Taycan v Model 3
Discussion
Looking to purchase an EV through my limited company. My short list is a modestly-optioned Taycan RWD with the larger 93kwh battery or the Model 3 Long Range. They will be via a business contract hire to my ltd company so the price difference isn't a deal breaker due to the massive tax breaks, but I am not interested in chucking on £300 a month of options to the Porsche - hence it would have a lot less options than the Tesla which comes essentially fully equipped as standard.
I've driven the Taycan 4S and Model 3 Performance, but only in towns and suburbs. Both seemed nice cars to me. Taycan looks more striking of course and was obviously a very high quality vehicle - though the Tesla was very cool in its own novel way and I loved the clean cabin.
The car will be our 'second' car - main family car is a 4x4 - but I will take it up to London weekly, driving up the 100 miles at night on the M3 and driving back a few days later at night also. So good and fast charging access important.
I want the one which is best to own on the merit of nicest car to drive around (Porsche surely - though I think Model 3 could be good for towns due to its small size and seating position?), most reliable / least issues (no clue?), easiest to charge and charging network reliability (got to be Tesla, right?).
Any feedback?
I've driven the Taycan 4S and Model 3 Performance, but only in towns and suburbs. Both seemed nice cars to me. Taycan looks more striking of course and was obviously a very high quality vehicle - though the Tesla was very cool in its own novel way and I loved the clean cabin.
The car will be our 'second' car - main family car is a 4x4 - but I will take it up to London weekly, driving up the 100 miles at night on the M3 and driving back a few days later at night also. So good and fast charging access important.
I want the one which is best to own on the merit of nicest car to drive around (Porsche surely - though I think Model 3 could be good for towns due to its small size and seating position?), most reliable / least issues (no clue?), easiest to charge and charging network reliability (got to be Tesla, right?).
Any feedback?
Edited by sealtt on Friday 22 October 02:23
Which Taycan the absolute base model? That will have a lot less range due to smaller battery, slower (potentially slower than a SR+), steel suspension etc, or something else?
Obviously the 3 has a lot of advantages but its not a Porsche if that matters. I dont know any metrics where the entry level taycan does better than a LR model 3, its smaller, slower, has less range and equipment. You can even add boost to the 3 to get a quicker car.
if you ignore cost you can get a very tasty Taycan, heaps of config and options and the quick ones are very quick but thats not the base model.
Obviously the 3 has a lot of advantages but its not a Porsche if that matters. I dont know any metrics where the entry level taycan does better than a LR model 3, its smaller, slower, has less range and equipment. You can even add boost to the 3 to get a quicker car.
if you ignore cost you can get a very tasty Taycan, heaps of config and options and the quick ones are very quick but thats not the base model.
- I've owned a M3P for 2+ years now and love it but not yet been in a Taycan
Ah, the old “highly optioned cheaper car vs base spec more expensive one” argument. Really depends what you want. The Porsche will be the nicer one to drive, but it really depends on what you want. As previously answered, the M3P isn’t a bad car at all, but it was engineered to a different price point. That’s ok of course, but clearly the Porsche starts at a different one.
A poverty spec Porsche can be a very good car, but I am going to go out on a limb here, I don’t think you should skip some of the “essential” options. They can and do transform the car and from what I have read, the 4S big battery model is the one to get. Though I have seen a couple of comments that the base RWD is nice too. You could probably skip the 8 or 12 way seats and a few of the convenience options, but skimping on some of the others might not be a great idea. Porsche has an amazing way of liberating people from their money on options, it’s the Porsche Tax. They are good, very good, but you pay for the privilege and it really comes down to personal choice at that point.
A poverty spec Porsche can be a very good car, but I am going to go out on a limb here, I don’t think you should skip some of the “essential” options. They can and do transform the car and from what I have read, the 4S big battery model is the one to get. Though I have seen a couple of comments that the base RWD is nice too. You could probably skip the 8 or 12 way seats and a few of the convenience options, but skimping on some of the others might not be a great idea. Porsche has an amazing way of liberating people from their money on options, it’s the Porsche Tax. They are good, very good, but you pay for the privilege and it really comes down to personal choice at that point.
