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Original poster

Tesla owners

304 replies

Moorfellduck · 22/02/2025 20:20

I would never buy a Tesla now - literally over my dead body. I think Musk is dangerous and delusional and don't want to be associated with him in any way. I've got a few friends that have Tesla's and I know that they feel a bit conflicted. I guess they are kind of stuck with them for now.

If you've got one do you feel bad driving it and feel that people might be judging you now or do you dissociate the brand from Musk himself? I not a journo, just interest given how popular they are and a bit 🤔that people think it's okay to buy one now given they can make a choice that isn't contributing to Musks wealth and power.

OP posts:
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TY78910 · 22/02/2025 20:54

We are considering it as it is genuinely a good car.

The way I see it is that I can bet a lot of money on the engineers that design the product and make it work, all factory and sales people are very likely not like him at all and whilst they've not left their jobs (or who knows maybe some have), I don't see purchasing a car too bad. Maybe I'm naive but I do distance the product from the person.

Volkswagen was created by the Nazis. Hugo Boss became a popular brand by designing suits for Hitler and his army. Let's hope that once Musk is no more, we can all just accept his brand as just a good car company.

REDB99 · 22/02/2025 20:57

I wouldn’t buy one as I cannot stand the thought of that man getting any of my money. My brother has one as a company car, his company want all employees to drive one as they think it shows they’re environmentally friendly, don’t think they’ve thought about the association with Musk.

bellsend · 22/02/2025 20:57

Nope. I like our Tesla.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cars & vehicles
user593 · 22/02/2025 21:02

bellsend · 22/02/2025 20:57

Nope. I like our Tesla.

This. It’s a great car.

OhMehGoddess · 22/02/2025 21:03

TY78910 · 22/02/2025 20:54

We are considering it as it is genuinely a good car.

The way I see it is that I can bet a lot of money on the engineers that design the product and make it work, all factory and sales people are very likely not like him at all and whilst they've not left their jobs (or who knows maybe some have), I don't see purchasing a car too bad. Maybe I'm naive but I do distance the product from the person.

Volkswagen was created by the Nazis. Hugo Boss became a popular brand by designing suits for Hitler and his army. Let's hope that once Musk is no more, we can all just accept his brand as just a good car company.

This all the way.

Might as well just stop buying literally anything then.

MoiraSuppose · 22/02/2025 21:17

I'd think less of someone who judges people because of the car they drive. I don't really associate with people like that so it wouldn't affect me.

ploppydoppy · 22/02/2025 21:21

I wouldn't buy one personally, he was his brand and he has devalued it. Wouldn't judge someone else though, all the uber drivers drive them.

MoiraSuppose · 22/02/2025 21:21

I mean obviously I judge BMW drivers but that goes without saying.

mummytalking · 22/02/2025 21:24

TY78910 · 22/02/2025 20:54

We are considering it as it is genuinely a good car.

The way I see it is that I can bet a lot of money on the engineers that design the product and make it work, all factory and sales people are very likely not like him at all and whilst they've not left their jobs (or who knows maybe some have), I don't see purchasing a car too bad. Maybe I'm naive but I do distance the product from the person.

Volkswagen was created by the Nazis. Hugo Boss became a popular brand by designing suits for Hitler and his army. Let's hope that once Musk is no more, we can all just accept his brand as just a good car company.

This. So many big brands we buy have some association or history with something we might not agree with. It would mean boycotting so much. I'm more concerned with my Apple phone at the moment...

TY78910 · 22/02/2025 21:36

@mummytalking I don't want to derail the thread at all but the feature that Apple has disabled in the UK (and UK only based on a court order by the government) I can guarantee most folk have never switched on or would know how to switch on. So it really isn't as big of a deal as people think it is. Additionally, other phones have not offered this, Apple is just the last of them to give in. They fought a long fight. It was either that, or not be able to offer iCloud at all and without it, you might as well not have the phone.

MrsJamin · 22/02/2025 21:46

We leased one from 2019-2023, it was designed very well but made terribly! Very glad to have a different EV now, and that we didn't have to sell a tesla to do so. Also the constant software updates and moving around of important controls was infuriating.

garlicyogurt · 22/02/2025 21:49

I’m looking at getting one through my workplace electric car scheme, got to drive one recently and they’re great. I just want a car that I like, me boycotting him will make no difference to his wealth, influence or power.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 22/02/2025 21:50

Swasticars?

