Tesla - why don’t I want one?
Discussion
vikingaero said:
The worst thing about Tesla - the owners. 
When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!
Yes, the 2nd best selling car in the UK is mainly bought by autistic people, who are famed for their desire to talk face to face with strangers in unknown situations. When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!Why can't they just be normal macho men who instead only talk to people by posting on a weird site for car enthusiasts...
vikingaero said:
The worst thing about Tesla - the owners. When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!
I sometimes charge my model 3 at Park Royal Tesla Superchargers. Some of the other owners are very "unique" and some of the numberplates on the cars are of the highest order of cringe. The driving by some of the owners is of Friday Night Maccy Ds carpark standards. When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!I am genuinely embarrassed to be associated with the brand/owner cohort. Yes, very easy to say "You shouldn't worry about the image or what others might think" but you really need to see/experience it before saying that.
Coincidentally I was looking at the Tesla website today. Here in NZ you still get a decent grant against the cheapest version and they don’t seem that bad value.
I’ve not driven a Tesla but don’t understand the hate. Most of the cars they compete against aren’t that interesting or even have interesting engines. To me todays turbocharged ICE engines (with fake noise piped into the cabin) are not attractive and seem similar to BEV with their power everywhere and no need or enjoyment from having to thrash the engine. There almost all automatics too so no need to change gears.
Not that I’m complaining. I have a Golf TSi and as a means of getting from A to B it is brilliant, especially compared to cars of the same class from the 1980s when I first drove. But it is the motoring equivalent of white goods with no real character.
I’ve not driven a Tesla but don’t understand the hate. Most of the cars they compete against aren’t that interesting or even have interesting engines. To me todays turbocharged ICE engines (with fake noise piped into the cabin) are not attractive and seem similar to BEV with their power everywhere and no need or enjoyment from having to thrash the engine. There almost all automatics too so no need to change gears.
Not that I’m complaining. I have a Golf TSi and as a means of getting from A to B it is brilliant, especially compared to cars of the same class from the 1980s when I first drove. But it is the motoring equivalent of white goods with no real character.
Muzzer79 said:
I don't have a problem with Teslas as a concept.
The technology is great, the infrastructure superb.
I would even tolerate the fit and finish.
What grates me about them is
1. The anonymity. Each model has 5 colours - That's your choices. No spec differences, no 'customisation'
I don't want neon lights and go-faster stripes, but some variation would be good - some recognition of different trim levels.
The performance variant for example gains bigger wheels, a tiny boot spoiler and alloy pedals. Again, I'm not expecting an Escort Cosworth, but let's at least have it looking a little meaty.
It would be nice if they expanded the bodystyles too - a Model 3 coupe would be awesome. Or a convertible.
I get the reasons - increased variance means more cost, less efficiency, etc, etc
2. The ubiquity
There's so many of them about and,,combined with the lack of variance in the model range, that combines to create a perception that loads of people are driving the same car.
I don't like that. I don't want or expect to drive a unicorn - I drive a mass-market BMW - but I don't like seeing a very similar car to mine around every corner.
If someone gave me one, I wouldn't sell it straight away. I wouldn't dislike it. But I wouldn't desire it.
For me it's this, plus my love of cars and driving began at a young age when the sound of an engine revving as it goes through the gears was intoxicating for me. As a four year old, my parents would wheel me out at dinner parties to demonstrate my party trick, which was to do a pretty good impression of the sound of a formula one racetrack, complete with gear changes for corners and doppler effect pitch shifting. The smell of petrol was another factor, and the trunk containing all my toys in my bedroom was covered in stickers such as "JPS", "Magneti Marelli", "Marlboro", "Agip", "Goodyear" and the like. I have no interest in F1 these days and haven't watched it since the days of Senna, Prost, Mansell and those guys.The technology is great, the infrastructure superb.
I would even tolerate the fit and finish.
What grates me about them is
1. The anonymity. Each model has 5 colours - That's your choices. No spec differences, no 'customisation'
I don't want neon lights and go-faster stripes, but some variation would be good - some recognition of different trim levels.
The performance variant for example gains bigger wheels, a tiny boot spoiler and alloy pedals. Again, I'm not expecting an Escort Cosworth, but let's at least have it looking a little meaty.
It would be nice if they expanded the bodystyles too - a Model 3 coupe would be awesome. Or a convertible.
