Spotify coming -

 

https://electrek.co/2019/08/15/elon-musk-finally-confirms-tesla-cars-are-getting-spotify-but-when/

With 22 pages of thread to read through, I must confess I haven’t bothered BUT have actually now had a test drive of a Model 3 and thought I’d share the impressions here.

 

As a background, I am a bit sceptical about electric vehicles and whether they are all they are cracked up to be from an ecological perspective and think other power trains such as hydrogen could be better. So by no means going into the test drive as a Tesla (or any EV) fanboy.

 

I’d read on the Internet about poor build quality, panel gaps and generally that the Model 3 was a bit low- rent. My experience of the car was that is is very far from true, the fit and finish of the bodywork and interior were as good as anything I’ve seen (and I’ve owned a lot of high end cars (or to be precise, persuaded my employer to let me run them at their expense)) so I’m not comparing the Tesla to say a Corsa.

 

The interior on the car we tried was pretty stunning, light cream leather with dark seat backs and carpets, with a light headlining and pan roof. The interior space was impressive and in the back there seemed as much leg room as in my current Skoda Superb, which is known for being big.

 

So initial impressions were very positive. 

 

We were shown around the instrumentation which is more like a big iPad in the middle of the cabin and probably of all the aspects of the car this was my least favourite. I think getting used to using it for basic functions such as changing the AC level and so on would take some time and be distracting in the short term. My previous car was a Velar which had fancy dual screens and that had some buttons too but I never really gelled with the system - maybe those of the PlayStation generation will find it fine but I’m still to be convinced.

 

In terms of driving, what can I say. How about Wow, and WTF, and other such amazed noises. It was a truly different experience driving along with only a little tyre noise for company, you certainly needed to keep an eye on the speedo.

 

We reached an open bit of road and the guy said “feel free to floor it, but brace yourself first”...I thought “yeah, whatever”, gave it a reasonable foot full (but by now means floored it) and all of a sudden the scenery was coming at me like something out of a movie on fast forward! Absolutely incredible acceleration, no noise, fuss, delay or anything, just instant power due to the torque of the motors. Most noise came from Swmbo in the back who thought her neck had snapped!

 

Cruising along at 65 on a dual carriageway, look to pull out to overtake and VOOM, it’s done, OmG that’s 90, foot off throttle and the regen braking brought speed down again as if I’d been on the brakes. Apparently the ferocity of the regen braking can be tailored and saved against your “user profile” so multiple drivers of the same car can set up just about everything as they want. So when you get in, select your profile and everything sets itself to your preference.

I didn’t get the chance to really try the handling but nothing happened during the test drive that made me think the power was beyond the chassis capabilities. The ride was fairly good, a little stiff maybe but the car was running 20 inch wheels so there was no real give in the tyre sidewalls to absorb bumps, instead relying on the suspension to cope. So there was a bit of bump-thump transferred the the cabin . Potentially the suspension could be programmed - I didn’t ask - but if I was ordering one, I’d go for 18 inch wheels. The 20s looked great but I’d get tired of the ride.

The boot was cavernous but to me the opening is small and they missed a trick with not making it a hatchback. There’s no way I could accommodate my dog (greyhound) in the boot, whereas if it was a hatchback I could drop the rear seats and let her be in the cabin behind a suitable grate. But the boot opening was too awkward.

 

Were there any negatives? No, not really. The range on the one I tried was (I think) 330 miles, slightly skinny but if it was truly 330 irrespective of how you use it and ambient temperatures then for me, that would be OK as we rarely go more than 250 miles a day. I’d be more comfortable with a perceived range of 400 but that’s only like buying a car that can do 150 mph not 120 mph - ie academic but nice to know it’s there.

 

I started the test drive convinced I’d not like the whole experience and that ICE propulsion was in my blood and anything else would be a huge compromise. I came away absolutely converted and if EV is the best way ahead, well, sign me up.

 

Currently I’m not going the EV route, but am looking forward to viewing and testing a Model Y when they appear. I’d prefer an estate to an SUV style but would compromise that for sure. I’d prefer range over performance too but 330 to 350 is actually OK.

 

I’m a little unconvinced that the infrastructure currently supports widespread adoption of EV but when petrol engines were new, there was no infrastructure for them and petrol was bought from the chemist. 

