Tesla Model III preorders have started

[gorcorps]

#1 - lol

#2 - wait, so you have to look down to press a little tiny fan button, and then look down to adjust a slider?? That's awful! Living in New England, sometimes my windshield will fog up INSTANTLY and I will have to switch from cold air to hot air, or venting, or whatever, to get it to go away. Ugh!

Yeah, seems stupid. Of course as voice recognition improves, you could automate a lot of those settings with a simple voice command (like a macro) and not mess with the screen, but it seems silly to have to incorporate voice commands into a system to get over the awkwardness of touch controls when we already had perfectly good alternatives to begin with.

 

[gorcorps]

LOL - but looking over for speed was an idea that really hasn't worked in the past (I guess maybe the Mini sold well but...)

The priuses have center mounted instrument clusters too, but the new ones also have a HUD on the windsheild so that helps

 

[Ichinisan]

Yeah, seems stupid. Of course as voice recognition improves, you could automate a lot of those settings with a simple voice command (like a macro) and not mess with the screen, but it seems silly to have to incorporate voice commands into a system to get over the awkwardness of touch controls when we already had perfectly good alternatives to begin with.

"Blow me, Electric CruiseBeast." [referenced nsfw Oatmeal comic, language]

"Sorry. I'm not sure I understand your command."

 

[Kaido]

Model 3 in blue with the removable aero wheels covers:

 

[Kaido]

Someone made a homebrew Tesla Model 3 monthly payment calculator:

http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-monthly-payment-cost-calculator-tax-insurance-charging/

Incorporates the car's configuration options, tax rate, loan information, changing fee, commute, your driving habits, and insurance.

 

[PeterScott]

Model 3 in blue with the removable aero wheels covers:

The car looks sharp, the wheels/covers don't. They would have to get me a LOT of extra range to consider using them.

 

[KentState]

Someone made a homebrew Tesla Model 3 monthly payment calculator:

http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-monthly-payment-cost-calculator-tax-insurance-charging/

Incorporates the car's configuration options, tax rate, loan information, changing fee, commute, your driving habits, and insurance.

Can be had for a nice 750-950/month. Not sure I would want to spend that much on a pure commuter car.

 

[Kaido]

The car looks sharp, the wheels/covers don't. They would have to get me a LOT of extra range to consider using them.

Word is that the aero covers give an approximately 10% range gain (which I believe is the published figure, so if you take them off, you lose 10% of the advertised range). I think the car's color affects how bad the aero colors look. iirc this was on a tester car, not bad with red:

The 18" wheels underneath the aero covers are...okay:

The 19" rims are better:

 

[Kaido]

The car looks sharp, the wheels/covers don't. They would have to get me a LOT of extra range to consider using them.

Ahah, here's the matrix I was looking for:

Prototype 18" aero covers:

Production 18" aero covers:

Production 18" rims, without the cover, in the dark color...now these I like:

 

[PeterScott]

Those production 18" in dark do look best so far.

 

[Kaido]

Those production 18" in dark do look best so far.

I would much rather have the 18" than the 19" for the softer ride quality too...

 

[Mandres]

Can be had for a nice 750-950/month. Not sure I would want to spend that much on a pure commuter car.

I feel exactly the same way. I like this car, but my interest in it is purely as a commuting appliance. A $300/mo. Hyundai Sonata makes a whole lot more sense for that role. For a $900 car payment I can get a much nicer, more comfortable, sexier car.

 

[sontakke]

between having to fork over 49K for long range+upgrade pkg+earlier delivery vs 35K for standard range+vanilla interior+later delivery what are the decisions you guys are making? I am not sure I want to go full hog wild with the option list and turn that 35K car in to 60K car once you add the autopilot, color, wheels etc. At 60K, I would have lot more and different choices than Tesla M3. At 35K, as extremely sparsely equipped, I am not sure M3 is attractive to me. Decisions, decisions!!

