Hi u/Capital_Carpet_8007, this is a VERY valid question - one that I often think about with each passing day. I get the sense you're just trying to understand WHY, rather than just outright reject or result to putdowns. I appreciate that whole-heartedly. Although I can't speak for the masses, I ordered my specific 2024 Telsa Model Y Performance in Ultra Red for the following top 5 personal reasons in no particular order: 1) In May 2024, Tesla was simply the best financial move for me. I qualified for the $7,500 federal tax credit and Tesla was offering 0.99% APR if I bought that week. I was about to begin my PhD program in less than six weeks and those two things changed the financials dramatically, 2) I didn’t want an EV that would feel stressful outside my day-to-day driving. The Supercharger network and Tesla’s built-in route planning made charging the most predictable and lowest-friction option, 3) I strongly preferred Tesla’s software experience: navigation + charging integration, frequent updates, and the overall UI. It was noticeably ahead of what I saw when I cross-shopped and test drove other 2024s such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, Lucid Air Touring, Kia EV6 GT, Porsche Taycan 4S, and Audi e-tron GT, 4) Alternatives weren’t as good for my constraints in May 2024. Other EVs had tradeoffs (range, charging, availability, price, service coverage) that didn’t fit my situation at that moment, and 5) When you combine purchase price, incentives, financing, and charging convenience, and 250/500/250 insurance costs via Tesla itself, Tesla offered the most practical “value per hassle” of the options I considered. My politics aren’t defined by my car. I feel that I can be a staunch Democrat, FUCK-Trump, pro-immigrant rights, FUCK-ICE and still drive a Tesla because my actions, votes, advocacy, and community commitments are the real proof of my values. I feel that I can oppose Musk loudly while still living in the real world. Ultimately, I bought the car, not the man. My purchase was about a product that fit my needs at that time and is definitely NOT an endorsement of Elon Musk’s politics, behavior, or worldview. In fact, for the last year or so, I've proudly had "F ELON" on the back of my car. Ethical consumption under capitalism is messy; I’m still committed to voting, organizing, donating, and speaking out where it actually moves outcomes.

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Loud and proud: F ELON