I get the reasons - increased variance means more cost, less efficiency, etc, etc
2. The ubiquity
There's so many of them about and,,combined with the lack of variance in the model range, that combines to create a perception that loads of people are driving the same car.
I don't like that. I don't want or expect to drive a unicorn - I drive a mass-market BMW - but I don't like seeing a very similar car to mine around every corner.
If someone gave me one, I wouldn't sell it straight away. I wouldn't dislike it. But I wouldn't desire it.
Nothing sends a shiver down my spine like the sound of a high performance engine. Anything from two to twelve cylinders works for me and I'm not sure how I'm going to cope without my drug of choice, which is a combination of induction and exhaust notes. Add a touch of race-style straight cut gear whine and I'm in heaven. I'm sure there will come a day when I have to drive an EV for practical reasons, but I'm planning to own a small collection of petrol cars until the day I die. I'm about to add a Porsche 928 to the collection to bring it up to five, and there are a few other cars I'd like too. It's just a matter of having a property large enough to keep them!
JD said:
vikingaero said:
The worst thing about Tesla - the owners. When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!
Yes, the 2nd best selling car in the UK is mainly bought by autistic people, who are famed for their desire to talk face to face with strangers in unknown situations. When I charge up all these people want to chat which isn't a problem, but the majority are autists! I fed this back to my sister via Whatsapp and she agrees!Why can't they just be normal macho men who instead only talk to people by posting on a weird site for car enthusiasts...
Certainly anyone remotely into bangernomics won't want one. The oldest ones are now coming up with battery faults which limit the range to 50 miles I believe due to one of the hundreds of 3.62V cells being 3.61111V or something. Then a 5k bill if you get a mate to fix it, 25k from Tesla. Who wants that hanging over your head?
Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
stickleback123 said:
I've used EVs, and if you get to the services and need to charge you'll often see three charging points of which one will be broken, one in use charging one of those dogs
t Mitsubishi Outlanders so he can have 10 miles of electric range, and another one will have a Range Rover Sport parked diagonally across it because it's slightly closer to the door for the mouthbreather. Meanwhile over in the corner are 12 Tesla chargers that are assured compatible with your car, will charge at a tremendous rate, and 8 of them are available.
Ha, this last bit is so true of our experience of attempting any kind of 'long' journey in a Leaf. When it worked, it was great. Cost nothing and quiet as a mouse. But when charging lets you down it could turn the simplest of journeys into a full-on ruined day. I remember one occasion turning up at Wetherby Services to find two or three EV's forming a queue next to the the two charging spaces. Occupying the two charging spaces was a single LR Disco. A full on shouting match was well underway but rather than queuing for the other cars to 'fill up' we decided to limp up to Scotch Corner at about 3mph. Where we found 1 working charger with a several cars waiting. What joy. A 120 mile journey took us 7 hours. Once my Mrs had to be recovered because the only working charger for miles around had a skip blocking it! The Leaf was really only ever meant to be a city car for us so I admit we were pushing our luck at times but I did decide there and then that our next EV was only going to happen when this st Mitsubishi Outlanders so he can have 10 miles of electric range, and another one will have a Range Rover Sport parked diagonally across it because it's slightly closer to the door for the mouthbreather. Meanwhile over in the corner are 12 Tesla chargers that are assured compatible with your car, will charge at a tremendous rate, and 8 of them are available. t was sorted out. That was 4 years ago and tales from some of my friends that have attempted long journeys in non-Tesla EV's recently suggests nothing at all has changed other than it being much more expensive (charging was free back in 2015). Pals with Teslas use them like normal cars including long continental trips. Edited by Gad-Westy on Wednesday 2nd February 10:54
Edited by Gad-Westy on Wednesday 2nd February 10:57
DKS said:
Certainly anyone remotely into bangernomics won't want one. The oldest ones are now coming up with battery faults which limit the range to 50 miles I believe due to one of the hundreds of 3.62V cells being 3.61111V or something. Then a 5k bill if you get a mate to fix it, 25k from Tesla. Who wants that hanging over your head?
Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
Nobody has had a £5k bill from a 10 year old S Class though, right? Or a fault that means it can't move? Or an absurd £25k quote from an Audi dealer because their 6 year old car ate it's timing chain?Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
Name me a car with the ballistic performance of a Model S or full of that many stupid gizmos that isn't a ticking time bomb out of warranty. I'd say comparatively they are a pretty safe bet, given they can show a Mercedes S65 or BMW 760Li xDrive the way home (in a straight line) and cost 1/4 as much in fuel/energy doing it too.
