Test driving Model 3 and iPace - what to pay attention to?
Discussion
So, on Sunday I’ll be testing an iPace and a Model 3 back to back. What should I be paying attention to on each? What has niggled you as owners of either of these that I will need to see if I can live with? So far I’m thinking:
Model 3
- using touchscreen with left hand
- boot space/aperture
- space for cabin junk
I-pace:
- clunky infotainment
- visibility/manoeuvrability
- space for cabin junk!
Anything else I should pay attention to?
Model 3
- using touchscreen with left hand
- boot space/aperture
- space for cabin junk
I-pace:
- clunky infotainment
- visibility/manoeuvrability
- space for cabin junk!
Anything else I should pay attention to?
I did the same
Harry thought the same as me the iPace is a well setup and quick car but dull to drive (typical old man jag), i think its 15k too expensive compared to the M3, but what killed the iPace for me was the awful way the brakes have been setup with a virtual braking dead zone on the brake pedal, hateful thing to use IMO. The clunky infotainment would not bother me as Car play (and andriod auto) are far superior to anything car makers install.
The model 3 has absolutely nailed one foot driving to perfection with the brake pedal being 100% physical braking, and it drives and turns in so much better. The constant stream of updates and additional features are nice as well. I dont use the Tesla infotainment as i use my phone (waze). The auto wipers are still bad on the Tesla and changing any setting whilst driving is awkward / distracting (engage AP, look at screen, make changes, disengage AP). M3 rear visibility is awful, especially when reversing at night, the camera is essential but gets covered in dirt as its out all the time.
If the iPace drove like the M3, had its efficiency and updates and was cheaper I would buy one, I think it looks excellent inside and out.
Harry thought the same as me the iPace is a well setup and quick car but dull to drive (typical old man jag), i think its 15k too expensive compared to the M3, but what killed the iPace for me was the awful way the brakes have been setup with a virtual braking dead zone on the brake pedal, hateful thing to use IMO. The clunky infotainment would not bother me as Car play (and andriod auto) are far superior to anything car makers install.
The model 3 has absolutely nailed one foot driving to perfection with the brake pedal being 100% physical braking, and it drives and turns in so much better. The constant stream of updates and additional features are nice as well. I dont use the Tesla infotainment as i use my phone (waze). The auto wipers are still bad on the Tesla and changing any setting whilst driving is awkward / distracting (engage AP, look at screen, make changes, disengage AP). M3 rear visibility is awful, especially when reversing at night, the camera is essential but gets covered in dirt as its out all the time.
If the iPace drove like the M3, had its efficiency and updates and was cheaper I would buy one, I think it looks excellent inside and out.
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Tuesday 28th January 11:06
Thanks for this. I'm attracted to the I-Pace because I like Jaguars and it has a hatch which is just better for families, but I'm turned off by the allegedly disappointing real-world range and the lack of rapid-charging infrastructure compared to the Tesla. The Tesla does better for range and infrastructure, but I'm not convinced by a touchscreen in a right hand drive car and they screwed up not making it a hatch.
Price is similar on lease deals somehow, which is what I'd be doing.
Price is similar on lease deals somehow, which is what I'd be doing.
I test drove the Jag just before Xmas and ended up buying a M3P without a test drive and definately feel I made the correct choice.
The touch screen works better than I imagined and any car you buy with a touch screen in the UK will always be left handed. The Jags screen is much smaller/slower and one is too low down.
The boot in the M3 is a good size and even has plenty of room for 2 or 3 bags of shopping under the actual boot floor.
The frunk is tiny on the Jag and although its a hatchaback in theory, the angle of the rear window eats into the useable space.
I can't remember the cabin space in the ipace but theres plenty in and under the centre console in the M3 and door bins.
I've joined both the M3 and ipace Facebook groups some time before buying and both cars have problems, but... the ipace's seem to have more serious problems despite way more M3's being sold.
Enjoy both test drives though.
The touch screen works better than I imagined and any car you buy with a touch screen in the UK will always be left handed. The Jags screen is much smaller/slower and one is too low down.
The boot in the M3 is a good size and even has plenty of room for 2 or 3 bags of shopping under the actual boot floor.
The frunk is tiny on the Jag and although its a hatchaback in theory, the angle of the rear window eats into the useable space.
