When you placed your order did the dealer ask for a thousand bucks for the right to order a Leaf that you'd wait for two years on delivery? I imagine not, but perhaps that's a new way to buy cars. Personally, I don't know anyone who can afford to float a grand on a car they can't see for years to come. I'm not sure I know anyone who knows now what they'll want in two years either.
I even question Tesla's abilty to deliver in two years. GM builds the very popular Chevy Cruze near here in Lordstown Ohio in a state of the art mega plant where they work three continuous shifts to produce about a quarter million units a year. That's a lot of cars and they stretch the limits of production, but Musk apparently plans on outperforming that by a third at his existing plant where X and S models are already built. I hate to doubt Elon Musk on anything he endeavors, but all those deposits may end up being a short term no interest loan to the company if he has to make refunds in two years.
As for the Model E itself, saying it'll sell big because it has mediocre looks isn't much of a selling point to anyone other than those who consider their car no more than a necessary evil (cupholders!). By the company's own account, the real cost with popular options after energy rebates will likely be in the $50k range. Is that really "the people's car" anymore? Most car makers strive to keep their vehicles under $30k because that's the price most working class buyers can swing. A $35k car is considered a luxury conveyance by most Americans.
I'm a car guy, and not only do I buy cars based on how they look, I buy my tools by much the same measure. Snap-On wrenches are the best. There's no way I would own Pontiac Aztec, a Toyota Cube, or a WalMart socket set just because of value. I don't want to limit my driving to nighttime hours when no one will see me.
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