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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.

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nearlylovemyusername · 22/02/2025 22:32

TY78910 · 22/02/2025 22:00

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.

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Again, there is a different level of evil. All brands listed here make profit mostly in line with existing laws and whilst possibly socially unfair, none of them inflict even remotely similar level of pain as Musk. He's changing the entire world order now buying two dictators, trump and putin. So every little helps in trying to limit his profit.
And I do judge people having Teslas now. Somehow excusable if bought several years ago, but to buy it now one needs to have a really questionable consciousness.

MiddleOfHere · 22/02/2025 23:02

I don't think I'd buy a Tesla now either - although it is a moot point, as I'd never spend that much on a car.

But I do boycott loads of companies I don't agree with for different reasons - Nestle, Amazon, Starbucks, Caffe Nero, L'OReal.

I get that it doesn't make a difference individually, in the scheme of things. On the other hand, I don't need to give these companies any additional money either - other options exist.

noodlezoodle · 22/02/2025 23:06

Lots of Teslas round my way now sport bumper stickers saying things like "I bought this before he was a Nazi".

Interested in this thread?

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Cars & vehicles
peudhrk · 22/02/2025 23:08

I'd be amazed if the sale of Teslas isn't impacted, especially as I suspect their target audience were likely predominantly left wing (and image conscious left wing at that...) Probably too soon to tell if people are tied into contracts, but maybe the next couple of years.

Sheryl Crow posted a video of selling hers (and donating the proceeds).

dottiehens · 22/02/2025 23:14

Best car ever for us. People can judge if they want as I am used to be judged. People hates money here so anything you wear or buy that is not “socially acceptable” or that not many people can afford and you get judged and gossiped about it anyway.

Papadonut · 22/02/2025 23:18

I have a friend who works for Tesla. It is not just about Musk. We would have bought one if it weren't so expensive. We settled for an Audi instead.

ploppydoppy · 22/02/2025 23:23

People hates money here so anything you wear or buy that is not “socially acceptable” or that not many people can afford and you get judged and gossiped about it anyway.

I didn't think Tesla's were particularly expensive?

SwanFlight · 22/02/2025 23:25

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.

Oh this is a recent feature. And the UK government intervening basically saying we can't have encrypted telecoms/storage is just complete arse. No surprise from these bastards. I think it's a known that there is a backdoor pretty much into every system/service in the States, so there isn't a huge difference. But it does suck and makes me sick. It almost props up some of the shit that Vance was coming out with.

Greenkindness · 22/02/2025 23:50

I wouldn’t buy a Tesla now. That’s my own personal decision, I would not be comfortable buying one because of Elon Musk. I wouldn’t discuss someone else having one. It’s just my own thing I’d not want to do. I also don’t have a Twitter account or buy from Amazon any more, because I can’t stand Bezos either. I know it won’t make a difference to them or hurt them at all, but it makes a difference to me and that is the choice I want to make.

pizzaHeart · 23/02/2025 00:05

We are looking for an EV and decided not to consider Tesla because of Musks’s recent political comments (no financial reasons)
I’m sure that many will think the same and it will hurt Musk at some point. I don’t pretend that our family’s decision will affect Musk considerably but as someone's mentioned above - every little helps.

I would judge a bit any friend who would buy Tesla these days.

DonnaHadDee · 23/02/2025 00:13

They are a very nice car. Musk transformed the EV industry. I’d never buy one, as it supports Musk indirectly.

Consumers have a lot of power. There are choices people can make, but limited choice in many tech areas, as we’ve fallen so far behind. I buy British made goods whenever possible.

Doitrightnow · 23/02/2025 00:26

It's a good question and one I've thought about.

We're on a lease, so will keep it for another 3 years. But I also really dislike the thought of supporting Musk. It's got a good supercharger network. But they've annoyed me by taking away the car's Spotify premium account and removing the indicator stick.

DH loves it and doesn't want to change. We'll see.

alexisccd · 23/02/2025 00:30

I have a Tesla, I got it in 2020 (ordered 2019) and it was groundbreaking and innovative.

I cancelled my reorder of a new M3 last year and have finally just settled on which EV to get instead.

Elon Musk is despicable and there is no way I'll get another Tesla now. The cars drive well but build quality is crap. However but for Elon Musk I might have got another.

I can't wait to get rid of it - and I've had two people come up to me to tell me what they think about Elon in the car park too 🫣

Hedgingmybetching · 23/02/2025 00:35

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.

Agree with this, obviously I don't judge anyone with one that's a few years old but a fairly recent one, I'd be a bit 😬.

Also I reckon the chance of it getting keyed is probably much higher than ever, so even if I didn't have any consumer ethics, not sure I would want to be getting swastikas buffed out of it every 5 minutes...

alexisccd · 23/02/2025 00:36

I would totally judge someone who got a new Tesla now!

madamweb · 23/02/2025 00:36

I would definitely make an assumption about anyone who bought one now.

If I was feeling kind, I would assume they were just very ignorant.

WinterMorn · 23/02/2025 00:46

The problem is (new reg plates aside) how exactly do you work out who has just purchased a Tesla and who has owns one for a while?

alexisccd · 23/02/2025 00:54

WinterMorn · 23/02/2025 00:46

The problem is (new reg plates aside) how exactly do you work out who has just purchased a Tesla and who has owns one for a while?

Reg plates. I'd not judge someone who bought second hand - just new.

sageGreen81 · 23/02/2025 00:56

Oh sugar we are considering ordering one, it's a good car. My cousin works for Tesla and I guess I'm thinking of the employees not Musk.

WinterMorn · 23/02/2025 00:58

@alexisccd I did mention reg plates. More to the point, I guarantee that a lot of people won’t stop to consider that.

pizzaHeart · 23/02/2025 01:01

@alexisccd I suspect these two people were not Musks’s admirers…

There was an article in Forbes that Tesla garages in the US were vandalized as anti-Musk protests. It means that owning a Tesla might come with a higher risk of vandalism, resulting in higher insurance premiums (and hassle of repairs) This might detract buyers from Tesla further and even reselling a used car might become harder.
As a result Tesla will have a might higher depreciation cost. It’s a domino effect.

ReadingTeaLeaves · 23/02/2025 01:01

We won’t be replacing our leased vehicle. It’s been a really good car for us and in other circumstances we’d have extended or replaced with another of same brand.

FFSJulie · 23/02/2025 01:20

I have seen a few Teslas wirh stickers that say “we bought this before we knew” and “like the car, hate the CEO”. They must be getting the stickers somewhere. Etsy maybe.

CousinBob · 23/02/2025 01:22

I definitely won’t be considering a Tesla now. I’ve become much more aware of brands in recent times I don’t want to give my money to.

CousinBob · 23/02/2025 01:22

Duplicate post.