If the worst likely bill is £5k you're laughing; an inevitable rebuild of your 7G/ZF8 transmission is £4k on a conventional barge, let's not even talk about engine failures. This is a car that can, in it's best incarnation, to 0 - 130MPH in under 7 seconds and you think the odd £5k bill is a problem, hell most people with 1000bhp+ cars wouldn't complain at a £25k bill every 10 years / 150,000 miles.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd February 11:03
1 Build Quality. Appalling.
2 Company ethics (or lack therof) and customer service. Ditto Appalling.
3 Total lack of Styling
4 Future reliability and parts pricing.
5 Insurance costs - which will go up when minor repairs start to highlight poor design of the large pieces of body structure requiring massive parts replacement instead of repair
6 if sales go up, those superchargers will be very busy, negating the advantage.
7 from a driving perspective, it's a white good appliance of a car. Fine acceleration is a party trick you get bored of very quickly, then you realise it's just an electric car, with little else to commend it.
8 Online sales/servicing systems are very hit and miss. People report waiting months to get booked in for warranty issues , as servicing slots are prioritised.
Would not touch a Tesla with an (insulated) barge pole.
2 Company ethics (or lack therof) and customer service. Ditto Appalling.
3 Total lack of Styling
4 Future reliability and parts pricing.
5 Insurance costs - which will go up when minor repairs start to highlight poor design of the large pieces of body structure requiring massive parts replacement instead of repair
6 if sales go up, those superchargers will be very busy, negating the advantage.
7 from a driving perspective, it's a white good appliance of a car. Fine acceleration is a party trick you get bored of very quickly, then you realise it's just an electric car, with little else to commend it.
8 Online sales/servicing systems are very hit and miss. People report waiting months to get booked in for warranty issues , as servicing slots are prioritised.
Would not touch a Tesla with an (insulated) barge pole.
evil.edna said:
I sometimes charge my model 3 at Park Royal Tesla Superchargers. Some of the other owners are very "unique" and some of the numberplates on the cars are of the highest order of cringe.
Is it as cringey as thinking that when you start or rev your car that there's "drama" or "a sense of occasion"? ajap1979 said:
Because it's a modern day Mondeo?
I must have missed the special Ghia Z Mondeo that could do a ton in 8.2 seconds like a Model 3P. I will agree that it's a toss up between a giant touchscreen and plastic melted mars bar coloured "wood" on the dash as to which makes for the naffest interior though 
DKS said:
Certainly anyone remotely into bangernomics won't want one. The oldest ones are now coming up with battery faults which limit the range to 50 miles I believe due to one of the hundreds of 3.62V cells being 3.61111V or something. Then a 5k bill if you get a mate to fix it, 25k from Tesla. Who wants that hanging over your head?
Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
There is a second hand market for them, yes. Values hold up very well IINM.Is there a second hand, out of warranty market for them?
There is also a fledgling market for fixing them. Plenty of examples on YouTube of enterprising folk fixing major faults with the drivetrain, etc.
I think of a Tesla as a ready meal, let's use what's in my freezer as an example, asda's lasagne*, it's lasagne, it's food, it's quick to cook and does the job expected of food, however it's not interesting, it doesn't excite the senses. When I order lasagne at my favourite restaurant there's the smell, the texture the taste the whole thing is just more exciting.
I like my cars to be an experience too, the noise, the feeling, the engagement
I've only ever driven a model 3 and it was fine, fast, but not exciting, interesting or engaging.
I'd happily have one as a daily, but I'd need a fun car too.
If you want food grab the ready meal, if want a treat go to your favourite restaurant.
I like my cars to be an experience too, the noise, the feeling, the engagement
I've only ever driven a model 3 and it was fine, fast, but not exciting, interesting or engaging.
I'd happily have one as a daily, but I'd need a fun car too.
If you want food grab the ready meal, if want a treat go to your favourite restaurant.
- Other supermarkets and ready meals are available but all I had in the freezer is lasagne
The only thing that attracts me to Tesla is their supercharging network, I feel that is potentially useful if you're covering a lot of motorway miles on long trips.