No, I wouldn’t want one.

I also wouldn’t buy anything from Hugo Boss or Coco Chanel.

I probably can’t afford them anyway so it may be moot point.

ChristmasPudd1990 · 22/02/2025 21:50

We've had our Tesla 3 years now. Best car we've had and will be upgrading.

YouMightBeTheReason · 22/02/2025 21:50

People judge for everything, I couldn’t care less what they think, I like my Tesla and its no one else’s business.

ChristmasPudd1990 · 22/02/2025 21:52

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 22/02/2025 21:50

Swasticars?

No, I wouldn’t want one.

I also wouldn’t buy anything from Hugo Boss or Coco Chanel.

I probably can’t afford them anyway so it may be moot point.

Swasticar? How original 🥱🥱🥱

nearlylovemyusername · 22/02/2025 21:54

It does make a difference to buy a brand which did wrong many decades ago or buying something which directly benefits a monster right now.
As dubious as Chanel etc were, they are dead now. Musk is unfortunately not. If entire population of Europe boycotted Tesla and Twatter he'd be hurt financially means his power diminished a bit.

ploppydoppy · 22/02/2025 21:57

@nearlylovemyusername agree

www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/why-tesla-sales-down-elon-musk-politics-blame-b1211679.html

TY78910 · 22/02/2025 22:00

nearlylovemyusername · 22/02/2025 21:54

It does make a difference to buy a brand which did wrong many decades ago or buying something which directly benefits a monster right now.
As dubious as Chanel etc were, they are dead now. Musk is unfortunately not. If entire population of Europe boycotted Tesla and Twatter he'd be hurt financially means his power diminished a bit.

I agree to an extent as yes that is correct but I would really struggle to find anything mainstream in this world that doesn't directly profit someone horrible. Gas, oil, minerals are the most obvious ones. We can then get in to a great debate of the likes of Unilever, McDonald's and Starbucks. All items 'made in china'. The world we live in someone always pays the price.

WinterMorn · 22/02/2025 22:00

We have one but can’t get rid of it as we are locked into an airtight PCP deal. If we could walk away, we would.

Onheretoomuch · 22/02/2025 22:00

So do you research the owner of every company you buy something from to check they aline with your politics or ethics??

No, thought not 🙄

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 22/02/2025 22:09

Onheretoomuch · 22/02/2025 22:00

So do you research the owner of every company you buy something from to check they aline with your politics or ethics??

No, thought not 🙄

When people are out and proud Nazis very little research is needed.

The OP asked a question, I answered it.

I’m not telling anyone else what I think they should do with their lives. Just answering questions honestly.

People can buy what they like.

Original poster
Moorfellduck · 22/02/2025 22:09

No I don't but as a brand it is just so closely associated with Musk the individual who is alive and wreaking havoc right now- I'm struggling to think of any brands that are in the same ballpark.

OP posts:
Caroocar · 22/02/2025 22:17

The type of car you drive says something about you, a bit like the clothes you wear.

i would never buy an Audi, because of the way the brand is seen. No idea whether the car are any good, but I am not interested in even looking. I do not want to be an ‘Audi driver’ with everything that implies about driving style/attitude to the world. Other people love that idea or don’t care

Similarly, there is now something about the Tesla brand now that means I wouldn’t even look. I don’t want to be associated with the brand. Others will see it differently.

Those are probably the only two car brands I feel that way about. Clearly they will be fine without my custom - I am not the target market.

It isn’t really about the ethical decision. It is about what that car says about me among friends/family. We will see how it works out for Tesla in the long run as a marketing strategy!

Longma · 22/02/2025 22:27

Dh has one. We lease it via his work.

I've always had a dislike for Musk and it did put me off for a few years, having test driving it a year ago or so I gave in - the car speaks for itself. It's good value, especially through the work lease scheme and it's a really good EV.

Not had anyone obviously judge the car choice, before or since the recent changes in the US. I don't think the average person does tbh. Not in our experience anyway.