A very good product and differentiated against all other electric cars or brands. 
General EV Conversation
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,904
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From: San Diego, CA
There’s little doubt in my mind that the term “appliance” is almost exclusively used pejoratively when we’re talking cars, and particularly so when it comes to EVs. It’s certainly not intended to be praise or a term of endearment. It is absolutely intended to mean dull, bland and boring. I believe few EV owners consider their vehicles to be any of these things, yet we often find ourselves discussing the term with members here who don’t own an EV.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 5,482
Likes: 89
From: N/A
In other words, it's safe, reliable, and practical.
Car journalism favors impractical vehicles that don't suit the majority of the public. Coupes with large displacement engines and stiff rides. The closer a vehicle is to that, the less practical and thus less of an "appliance" it is.
I don't doubt that "appliance" can be construed as a dog whistle against EV's but it didn't start out that way. And quite frankly anyone owning a FWD breadbox who claims that their vehicle is not an appliance while saying a Tesla is lacks complete self-awareness.
Car journalism favors impractical vehicles that don't suit the majority of the public. Coupes with large displacement engines and stiff rides. The closer a vehicle is to that, the less practical and thus less of an "appliance" it is.
I don't doubt that "appliance" can be construed as a dog whistle against EV's but it didn't start out that way. And quite frankly anyone owning a FWD breadbox who claims that their vehicle is not an appliance while saying a Tesla is lacks complete self-awareness.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
If I may butt in here. The reason I consider my Tesla's appliances is because they are on top of everything, practical. The check all my boxes. Are they track monsters? No, but if the track is in a straight line, a lot of "fast" cars, I would own them, at least to 80 
I'm proud to call them appliances, that's not a derogatory word for me
I'm proud to call them appliances, that's not a derogatory word for me
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,450
Likes: 949
From: IL
There’s little doubt in my mind that the term “appliance” is almost exclusively used pejoratively when we’re talking cars, and particularly so when it comes to EVs. It’s certainly not intended to be praise or a term of endearment. It is absolutely intended to mean dull, bland and boring. I believe few EV owners consider their vehicles to be any of these things, yet we often find ourselves discussing the term with members here who don’t own an EV.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
Many of us with Model Y's call them appliances. It's not meant in a negative way. I'm into tech and appliances have come a long way from from where they were when I was young. I purchase refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, etc... based on their tech features. The same went for our Y. It is far from bland or boring.
It connects to the Internet, you can browse the web, watch YouTube videos, have it alert you, had Alexa built in, it's connected to my Ring doorbell, gives me the weather, and I'm barely scratching the surface
. It also sends me alerts, and I can see it's contents remotely. Now this is not a boring appliance 👍
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,126
Likes: 1,560
From: FL
But I can see someone's point that if they bought their car for dependability and reliability and the tech- it's an appliance to them.
I can also see how someone can buy the exact same car because they value the charm, style, and character over all else- to them it would not be considered an appliance.
Appliances are not loved, nothing wrong with that. Lol
There’s little doubt in my mind that the term “appliance” is almost exclusively used pejoratively when we’re talking cars, and particularly so when it comes to EVs. It’s certainly not intended to be praise or a term of endearment. It is absolutely intended to mean dull, bland and boring. I believe few EV owners consider their vehicles to be any of these things, yet we often find ourselves discussing the term with members here who don’t own an EV.
but i didn’t mean it negatively. just a feeling that it got the job done without being flashy or quirky. i certainly didn’t mean it was dull, bland, or boring.Many of us with Model Y's call them appliances. It's not meant in a negative way. I'm into tech and appliances have come a long way from from where they were when I was young. I purchase refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, etc... based on their tech features. The same went for our Y. It is far from bland or boring.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,126
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From: FL
Would you buy or wear merch for you dishwasher and then go to an online forum and defend it from heritics and unbelievers? Haha
Yeah, I'm being over the top, just messing around. Lol 😁 👀 🍿 🍟 🍕
Last edited by Margate330; Jan 16, 2026 at 10:02 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: California
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,096
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From: Maryland
There’s little doubt in my mind that the term “appliance” is almost exclusively used pejoratively when we’re talking cars, and particularly so when it comes to EVs. It’s certainly not intended to be praise or a term of endearment. It is absolutely intended to mean dull, bland and boring. I believe few EV owners consider their vehicles to be any of these things, yet we often find ourselves discussing the term with members here who don’t own an EV.
when i had a camry for 6 months (bought off a relative because i knew it was mint) i really want to rationalize that it was reliable etc., but soon i was ready to slit my wrists.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
fun is an understatement. my uncle is still talking and laughing about the fart cushions and santa mode where my car showed as a sleigh pulled by reindeer on the map and other cars show as reindeer.
when i had a camry for 6 months (bought off a relative because i knew it was mint) i really want to rationalize that it was reliable etc., but soon i was ready to slit my wrists.
when i had a camry for 6 months (bought off a relative because i knew it was mint) i really want to rationalize that it was reliable etc., but soon i was ready to slit my wrists.
