I agree completely. However, there was a passing mention in the original post about Otmar's "Stretchla". I would think Otmar would have no problem signing such a document.
So what's up, Otmar? Has your drive line upgrade hit a snag? Chris On Sep 28, 2014 8:33 PM, "Robert Bruninga via EV" <[email protected]> wrote: > This is a no brainer. > > The value of the "Tesla" brand is extremely high. The negative value and > media feeding frenzie of a hacker-induced fire, crash, or ANYTHING that > would spoil the brand name is simply not worth the risk. I don't blame > Tesla. > > If the guy wants to hack a tesla, then simply sign the form. Done. > > Bob > > > On Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 5:12 AM, brucedp5 via EV <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > > > 'I am blacklisted by Tesla all across the country' > > *** Buyer beware - Caveat emptor *** > > % Tesla running 'GM-liability-scared' > a petty-parts case of the > > 'Sue Me, Sue You Blues' > The media stink caused Tesla react > > *** Otmar was Tesla-tortured before this % > > > > http://gas2.org/2014/09/27/tesla-wont-activate-mans-salvaged-model-s/ > > Tesla Won’t Activate Man’s Salvaged Model S > > [2014/09/27] > > > > [image > > http://gas2.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/salvage-tesla.png > > salvage-tesla > > > > > > video flash > > ] > > > > Starting at $70,000, the Tesla Model S costs more than twice what > Americans > > spend on the average new car, meaning most people that plain old can’t > > afford it. This has led some people to take desperate measures, such as > > repairing a salvage titled Model S, though a San Diego man is learning > the > > hard way that it isn’t quite that easy. > > > > San Diego 6 News reported the plight of Peter Rutman, who spent $50,000 > on > > a > > damaged Tesla Model S, and then invested another $8,000 into repair it. > But > > when Rutman contacted Tesla about reactivating the car’s complicated > > software, he says the company wanted him to sign liability waiver that > > allows the automaker to ultimately determine the car’s roadworthiness. > > Rutman says the document didn’t say anything about fixing or repairing > the > > car to accept a charge, and that it would allow Tesla to confiscate the > > vehicle if they felt it wasn’t safe. Rutman refused to sign, and as such > > says he’s been blacklisted by Tesla stores nationwide, meaning he can’t > get > > parts of technical assistance. > > > > For its part, Tesla has serious safety concerns regarding the salvaged > > electric vehicle, but nothing in the inspection authorization form they > > wanted Rutman to sign would have let them take his car away. Tesla also > > says > > Rutman had his vehicle repaired by a non-authorized Tesla installer, and > > while he isn’t blacklisted, the company doesn’t sell certain parts that > > require special training to install to just anyone. Compare that to > > traditional automakers, which will sell you literally every piece you > need > > to build a car, except in the case of specialty vehicles such as the > Camaro > > Z/28. > > > > Rutman isn’t the only one to run afoul of Tesla’s parts counter and > > technical service though; a recent attempt to build a Tesla-powered > > stretched-wheelbase Volkswagen Westfalia (the “Stretchla”) has run into > > issues with Tesla as well. Because Tesla owns all its own stores and > > service > > centers, there’s no outside network for people who want to fix or > > re-engineer Model S components for their own purposes. Rutman has decided > > to > > try and sue the salvage auction that sold him the Model S, since > California > > state law says if a car can’t be made roadworthy, it must be scrapped. > > > > The takeaway here? For those car modifiers who want to use a Tesla > > drivetrain for an EV conversion of their own, buyer beware. Rutman found > > out > > the hard way that the rules that apply to conventional cars don’t always > > apply to EVs, and especially not Teslas. Also I’d like to note, for the > > $58,000 Rutman spent, he was just $2,000 shy of what a base 60 kWh Model > S > > would have cost, once Federal ($7,500) and state ($2,500) tax credits > were > > factored in. > > > > As the old saying goes, penny wise, pound foolish. > > [© gas2.org] > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/San-Diego-mans-58000-nightmare-with-a-Tesla-Model-S-277017201.html > > San Diego man's $58,000 nightmare with Tesla Model S > > By Derek Staahl Sep 24, 2014 > > > > SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego man bought a high-end Tesla at auction for > nearly > > half price, but now he can't get the company to activate the car. > > > > Peter Rutman purchased the 2012 Model S Signature at auction in March for > > $50,000 then spent another $8,000 fixing it. > > > > He says repairing the car has been easy; dealing with Tesla has been the > > challenge. > > > > "I'm blacklisted all across the country," he said. "Nobody's allowed to > > help > > us. They're not allowed to sell us parts. They're not allowed to service > > the > > car. Nothing." > > > > Rutman's Model S is a salvage title car, meaning an insurance company > > determined the vehicle was a total loss. Salvage titles are a notoriously > > risky proposition, but Rutman's case appears to illustrate something > > unusual: no alternatives. > > > > "Tesla has created a situation where there is nowhere to go. They've > > blocked > > every avenue," he said. > > > > Unlike other automakers, Tesla has a direct-sales model. That means car > > buyers