So who is getting a Model 3?

[FurtiveFreddy]

Blaster72 said:

Does anyone know if the Model 3 is going to be a hatch or a saloon (with boot). Also, will there be a front storage area?

I'm really struggling to find any solid details on this car which is strange as Tesla are saying they'll ramp up to produce 80,000 cars this year.

Any news also on the battery size?

I keep dithering over placing a deposit but can't bring myself to do it as there's such a lack of information on this car.

The final 'reveal' is now supposed to be happening in July, so we should see the final design then.

Battery capacities will be less than the top Model S, but it's difficult to compare performance/range just on battery size as the S and the 3 are different weights and spec.

[JonV8V]

p1stonhead said:

saloon boot. IIRC its because they want the glass to go all the way up and over from the windscreen to the bootlid so they couldnt split it in the middle for a hatch. Shame as it would be a much more usable car with a hatchback.

Bloody stupid design really - chip in windscreen and the job to replace the whole glass roof assembly will not be trivial, meanwhile compromise the usability of the car and i can't help feeling a glass roof can't be good for crash protection.

Talking over over engineering - the model x doors are giving problems - even the front ones. Seems if you park on a sideways slope the self closing mechanism can't pull the front doors shut on some cars.

[FurtiveFreddy]

The glass roof is an option. You'll be able to spec. a metal roof, metal roof with glass sunroof or fully glass roof.

Rollover strength will not be compromised by the use of glass.

[jkh112]

JonV8V said:

Bloody stupid design really - chip in windscreen and the job to replace the whole glass roof assembly will not be trivial, meanwhile compromise the usability of the car and i can't help feeling a glass roof can't be good for crash protection.

The glass roof is in 3 sections on the prototype cars seen so far.

[JonnyVTEC]

JonV8V said:

Bloody stupid design really - chip in windscreen and the job to replace the whole glass roof assembly will not be trivial, meanwhile compromise the usability of the car and i can't help feeling a glass roof can't be good for crash protection.

Talking over over engineering - the model x doors are giving problems - even the front ones. Seems if you park on a sideways slope the self closing mechanism can't pull the front doors shut on some cars.

A flow of glass panels.... not a single piece!

[JonV8V]

Pictures I've just looked at suggest 2 panels but it still doesn't sound strong. The front panel like the model x which extends much further back than normal, be interesting to see the challenge when they need replacing.

Edited by JonV8V on Wednesday 1st March 06:54

[jkh112]

This is the best photo I can find which shows the 3 roof sections: a windscreen, a rear screen and a short central roof section.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Remember, these are still the original reveal prototypes. This is not the final design. It could change.
And just to reiterate, the glass roof is an option you will probably have to pay extra for. You can stay with a metal roof if that's your preference.

And there is a crossbeam between the front and back seats which gives more strength than a regular metal roof would, so safety isn't compromised by all that glass.

I still reckon I'd probably take a metal roof over an all glass one but I'm willing to be swayed if they get the cooling and tinting right with it.

Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Friday 3rd March 10:17

[98elise]

FurtiveFreddy said:

Remember, these are still the original reveal prototypes. This is not the final design. It could change.
And just to reiterate, the glass roof is an option you will probably have to pay extra for. You can stay with a metal roof if that's your preference.

And there is a crossbeam between the front and back seats which gives more strength than a regular metal roof would, so safety isn't compromised by all that glass.

I still reckon I'd probably take a metal roof over an all glass one but I'm willing to be swayed if they get the cooling and tinting right with it.

Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Friday 3rd March 10:17

I thought the glass roof was needed for headroom, so a metal roof would not be an option?

Edited to add...I've just looked at the reveal video again and Elon Musk says the glass roof is a design feature to make it comfortable for adults to sit n the back. It doesn't sound like its going to be an option.

Edited by 98elise on Friday 3rd March 13:23

[JonV8V]

FurtiveFreddy said:

And there is a crossbeam between the front and back seats which gives more strength than a regular metal roof would, so safety isn't compromised by all that glass.
]

How do you know when we don't even know what the final design of the car is yet? If you're reading TMC, they speculate too. There was an article doing the rounds as a leaked price list until somebody pointed out it wasn't at all.

[FurtiveFreddy]

The crossbeam is a fundamental part of the overall design. That's still going to be there unless they drop the whole idea of the optional glass roof.

By all means come back and tell me I'm wrong once the final reveal has taken place

[JonV8V]

FurtiveFreddy said:

The crossbeam is a fundamental part of the overall design. That's still going to be there unless they drop the whole idea of the optional glass roof.

By all means come back and tell me I'm wrong once the final reveal has taken place

All roofs have cross beams - you talk of one that's stronger than a regular roof (which would include them as well). You either know, or you're speculating. I suspect the glass will form a significant part of the structural integrity which may or may not work in certain circumstances otherwise his front to back glass roof won't be front to back.

[FurtiveFreddy]

JonV8V said:

All roofs have cross beams - you talk of one that's stronger than a regular roof (which would include them as well). You either know, or you're speculating. I suspect the glass will form a significant part of the structural integrity which may or may not work in certain circumstances otherwise his front to back glass roof won't be front to back.

Just look at the prototype photos and you'll see for yourself. The final design isn't going to be radically different in that respect.

[Yipper]

A good chart published this week, showing just how important the Model 3 is to Tesla.

[98elise]

The figures for the S/X are pretty healthy as well. Tesla really have shown that if you build the right electric car, people will buy them.

[Paul 8v]

I'm definitely considering a model 3, a couple of bits I'm not sure money are: can you get a roofrack/bike rack on the back? Is it big enough to get suitcases in? It looks pretty big but without seeing one it's hard to tell. My current car is a C class and it's actually pretty rubbish for carrying stuff about in.

Performance and range wise I'm not worried at all. Within the next few years all the major supermarkets will have chargers so I can't see a problem.

[Paul 8v]

I've put my name down on the waiting list, I've got about a year and 4 months to find out if it's any good and the deposit is refundable if it's not...

[LeoZwalf]

Call me a n00b but I've just found out that the 3 isn't a hatchback but is a sedan/saloon. From its shape I'd always assumed it was a hatchback, that it would be the S's smaller sibling. While I am certainly not in the market for one yet, it's totally surprised me and rather put me off the thing!

Yeah, I know, this post is kinda useless. I suppose I wonder if any of you guys have also been surprised about this, would you have been more interested if it was a hatchback... etc.?

[Blaster72]

I asked the question a while back on here and was pretty surprised it's a saloon car too. From the shape I just assumed it'd be a hatch.

Shame really but I seem to remember the saloon type of car is more popular in the USA than the hatchback.

[FurtiveFreddy]

The clue's in the name. It's aimed at the BMW 3 series. Which has a boot.

What's the attraction of a hatchback? They have designed the opening and capacity of the Model 3 'trunk' to accommodate larger items than most booted cars.