Yes that was a key bit of info, it would be with the large battery in the Taycan - 93kwh.
I think my question is more which is the better car for someone not very fussed about the Porsche badge and just looking for hassle free motoring.
The Porsche seems to be higher quality, but the Tesla is more novel and has more tech. The Taycan has more presence and looks good - but the Model 3 is more compact making it easier to drive and park in town. So the cars themselves I think probably balance out, I’d probably be equally excited about either arriving tomorrow. Both seemed nice on test drive.
It probably comes down to general reliability and charging. The above will all be meaningless if odds on one of them needs trips to the dealer for fixes / bugs / etc - or if the charger network is a mess and I end up unable to charge at 1am on the M3 motorway services for example. So please let me know general consensus on that stuff.
I think my question is more which is the better car for someone not very fussed about the Porsche badge and just looking for hassle free motoring.
The Porsche seems to be higher quality, but the Tesla is more novel and has more tech. The Taycan has more presence and looks good - but the Model 3 is more compact making it easier to drive and park in town. So the cars themselves I think probably balance out, I’d probably be equally excited about either arriving tomorrow. Both seemed nice on test drive.
It probably comes down to general reliability and charging. The above will all be meaningless if odds on one of them needs trips to the dealer for fixes / bugs / etc - or if the charger network is a mess and I end up unable to charge at 1am on the M3 motorway services for example. So please let me know general consensus on that stuff.
sealtt said:
Yes I’d get a few options on the Taycan, but just the absolute minimum! They won’t sucker me in… he says…
Oh sure.... I think you need a Phd in options to buy a Porsche... afik the Taycans had some issues early on but not really heard much bad about their reliability, must be able to test drive both right?
cant comment on the (non tesla) UK charge network though
I guess some of this comes down to your expectation of service and quality. I really can’t comment about the UK, but its widely reported that here in the US, Tesla service locations are hit and miss. Some are excellent and the mobile service is good. Others are terrible and owners are happier to drive for miles to avoid them. I hope its a little more consistent in the UK (and suspect it is).
On the other hand, a good Porsche dealer is excellent. My local one is superb and the quality and attentiveness I get is better than anything that I have had in the past. In general Porsche dealers are good though, and you should expect to get a high level of service. You are spending a lot of money and the expectation is there, but of course location matters - if you don’t have access to a good one, it might be a challenge. If I were you, I would go check out both your local Tesla service center and Porsche dealer - relationships and service matter.
On the other hand, a good Porsche dealer is excellent. My local one is superb and the quality and attentiveness I get is better than anything that I have had in the past. In general Porsche dealers are good though, and you should expect to get a high level of service. You are spending a lot of money and the expectation is there, but of course location matters - if you don’t have access to a good one, it might be a challenge. If I were you, I would go check out both your local Tesla service center and Porsche dealer - relationships and service matter.
I’ve just been going through the exact same thought process as yourself.
The Porsche is a few more thousand in and then not a lot more each month. My comparison was a 4s Cross Turismo with 7k of options.
The main reason I’m still getting the M3P is just the fact it can arrive 9 months earlier, otherwise I’d have the Porsche in a heartbeat.
The Porsche is a few more thousand in and then not a lot more each month. My comparison was a 4s Cross Turismo with 7k of options.
The main reason I’m still getting the M3P is just the fact it can arrive 9 months earlier, otherwise I’d have the Porsche in a heartbeat.
I've seen this before, the combination of the Taycan being cheaper in the UK and the Tesla being more expensive makes this an interesting comparison.
However Porsche is VERY mean in options.
I don't think the 22kW charging option is worth it (11kW is plenty for home/destination charging).
The other option, iirc, is being able to charge at 150kW at a 400V charger. This is a crucial one to look into. Especially if Tesla does open op the charging network, being limited to 50kW on 400V chargers can be very limiting! (50kW is barely viable for traveling, 150kW is quite comfortable)
That said, I'd have a hard time justifying the TM3, as good a car as it is, over a Taycan.
The Taycan is a bit of a reverse Tardis, huge car on the outside with very limited cargo capacity. Even if the TM3 is just a sedan, it's more practical.
Another thing to consider might be perception towards customers if that's relevant.