 

One of the add ins available at Tesla (maybe elsewhere too) is the ability to have a solar harvesting system at home so you can charge up a big accumulator from the light, then plug in when you get home and charge the car for free. Brilliant.

 

I know there are a lot of knockers of Tesla’s: I used to own a Porsche Boxster which also got a lot of negative press and criticism- but only from those who’d never actually driven one and were happy to be influenced by the views of Clarkson et al. I have a massive suspicion that the vast majority of people who are knocking Tesla’s have never actually looked at one in the flesh let alone driven on.

 

Me - I a a convert!

 

But I’ve no idea why this font is so big! Sorry! 

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by ColinD
fixed font size - at a loss too

Yeah, I’m not sure about the iPad but it’s definitely going to win the phone obsessed millennials.

@FatWolfie Nice, well written and balanced review, testing performance, and examining your use case.

@FatWolfie

 

Car Designers and Manufacturers should take a lead from you.

 

More 'LARGE PRINT' on screens and beside switches.   Easy to see when driving without the need to have reading glasses on the top of head to drop down.

 

All very well Left Hand Drive and easy to use right hand buttons and switches, but right hand drive cars and right handed people can have a real issue using screens as it is with a finger of a left hand without also needing to drop their glasses to see what is what, use the indicator with the left hand, wipe their nose etc.

At least no parking brake (hand brake) to use is one saviour with modern right hand drive car.  (well many of them.)

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

21 minutes ago, FatWolfie said:

I’m a little unconvinced that the infrastructure currently supports widespread adoption of EV but when petrol engines were new, there was no infrastructure for them and petrol was bought from the chemist. 

Great write up of your experience and thoughts. As you say, nay-sayers tend to have never driven and lived with a good EV.

 

I feel the quoted bit doesn't really apply to Tesla. Driving my Leaf, my biggest problem is the number of chargers at each location, turning up to charge feels like a gamble on whether I only have to wait 10min splash+dash or 40min until someone else finishes. Tesla, on the other hand, all their locations I've seen have 6-8 superchargers, there's a 12 supercharger location close to where I live.

 

Also, if you have driveway, EV are charged overnight. You will rarely need to rely on public charging infrastructure. As you've been told, you can also reduce your impact on National Grid by having a home battery and charge your car via green solar power.

7 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

Also, if you have driveway, EV are charged overnight. You will rarely need to rely on public charging infrastructure.

So long as the real world range (including on cold dark wet Winter days) is greater than your normal round trip...

13 minutes ago, Roottootemoot said:

@FatWolfie

 

All very well Left Hand Drive and easy to use right hand buttons and switches, but right hand drive cars and right handed people can have a real issue using screens as it is with a finger of a left hand without also needing to drop their glasses to see what is what, use the indicator with the left hand, wipe their nose etc.

At least no parking brake (hand brake) to use is one saviour with modern right hand drive car.  (well many of them.)

 

Id never thought of that point re left hand vs right hand, but that’s a real astute observation. 

 

I’m also of an age where the reading glasses are needed, but not distance glasses, so that lack of clarity at a glance certainly won’t be helping. But I think the real nugget is left hand vs right hand dexterity.

 

 

I would give my right hand to be ambidextrous.

 

I still have 2 cars built properly.  (starting to become a bit of PITA actually if not driven enough to remember.)

Right hand drive, indicator / lights on right stalk, wiper on the left.

I’ve just seen the latest Genesis G70 add, and I just thought (for us at least) how irrelevant the old ICE era is now.

I just can’t wait for whatever EV we end up with.

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

So long as the real world range (including on cold dark wet Winter days) is greater than your normal round trip...

Indeed.

 

Although if you have to drive 200 miles every single day (base spec Model 3 EPA range is around 220 miles), perhaps your commute is a bit too long?

5 hours ago, wyx087 said:

base spec Model 3 EPA range is around 220 miles

Under what conditions? Dry and sunny (but not hot enough to need air-con)? Or as I said cold dark wet Winter day?

 

If EV quoted ranges are based on "best case" conditions then we would be right back where we were before WLTP with quoted consumption figures not being achievable in real World use. EV manufacturers need to learn from that stupid mistake and quote figures that Joe/Joanne Public can be confident he /she will achieve.

WLTP not worth a fig in a 4 seater or say a 7 seater EV if you put people in all the seats and luggage in the boot and then need to go the kind of distance the WLTP shows.

