[bro1999]

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/26/ex-g...porters-like-members-of-a-religious-cult.html

"Tesla supporters are like members of a religious cult," he said. "Just like Steve Jobs was worshiped at Apple, it's the same way with Elon Musk ... seen as a new visionary god who promises this phantasmagorical future, a utopia of profitability and volume."

"Steve Jobs delivered and Elon ... hasn't delivered a thing, except increasingly negative cash flow, and an increasing lack of profitability; more and more capital spending."

'dem fightin' words!

 

[BAZINGA]

Pull up a chair, this is going to be fun.

Let the games begin.

 

[Dutch]

Elon ... hasn't delivered a thing

I'm not a Tesla fanboy but holy smokes, if nothing else Musk sure lit a fire under the development teams in multiple corporations (Chevy, Ford, Mercedes) and has pushed the new "space race" hard. Anyone discounting all of that simply isn't paying attention.

It's kind of a weird and angry attitude he has considering he was the man who took a gamble on longshots like the Viper, the Converj, and the Volt. Didn't he admit "the electrification of the automobile is inevitable" back about the time Tesla rolled out it's first cars? I guess that could be coincidence.

 

[Barry]

Lutz uses Apple as a comparison, but back in the early days of Apple, Lutz could have made the same negative statements about them. Tesla is not the same kind of car company as GM, Ford or Chrysler. It exists for a different purpose, is at a different point in it's life cycle, and has a different vision of what it wants to become.

 

[supchrgamx]

after watching that , I cant help but wonder, how many shares in oil , bob has

 

[rhodomel]

The dog has to stop barking and be told to wait until the other party is confirmed that it cannot deliver on it's promised delivery date. If the dog can't stop barking, I just don't listen to it by not clicking on the link to the dog. Enough listening to the dog whining and barking!

 

[Mister Dave]

after watching that , I cant help but wonder, how many shares in oil , bob has

Bob Lutz is chairman of VIA Motors, FYI. Nice try at a forum meme but no joy for you.

I have oil investments though. Investment is not about religion, unless.......

 

[emartin00]

Well he's not wrong...

 

[Qinsp]

Bob Lutz has said lots of dumb things in the last few years.

He added a few to the list.

People cannot buy VIA motors pickups and vans, so he's not in much of a position to talk.

 

[shrspeedblade]

Ummm, Bob...............I hate to break it to you............but great products are like that. They inspire what some see as irrational loyalty in their customers. And there is probably some truth to that because at the end of the day it's just a damn car/phone/etc.

Something that sadly you know too little about...

 

[Mister Dave]

People cannot buy VIA motors pickups and vans, so he's not in much of a position to talk.

Fleet owners are not people.

 

[Qinsp]

Fleet owners are not people.

While they do pay taxes, corporations are not legally human.

 

[Brjohnso]

Reminds me of Steve Balmer's comments on the iPhone.

Don't underestimate the value of a loyal customer with money.

Tesla customers are loyal because Tesla treats them as partners in achieving a shared vision of electric transportation. Each happy customer becomes an advocate for Tesla. On the other hand, GM has always treated their customers as a mark from the moment they walk into the dealership. It's a profoundly adversarial relationship.

 

[Mister Dave]

While they do pay taxes, corporations are not legally human.

I am a corporation by proxy. IIRC you might make the same claim. No?

 

[Qinsp]

... GM has always treated their customers as a mark from the moment they walk into the dealership. It's a profoundly adversarial relationship.

You hurt your Volt Advisor's feelings. Now apologize!

The dealer who sold us the 2017 Volt was 10/10. Flawless experience. Perhaps they could have given us body-massages while waiting, but other than that, it was an ENJOYABLE experience. The body massage with a Happy Ending would have been 11/10.

I can't say that for all auto purchases, but it was not our only pleasant buying experience from GM.

 

[Qinsp]

I am a corporation by proxy. IIRC you might make the same claim. No?

I'm actually C class. I'm just an employee, who gets the same benefits and perks as my staff. I just don't punch a clock.

 

[Mister Dave]

I'm actually C class. I'm just an employee, who gets the same benefits and perks as my staff. I just don't punch a clock.

....or get overtime pay.......

 

[Qinsp]

....or get overtime pay.......

Or now, 23 years later, even have to show up for work.

Yeah, it was 18-20 hour days at first. Sort of like being a computer programmer on salary in the late 80's, early 90's. You get the job offer and go WOW! that's good money, until you find out they expect 80 hours a week ...

 

[Mister Dave]

Or now, 23 years later, even have to show up for work.

Yeah, it was 18-20 hour days at first. Sort of like being a computer programmer on salary in the late 80's, early 90's. You get the job offer and go WOW! that's good money, until you find out they expect 80 hours a week ...

LOL - 80 hours is for wimps. When you love what you do 80 hours is a minimum. They probably wanted holidays off too. Sheesh......

 

[LAA]

You hurt your Volt Advisor's feelings. Now apologize!

The dealer who sold us the 2017 Volt was 10/10. Flawless experience. Perhaps they could have given us body-massages while waiting, but other than that, it was an ENJOYABLE experience. The body massage with a Happy Ending would have been 11/10.

I can't say that for all auto purchases, but it was not our only pleasant buying experience from GM.

I’m coming from a decade of MINI, another car company with a lot of customer investment in the brand, and it’s been a bit of a mixed bag comparatively with GM/Chevy. That brand loyalty really helps you paper over the disappointments and frustrations with your car. My second MINI for example had to go in the shop a week after I bought it for a busted water pump, but that negative turned in to a positive experience despite the hassle.

My Volt was delivered with chipped paint on the rear bumper, no second key, and a cracked rear-tail light, so not great. My salesman and service manager were great about getting it in for a repair a few weeks later and going to bat to make sure the paint was done by the body shop, not just some touch-up paint. Unfortunately once it left the service manager’s care it’s been a hassle, no updates from the dealer, I have to call them to find out what’s going on. What was supposed to be done by the end of the day got pushed back to “next Tuesday”. “Next Tuesday” turned in to “we’ll call you mid-morning tomorrow to schedule pick up”. I’m currently sitting here waiting for that mid-morning call at 11:30AM. In the mean time I’ve been paying $25 a day for rental insurance yeah I didn’t know my auto insurance covered me, that’s on me, but still.

There are things much better than MINI and things not as good, but overall I’ve like the car quite a bit. Chevy on the other hand haven’t fostered any sort of brand loyalty. When my lease is up buying out this Volt or leasing a new Volt/Bolt will simply come down to Chevy making me an offer I can’t refuse and/or having a compelling self-driving option otherwise it’s back to MINI or Tesla.