Cadillac News: Detroit Auto Show: 2014 Cadillac ELR

[hyperv6]

You need to go out and get a mini RC chopper to fly around the house now since you are Mini Bob.

There you go you can change your forum name to Mini Bob. LOL! .

[ocnblu]

[ocnblu]

[hyperv6]

Now thats funny!

[Drew Dowdell]

I've updated the article with an album of pictures from the show floor shot by Z-06 and BlackViper.

[hyperv6]

Word is leaking that this will be around $70K. Anyone hear anything that would confrm or discount this?

I was reading a book on the Chrysler Turbines in the 60's. I found a lot of similar traits. The drivers who got the car for 90 days all loved the styling, they even liked the Turbine engine even with the slow accelerations. There were many things they loved about the car but when asked in the Chrysler debrief if they would buy one at $20K in the mid 60's they all said no. They loved the car but not that much even if it was to have lasted 3 times longer as claimed by Chrysler.

I think unless GM is in a real bind here they need to keep th price down more on the ELR. I was hoping for a $55K - 60K range. This way it would under cut the Tesla by a lot and not be that much over the Volt to make it a viable option to some who already like the Volt.

They need to keep the price down to keep up volume and get people to give the Voltec a try. I never expected this car to sell more than 10K units but now it will be lucky to make 5K.

GM has stated it would be limited volume and a limited offer on this car. That is good as that means they have no put some crazy expectation on it like they did on the Volt. Also I feel that means a second gen may not be too far off.

[Drew Dowdell]

I think "up to" $70k is not unexpected

[balthazar]

Big difference RE the Turbine's supposed floated $20K price; keep in mind there were NO cars in the $20K range in 1963, today $70K cars are dirt common & everyone's seen at least 1 or 2 mega-hundred-thousand cars. There weren't even the stratospheric collector prices in '63; the million-plus jobs. IOW, it's not a judgement on the car IMO, but the price.

$70K for a very unique Cadillac coupe is certainly within the realm of the realistic. Let's wait & see where it's ultimately pegged.

[Camino LS6]

Too much - that simple.

And I love the design.

[ocnblu]

I thought they were actually trying to move a unit or two. Well my unit hasn't moved, most certainly it has gone all frightened turtle after reading "$70k" for this pretty little golf cart.

[hyperv6]

Too much - that simple.

And I love the design.

I have to agree. I expected more rightfully but unless there is some thing hidden here there is not that much more in this car to make it worth that much more than a Volt.

If I really wanted this technology I could easily forgo the bling for the Volt and save a lot of money.

GM is either really losing their shirts on the Volt or are really over charging [pun not intended] for the ELR . Leather seats and better styling do not cost that much.

Now if they had used a better engine or bigger batterys. Or if they plan to include fast charge charging stations installed or some other added value here.

[pow]

It should at least outsell the $76K XLR, which, at its peak, had 3,700 annual sales.

[ocnblu]

Doubtful.

[hyperv6]

They wil sell that many on styling alone but do not expect a lot more.

They will not be a common site on the road unless someone in the neighborhood buys one.

[smk4565]

The XLR had good styling and the retractable hard top, and a 320 hp V8 at the time was decent, but not great. The interior dropped the ball, and at $76k the car bombed.

The ELR has good styling, but no convertible top, a weak engine, and the interior is better than the XLR, yet I don't think it is is much better than the ATS or XTS. The ELR will flop like the Allante and XLR if they price it up in that range. Just think, the ELR has the same horsepower as the Allante did 25 years ago.

[hyperv6]

You can not compare a XLR to the ELR as all they have in common is the emblem

The XLR failed becase it was a more expensive underpowered Vette.

The ELR is a better looking and better interor Volt. The question is will the interior and styling be enough to keep a hand full of people from paying less for the Volt.

I wish they would just give this body an option to just come with a 2.0 Turbo sans battery.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I think the ELR will sell well to a certain customer base. I work in the pharma industry with people that make a large amount of income and have an air of class surrounding them. One day last fall while in a training, one such person commented about her commute in her newer Infiniti G37 coupe and said she'd love to get a hybrid but can't be seen in a Toyota, Honda or Chevy (though she admitted she liked the Volt). When I told her Cadillac was coming out with an electric car in mid-2013, she got all excited and said she could accept a Cadillac for her personal transportation. There is a certain perception surrounding "bread and butter" or "joe average" manufacturers. The Caddy version will help get the Volt technology out to those who can't be seen driving a Chevy.

