Tesla Model 3 revealed

[Jader1973]

The Model 3 looks ste though - very, very bland.

In fact all of their models look ste - the X is massive, looks about the size of a Sprinter van.

None of that will stop the fan boys who can't afford a Model S from buying a Model 3 though. The problem Tesla has is there is no hope of them finding 500,000 new fan boys every year to buy all the Model 3s Elon thinks they are going to be able to make. On top of that their sales are dropping as EV subsidies dry up.

Their time is running out. All the others are catching them up and will be offering similar product in a couple of years. At which point the unique selling point has gone. Then they can't stay afloat as their market stagnates because every one who wants a Tesla has bought one, and people who want EV's shop around the established brands. For example, there is more chance of an existing Volvo customer going from ICE to hybrid to EV with Volvo than there is of them jumping from an ICE Volvo to a Tesla.

They probably need to diversify in to ICE / hybrid powered cars to maintain the volumes they need to keep going. Which is ironic.

[otolith]

Jader1973 said:

They probably need to diversify in to ICE / hybrid powered cars to maintain the volumes they need to keep going. Which is ironic.

How do you think that would help, given that the ICE/hybrid market is more saturated than the EV one, and that it is likely to shrink as the EV market grows?

[manracer]

Jader1973 said:

The Model 3 looks ste though - very, very bland.

In fact all of their models look ste - the X is massive, looks about the size of a Sprinter van.

None of that will stop the fan boys who can't afford a Model S from buying a Model 3 though. The problem Tesla has is there is no hope of them finding 500,000 new fan boys every year to buy all the Model 3s Elon thinks they are going to be able to make. On top of that their sales are dropping as EV subsidies dry up.

Their time is running out. All the others are catching them up and will be offering similar product in a couple of years. At which point the unique selling point has gone. Then they can't stay afloat as their market stagnates because every one who wants a Tesla has bought one, and people who want EV's shop around the established brands. For example, there is more chance of an existing Volvo customer going from ICE to hybrid to EV with Volvo than there is of them jumping from an ICE Volvo to a Tesla.

They probably need to diversify in to ICE / hybrid powered cars to maintain the volumes they need to keep going. Which is ironic.

Not a Tesla fan then, no?

Well Neither am I, But i've ordered a Model 3 - what label would you like to put on me?

[Blaster72]

manracer said:

Not a Tesla fan then, no?

Well Neither am I, But i've ordered a Model 3 - what label would you like to put on me?

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

[p1stonhead]

Blaster72 said:

manracer said:

Not a Tesla fan then, no?

Well Neither am I, But i've ordered a Model 3 - what label would you like to put on me?

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Free Supercharging will almost certainly not be included.

[GroundEffect]

By the time the 3 is actually available in any great quantities the other OEMs will have BEV solutions that will ring circles around them for dealer networks, customer services, quality and eventually price.

Tesla motors is there as a game changer, not necessarily a long term contender.

[Blaster72]

Shame, it was quite a big selling point for the S being able to long trips for nowt.

I guess eventually when we're all in electric cars the cost to charge will be the same as a tank of petrol is now!

[stuckmojo]

Blaster72 said:

Shame, it was quite a big selling point for the S being able to long trips for nowt.

I guess eventually when we're all in electric cars the cost to charge will be the same as a tank of petrol is now!

Yes but mostly due to taxation changes

[Guvernator]

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Unfortunately £35k is considered cheap these days, yes weird I know but a well specced Golf is around that now. Besides the list price isn't that important these days, if they'll let you rent one of these for £350 a month, it genuinely achieves around 200 mile range and it's nice enough inside, it will sell like hot cakes.

Running costs will be a fraction of an equivalent ICE car which is what most people seem to be concerned about these days. I've seen far too many people make some bizarre car choices because it was a few quid cheaper in road tax per year or it's official figures said it did 5mpg better than the alternative, just look at the popularity of diesel over the last decade to see this in action. Cars as white goods is the name of the game these days for most people and a car that's cheap to run will be king in that market.

[Durzel]

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Is £35k so bad? New Focus RSs and Type-Rs are that kind of money nowadays, and this car has a big USP. I'd expect them to hold their value pretty well as well, if not go for overs for some time, depending on how fast Tesla actually do ramp up production.

I'm not a massive fan of the exterior, but as a package and ethos they are an attractive proposition in my opinion.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Blaster72 said:

Shame, it was quite a big selling point for the S being able to long trips for nowt.

I guess eventually when we're all in electric cars the cost to charge will be the same as a tank of petrol is now!

'Free' supercharging was never provided. They just bundled the cost of it into the sticker price originally but it had already become known as 'free'.

I don't even want 'free' supercharging as I'll be charging at home mostly but if I do need to stop at a supercharger to top up, the last think I want is to wait behind a long line of freeloaders

[p1stonhead]

Durzel said:

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Is £35k so bad? New Focus RSs and Type-Rs are that kind of money nowadays, and this car has a big USP. I'd expect them to hold their value pretty well as well, if not go for overs for some time, depending on how fast Tesla actually do ramp up production.

I'm not a massive fan of the exterior, but as a package and ethos they are an attractive proposition in my opinion.

I cant imagine choosing say a New similar price 330d or the like over a Model 3.

[Byker28i]

p1stonhead said:

Durzel said:

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Is £35k so bad? New Focus RSs and Type-Rs are that kind of money nowadays, and this car has a big USP. I'd expect them to hold their value pretty well as well, if not go for overs for some time, depending on how fast Tesla actually do ramp up production.

