As a Model Y owner for a few years now, I’m very satisfied with the car, so I can’t speak to the quality and appeal of others.
Musk enjoyed the fruits of the Federal Govt’s $7,500 tax credit to sell cars, while developing the lowest cost manufacturing system and battery supply. Today, as Ford and GM come online (more GM than Ford), Musk is happy to see the credit disappear! That means, as the low cost producer, he has a built-in, govt paid for, cost advantage and can reap ever larger margins over similar domestic products. Fwiw, most of Tesla’s ability to survive in the early years was selling its carbon credits, not cars!
While loving the Y, my feelings about Musk have morphed from Asperger genius to racist Nazi megalomaniac. If I could walk away from the vehicle, I would, but I know I’d struggle to find the same size, space and quality for the price.
Money no object, I’d drive a Polestar or R1. Maybe the R2 will be my next iteration?
As for Musk’s money, it’s going to be all about his private stake in Space X that’ll make him real money! Plus, does $180Bn to 90Bn mean a damned thing, really?!