 

The media this week about Orkney and the take up of EV's showed a Nissan e-NV200 saying it is believed to be one of the first converted as a camper.

I have meet several people with them and asked about range and the mainly say they managed OK with them but you really do not have the Freedom to Roam ad-hoc.

100 miles maybe, the 180 plus city a wish and a dream, and if you are in a city you can charge as you are not doing big miles in the one day unless a taxi or delivery van.

 

What a road trip stopping every 90 minutes to get a charge...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

On 16/08/2019 at 17:43, Roottootemoot said:

What a road trip stopping every 90 minutes to get a charge

I have been saying that about recent model EVs for literally years now.

I know you have,

but then there are vehicles in which you can go 4 hours between charges which is like 220 miles @ the sort of average speed i do, so 55 mph.

Tried it, done it, had range to spare.  Still a PITA though.

On 16/08/2019 at 19:17, Roottootemoot said:

the sort of average speed i do, so 55 mph.

That's my average A to B, but includes stops, so my typical speed between stops is 60 to 70.

I do 60 mph (ish) if road allow and 70 mph (ish) when i can, but over 200 miles plus i can not do all at the 60 or all at the 70 mph in Scotland, i doubt you do more than any 40 mile stint at those speeds either.

We likely do similar routes.

 

About as good as it gets with half motorway and half NSL and no stop. 'Average Speed Cameras', & No mater if 100ps, 150ps or 300+ps.

Edited 16 August, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

I don't use roads with average greed scameras on them.

If in doubt stay in the truck lane .

City driving is more economical than aero drag induced highway driving at the max.

Being retired helps.

8 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

If in doubt stay in the truck lane .

City driving is more economical than aero drag induced highway driving at the max.

Being retired helps.

 

That's my plan with adaptive cruise

 

I found in the smaller car days a nice sweet spot just by the front wheels of the truck and erm... quite close, just inside the bow wave. This was many years ago when I had better hand/eye co-ordination, fewer trucks, oh and no mobile phones

 

 

3 hours ago, KenONeill said:

I don't use roads with average greed scameras on them.

 

For the last few years I've been using the A9 to access the road of death over to fort bill. I can just about tolerate it versus loch lomond, but the 'direct' callendar road is so packed... 

 

But in the dead of the night the A9 is a real chore to 'stick' So in a way it works   But then I find myself on the glencoe road and gambling on lomond or stirling

 

Saw in the news today one of those truly stupid stats... in scotland you're never more than 2.46 miles away from a EV charging station ( on average )... I roared with laughter thinking about being up at Elphin and stoer for a week climbing. Only just make it back on fuel from ullapool

I'll jump on the EV in 5+ we'll have either figured out how, why and grid capacity or not.

3 minutes ago, ColinD said:

 

For the last few years I've been using the A9 to access the road of death over to fort bill. I can just about tolerate it versus loch lomond, but the 'direct' callendar road is so packed... 

 

But in the dead of the night the A9 is a real chore to 'stick' So in a way it works   But then I find myself on the glencoe road and gambling on lomond or stirling

 

Saw in the news today one of those truly stupid stats... in scotland you're never more than 2.46 miles away from a EV charging station ( on average )... I roared with laughter thinking about being up at Elphin and stoer for a week climbing. Only just make it back on fuel from ullapool

It seems they are referring to the profitable areas -

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1124595_charging-stations-now-outnumber-gas-stations-in-britain

 

(acc works a treat for economy........our trucks do 105kph indicated)

The Tesla service centre dichotomy.

 

If you have a unique auto industry model of online direct sales and almost zero maintenance, how do establish and finance a service coverage for minimal income generated ?

 

this maybe behind a paywall - https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/tesla-races-boost-service-germany

9 hours ago, ColinD said:

 

That's my plan with adaptive cruise

 

I found in the smaller car days a nice sweet spot just by the front wheels of the truck and erm... quite close, just inside the bow wave. This was many years ago when I had better hand/eye co-ordination, fewer trucks, oh and no mobile phones

 

 

 

But this is also one to the most dangerous places to be on the road:

(this is for a LHD truck but the principle are the same when the image is reversed for a RHD truck)

https://www.truckingwatchdog.com/2017/01/25/why-these-4-blind-spots-in-trucks-are-still-a-huge-safety-problem/