Hagerty: Tesla Model S Deemed Car Of The Decade - Sensationalist Headlines

If you’re a collector of classic cars, you’re probably familiar with Hagerty. Started in 1984, this industry leader protects over one million vehicles — insuring some of the world’s finest collector cars. With real-world expertise valuing the classics, Hagerty decided to put together a comprehensive list which includes: “the greatest vehicle of each decade, from the earliest days of the automobile to the present.” Hagerty notes that their “final list, which spans everything from pre-War luxury to hot rods… highlights some of the brightest moments in automotive history.” What unites most cars on this list? Hagerty’s Andrew Newton explains, “cars still work pretty much the same way they always have, powered by a piston engine that’s fueled by the black goop that we pump out of the ground. Only one car of the 2010s has lit a different path.” Newton adds, “Only one [car] has shown the world not only the efficiency and environmental advantages of electric power, but it has also shown the performance advantages of electric power and wrapped it all up in a sleek, appealing, and expensive-but-attainable package. In other words, only one has made the electric car cool, and that’s the Tesla Model S.” ... HAGERTY’S PICKS FOR ‘GREATEST CAR’ OF EACH DECADE 1890 – 1910: Ford Model T 1910s: Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1920s: Duesenberg Model J 1930s: ’32 Ford 1940s: Jeep CJ 1950s: Mercedes-Benz 300SL 1960s: Ford Mustang 1970s: Lamborghini Countach 1980s: Dodge Caravan 1990s: Mazda Miata 2000s: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 2010s: Tesla Model S Tesla Model S Deemed Car Of The Decade https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/07/12/tesla-model-s-greatest-car-of-the-2010s#

I'm pretty critical of Tesla but I think this is more than deserved. What a revolutionary car, it changed the entire automobile game single-handedly.

I think it's a lot less about the quality of the car itself and more about its considerable impact on the automotive industry and culture at large. Plenty of cars have problems and I'm having trouble thinking of a car that had more cultural impact than the Model S in the 2010s.

Early day Teslas had a lot of issues but they've improved quite a lot over the last couple of years. They are still lacking a bit in some areas compared to the competition though, but aren't miles off anymore. Battery seems to be pretty good, holding up with ~4% battery degradation after 200,000 km and Tesla have the battery under an 8 year infinite mile warranty for those that do have issues, which they have offered even under extreme circumstances. There was an issue awhile ago where they had to replace the battery after 200,000 miles because a software issue on the controller caused it to stop working

The vast majority of issues that most people reported with Teslas were the 2012-2013 production run vehicles. I've owned two, and have never had a single problem with them.

How is the Model T the best car of the 1890-1910's when it didn't hit production until 1908 and didn't hit full mass production until at least 1910-1914.

I was about to say that it's a little early to call it because we've just started the decade, then I realised it's 2018 and I felt old and got sad.

The tesla is cool and important and all, but comparing it to the model T is a bit rich, don't you think?

IMO, any VW diesel vehicle should win it instead. Why? Because thats EXACTLY what kickstarted the EV revolution and air pollution investigation as a whole. IIRC, Musk's idea was not to be as much of a vehicle maker, and more of a clean energy provider, sort of taking out fossil fuels in the process and making people turn to electricity as the power source, of which he would supposedly be the provider, or something like that. I forget where I saw that, or if that was even a mere fever dream, but I remember something like that... I mean, the Tesla is JUST a car. It honestly isn't any amazing whatsoever, seeing how pretty much everyone else can do something like it that can compete with it on every single form.

No other EV on the market really competes with the Model S on the drivetrain level. The Model S popularized EVs and showed the world that fossil fuels won't always be a necessary evil for transportation.

I don't think it is about being first, being the best, etc. I think the award is more like a "impact" award as others have said. I agree Tesla was not first and may not be the best car, but it is one that captured the eye of many and marks a cultural shift.