[smk4565]

said she could accept a Cadillac for her personal transportation.

So Cadillac has become "acceptable" transportation and not aspirational.

About the XLR being an underpowered, overpriced Corvette, one could argue that the ELR is an overpriced and underpowered ATS coupe. The ELR may have a better looking grille than the ATS, but the ATS isn't stuck with FWD proportions and overhangs.

You gotta wonder if Ford can make a plug-in Fusion for about $10k more than an SEL trim car, why not just make a plug-in ATS for $55k.

[hyperv6]

The ELR is a different kind of car to appeal to a new and growing segment of the market. It is not a car for everyone and GM has already said it does not expect high volumes.

This car will help the Volt spread some cost, it will attract attention to Cadillac of people who never would have looked at them and it will enhance Cadillacs technology image. While Benz and BMW are making a big deal with the Night Vision that Cadillac did years ago that went unnoticed they can attract a lot of attention with this car.

This is just part of Cadillacs efforts to rebuild their image.

The truth is Cadillac is not going to work for high volume in most of their cars as time goes on. The volumes will remain the same while prices with continue to climb. The idea is to make it special to own a Cadillac and not be a car just anyone can have with a cheap lease. This transition will take some time and more and better new models but this is where they are going. The volume will increase just due to the fact they will be offering more models in a couple years.

[pow]

said she could accept a Cadillac for her personal transportation.

So Cadillac has become "acceptable" transportation and not aspirational.

About the XLR being an underpowered, overpriced Corvette, one could argue that the ELR is an overpriced and underpowered ATS coupe. The ELR may have a better looking grille than the ATS, but the ATS isn't stuck with FWD proportions and overhangs.

You gotta wonder if Ford can make a plug-in Fusion for about $10k more than an SEL trim car, why not just make a plug-in ATS for $55k.

ATS starts at $30K and looks more homely than ELR. A plug-in version of that car will flop. At that price, buyers are looking for vanity, and ELR delivers.

I actually like the proportions of ELR; it's almost like a MR car.

[smk4565]

Flops don't help Cadillac's image, the Allante and XLR hurt more than they helped. That is what I am afraid of, another one and done car that gets joked about years later. The Allante and XLR had "great styling" and "interior better than any other Cadillac" at launch as well, and they tanked.

The ATS does look a bit too homely, I think they dropped the ball on styling on that car. It isn't bad, but it doesn't make you say wow either. I look forward to the next CTS, they might get that one right.

[hyperv6]

The mission of the ELR is much different than the sport cars. It also has no pressure to sell in great volumes so even if sales are low the results are still in the expected range.

As for the ATS stlying is subjective and you are in the minority. In all the test and opinion stories styling has not been an issues. Nor seeing one in person did I find any issue there.

[eldiablobanshee]

do they still do tax breaks for these types of cars?

I do not buy new cars but the volt really tempted me and this ELR is calling me.

[hyperv6]

Now that I have seen the Tesla S numbers on order this car might just suprise.

Even at around $75K-105K there are around 20,000 Tesla S models on order. While not a bad looking car it is still not as nice looking as the ELR. Also the car is still saddled with slow and long charge times and is not a car the average person could live with if they travel far and often. Now the ELR could go to California and back with no issuea if you need to. No need to own a second car or rent one if you need to take a trip.

[smk4565]

Tesla Model S can go up to 300 miles on a charge though, and the top line one has 0-60 times like a CTS-V. That thing is fast. The ELR is not fast, and yes it can drive 400 miles or so with gas, but then it is just a gas burning car. If you are going to burn gas, just buy an ATS and save $20,000, and the ATS has better handling and acceleration.

I know GM needs to expand the models using Voltec/Delta II and that is why this car is here. But Cadillac has other needs and I'd rather seem them put the time and money into the cars they need and not low volume vanity projects.

[hyperv6]

Tesla Model S can go up to 300 miles on a charge though, and the top line one has 0-60 times like a CTS-V. That thing is fast. The ELR is not fast, and yes it can drive 400 miles or so with gas, but then it is just a gas burning car. If you are going to burn gas, just buy an ATS and save $20,000, and the ATS has better handling and acceleration.