I can't remember the cabin space in the ipace but theres plenty in and under the centre console in the M3 and door bins.
I've joined both the M3 and ipace Facebook groups some time before buying and both cars have problems, but... the ipace's seem to have more serious problems despite way more M3's being sold.
Enjoy both test drives though.
The i-pace is very nice, we test drove one and tried to order one (lease) but couldn't get a sensible deal.
Saw a Model 3 Performance lease deal that stacked up and ordered one blind. 3 weeks later and I was driving it.
The Tesla (performance model) is significantly faster and more fun to drive, interiors whilst ok doesn't match the Jaguar but the infotainment in the Tesla is better.
I got used to the lack of dials straight away and the one-pedal driving is sublime in the Tesla.
Watch the i-pace brake pedal, I seem to remember it feeling a bit odd.
Both nice cars, but I really love the Tesla ;-)
Saw a Model 3 Performance lease deal that stacked up and ordered one blind. 3 weeks later and I was driving it.
The Tesla (performance model) is significantly faster and more fun to drive, interiors whilst ok doesn't match the Jaguar but the infotainment in the Tesla is better.
I got used to the lack of dials straight away and the one-pedal driving is sublime in the Tesla.
Watch the i-pace brake pedal, I seem to remember it feeling a bit odd.
Both nice cars, but I really love the Tesla ;-)
Avantime said:
If you ever plan to charge away from home - go for the Tesla. I know many owners have struggled with Ectricity and other chargers.....
The Jag is lovely, but values will rapidly fall.
The Jag is lovely, but values will rapidly fall.
Not too concerned about resale as I’ll be leasing, we’ll only be doing a handful of long trips each year, but the 50/100 kw chargers seem slow to appear, right enough.
Harry describes the I pace as " soul-less " and then goes on to criticise Tesla in the same vain - " you don't buy cars like this for speed " .
I don't know why people say the Jaguar is dull to drive , I find it quite engaging on my commute .
It appears the Tesla is better to drive , depends what you want the car for I suppose .
Regarding the Jaguar brakes - if I use them more than a couple of times on my commute it is unusual . I suppose if you don't look far enough ahead don't read the road and find yourself needing more than the 0.4 g braking you get with high gen on - the pedal feel could be better but one of the joys of ev motoring is one pedal driving .
I don't know why people say the Jaguar is dull to drive , I find it quite engaging on my commute .
It appears the Tesla is better to drive , depends what you want the car for I suppose .
Regarding the Jaguar brakes - if I use them more than a couple of times on my commute it is unusual . I suppose if you don't look far enough ahead don't read the road and find yourself needing more than the 0.4 g braking you get with high gen on - the pedal feel could be better but one of the joys of ev motoring is one pedal driving .
ds666 said:
Harry describes the I pace as " soul-less " and then goes on to criticise Tesla in the same vain - " you don't buy cars like this for speed " .
I don't know why people say the Jaguar is dull to drive , I find it quite engaging on my commute .
It appears the Tesla is better to drive , depends what you want the car for I suppose .
Regarding the Jaguar brakes - if I use them more than a couple of times on my commute it is unusual . I suppose if you don't look far enough ahead don't read the road and find yourself needing more than the 0.4 g braking you get with high gen on - the pedal feel could be better but one of the joys of ev motoring is one pedal driving .
From what I’ve seen, the interior of the iPace seems a lot more human, somehow. I think an EV is always going to be somewhat anodyne thanks to the quiet of the drivetrain and lack of gears, so let’s see.I don't know why people say the Jaguar is dull to drive , I find it quite engaging on my commute .
It appears the Tesla is better to drive , depends what you want the car for I suppose .
Regarding the Jaguar brakes - if I use them more than a couple of times on my commute it is unusual . I suppose if you don't look far enough ahead don't read the road and find yourself needing more than the 0.4 g braking you get with high gen on - the pedal feel could be better but one of the joys of ev motoring is one pedal driving .
I was interested in the iPace but never got around to test driving because its range just wont work for me (some unusual edge cases lol).
After 5ish months with a m3p I still love it , very few negatives.
The auto wipers on the 3 are much better than they were, sometimes with a grey sky and drizzle it doesnt work well, but if anything its too quick to wipe now.