I'm not a massive fan of the exterior, but as a package and ethos they are an attractive proposition in my opinion.

I cant imagine choosing say a New similar price 330d or the like over a Model 3.

330d fully spec'd is £44,500 or there abouts,

[p1stonhead]

Byker28i said:

p1stonhead said:

Durzel said:

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses, no one has driven or reviewed it and we barely know any details yet people are falling over themselves to order it.

I really hope it turns out to be a class leader with real world 200 mile+ range and up there with the current ICE cars for ride and handling. If it does, it may just (only just) justify the predicted £35k+ UK retail price.

Also, has the free supercharging returned for the Model 3? First it went, then it came back but I'm not sure if that was just for the S and X?

Is £35k so bad? New Focus RSs and Type-Rs are that kind of money nowadays, and this car has a big USP. I'd expect them to hold their value pretty well as well, if not go for overs for some time, depending on how fast Tesla actually do ramp up production.

I'm not a massive fan of the exterior, but as a package and ethos they are an attractive proposition in my opinion.

I cant imagine choosing say a New similar price 330d or the like over a Model 3.

330d fully spec'd is £44,500 or there abouts,

Even moreso then.

P.S - fking hell thats a lot!

[DonkeyApple]

Blaster72 said:

Patient

I'm still struggling with the Model 3, it's not cheap enough to be a car for the masses.

That was my thinking but I passed a car lot yesterday afternoon and it had some used, basic VW car at the front with a £35k price tag so the 3 is priced for the masses. I just didn't realise the masses had that kind of money to hand.

[phil4]

DonkeyApple said:

I just didn't realise the masses had that kind of money to hand.

They don't.... they just PCP it for a few hundred quid a month.

If the Tesla residuals mean they can do the same for a similar amount, then I expect they'll also shift in far greater numbers.

[Guvernator]

DonkeyApple said:

That was my thinking but I passed a car lot yesterday afternoon and it had some used, basic VW car at the front with a £35k price tag so the 3 is priced for the masses. I just didn't realise the masses had that kind of money to hand.

Like I said in my previous post they don't, at least not in cash. Everyone just finances cars these days. It's the same with houses, access to easy, cheap credit means the price has little relevance anymore and it's more about how much you can afford to pay a month.

[p1stonhead]

phil4 said:

DonkeyApple said:

I just didn't realise the masses had that kind of money to hand.

They don't.... they just PCP it for a few hundred quid a month.

If the Tesla residuals mean they can do the same for a similar amount, then I expect they'll also shift in far greater numbers.

Yep.

Who wouldnt want much cheaper motoring for something that per month costs the same as a 3 series?

Lots of people have driveways with potential for power supplies to be installed next to.

The national grid may suffer though

[otolith]

p1stonhead said:

Who wouldnt want much cheaper motoring for something that per month costs the same as a 3 series?

And if you want similar performance from a 3-series, you're going to need a 330i, for which you are talking similar money to the Tesla.

Though, obviously, this being PH, the Tesla still wouldn't be worth as much as a German car were it built out of unobtainium and powered by a Mr Fusion unit.

It's being reported that BMW will unveil an electric 3-series in September. Nothing official, but if they do, I can't imagine it will be substantially cheaper than 35k.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Jader1973 said:

The Model 3 looks ste though - very, very bland.

In fact all of their models look ste - the X is massive, looks about the size of a Sprinter van.

None of that will stop the fan boys who can't afford a Model S from buying a Model 3 though. The problem Tesla has is there is no hope of them finding 500,000 new fan boys every year to buy all the Model 3s Elon thinks they are going to be able to make. On top of that their sales are dropping as EV subsidies dry up.

Their time is running out. All the others are catching them up and will be offering similar product in a couple of years. At which point the unique selling point has gone. Then they can't stay afloat as their market stagnates because every one who wants a Tesla has bought one, and people who want EV's shop around the established brands. For example, there is more chance of an existing Volvo customer going from ICE to hybrid to EV with Volvo than there is of them jumping from an ICE Volvo to a Tesla.

They probably need to diversify in to ICE / hybrid powered cars to maintain the volumes they need to keep going. Which is ironic.

The X is massive. I saw one the other day in Notts and I wasn't quite ready for its size. I had an idea in my head but yeah... it looks like it could sink through the pavement, its a heavy set looking thing.

I don't agree that Tesla's look ste though, they are just a bit bland. Ideal if you want to appeal to everyone. They do have too much of a early 2000's whiff about them mind.

The 3 does look slightly lazy to me. Its an S with some distance chopped out the middle and interior that looks really sparse, like a generic space-movie prop. I am not all impressed with the range either; 215 miles. For $35k. I'm sorry but it would seem that GM and the Bolt beat them to the punch months ago with a car that has similar capability and price. That is obviously less cool than the Tesla though as it looks like a Vauxhall.



I was watching some american business show that had a Tesla investor on making comments about the 3 finally hitting production. They seem to think Tesla are way way ahead of every other OEM. Particularly in the way they set the factory up and build the cars. That maybe so, but I genuinely don't think they're as far ahead as they'd like to think. Certainly the likes of BMW, Mercedes and VW will catch them up extremely quickly and when they do they've got that long history of development and refinement in other areas (ride and handling, interior design, fit and finish etc etc) that will eclipse Tesla....

Though I do suspect they've caught a break with the Autonomous driving, though its hard to tell because the traditional OEMs are rightly wary and reluctant to go all gung ho like Tesla did, who virtually have a loyal fan base to beta test their software with. The likes of Volvo and Mercedes wouldn't dream of being so cavalier.

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 11th July 16:55