I know GM needs to expand the models using Voltec/Delta II and that is why this car is here. But Cadillac has other needs and I'd rather seem them put the time and money into the cars they need and not low volume vanity projects.

I guess you have no clue of the 10 models they are already working on and will have out buy 2016. I see no issue with this car taking much away.

The S cost with all options are $105,000 and would not make it across country in less than a week. You might get to 60 fast but it may take you a lot longer to get to California.

Also from what I have read the fit and finish of the Tesla in Autoweek is very poor for the price paid.

Neither car is the answer but the ELR is more inline with working with the daily driving needs and single car needs of the real world driver.

Cadillac will not only offer the market the ELR but we will also have a nice choice of the ATS, New CTS and LTS. Next the new Escalade, SRX and small SUV to be anouncesd. There will be more than just these according to the reports.

[smk4565]

I wouldn't buy a Tesla either if I had $100k to spend on a car, I'd get a Mercedes or Jaguar, and probably a Mercedes if I had that kind of money.

Range isn't that big a factor to me either. I've driven 300 miles in one day once in the past 3 years. I very rarely drive more than 45 minutes away from my house, if I am traveling several states away I fly. But I'd take gas over batteries any day, batteries aren't good enough. If the ELR and ATS cost the same, I'd take the ATS.

[Drew Dowdell]

...and as we all know GM product decisions should be made based on what SMK would drive.

[pow]

Tesla Model S can go up to 300 miles on a charge though, and the top line one has 0-60 times like a CTS-V. That thing is fast. The ELR is not fast, and yes it can drive 400 miles or so with gas, but then it is just a gas burning car. If you are going to burn gas, just buy an ATS and save $20,000, and the ATS has better handling and acceleration.

I know GM needs to expand the models using Voltec/Delta II and that is why this car is here. But Cadillac has other needs and I'd rather seem them put the time and money into the cars they need and not low volume vanity projects.

I guess you have no clue of the 10 models they are already working on and will have out buy 2016. I see no issue with this car taking much away.

The S cost with all options are $105,000 and would not make it across country in less than a week. You might get to 60 fast but it may take you a lot longer to get to California.

Also from what I have read the fit and finish of the Tesla in Autoweek is very poor for the price paid.

Neither car is the answer but the ELR is more inline with working with the daily driving needs and single car needs of the real world driver.

Cadillac will not only offer the market the ELR but we will also have a nice choice of the ATS, New CTS and LTS. Next the new Escalade, SRX and small SUV to be anouncesd. There will be more than just these according to the reports.

People who need to travel across the U.S. usually fly. The Model S's range is plenty for any sane human being with a bladder.

[Robert Hall]

Neither car is the answer but the ELR is more inline with working with the daily driving needs and single car needs of the real world driver.

Cadillac will not only offer the market the ELR but we will also have a nice choice of the ATS, New CTS and LTS. Next the new Escalade, SRX and small SUV to be anouncesd. There will be more than just these according to the reports.

People who need to travel across the U.S. usually fly. The Model S's range is plenty for any sane human being with a bladder.

True enough....I enjoy road trips, but in reality when I need to get somewhere 400, 500, 1000, 1500 or more miles away, I fly..driving is too time consuming. Real world use for me is at most 50 miles a day. I rarely go on trips in the 100-400 mile range because I've already been there (desert void).

Edited January 28, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[ocnblu]

I am always surprised how many miles I put on at the end of the day. It is reassuring to know I don't have to worry one second about how far I've traveled. I have no tether to my home when I leave.

[hyperv6]

Tesla Model S can go up to 300 miles on a charge though, and the top line one has 0-60 times like a CTS-V. That thing is fast. The ELR is not fast, and yes it can drive 400 miles or so with gas, but then it is just a gas burning car. If you are going to burn gas, just buy an ATS and save $20,000, and the ATS has better handling and acceleration.

I know GM needs to expand the models using Voltec/Delta II and that is why this car is here. But Cadillac has other needs and I'd rather seem them put the time and money into the cars they need and not low volume vanity projects.

I guess you have no clue of the 10 models they are already working on and will have out buy 2016. I see no issue with this car taking much away.

The S cost with all options are $105,000 and would not make it across country in less than a week. You might get to 60 fast but it may take you a lot longer to get to California.

Also from what I have read the fit and finish of the Tesla in Autoweek is very poor for the price paid.