However, that doesn't really offset all the negatives for me. Firstly, the build quality. American cars aren't exactly known for their build quality and Tesla appear to be no exception, the paintwork seems to have horrific orange-peel and the interior feels low-rent. They also lack any "wow factor", you sit in one and the entire interior is dominated by a massive touchscreen while the rest of the interior makes even a basic spec Golf interior look exciting, which takes some doing.
People like to bang on about the performance statistics, which is really highlights why they're just a one-trick-pony. I don't care how quickly it can do 0-60, as long as it's not dangerously slow. Tesla on the other hand, I feel borders on the dangerously fast; fine if you're demonstrating the performance, not so good in a town centre when someone stabs the wrong pedal by accident and ends up going through a shop window at 60mph. It's bad enough when an automatic Honda Jazz rams its way across a car park, let alone 2,000kgs+ of instant torque.
Then there's all the telemetry bks, I really don't want that Musk chap being able to download the data on my journeys.
Then there's the styling. Or lack of, the Model 3 in particular is an ugly runt of a little car; a nasty front end that looks like a sad fish and a squashed rear. The number plate lights appears to be from the Halfords Max Power range and I defy anyone to spot a Tesla without the green EV strip on the number plate.
I won't even start on Tesla drivers, they're another kettle of fish altogether. Lets just say I wouldn't want to be associated with them...
Personally for me, the most interesting EV on sale currently is the EV6, I reckon that's a far superior car to a Tesla in terms of build quality and general usability, and where I'd put my money.
However, that doesn't really offset all the negatives for me. Firstly, the build quality. American cars aren't exactly known for their build quality and Tesla appear to be no exception, the paintwork seems to have horrific orange-peel and the interior feels low-rent. They also lack any "wow factor", you sit in one and the entire interior is dominated by a massive touchscreen while the rest of the interior makes even a basic spec Golf interior look exciting, which takes some doing.
People like to bang on about the performance statistics, which is really highlights why they're just a one-trick-pony. I don't care how quickly it can do 0-60, as long as it's not dangerously slow. Tesla on the other hand, I feel borders on the dangerously fast; fine if you're demonstrating the performance, not so good in a town centre when someone stabs the wrong pedal by accident and ends up going through a shop window at 60mph. It's bad enough when an automatic Honda Jazz rams its way across a car park, let alone 2,000kgs+ of instant torque.
Then there's all the telemetry b
ks, I really don't want that Musk chap being able to download the data on my journeys. Then there's the styling. Or lack of, the Model 3 in particular is an ugly runt of a little car; a nasty front end that looks like a sad fish and a squashed rear. The number plate lights appears to be from the Halfords Max Power range and I defy anyone to spot a Tesla without the green EV strip on the number plate.
I won't even start on Tesla drivers, they're another kettle of fish altogether. Lets just say I wouldn't want to be associated with them...
Personally for me, the most interesting EV on sale currently is the EV6, I reckon that's a far superior car to a Tesla in terms of build quality and general usability, and where I'd put my money.
David87 said:
I'm a total convert. Maybe I should hand in my car enthusiast card, but I find them hugely enjoyable to own and drive.
I’m trying to be as open-minded as possible about EVs. I’d be really interested to hear why your car is enjoyable to drive. Enjoyable in a GT wafting type way, or driver engagement way? plenty said:
Possibly because everyone else wants one. You may be that breed of individual who specifically avoids brands that are overly mainstream and popular. It's hard to argue that Apple makes bad products, but some people refuse to own them for this reason.
Personally, the hero-worship and sheer omnipresence of Musk does my head in and that's reason enough for me to not want to buy his stuff. That and I can't abide touchscreens in cars.
I have this type of feeling in me, I like being a bit away from the norm.....Personally, the hero-worship and sheer omnipresence of Musk does my head in and that's reason enough for me to not want to buy his stuff. That and I can't abide touchscreens in cars.
Supra Mkiv in early 2000's -just rare and unloved despite being a very quick and reliable car back then
Various Old banger commuters, but strong/reliable ones, 2/405 diesels, pd tdi's etc
Bmw 6 series Bangle's marmite rear, engine of the year when made, an oil/coolant leaking liability 5-10 years later!! But almost the cheapest V8 Manual you can buy!?
But right now it's the cost if I'm honest and the total electric reliance, the V60 and I8 type setups of engine and EV I like but it's potentially doubling the bork factor!!
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