Buying My Next Car: The Mommymobile
Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on April 6, 2009
Imagine what would happen if a Maserati and an Aston Martin had babies… babies that were electric!
They’d probably look something like this:
Images from Tesla Motors.
Drool. How gorgeous is that? Production’s slated for 2011, at which point my current car will be 12 years old… I feel like that warrants an upgrade.
The price tag’s a little steep at close to $60k (not including tax credits that may or may not exist when the car actually becomes available). However, it’s targeted at the luxury market, and equipped as such. 0-60 in under 6 seconds? Yes please! 100% torque, all the time? Bring it on!!! Suddenly the price tag sounds more reasonable. This is not your grandmother’s Prius, girl.
I love the sleek styling, and hey, it fits 5 adults + 2 kids, with a range of 160-300 miles per charge, so that’s definitely functional. The rear hatch opens up to allow transportation of a 50″ flatscreen TV, a surfboard, or a mountain bike (front wheel still attached) in the cargo area. All in all, much more practical than the $100k Roadster which resembles the Lotus Elise. (For more specs and pretty pictures, check out Wired’s coverage of the Model S unveiling.)
Obviously, buying a car is a very personal choice– some people are all about the form, some are all about the function, and some want the best of both worlds.
Why is this the vehicle I’ve targeted?
1. I want my next vehicle to be an electric or hybrid car.
Given that I am in a financial position to pay a slight premium for an environmentally friendly vehicle, I am willing to do so. Yes, when I was a poor student I tried to squeeze every last penny of value out of every purchase, and I’m still very conscious of where I spend my money. While being good to the planet is not necessarily going to result in any tangible return to myself specifically, I’m ok with paying extra for it so that the air is a little bit cleaner for us all.
2. I plan on driving my next car for approximately 10 years as well.
This might sound ridiculous to many people, but it’s what works best for my lifestyle. By planning my purchases carefully, I don’t feel the need to upgrade every few years. I bought my car used, and paid it off 4-5 years ago. My cost of ownership is now only routine maintenance, plus gas and insurance! I love my (old) car and am also happy with the amount I’ve saved.
Note: if you also have a decade-old car and are thinking about buying a new one, check the status of trade-in incentive legislation– you could save yourself quite a bit of time and money.
A guest post over at Get Rich Slowly and Liz Pulliam Weston at MSN Money both make the case for driving your car for the longest time possible. For an interactive version, check out Dave Ramsey’s slideshow here.
3. I want something practical.
This is a corollary to 2, since I’ll likely have kids within the next decade. My version of practical means 4 doors and plenty of storage, ability to handle well in various conditions, along with a fairly reliable reputation. As I live in CA, I don’t have to think too much about snow unless I want to go to Tahoe, and this sedan seems like it’ll fit the bill. The battery is supposed to last approximately 10 years, and will likely be replaceable when new technology comes out. Plus, without the requirement of oil changes, etc. the car only needs to be tuned up annually. Talk about a timesaver!
4. Style counts!
I’ve got eyes, too… and if you do the research the first time around, and really think about what works for you AND makes you happy, it’s a lot easier to stay happy with your initial pick. This car may be my future mommymobile, but it’s definitely not going to give off that vibe to everyone I pass on the freeway. 
There’s something to be said for unpredictability.
What do you consider when making large purchases? Would the Model S fit your lifestyle, or not? Suggestions for anything else I should consider?
Car, Motor, Tuning, Tuned, Bike, Free Wallpapers » Blog Archive » Buying My Next Car: The Mommymobile said
[...] Read the rest of this superb post right here [...]
sureba67 said
The whole beauty of this post is, it’s not just the new car models that are stunningly beautiful, it’s your describing the whole concept giving life makes all the difference.
Healthy And Wealthy Life
City Girl said
Is it bad I just want a Prius but hope to not need a car for a LONG time – we have a Zipcar across the street from our apartment, and use that when we need to drive somewhere. Otherwise, just walking and metro does the trick.
Glad you are back to blogging
Kristan said
Not bad looking at all. If I stay up North, I have one more requirement to add to yours: FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. (Or All Wheel Drive, same diff.) I don’t need it all that often, but being from Texas, it makes me feel a LOT safer.
RenaissanceTrophyWife said
it’s good to be back! thanks for stopping by, everyone.
Zipcar is awesome, I would definitely use it if I had it near me. The Prius is a definite frontrunner too, but it’s getting redesigned next year and so I figured I could wait just a little longer…
and 4WD, absolutely! since I’ve always had access to a 4WD vehicle for ski trips (parents have a Subaru, BF has an SUV) I don’t think about it as much for my daily driving, but if I lived somewhere with more weather I’d definitely make that a must.
How To Pick the Best Car For Your Family | Auto Blog said
[...] Buying My Next Car: The Mommymobile « Renaissance Trophy Wife [...]
Bronwyn said
Hi,
Just thought you should know we live within a couple miles of the Tesla dealership here in Los Angeles – it is a gorgeous car! however, the wait list for them is very long – a friend of ours has been waiting nearly two years. If you want a car you can walk in and buy, the Tesla isn’t for you, but if you’re willing to wait, it’s beautiful. If you can stand it, I would let them get through one model rotation first, because there are ALWAYS bugs in the first of a series, and even more so with an electric.
We’ve got one hybrid and one electric (not Tesla) and love how fuel efficient they are. Plus the prius has never once needed maintenance…!(other than new tires, etc.)