Neither car is the answer but the ELR is more inline with working with the daily driving needs and single car needs of the real world driver.

Cadillac will not only offer the market the ELR but we will also have a nice choice of the ATS, New CTS and LTS. Next the new Escalade, SRX and small SUV to be anouncesd. There will be more than just these according to the reports.

People who need to travel across the U.S. usually fly. The Model S's range is plenty for any sane human being with a bladder.

Just an eample. I have made many trips Cleveland to Columbus and back, Cleveland to Indy and back. San Deigo to LA and back in one day. more than one. These are all out of the Tesla S range. Even my trips from LA to San Fran in two days could not be done with out adding at the least one full day to recharge to complete the run.

Many here on the east coast have made the run to the resorts off the coast of NC and SC these would no longer be one day runs. Many have also done the 1-2 day runs to FL and those are gone.

With air fair going up again these are common car trips. While even I have never drove east to west I and many have gone North and South on each coast.

I could not count the many trips from San Deigo to LA and back I have in one day and with the travel miles plus my driving in LA I could not do it. 400 miles are easy to rack up and then have to find a place to plug in for over 12 hours is not always in the cards even in LA.

The option of High miles and having a car that will not hold you up no matter what for 12 hours if you can find a charging station let alone one that is open.

We must consider many may have an interest in an electric cars but it must not alture their life in what they precieve as a negitive way. Time is money.

[smk4565]

Speaking of flying, just think how much better flying would be if planes were designed by AMG. You'd get there in half the time and in extreme comfort.

[ocnblu]

Well I wonder how much the Tesla's range varies with weather conditions. Unless it is a miracle Power Wheels that is impervious to summer heat and winter cold. I'll never trust an electric.

[pow]

Just an eample. I have made many trips Cleveland to Columbus and back, Cleveland to Indy and back. San Deigo to LA and back in one day. more than one. These are all out of the Tesla S range. Even my trips from LA to San Fran in two days could not be done with out adding at the least one full day to recharge to complete the run.

Many here on the east coast have made the run to the resorts off the coast of NC and SC these would no longer be one day runs. Many have also done the 1-2 day runs to FL and those are gone.

With air fair going up again these are common car trips. While even I have never drove east to west I and many have gone North and South on each coast.

I could not count the many trips from San Deigo to LA and back I have in one day and with the travel miles plus my driving in LA I could not do it. 400 miles are easy to rack up and then have to find a place to plug in for over 12 hours is not always in the cards even in LA.

The option of High miles and having a car that will not hold you up no matter what for 12 hours if you can find a charging station let alone one that is open.

We must consider many may have an interest in an electric cars but it must not alture their life in what they precieve as a negitive way. Time is money.

SD to LA is 121 miles according to Google Maps. With a 265 mile range, Model S will do a round trip.

As for LA to SF, that's 382 miles. But there are two solar-powered Supercharger locations along I-5 that will give you 150 miles of charge in half an hour, the time it takes to eat lunch. More Superchargers will be built across the country, so eventually you'll be able to drive from coast to coast for free.

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger

[hyperv6]

Just an eample. I have made many trips Cleveland to Columbus and back, Cleveland to Indy and back. San Deigo to LA and back in one day. more than one. These are all out of the Tesla S range. Even my trips from LA to San Fran in two days could not be done with out adding at the least one full day to recharge to complete the run.

Many here on the east coast have made the run to the resorts off the coast of NC and SC these would no longer be one day runs. Many have also done the 1-2 day runs to FL and those are gone.

With air fair going up again these are common car trips. While even I have never drove east to west I and many have gone North and South on each coast.

I could not count the many trips from San Deigo to LA and back I have in one day and with the travel miles plus my driving in LA I could not do it. 400 miles are easy to rack up and then have to find a place to plug in for over 12 hours is not always in the cards even in LA.

The option of High miles and having a car that will not hold you up no matter what for 12 hours if you can find a charging station let alone one that is open.

We must consider many may have an interest in an electric cars but it must not alture their life in what they precieve as a negitive way. Time is money.

SD to LA is 121 miles according to Google Maps. With a 265 mile range, Model S will do a round trip.

As for LA to SF, that's 382 miles. But there are two solar-powered Supercharger locations along I-5 that will give you 150 miles of charge in half an hour, the time it takes to eat lunch. More Superchargers will be built across the country, so eventually you'll be able to drive from coast to coast for free.

