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The initial acquisition price over 100,000 miles works out to $1.24/mile...before you pay for taxes, insurance and electrical recharge costs. That's 2.5x the per mile cost of my 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Clearly, the attraction isn't based on economic considerations.

Of course. The performance of the Tesla is in the "supercar" categeory, not the grocery-getter category nor the pick-em-up truck category nor the SUV category ... nor the ...

You get the idea. If you want to do an apples to apples comparison, then choose some other two seat sports car that can go 0-60 in under 4 seconds.

For example a 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo sells for an MSRP of $136,500; has a 0-60 time in about 4 seconds and goes 325 EPA miles on a tankful. The Porsche has a greater range and better refueling options; the Tesla is less costly to buy and to operate ... and uses no foreign oil!

Neither car is comparable to a Mercury Mariner; they're completely different!

Clearly, the attraction isn't based on economic considerations.

Certainly not for the initial group of buyers. They're buying status and have the means to pay for it. That is the money the company will use to develop more affordable cars down the road.