must deal directly with the company, not independent dealers. And > in > > the case of a dispute, the buyer has virtually no alternatives, according > > to > > industry experts. > > > > Rutman says he needs a Tesla-certified mechanic to switch on the car's > > brain > > so it will accept a charge. But Tesla won't do it unless he signs a > > liability release form. The form also gives Tesla the final say on > whether > > the car is roadworthy. > > > > "The document they wanted me to sign didn't indicate they were going to > do > > any repairs to the car, or get it up and running," he said. "They can > take > > the car. They can keep it. They can do whatever they want with it." > > > > A spokesperson for Tesla responded to those assertions Thursday in a > > written > > statement, which is copied below in its entirety. > > > > "It's probably something the state regulations haven't caught up on yet. > > But > > he shouldn't have bought it to begin with unless he had the technical > > know-how himself," said Dave Cavano, car buying manager at the Auto Club > of > > Southern California. > > > > Cavano says it's important to remember why companies are careful with the > > liability surrounding salvage title vehicles. > > > > "Those (cars) are a danger to everyone if they don't act mechanically as > > designed." > > > > Rutman says he never would have purchased the car if he knew about > Tesla's > > terms in advance. > > > > Now he's trying to challenge the insurance company who sold the car under > > the salvage title designation by arguing it's not repairable. Under DMV > > rules, cars that can only be used for scrap should be sold with an > > "nonrepairable vehicle" title. So far, it hasn't worked. > > > > "I want my money back. Just walk away from this and get back to my life," > > he > > said. > > > > Simon Sproule, vice president of communications for Tesla, issued the > > following statement to San Diego 6 on Thursday: > > > > "Safety is Tesla’s top priority and it is a principle on which we refuse > to > > compromise under any circumstance. Mr. Rutman purchased a vehicle on the > > salvage market that had been substantially damaged in a serious accident. > > We > > have strong concerns about this car being safe for the road, but we have > > been prevented from inspecting the vehicle because Mr. Rutman refused to > > sign an inspection authorization form. That form clearly states that in > > order for us to support the vehicle on an ongoing basis, we need to > ensure > > the repairs meet minimum safety standards. > > > > Regardless of whether or not the car passed inspection, Mr. Rutman would > > have been free to decide where to conduct any additional repairs and to > > leave with his vehicle. There was never any threat to take away his > vehicle > > at the inspection or any time thereafter and there is nothing in the > > authorization form that states or implies that we would do so. > > > > Additionally, Mr. Rutman opted to have his vehicle repaired by a > non-Tesla > > affiliated facility. We work with a network of authorized independent > > repair > > facilities to ensure our safety standards are met. It is also worth > noting > > that Mr. Rutman is not on any “blacklist” for purchasing Tesla parts. > While > > we do sell certain parts over the counter, we do not sell any parts that > > require specific training to install. This is a policy that is common > among > > automakers and it is in place to protect customers from the risk of > repairs > > not meeting our safety standards." > > > > Sproule told San Diego 6 that Rutman is still welcome to have his vehicle > > inspected at a Tesla-certified facility, and the company will waive the > > inspection fee. But Rutman would still need to sign the liability release > > form in advance. > > [© 2013 Bay City Television] > > > > > > > > http://investorplace.com/2014/09/tsla-tesla-tesla-model-s-auction/ > > Auction Pain: Why TSLA Won’t ‘Turn On’ Man’s Tesla Model S > > The Model S is a salvage vehicle > > Sep 25, 2014 | By William White > > > > A man from San Diego is very frustrated with Tesla Motors. > > > > Rutman claims that Tesla wants him to sign a document that would allow > the > > company to take the car away from him. The company claims that it’s a > > liability document. The man’s situation is unique as he has no > alternative > > but to work directly with the company to get the car running, San Diego 6 > > notes. > > > > The Tesla Model S software was recently updated to give it several new > > features. This includes being able to remote start the car with a > > smartphone > > and give it an official nickname, but none of these options will help > > Rutman > > if he can’t even get the car turned on. > > [©2014 InvestorPlace Media] > > > > > > > > http://www.teslarati.com/think-twice-buying-salvaged-tesla-model-s/ > > Think Twice Before Buying a Salvaged Tesla Model S > > By Gene Sep 26, 2014 San Diego 6 > > > > [image > > > > > http://cdn.