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger

It is not 121 in the real world if you drive from La Mesa to Santa Barbra and make side trip to other points like Pomona and the like. I have racked up more than 400 miles in one day just traveling between the metro areas and the surrounding areas. In Ohio the range would be lower with the colder months.

If you ake use of the superchargers or fastr charge on any electric car your battery life will be reduced much faster. These are only quick fixes and should only be used now and then.

I have done Indy in one day many times and it is 500 miles [go figure] to from my drive way to the speedway. on a long day like this the first problem is no charging stations here and the second in a day that I will be up 22 hours I have little time to sit for a half our on the way home.

Same here for going to Charlotte or Martinsville to the races. It is nothing for us to drive to Charlotte NC and then to Martinsville in one day from Ohio. Often we go back to Mt Airy to spend the night.

I know these are examples of race track trips but many others here do the same to Virgina Beach, Mertle Beach and many other vacation spots. East of the Mississippi many of these are day trips. That go well beyond the range of the car and most of us seldom stop to even eat for 30 min.

While things are not bad on these new EV cars they are still not there range wise or charging time wise with out hurting the battery. As for charging stations here in the east they are not poping up fast and they will be few in numbers for a good while. What do you do if the rare one you find has a line of more than one car?

In general peple today are in a instant world and nothing can be gotten of done fast enough. The gas car has set a standard and untill the other types of vehicles can match or beat them in all areas they will remain only a slow growth market. Growing but slow.

As of now the Volt has the only system I could live with in a vehilcle that is used for more than just driving to work.

The one thing we have yet to see is how the public reacts once the battery is gone. How will they deal with a car that is used up as the battery cost is not cheap and the car is worthless with out one. WIth that many miles what do you do? Do you spend the money on a worn out car or do you just trash the car when the battery is gone. This will effect cars like the leaf more since it was cheap. The Volt you could continue at the least driving it. The Teslas higher cost may make the new battery a better option. The Leaf in 10 years would just need to be raked up and burned.

[pow]

Just an eample. I have made many trips Cleveland to Columbus and back, Cleveland to Indy and back. San Deigo to LA and back in one day. more than one. These are all out of the Tesla S range. Even my trips from LA to San Fran in two days could not be done with out adding at the least one full day to recharge to complete the run.

Many here on the east coast have made the run to the resorts off the coast of NC and SC these would no longer be one day runs. Many have also done the 1-2 day runs to FL and those are gone.

With air fair going up again these are common car trips. While even I have never drove east to west I and many have gone North and South on each coast.

I could not count the many trips from San Deigo to LA and back I have in one day and with the travel miles plus my driving in LA I could not do it. 400 miles are easy to rack up and then have to find a place to plug in for over 12 hours is not always in the cards even in LA.

The option of High miles and having a car that will not hold you up no matter what for 12 hours if you can find a charging station let alone one that is open.

We must consider many may have an interest in an electric cars but it must not alture their life in what they precieve as a negitive way. Time is money.

SD to LA is 121 miles according to Google Maps. With a 265 mile range, Model S will do a round trip.

As for LA to SF, that's 382 miles. But there are two solar-powered Supercharger locations along I-5 that will give you 150 miles of charge in half an hour, the time it takes to eat lunch. More Superchargers will be built across the country, so eventually you'll be able to drive from coast to coast for free.

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger

It is not 121 in the real world if you drive from La Mesa to Santa Barbra and make side trip to other points like Pomona and the like. I have racked up more than 400 miles in one day just traveling between the metro areas and the surrounding areas. In Ohio the range would be lower with the colder months.

If you ake use of the superchargers or fastr charge on any electric car your battery life will be reduced much faster. These are only quick fixes and should only be used now and then.

I have done Indy in one day many times and it is 500 miles [go figure] to from my drive way to the speedway. on a long day like this the first problem is no charging stations here and the second in a day that I will be up 22 hours I have little time to sit for a half our on the way home.

Same here for going to Charlotte or Martinsville to the races. It is nothing for us to drive to Charlotte NC and then to Martinsville in one day from Ohio. Often we go back to Mt Airy to spend the night.

