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Comment by frosted-flakes | Hacker News Reader

Just because someone spent a few tens of thousand dollars on an electric car doesn't mean they should be willing to drop $200 a night on hotels for a week straight.

My uncle bought a Tesla 3 (coincidentally, to replace his 20-year-old totalled Jetta) because he needs to drive several hours to the office a few times a month for 2-3 days at a time, and the silent climate control and flat trunk floor means he can cheaply and comfortably spend the night in his car rather than driving 3hr back home or renting a hotel room. It is also much cheaper to operate.

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> Just because someone spent a few tens of thousand dollars on an electric car doesn't mean they should be willing to drop $200 a night on hotels for a week straight.

I disagree. In my opinion if you can't afford to do that a few times per year without financial concern then you have no business spending $60k+ on a car. Having to sleep in your expensive car just so you can afford a vacation is ridiculous. There are much cheaper alternatives that won't force you to sacrifice other aspects of your life, such as your $2000 car.

I'm not even going to comment on your uncle's situation. Let's just say I would be working somewhere else if I had to resort to that.

It's not financial concern. My uncle could definitely afford to rent a hotel room, but he doesn't mind sleeping in his car and he would rather spend that money on something else. Heck, I could afford a hotel too, but I would rather sleep in my $2000 car.

I don't think it's about the price. Just the money saved on fuel may be enough for a hotel.

I think it's more about Tesla owners becoming obsessed with their car, it's a strange group of people.

After driving a few hours, they only thing a normal person would want to do is get out of the seat, walk a bit, take a shower.

It's like when you were a kid and got your first walkman, you would take it anywhere with you, while eating, sleeping, even in the shower if possible.

Some people assess value independently of their means.

As per my uncle's situation, he works for the US army, is due to retire in a year or two with a full pension, and moved to be closer to family and friends. He mostly works remotely. It being the army, sometimes he has to go to the nearby base 20 minutes away, but other times he has to go to the far away base for some reason or another.

Or maybe, the person enjoys their car a lot more than they value a night at a hotel. Perhaps the extra value at a hotel versus sleeping in a Tesla is not worth the extra $200 per night. Someone wanting to save a few thousand dollars on a hotel is NOT the same thing as "financial concern". It's just a preference that is lot different than yours.

Many people with money spend huge amounts on some things but can be penny-pinchers in other areas.

Not sure why you are getting downvoted. I'm guessing the downvoters have never camped? TBH, quite a few people do this in Teslas, sometimes in remote areas.

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