it really does. You've got folks that are enthusiastic about their product.



You don't feel like you have to count your fingers after you shake hands either.

 

That makes a big difference. Especially if they treat their customers like human beings and not like suckers.

 

You must be high.. match funds.. what in indebted collateral? Musk was begging buyers to pay more for the roadster and borrowing money from friends just to keep a roof over his head. I bet he put his head in a noose every day until he got that loan.

You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.

Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.

Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.

 

Best 458 ever

 

My argument is to protect my job security. The argument against Tesla is to "protect" you as a consumer. I don't agree with them.
Which I noted as what should be done with Tesla. If they want to take on the task, let them. But, I don't think it's a way of business that should be adopted as the upcoming standard way of buying cars. It will put dealers out of business if the manufacturer has direct line with the customers because they win your business no matter where you go.
As said, I think they should be allowed the chance if they want to take on the task. I don't think it should begin with taking over well-founded businesses.
You have to realize a manufacturer coming in has a huge upper hand. It has direct supply of the vehicles. They can offer deals that not only eliminate the dealer's cut of the sale, but could very well offer things a dealership can't; certain options/warranties/etc because they are the builders. While unlikely, what's to stop the manufacturer from playing dirty?

If Lexus Corp. has a dealer in town & competes with my work as well as Sewell, what's to stop Lexus Corp. from screwing us over to kill business? Doesn't seem like sound business to provide a product to a rival company that will take it & sell it back against you. What laws are in place that will forbid you from stopping your supply knowing afterwards, they'll go out of business?
I understand that, but what you're talking about is the Internet vs. the Dealership.

We're talking about the potential of a Manufacturer vs. a Dealership. The dealership relies on that manufacturer to stay in business. If the manufacturer finds it losing business, all it has to do is play dirty & cut supply or find ways to shut it down; remember the dealership not only needs the supply, but approval of the manufacturer to stay in business.

I can't see a co-existence happening. The manufacturers have too much of a upper hand as the builders of the vehicles & supplier to dealers.

 

So what? He paid it back ahead of time and look at what it's doing for the industry. We have a long history of investing in companies or ideas that end up benefitting everyone ...

 

I understand that. But it's a short term way at looking at what is going to happen to this business model. The days of traditional dealerships (for sales at least) is going to end sooner than later.

There are not enormous lots of cars in Europe. They order cars and wait patiently for them. This idea of picking any car in any color with just about any options that's already sitting on a lot is very American.

This is just my opinion, of course. But if dealers don't figure out a way to adapt, they're going to get run out of business. If they can't compete they have no business being propped up by protectionist laws.

 

Let me completely applaud you on ignoring everything else I typed and drifting away to how the Europeans do business, or how the dealership network needs to adapt/compete to something you have no desire to actually explain why rather than "my opinion"; they are already in line to be run out of business competing against the manufacturer for sales.

Thus, I have no desire to continue this.

 

when you got people involved in the industries in threads, there's always a greater likelihood shit's gonna hit the fan.

 

So don't. Because I feel like I'm talking to the RIAA about why audio cassettes are going to ruin the music industry.

 

 

Lol

 

A pretty typical arrangement here; granted on a bit grander scale than you'll usually see in the VC realm. But you meet targets for capital raises and other financing is made available. Very common.

So sharing technology is bad, okay, that's a point of view. Yes, he plans to build a battery factory. Sadly Texas lost out to Nevada as the home for it but that's still better than China which has the lion's share of world Li battery mfg. (The real IP in battery tech is not the battery/chemistry, it's the management system, BTW.)

And, yes, I have great respect for anyone that can make a vision a reality. Let me know what you've got going, I might be interested in investing.

 

All I heard were some clicks. WTF am I watching?!

 

Your ability to babble and banter is astounding.

Ford stealing BMW's swag. Might as well pay your kid $10 to make some racing sounds while you commute to work.

 

<<<@!1!@>>>

Was the car even running? Because it certainly sounds different in this video:

 

Why, thank you <<he said to the guy with +40k posts>>

 

Pffft. 40K posts is NOTHING.

 

I reach 40K in two days.

 

I see that and am in awe.

 

Hey, 298 posts in 11 years is impressive in its own right

 

With the same fucking jokes!

 

Hey, go suck on an Avant's exhaust.

 

You gotta pace yourself...

 

pace yourself.. were you in a coma.

 

Actually, too busy with businesses, travel, and such to hang around here for the past 10 years. Less so now.

 

Oh, the ol' "I have a life outside of the internet" line.

Admit it, you were too busy looking at porn

 

likely story

 

Isn't that the reason you took some time away from the board a little while back?

 

 

I, on the hand, have learned to type with one hand

 

Not if it is an Acura Avant...

 

You know full well that was why I took time away.

 

Anyone used Porterfield R4S brake pads before? My racing buddies have recommended it to me over EBC and Hawk HPS as a street pad. Haven't heard too much about them other than in the Lotus racing community. All I hear are good things though. If anyone has personal experience that would help me a bunch!

 

I am literally LOLing right now at our friend.

Someone said:
Response:

 

que?

 

Well, there's only so many hours in a day, what else you gonna do? Read the inane ramblings of a bunch of car geeks or look at pron? Got to prioritize.

 

You sir, know how to live.

 

I took classes...

 

To me, it seems like the COBB tech is using the Accessport to cycle through the RPM intervals where the engine noise is piped in.

When I first bought the ST, I thought the sound symposer was pretty neat, but after I put on an intake and especially an exhaust, I don't hear it anymore so it doesn't matter to me. Would be the same for the Mustang.