 

[gorcorps]

between having to fork over 49K for long range+upgrade pkg+earlier delivery vs 35K for standard range+vanilla interior+later delivery what are the decisions you guys are making? I am not sure I want to go full hog wild with the option list and turn that 35K car in to 60K car once you add the autopilot, color, wheels etc. At 60K, I would have lot more and different choices than Tesla M3. At 35K, as extremely sparsely equipped, I am not sure M3 is attractive to me. Decisions, decisions!!

For $60k you can nearly get a used Model S with the largest battery. Why anyone would go with a Model 3 for the same price, I have no idea.

 

[Viper GTS]

For $60k you can nearly get a used Model S with the largest battery. Why anyone would go with a Model 3 for the same price, I have no idea.

The newer sensor packages and features might be reason enough depending on how much you valued the autopilot capability. If you aren't going to be turning the car over every few years starting out 3 years behind the most recent technology leaves you in a bad spot 5 years in the future. The OTA updates and feature additions are a compelling part of the Tesla sell, the old ones rapidly lose their appeal.

Viper GTS

 

[tweakmonkey]

. At 35K, as extremely sparsely equipped, I am not sure M3 is attractive to me. Decisions, decisions!!

Is it really that sparsely equipped at 35k? Still seems like a deal to me.

I've seen a few around town now. Saw a white one yesterday. It looks pretty cool too.

 

[K1052]

between having to fork over 49K for long range+upgrade pkg+earlier delivery vs 35K for standard range+vanilla interior+later delivery what are the decisions you guys are making? I am not sure I want to go full hog wild with the option list and turn that 35K car in to 60K car once you add the autopilot, color, wheels etc. At 60K, I would have lot more and different choices than Tesla M3. At 35K, as extremely sparsely equipped, I am not sure M3 is attractive to me. Decisions, decisions!!

I'm not sure who else can sell me a basically fully optioned AWD EV with 200+ miles of range and autopilot next year for any price, let alone under 60K.

 

[Charlie22911]

I wouldn't mind trading the RS5 for a Model 3. I don't think I'd get a used EV though over concerns with used battery condition, however irrational that may be.

 

[Kaido]

For $60k you can nearly get a used Model S with the largest battery. Why anyone would go with a Model 3 for the same price, I have no idea.

I would absolutely take a $60k Model III over a used $60k Model S. The III, at that price range, has AWD, a 315-mile range, improved safety (re: the Volvo video), the latest tech, and (imo) much better looks. It also looks like it's more comfortable height-wise (the S was very snug for me, almost Corvette snug, including the back seat...the 3 has kind of the reverse of the X's pano windshield on the rear window). The biggest difference is that the S is faster than the 3, and has more interior/storage room.

 

[sontakke]

For 60K, you can NOT get used S with 300+ mile range at all. Used S in that price will be 200 miles range.

Base model does not have heated seats or power adjustable seat etc. That is pretty sparsely equipped.

• Upgrade interior for $5,500 – Heated seating, two rear USBs, wood decor, 12-way power adjustable seats, premium audio system, tinted glass roof, auto dimming and heated side mirrors, LED fog lamps, center console with storage for docking two smartphone

 

[Kaido]

In-depth look at the 3:

 

[bigi]

^ I saw this a few days ago. Solid clip showing lots of details about it. Overall, I dig the car. Now, just have to wait some to get one...

 

[tweakmonkey]

I’m seeing quite a few of these now. Usually one a day. I saw two a few miles apart on Saturday. Granted I live near the factory and the biggest customer base I’m guessing. They look nice in white or red. The back is a little boring.

 

[bradly1101]

Tesla just needs to exorcise its reliability demons. They are no longer recommended by Consumer Reports.

 

[bradly1101]

Yes, abysmal.



What other manufacturer can say that? (97% would buy again)

That survey is after initial ownership. Their reliability survey of what happens down the road tells a different story.