US and similar countries, to see the value of the Tesla must be hard, as you can get M5, Panamera S / Turbo, Audi RS 6 or similar for the price of the Tesla P85, however for us here in Norway, it is quite different:

A fully spec´ed Tesla P85 is priced at about 120´US. For 120´US, the car you can get here is maybe a BMW 520, Audi A6 2.0 (diesel), Volvo V70 etc. with about 150-200 hp. No chance getting a Panamera (not even the V6) for that price. The Panamera turbo is about 300´US, the RS6 the same, the 991 is 250-300´US, all because of our "environment" / "jealous" tax system that applies to horsepower, weight and CO2 emissions.

The Tesla has no import tax, does not have to pay road tax, which is about 400 US per year, no tollroad charges (which would be about 1-2.000 US per year), you do not pay for gasoline, which is about 2,3 USD per litre (8,50 US per gallon), in fact you get free charging (and parking) for any electric car around the main cities, and Tesla has installed their "super charge stations" around the country, where your car will be almost fully charged in about 30 minutes.

Due to this, in November last year, Tesla topped the sales list of ANY new car sold in Norway (although this was due to delivery of a lot of the waitlist vehicles). It is actually becoming a very familiar site on the roads here.

The Tesla is an impressive vehicle, and even though I am a petrolhead loving the sound and feel of a traditional car, I must say that Tesla is probably just the start of how the electric car will be in a couple of years. Think of performance like the Model S or more, but with 200 miles range, which can be charged in 2 minutes or less (they have actually projected a charging station where you just switch you battery completely, as it drops down from underneath the vehicle, in yes, just a couple of minutes).

Even if this becomes reality, I will always swear to a having a petrol engined car in my garage for the feel and fun of a traditional car ;-)

 

I like the tesla. Would be a great DD or car for the wife. Would not cut it as a sports car for me though. I would be worried about charging it. Long road trips are pretty much out. And are these things still catching on fire?

 

Uhh you do realize the Tesla would of given your 991 an worse beating in that scenario too right? Would have curb stomped it. Look at the trap speeds of a Tesla. Yeh their fast down low, still think it's a cool car...... but faaaaaar from a sports car. Gotta say their all over down here in South FL and when I was out in the San Diego area. They have one of their little retail/dealer stores right by me.

 

I saw the Tesla guy on the side of the ride trying to get home - see, he lives 250 miles away and after the races he ran out of juice. Corvette owner waved as he went by.

 

Apples to oranges indeed. I could not resist posting this again: on the left a 991S, on the right a Tesla S. This is only a DE, not a race, not a timed lap and the Tesla does well, but we are not talking about the same type of cars with comparable goals and specs.


As far as Norway and taxes are concerned, I am a European living in the US and can hardly tell how happy I am to be away from the leftist-environmentalist-politically correct dictatorship. I keep my fingers crossed that the US stop following the same trend!

 

Chris 964 gave us a valuable insight in cultural differences ! It's even worse as Belgium and The Netherlands !

 

You got that right, Serge. It's just a shame that a lot of people in the USA don't realize that our train switched onto the wrong track.

I also agree that this comparison is apples to oranges. I will admit that I've been a Corvette guy for a long time now and I'm happy to see how far they've come. I loved my previous ZO6 (save for the detrimental valve issues).

The Corvette is a genuine Hot Rod and the 991S is more of a refined Hot Rod. The Vette and the 991S have two different personalities but they do have one thing in common: each are a blast to drive.

 

Back in Belgium, I would never have a P-car. Aside from the taxes, insurance, gas cost etc. (it is a matter of prioritizing your spending... but you give a LOT to the government), I am 99% sure that I would find my car keyed, damaged... or simply stolen if I were to venture outside of affluent area's. I do not know if it is still the case, but when I left Brussels 7 years ago, teenagers were puncturing tires of SUV's because they were "cars of the wealthy people who do not care about others and pollute the environment". With a very few exceptions, I mostly get thumbs up in the US, people asking questions about the car specs, kids taking pictures at the red-light etc. I have a 911 because I love to drive, not to show off, but I'd rather get smiles and thumbs up than indoctrinated morons insulting me because the check they get from the government for doing nothing does not allow them to buy a nicer vehicle. Not to mention the green lobby who are nothing else that post hippie leftists who want to impose their 'religion' to the whole world and do not have the slightest clue about actual science.
Sorry for going off topic...

We are on the same page! My apples to oranges comment was mostly directed towards the Tesla vs 911. Corvettes and 911 are fast and expensive cars (or let say expensive and very expensive cars) that suit different tastes and aspirations. I am personally tired of the so many threads about 911 vs. whatever and argument about what car is 'best' The only thing that makes me (a bit) mad are stupid comparison's or statements. I got an email from a Jag' dealership the other day explaining how the F-type crushes the 911 on the track. It would be just as stupid for my Porsche dealership to tell me that my car is faster than a 458. But strangely they've never done it

 

These countries' political, economic and social policies are the envy of many in this country including the white house. Ça promet... I moved here from France.

 

Where do we move next then ?

PS: Like someone famous said: "si je devais travailler 35 heures, ma semaine serait finie mardi soir".

 

Serge, interesting post. I'll shoot you a pm with my reply. It is too political to post in public.

 

Sorry if someone already posted, but thought, based on thread title, it applies.

 

The Tesla S is a straight line torque monster . It is also a technological masterpiece .

Drive one . Evaluate the weight in terms of cornering , the road noise level , and closely examine the quality of the interior . It's a great car but at 115+K it ought to be perfect .

Maybe in the future .

 

Well said. Sad but true.

 

I'm not in support of the tesla or anything but that was a waste time syncing those videos. The 991 had pretty much a clean lap while the tesla gets stuck behind out lap traffic and is behind traffic the whole lap. Looks like two different aggression levels of driving as well.

You may still be right. I'm just saying. That video doesn't show anything.