I know these are examples of race track trips but many others here do the same to Virgina Beach, Mertle Beach and many other vacation spots. East of the Mississippi many of these are day trips. That go well beyond the range of the car and most of us seldom stop to even eat for 30 min.

While things are not bad on these new EV cars they are still not there range wise or charging time wise with out hurting the battery. As for charging stations here in the east they are not poping up fast and they will be few in numbers for a good while. What do you do if the rare one you find has a line of more than one car?

In general peple today are in a instant world and nothing can be gotten of done fast enough. The gas car has set a standard and untill the other types of vehicles can match or beat them in all areas they will remain only a slow growth market. Growing but slow.

As of now the Volt has the only system I could live with in a vehilcle that is used for more than just driving to work.

The one thing we have yet to see is how the public reacts once the battery is gone. How will they deal with a car that is used up as the battery cost is not cheap and the car is worthless with out one. WIth that many miles what do you do? Do you spend the money on a worn out car or do you just trash the car when the battery is gone. This will effect cars like the leaf more since it was cheap. The Volt you could continue at the least driving it. The Teslas higher cost may make the new battery a better option. The Leaf in 10 years would just need to be raked up and burned.

If you drive 400 miles per day on a routine basis, then the Model S isn't for you. For the 99.9% of the population who don't, then it's a fine car that will deal with all sorts of real world driving conditions and easily handle the occasional day trip thanks to its network of Superchargers.

Chances are, if you can afford a $60K luxury car, the time costs of spending 8 hours on the road in a day are too great. Six hours are about the limit for me, and even so, I'd need to stop for food. Anymore than that -- I'm flying.

[Robert Hall]

If you drive 400 miles per day on a routine basis, then the Model S isn't for you. For the 99.9% of the population who don't, then it's a fine car that will deal with all sorts of real world driving conditions and easily handle the occasional day trip thanks to its network of Superchargers.

Chances are, if you can afford a $60K luxury car, the time costs of spending 8 hours on the road in a day are too great. Six hours are about the limit for me, and even so, I'd need to stop for food. Anymore than that -- I'm flying.

Yep....I'm not going to waste a day getting to my destination unless it's a road trip. Last year I went to a number of races (Indy 500, Sonoma, Fontana, Long Beach) and other trips (San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Denver) that I didn't want to waste vacation days on driving from Phoenix when flying + rental car is cheap enough....maybe it's easier for some in the East where everything is close together but the West is very spread out and driving long distances is dull and time consuming. I might take more road trips if I lived in LA or Chicago or the East Coast, but in Phoenix it's a minimum of 400 miles across the void to any place I'd be interested in going, so I usually always fly..

Edited January 29, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[hyperv6]

If you drive 400 miles per day on a routine basis, then the Model S isn't for you. For the 99.9% of the population who don't, then it's a fine car that will deal with all sorts of real world driving conditions and easily handle the occasional day trip thanks to its network of Superchargers.

Chances are, if you can afford a $60K luxury car, the time costs of spending 8 hours on the road in a day are too great. Six hours are about the limit for me, and even so, I'd need to stop for food. Anymore than that -- I'm flying.

Yep....I'm not going to waste a day getting to my destination unless it's a road trip. Last year I went to a number of races (Indy 500, Sonoma, Fontana, Long Beach) and other trips (San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Denver) that I didn't want to waste vacation days on driving from Phoenix when flying + rental car is cheap enough....maybe it's easier for some in the East where everything is close together but the West is very spread out and driving long distances is dull and time consuming. I might take more road trips if I lived in LA or Chicago or the East Coast, but in Phoenix it's a minimum of 400 miles across the void to any place I'd be interested in going, so I usually always fly..

Hell you have to be nuts to drive to anywhere from Phoenix to anywhere other than Vegas.

Back east here in many cases with the way the airlines work you can get to many cities faster driving than flying. Direct flights to some cities are not alway cheap.

Going to CA I will always fly but once I am there I drive. Too many places to stop and visit on the way to many of the places I go. I normally hit many of the Race shops and companies we deal with in CA, Give me a week and I can cover a lot of ground.

I know the freeway system pretty good. Also the drive up the PCH is one not to be missed.

[David]

I love road trips and driving, no problem pulling 18hrs straight to drive to LA to go to Six flags or to visit relatives and see other sites and shows. But I know I am a dying breed as my kids want to be plugged into their electronics or sleep the whole damn time and not enjoy seeing America. The Y generation is truly lost out on what it is like to be in a freedom machine and drive the roads.