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Salvage-Title-Tesla-Model-S.jpg > > Peter Rutman of San Diego thought he landed a bargain when he purchased a > > salvaged 2012 Tesla Model S Signature for $50,000 at auction, but what he > > didn’t realize was that his efforts to put the car back on the road would > > present more hurdles than just repairing a simple $8,000 worth of parts. > > ] > > > > The top of the line and limited-edition Signature series Model S was > > offered > > as a preorder for early adopters of the premium all-electric sedan. At > > nearly $120,000 when fully loaded the Model S comes in at nearly twice > the > > price of other luxury sedans on the market thus adding a significant > > barrier > > of entry for many. Unless of course you can pick one up for less than > half > > the original price? > > > > Rutman saw an opportunity to get into the seat of a Model S at a deep > > discount by purchasing one with a salvaged title through an auction. He > > claims that repairing the vehicle into a visible working state was easy > and > > came with a relatively low repair cost at only $8,000. However having > Tesla > > Motors maker of the Model S activate the car’s onboard computer and > > allowing > > it to drive came with a whole different set of challenges – something > that > > he’s been reluctant to address. > > > > Rutman tells San Diego 6, > > > > “The document they (Tesla Motors) wanted me to sign didn’t indicate they > > were going to do any repairs to the car, or get it up and running … They > > can > > take the car. They can keep it. They can do whatever they want with it.” > > > > To provide further context, Tesla Motors is asking Rutman to sign a form > > that would authorize them to ensure the safety of the vehicle before > > allowing it to be placed back on public streets. We think there’s good > > cause > > behind this for many obvious reasons especially considering the vehicle > was > > given a salvage title by an insurance company ... > > > > Simon Sproule, VP of Communications for Tesla Motors responds to the San > > Diego 6 story: > > > > “Safety is Tesla’s top priority and it is a principle on which we refuse > > to > > compromise under any circumstance. Mr. Rutman purchased a vehicle on the > > salvage market that had been substantially damaged in a serious accident. > > We > > have strong concerns about this car being safe for the road, but we have > > been prevented from inspecting the vehicle because Mr. Rutman refused to > > sign an inspection authorization form. That form clearly states that in > > order for us to support the vehicle on an ongoing basis, we need to > ensure > > the repairs meet minimum safety standards. Regardless of whether or not > the > > car passed inspection, Mr. Rutman would have been free to decide where to > > conduct any additional repairs and to leave with his vehicle. There was > > never any threat to take away his vehicle at the inspection or any time > > thereafter and there is nothing in the authorization form that states or > > implies that we would do so. Additionally, Mr. Rutman opted to have his > > vehicle repaired by a non-Tesla affiliated facility. We work with a > network > > of authorized independent repair facilities to ensure our safety > standards > > are met. It is also worth noting that Mr. Rutman is not on any > “blacklist” > > for purchasing Tesla parts. While we do sell certain parts over the > > counter, > > we do not sell any parts that require specific training to install. This > is > > a policy that is common among automakers and it is in place to protect > > customers from the risk of repairs not meeting our safety standards.” > > [© teslarati.com] > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.autospies.com/news/WHO-Is-In-The-Wrong-Tesla-vs-Owner-Of-Car-From-Auction-We-GUARANTEE-Tesla-Won-t-Mention-This-When-IT-Talks-About-Its-Direct-Sales-Model-82911/ > > WHO Is In The Wrong? Tesla vs. Owner Of Car From Auction? We GUARANTEE > > Tesla > > Won't Mention This When IT Talks About Its Direct Sales Model > > Agent00R 9/27/2014 > > ... > > > > > http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/09/tesla-motors-inc-model-s-bought-at-auction-causes-trouble/ > > Tesla Motors Inc Model S Bought At Auction Causes Trouble > > by Aman Jain > > ... > > > > > http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/36214-San-Diego-Man-s-58-000-Nightmare-with-a-%28Salvage-Title%29-Tesla-Model-S > > San Diego Man's $58,000 Nightmare with a (Salvage Title) Tesla Model S > > 2014-09-24 > > ... > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor > > Caveat emptor > > ... > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Me,_Sue_You_Blues > > Sue Me, Sue You Blues > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vXZPztcGaY > > ... > > > > > http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/Tesla-responds-to-story-San-Diego-mans-car-problems-277180601.html > > Tesla responds to story about San Diego man's car problems > > Sep 26, 2014 > > > > Tesla says it will inspect the man's car free of charge, but he still > must > > sign a liability release. > > [© 2013 Bay City Television] > > ... > > http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/ > > Otmar's salvaged Tesla EV woes not resolved ... > > Parked Wreckla, Pariah at Pasture > > Petty Problems Purchasing Parts ... > > > > > > > > > > For EVLN posts use: > > > > > http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html#nabble+template%2FNamlServlet.jtp%3Fmacro%3Dsearch_page%26node%3D413529%26query%3Devln%26sort%3Ddate > > > > > > {brucedp.150m.com} > > > > > > > > -- > > View this message in context: > > > http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EValert-Don-t-buy-a-salvaged-Tesla-EV-to-repair-drive-video-tp4671831.html > > Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at > > Nabble.com. > > _______________________________________________ > > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20140928/f8d7f7e7/attachment.htm > > > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20140929/b5c357bb/attachment.htm> _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
