Tesla - why don’t I want one?
Discussion
We had a Model 3 P for 2 years before moving on recently. Ridiculously quick, no build or warranty issues in 18k miles.
Would I be in a rush to get another? No.
Too much focus on tech you rarely use and not enough on the important stuff. The performance never got old but could only be used on very rare occasions and became a frustrating rather than fun experience. Rarely used the supercharger network and despite the high advertised speeds was always a little disappointed with just how long it took to get a significant charge (80%+) even on a V3.
Glad I experienced it and can confirm a lot of the negative comments from people who've likely never driven/owned one are b
ks, but as above I don't see us having another from the current generation given the ever increasing choice in the market.
Would I be in a rush to get another? No.
Too much focus on tech you rarely use and not enough on the important stuff. The performance never got old but could only be used on very rare occasions and became a frustrating rather than fun experience. Rarely used the supercharger network and despite the high advertised speeds was always a little disappointed with just how long it took to get a significant charge (80%+) even on a V3.
Glad I experienced it and can confirm a lot of the negative comments from people who've likely never driven/owned one are b
ks, but as above I don't see us having another from the current generation given the ever increasing choice in the market. SWoll said:
The performance never got old but could only be used on very rare occasions and became a frustrating rather than fun experience.
This is true of other cars too. I had a Murcielago for a while and then a Ford GT for a few years - both of which were sort of unusable really. Massive width, lots of power and unwelcome attention. I would not compare the Tesla of course, but the power thing is more fun in the Tesla as it's not a wild looking thing. The Tesla in nose-to-tail London traffic (a big part of my driving) is a breeze - no more clunking around with gears and biting points or, indeed, petrol stations. 
This is the 21st century equivalent of the discussion held on windswept platforms in the 1950's by spotters bemoaning the change from steam to diesel.
I'll bet a pound to a pinch of poop that there will be tracks set aside for Brum Brums in 50 years time just like there are heritage railways now for people wanting to live out Will Hay fantasies or ride on The Titfield Thunderbolt.
Give Mr Musk his due, he has started a car factory from scratch which has aided him in being the world's richest man. This by selling some of the most desired cars available. Who else has done that since Henry Ford?
I'll bet a pound to a pinch of poop that there will be tracks set aside for Brum Brums in 50 years time just like there are heritage railways now for people wanting to live out Will Hay fantasies or ride on The Titfield Thunderbolt.
Give Mr Musk his due, he has started a car factory from scratch which has aided him in being the world's richest man. This by selling some of the most desired cars available. Who else has done that since Henry Ford?
yakka said:
This is the 21st century equivalent of the discussion held on windswept platforms in the 1950's by spotters bemoaning the change from steam to diesel.
I’m ok with the idea of an electric car, the diesel engine in my pickup isn’t exactly a quiet or refined thing so I’d be happy enough having the same sort of vehicle but quieter and cheaper to run. We hired a Prius in Norway a couple of years ago and it did open my eyes to electric power.
My problem is more with the Tesla design, both inside and out.
Add in the fanboys that can’t accept that some people may just not like the product and it all puts me off completely.
The only thing that really matters to me is how a car drives; the steering feel, body control, damping, control weights, how it moves around and feels close to and at the limit ; all the things that make driving a joy and that's where the Teslas I've driven are a complete and utter fail. All the drivetrains and acceleration numbers are remarkable and the newest S is IMO a great looking car too, but they all feel like every other cheap American saloon car to drive; horrible. It feels like you sit on them, not in them. Everything you can see and touch feels cheap and nasty and I hate the big tv screen. All the stupid gimmicks, games and "autopilot" nonsense but by far the worst thing is the Tesla evangelists who, having upgraded from their Sportages and Sorentos and who have never so much as driven round a corner at close to the speed limit in their life, but who now know their school run car is faster to 60 than your 30 year old ICE. 
Anyway, it's a fool who bets against Musk or Tesla; one of these days they'll combine their insane powertrain with a fun chassis in a car that doesn't look like a weird pod full of stupid gimmicks and it'll be great. Maybe.
Anyway, it's a fool who bets against Musk or Tesla; one of these days they'll combine their insane powertrain with a fun chassis in a car that doesn't look like a weird pod full of stupid gimmicks and it'll be great. Maybe. fblm said:
The only thing that really matters to me is how a car drives; the steering feel, body control, damping, control weights, how it moves around and feels close to and at the limit ; all the things that make driving a joy and that's where the Teslas I've driven are a complete and utter fail. All the drivetrains and acceleration numbers are remarkable and the newest S is IMO a great looking car too, but they all feel like every other cheap American saloon car to drive; horrible. It feels like you sit on them, not in them. Everything you can see and touch feels cheap and nasty and I hate the big tv screen. All the stupid gimmicks, games and "autopilot" nonsense but by far the worst thing is the Tesla evangelists who, having upgraded from their Sportages and Sorentos and who have never so much as driven round a corner at close to the speed limit in their life, but who now know their school run car is faster to 60 than your 30 year old ICE. Anyway, it's a fool who bets against Musk or Tesla; one of these days they'll combine their insane powertrain with a fun chassis in a car that doesn't look like a weird pod full of stupid gimmicks and it'll be great. Maybe.
Spot on. Anyway, it's a fool who bets against Musk or Tesla; one of these days they'll combine their insane powertrain with a fun chassis in a car that doesn't look like a weird pod full of stupid gimmicks and it'll be great. Maybe. I know the interior is not to everyone's liking but the big touchscreen was quite inspired. Personally I cannot abide touchscreens.
Musk looked at all the expense, tolerance issues, complexity and configurability of existing dashboards and solved it with a cheaper alternative.
One size fits all. A bit like the iPhone interface compared with Blackberry (where are they now?).
Ironically the name dashboard of course is from the era of the horse and carriage.
Musk looked at all the expense, tolerance issues, complexity and configurability of existing dashboards and solved it with a cheaper alternative.
One size fits all. A bit like the iPhone interface compared with Blackberry (where are they now?).
Ironically the name dashboard of course is from the era of the horse and carriage.
I'm sure some of that will happen - for some of it I wouldn't bet against the rest of the market continuing to follow the lead of moving away from fussy interior design and interior architectures based on the need to route mechanical components through the passenger cell. They've already all got an iPad glued to the dashboard.
NDA said:
...the power thing is more fun in the Tesla as it's not a wild looking thing....
I disagree that the power is more fun. I'd say it's a lot less fun than having to actually work for it or have any skill to deploy BUT you get to use it far more often in an EV which is fun because you don't draw so much attention to yourself. Every little gap becomes an opportunity to enjoy that would make you look like a prize tool in a lairy ICE car and have the frothers calling the police on you. fblm said:
I disagree that the power is more fun. I'd say it's a lot less fun than having to actually work for it or have any skill to deploy BUT you get to use it far more often in an EV which is fun because you don't draw so much attention to yourself. Every little gap becomes an opportunity to enjoy that would make you look like a prize tool in a lairy ICE car and have the frothers calling the police on you.
I really don’t see the point in a super high performance EV right now, I’m sure the likes of Porsche will crack it at some point, but whenever I’ve driven an EV, it’s the calm A to B driving experience I enjoy, no drama. Having driven both the Model 3 Long Range and Performance, I find it crazy that people are willing to spend an extra 10k on the performance. I guess that’s good marketing for you.
Edited by JAMSXR on Wednesday 9th February 20:53
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