[Robert Hall]

If you drive 400 miles per day on a routine basis, then the Model S isn't for you. For the 99.9% of the population who don't, then it's a fine car that will deal with all sorts of real world driving conditions and easily handle the occasional day trip thanks to its network of Superchargers.

Chances are, if you can afford a $60K luxury car, the time costs of spending 8 hours on the road in a day are too great. Six hours are about the limit for me, and even so, I'd need to stop for food. Anymore than that -- I'm flying.

Yep....I'm not going to waste a day getting to my destination unless it's a road trip. Last year I went to a number of races (Indy 500, Sonoma, Fontana, Long Beach) and other trips (San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Denver) that I didn't want to waste vacation days on driving from Phoenix when flying + rental car is cheap enough....maybe it's easier for some in the East where everything is close together but the West is very spread out and driving long distances is dull and time consuming. I might take more road trips if I lived in LA or Chicago or the East Coast, but in Phoenix it's a minimum of 400 miles across the void to any place I'd be interested in going, so I usually always fly..

Hell you have to be nuts to drive to anywhere from Phoenix to anywhere other than Vegas.

Back east here in many cases with the way the airlines work you can get to many cities faster driving than flying. Direct flights to some cities are not alway cheap.

Going to CA I will always fly but once I am there I drive. Too many places to stop and visit on the way to many of the places I go. I normally hit many of the Race shops and companies we deal with in CA, Give me a week and I can cover a lot of ground.

I know the freeway system pretty good. Also the drive up the PCH is one not to be missed.

Never driven to Vegas..flown there a couple times.... if it's more than 3 hours to drive somewhere, I'd rather fly unless the drive was part of the objective...usually I'm on a 3 day weekend and the target location is the objective... usually it's something like a race weekend w/ a side trip to the wine country, a weekend at the beach, a weekend in SF or Denver, or visiting family in Ohio. When I went to the Indy Car race in Fontana last fall, though, I drove over since I had side trips to Santa Monica and Palm Springs planned. But I rented a Yukon since I wouldn't drive across the void in my own vehicles which have over 100k miles.

Driving the PCH/Hwy I is fun, I've driven parts of it..I've enjoyed driving San Diego to Newport Beach and Monterey to San Francisco and northward. I'd like to take a road trip sometime from San Diego all the way up to Washington..I've driven some of the Oregon coast before.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[David]

Come on up to Washington state and plan to drive what is considered one of the most beautiful drives in america. The North Cascade Highway.

http://www.cascadeloop.com/

National Geographic has continued to vote it as one of the top 10 drives you must do in America.

[FAPTurbo]

Speaking of flying, just think how much better flying would be if planes were designed by AMG. You'd get there in half the time and in extreme comfort.

There's also the excitement of the wheels potentially not deploying during landing thanks to lousy electronics!

[Robert Hall]

Come on up to Washington state and plan to drive what is considered one of the most beautiful drives in america. The North Cascade Highway.

http://www.cascadeloop.com/

National Geographic has continued to vote it as one of the top 10 drives you must do in America.

That's on my to do list...I've driven many spectacular roads in Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, but that one seems to in a class by itself. I've driven some incredible roads near the Columbia River in Oregon...pines and snow capped mountains...

[hyperv6]

If you drive 400 miles per day on a routine basis, then the Model S isn't for you. For the 99.9% of the population who don't, then it's a fine car that will deal with all sorts of real world driving conditions and easily handle the occasional day trip thanks to its network of Superchargers.

Chances are, if you can afford a $60K luxury car, the time costs of spending 8 hours on the road in a day are too great. Six hours are about the limit for me, and even so, I'd need to stop for food. Anymore than that -- I'm flying.

Yep....I'm not going to waste a day getting to my destination unless it's a road trip. Last year I went to a number of races (Indy 500, Sonoma, Fontana, Long Beach) and other trips (San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Denver) that I didn't want to waste vacation days on driving from Phoenix when flying + rental car is cheap enough....maybe it's easier for some in the East where everything is close together but the West is very spread out and driving long distances is dull and time consuming. I might take more road trips if I lived in LA or Chicago or the East Coast, but in Phoenix it's a minimum of 400 miles across the void to any place I'd be interested in going, so I usually always fly..