Would be nice to have a rear wiper though understand why it doesnt have one and quite a lot of similar cars dont..
Screen is easy to use theres quite a few shortcuts so you dont have to look at it much to make changes - plus the new voice commands (if they work) are extensive - you can do almost anything with them (if it works).
its also quite low with a long wheelbase so grounds a little on my drive where my mx5 didnt!
After 5ish months with a m3p I still love it , very few negatives.
The auto wipers on the 3 are much better than they were, sometimes with a grey sky and drizzle it doesnt work well, but if anything its too quick to wipe now.
Would be nice to have a rear wiper though understand why it doesnt have one and quite a lot of similar cars dont..
Screen is easy to use theres quite a few shortcuts so you dont have to look at it much to make changes - plus the new voice commands (if they work) are extensive - you can do almost anything with them (if it works).
its also quite low with a long wheelbase so grounds a little on my drive where my mx5 didnt!
AlexKing said:
Ooh, that last one would be something to watch - I have a fairly steep drive. I’d likely be going for an LR rather than a performance, so might not be so much of an issue.
Its just going over humps - I have a performance stealth so doesnt even have the lowered suspension !The iPace has the edge in drive quality, comfort, and soul based on my driving of that, and the M3 LR. There's just no sense of occasion whatsoever in the Tesla, whilst the Jag in my opinion still manages to have some soul (even if it just comes from the starter button, the startup noise, and the sound synthesiser when accelerating) Fit and finish better in the Jag of course as well, albeit Tesla has really narrowed the gap lately.
Our new 2019 M3 LR only has one door card not fitted properly and one bumper with a paint mismatch, the rest of it's pretty well put together.
Infotainment is obviously better in the Tesla as well, of course.
Our new 2019 M3 LR only has one door card not fitted properly and one bumper with a paint mismatch, the rest of it's pretty well put together.
Infotainment is obviously better in the Tesla as well, of course.
zadumbreion said:
If the ipace is anything like the Jags I've owned recently, expect the radio to not work when the rear window demist is on; the seats to start wobbling and squeaking after a few months; the doors to start rattling and various other random noises to drive you mad :-(
Fortunately , nothing like that for mine . RobDickinson said:
its also quite low with a long wheelbase so grounds a little on my drive where my mx5 didnt!
That's interesting as there are quite a few high "speed cushions" in london that have had the lower sides compressed by HGVs meaning a lot of cars bottom out on the top of them, cars i have driven that could not straddle them include A45, RS3 and Polo GTi which means you have to drive up one side with a wheel to clear themthe M3P clears them all with no problems so it sounds more of wheelbase thing?
Try getting in and out of both several times. I found the Model 3 to be very low and quite awkward to get in and out of. Try with the doors not fully open as well, since with UK car parks that's not uncommon.
Also check out the amount of road noise when on the motorway.
Oh and have a listen to the pedestrian warning sounds they make, see if you are happy to live with them. Some of them make really horrible noises.
Also check out the amount of road noise when on the motorway.
Oh and have a listen to the pedestrian warning sounds they make, see if you are happy to live with them. Some of them make really horrible noises.
zadumbreion said:
Not yet....
Honestly that's the reason I didn't even test drive the ipace, which looks like a really attractive option otherwise. I think they've done a superb job with it.
I just don't have any faith in their build quality over the longer term. Which is a great shame.
Don't forget that JLR don't actually build the i-pace ..... ( although I'm a firm believer in the fact that the design is what affects quality , not how it is screwed together ( design it right and you can't screw it together wrong )) Honestly that's the reason I didn't even test drive the ipace, which looks like a really attractive option otherwise. I think they've done a superb job with it.
I just don't have any faith in their build quality over the longer term. Which is a great shame.
zadumbreion said:
Not yet....
Honestly that's the reason I didn't even test drive the ipace, which looks like a really attractive option otherwise. I think they've done a superb job with it.
I just don't have any faith in their build quality over the longer term. Which is a great shame.
I think the Austrians have a reasonable reputation for build quality. Given that Magna build for BMW, Mercedes et al as well as Jaguar it’s hard to see why the build quality would be any different.Honestly that's the reason I didn't even test drive the ipace, which looks like a really attractive option otherwise. I think they've done a superb job with it.
I just don't have any faith in their build quality over the longer term. Which is a great shame.
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