The Porsche will definitely look the more expensive vehicle (as it's a base model of a more expensive vehicle).
However Porsche is VERY mean in options.
I don't think the 22kW charging option is worth it (11kW is plenty for home/destination charging).
The other option, iirc, is being able to charge at 150kW at a 400V charger. This is a crucial one to look into. Especially if Tesla does open op the charging network, being limited to 50kW on 400V chargers can be very limiting! (50kW is barely viable for traveling, 150kW is quite comfortable)
That said, I'd have a hard time justifying the TM3, as good a car as it is, over a Taycan.
The Taycan is a bit of a reverse Tardis, huge car on the outside with very limited cargo capacity. Even if the TM3 is just a sedan, it's more practical.
Another thing to consider might be perception towards customers if that's relevant.
The Porsche will definitely look the more expensive vehicle (as it's a base model of a more expensive vehicle).
All going to depend on what options you would consider essential on the Taycan and your location/trips?
The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is the cheapest way to get the 93kWh battery and AWD but is considerably down on performance and kit to the 4S.
The value of the supercharger network depends on where you live, where you travel to and how regularly?
Have owned a Model 3 P for 2 years and spent time in a Taycan 4S. The Taycan is in a completely different league to the Tesla in almost every area and feels more than quick enough. But then it is almost 50% more to buy so it should do?
The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is the cheapest way to get the 93kWh battery and AWD but is considerably down on performance and kit to the 4S.
The value of the supercharger network depends on where you live, where you travel to and how regularly?
Have owned a Model 3 P for 2 years and spent time in a Taycan 4S. The Taycan is in a completely different league to the Tesla in almost every area and feels more than quick enough. But then it is almost 50% more to buy so it should do?
SWoll said:
Have owned a Model 3 P for 2 years and spent time in a Taycan 4S. The Taycan is in a completely different league to the Tesla in almost every area and feels more than quick enough. But then it is almost 50% more to buy so it should do?
If costs are equal am not why this is even a debate? The Model 3 was conceived as the 'affordable' EV from Tesla and built/designed to hit a price/profit margin for Tesla, the Taycan is the first EV Porsche has made and Porsche themselves put it next to their first production car such is their confidence/pride in it.Aside from cost I cannot think why you would want a Model 3 (or any Tesla) over a Taycan??
gangzoom said:
Aside from cost I cannot think why you would want a Model 3 (or any Tesla) over a Taycan??
While I understand your POV, the Taycan is NOT a family car. It is significantly down on boot space compared to even a BMW 3 series sedan.
I'd love a Taycan for all the reasons mentioned, but as a practical family car compared to a Model S/X/Y, it's just not viable.
The cost won't be the same, and with options will be considerably different so depends on whether the OP feel it's worth it.
Ref why you would go for the Tesla over a base Taycan - Features, performance, range, charging network, size. Everyone has their own priorities.
Donlt get me wrong, if the cost difference is palatable I'd take the Taycan 4S CT in a heartbeat (no more expensive than the saloon once you include the 93kWh battery option)
Ref why you would go for the Tesla over a base Taycan - Features, performance, range, charging network, size. Everyone has their own priorities.
Donlt get me wrong, if the cost difference is palatable I'd take the Taycan 4S CT in a heartbeat (no more expensive than the saloon once you include the 93kWh battery option)
ZesPak said:
While I understand your POV, the Taycan is NOT a family car.
I don't agree. Unless you have very young kids that need a load of stuff carting around everywhere or hobbies that require the same it's more than useable as a family car. Seats 4 comfortably, big enough boot for 99% daily duties (especially in CT format).The amount of space some people seem to need always surprises me when I think back to the cars we had when ours kids were young.
SWoll said:
I don't agree. Unless you have very young kids that need a load of stuff carting around everywhere or hobbies that require the same it's more than useable as a family car. Seats 4 comfortably, big enough boot for 99% daily duties (especially in CT format).
The amount of space some people seem to need always surprises me when I think back to the cars we had when ours kids were young.
Ok, I'll conceded it is a family car as long as you don't have young kids and don't want to go on a holiday with the family The amount of space some people seem to need always surprises me when I think back to the cars we had when ours kids were young.
.I found the lack of boot space shocking tbh.
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