I’ve had some very strong feedback since I revealed that my wife and I bought a Tesla. The Tesla S is an all-electric car made in California. It’s a magnificent automobile, an incredible performer — and it costs a fortune.
I bought one when there was a cheaper version that no longer exists. After tax credits for buying an electric car, my net cost is a hair over $44,000.
As people have said repeatedly to me, “Who are you, and what happened to Clark?”
Because I am a thrifty person, how do I square the fact that I would spend outrageous money — me who usually buys cars used — to buy a brand new car that is a total luxury?
My rationale is I am obsessed with breaking our dependence on foreign oil. We’ve been hamstrung politically, militarily, and diplomatically because of how some foreign oil-producing nations have us over a barrel.
For me, that’s why I had natural gas cars and hybrids going back to 2000. I have a blind spot about this that trumps my normal thing about money. I want to set an example, to get you to think outside the box.
But trust me, this is not the first time I’ve gotten an oddball car just to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In 1979, I got a three-wheeled car called the Freeway that got 100 miles to the gallon. I drove it as my exclusive vehicle for two years. Unfortunately, the manufacturer went bust and I no longer have the car.
About 10 years ago, I bought my first hybrid — a Honda Insight. It got 58 miles to the gallon. Later, I got the Honda Civic hybrid.
I bought my first natural-gas vehicle in 2007: a Honda Civic GX. Today, when I’m not in my new Tesla, I drive a Prius.
Consumer expert Clark Howard's column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Find more answers to your consumer questions at Clark's website.
-- Clark Howard -- Save More, Spend Less, Avoid Rip-offs -- for the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog
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