The new Jaguar does, and so will many more after

Tesla was already in motion before then. Teslas made electric vehicles cool. The Roadster piqued interest in the technologies and the Model S made it available to people who could afford it. Before Tesla EVs were seen as slow, boring, good carts that hippies drove. The previous most popular EV before Tesla's was the GM EV1 but GM decided it didn't deserve to live. There's a reason everyone says "is this *insert car* a Tesla killer?" when you are the bar people try to beat. You deserve a spot on the list.

The iPace is good, but it's not quite on par with the Model S. Charging is slower, and it's hard to find a public charger that will output the max power for the iPace. It's also 7 years newer than the Model S.

1960s: Ford Mustang 1980s: Dodge Caravan I'm a lot more concerned about these picks...

They are culturally significant.

I think it's clear they're not basing it off traditional things like cool factor and stuff. While it may seem silly, the Caravan is an iconic vehicle that started the idea of minivans. It created the soccer mom, the suburban demand for SUVs and crossovers. It was the brainchild of Iacocca. It was a vehicle that change my the landscape of suburbia.

I don't remember the ZR1 being that big of a deal, the vet in the 2000's was extremely meh. Everything else I agree with, it isn't about being the best. Its about driving a revolution in cars and or car culture.

Surprised there is no Prius on that list.

If you buy the 1 millionth Tesla Model S, I've heard Elon Musk will personally come to your house and call you a pedo

correction: people do the "tesla killer" schtick because of the average youtuber's low iq clickbait title and the standard issue performance metrics of "a fuckin drag race from 0 to 60", which made the Tesla famous because of instant torque, basicaly handicaping most petrol performance based vehicles in its segments which were, and still are to a point, mostly tuned for either top speed or a mix between extreme acceleration and top speed. All of that disregarded more realistic tests like cornering or simply laps around a track, of which much cheaper and less powerful ICE vehicles could easily beat it. In all honesty, the Tesla became the new Nissan GT:R in terms of fans in the performance side, and the new Prius in terms of the "I'm helping the world. Are YOU doing the same?" kind of people. Hence, the "is this a tesla killer?!?!?!?" thing. Which is funny, because IMO, there wasn't any Tesla killer in what really mattered, which was the zero emissions part coupled with a nice package. I dunno. I might be biased. I don't find Tesla to be all that magnificent. A good jumpstart for a brighter, less polluted tomorrow though? Absolutely! But then again, so was the dieselgate scandal.

Absolutely. Tesla, for better or worse as a company, showed the world EVs can be cool and got other big car companies to take the EV game more seriously with the Model S.

I have some gripes with Tesla as a car enthusiast, but it's definitely a good thing that, at the very least, they're making other automakers catch-up and work on their own EVs, especially since the """"legacy"""" automakers or whatever the tesladrone term is actually have the infrastructure and capital to make an EV in a sustainable way outside of a tent that the every-man can afford. There are already quite a few EVs or PHEVs that have become legitimate options for people due to the increase in interest for them the Model S has spurred up, the ones that come to mind are Bolts/Leafs for EVs and Pacificas for PHEVs, I've been seeing a bunch around my area, as well as a bunch of Model S/Xs, too, considering NoVA money can afford them. I can't honestly think of another car from the 2010s that has had an impact as big as the Model S has, on a societal level. Whatever you think of the cars themselves, they've paved the way for a whole new class of vehicle to exist that will ultimately be a good thing for the world. And from an entirely selfish standpoint, as more and more non-enthusiasts drive around EVs, the more room for me to belch out V8 fumes everywhere I go, after all.

Yeah I agree that's what the Model S (and roadster) really kicked off. If Tesla never existed I think we might've seen dieselgate handled differently, as EVs would probably just be seen as golf carts with diesels being seen as the best way to deal with climate change. With no real viable alternative they might've just got a slap on the wrist, and the punishment being much less severe considering they have to build an EV charging network in the US.

How is the Ford Bronco not the most culturally significant car of the '90s?

Wait.... > 1980s: Dodge Caravan The 80's really was a fucking weird era.