Tesla suing Top Gear over review

**raynor139** · 03-31-2011, 10:33 AM

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/tesla-te...ews-10678.html

**Schmalgar** · 03-31-2011, 10:40 AM

Interesting. If true, I think they may have a ligitimate case. It almost sounds like slander to me. Not quite but something along those lines...

**Spaz** · 03-31-2011, 10:41 AM

does tesla realize the show is a fucking comedy?!?

**Schmalgar** · 03-31-2011, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Spaz

does tesla realize the show is a fucking comedy?!?

Yeah but have they ever shown a dramatic scene of having to push a car back because you drove it to it's limit and ran out of fuel? The fact that the drivable limit is less with this that a gas car is irrelevent I think. It's still a function of all vehicles, drive too far, don't pay attention to your power source, and you'll be dead on the road. They implied that the Tesla was somehow flawed because it could run out of power. And apparently they faked it for effect and made it seem like it just died for no reason. That could certainly hurt their product reputation unfairly, and that type of thing has resulted in successful lawsuits in the past.

**SiggyZ** · 03-31-2011, 11:02 AM

I didn't notice any slander there. The car's battery ran out of juice at 55 (hard driven) miles. Big deal. If a viewer can't see that the car is being driven harder than usual, then they're blind.

**Schmalgar** · 03-31-2011, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ

I didn't notice any slander there. The car's battery ran out of juice at 55 (hard driven) miles. Big deal.

Their claim is that it was not driven that far, and that it did not run out of juice. That this was staged for dramatic effect.

But yep, not really a big deal. Anything will run out of power if you don't pay attention. But in today's litigious society, anything and everything is sued over... You looked at my product funny, I will sue you!

**SiggyZ** · 03-31-2011, 11:06 AM

Can they prove it? Again, the car's being driven harder than usual and even Tesla claims under normal driving, it can go up to 200 miles on a charge. This was hardly the case as Top Gear drives the piss out of all the vehicles they test.

Originally Posted by Schmalgar

Their claim is that it was not driven that far, and that it did not run out of juice. That this was staged for dramatic effect.

**Schmalgar** · 03-31-2011, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ

Can they prove it?

Well, that's the point of a lawsuit...

Frankly, the way they've mishandled their business, I don't think a review even matters. They haven't been able to deliver a product yet, they keep having delays, and running out of funds I think too...

**SiggyZ** · 03-31-2011, 11:15 AM

I'd be interested to know what the fuel gauge of say, a Veyron or R8, sits on once they're done test driving the cars. I'd bet they're next to empty after starting on a full tank.

**Spaz** · 03-31-2011, 11:19 AM

the majority of the people that watch the show can't even afford a telsa... they got their panties all in a twist...

**Schmalgar** · 03-31-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Spaz

the majority of the people that watch the show can't even afford a telsa... they got their panties all in a twist...

Heh yeah that's true. We can't afford most of what they drive on that show!

**StuntmanMike** · 03-31-2011, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ

I'd be interested to know what the fuel gauge of say, a Veyron or R8, sits on once they're done test driving the cars. I'd bet they're next to empty after starting on a full tank.

They did a test of something along those lines. They put one gallon of gas in a few exotics, and tried to see how many laps they could get out of them before they died. The Ferrari only managed a handful, while the R8 and Porsche got close to 20 laps. IIRC

And honestly, the way they drive those cars, 55 miles of being driven flat out is actually pretty good IMO. None of the hybrids out there can do that on batter power alone.

The point of the review was not how far it could go, but how fast it could go. I actually just watched this on Netflix a few weeks ago, and IIRC, Clarkson was actually impressed with it for the most part.

I think James May actually said it best on that show... he said that electrics will never be a viable option in America, because Americans want to be able to drive 300 miles, take a ten minute fuel stop, and be able to drive another 300 miles. No electric can deliver that.

And I agree. For running errands around town and going back and forth to work, yeah, electric seems like a decent option. But for traveling, not so much. They just don't have anywhere near the required range.

And anyway, wasn't that episode from like 2008?? Good job Tesla, welcome to 3 years ago.

**Sarge** · 04-01-2011, 01:43 AM

I would be curious of any pre-production "paperwork" required of Testra.
Usually a indemnification is required by a manufacturer by the production company.

**Firebug** · 04-01-2011, 07:21 AM

I'd like to see Clarkson eat a big slice of humble pie filled with the horse shit dribbled from his gob! Hope the BBC makes him re review the car...

**SiggyZ** · 04-01-2011, 07:26 AM

I don't think so. I think Tesla's getting too worked up over much to do about nothing. None of the vehicles on Top Gear are driven conservatively and Tesla should realize this. I do think it ran out of juice, but to be honest, Clarkson was pretty complimentary of the Tesla overall and those guys are known to be pretty critical of many vehicles.

Originally Posted by Firebug

I'd like to see Clarkson eat a big slice of humble pie filled with the horse shit dribbled from his gob! Hope the BBC makes him re review the car...

**ibanez7** · 04-01-2011, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Firebug

I'd like to see Clarkson eat a big slice of humble pie filled with the horse shit dribbled from his gob! Hope the BBC makes him re review the car...

agreed... Excellent for Tesla to watch the review that closely. most OEM should to make sure their product is represented corrrectly and honestly even if the review is negative.

**JonB** · 04-02-2011, 07:51 PM

Top gear put out a response today to the lawsuit.

http://transmission.blogs.topgear.co...-legal-action/

**02transamce** · 04-02-2011, 08:10 PM

F Tesla.
Posted via Mobile Device

**HOBS** · 04-02-2011, 10:03 PM

Well shit Dodge should jump on the lawsuit bandwagon. Top Gear bashes the hell outta them. No wait even better all the Detroit Big Three should sue them since they pretty much hate on all American cars.

**SiggyZ** · 04-03-2011, 06:31 AM

Clarkson owns a Ford GT.

Originally Posted by HOBS

Well shit Dodge should jump on the lawsuit bandwagon. Top Gear bashes the hell outta them. No wait even better all the Detroit Big Three should sue them since they pretty much hate on all American cars.