Anyone go from a Model 3 to Mach-E?

[greatdane1588]

Looking for any feedback or experience people have had from owning both a Model 3 and Mach-E.

Considering possibly trading in our Long Range AWD Model 3 in for a AWD Mach-E (extended range either in Premium or California trim..)

Curious for comparisons on how it drives, daily living (i.e. getting toddlers/babies in and our of rear car seats, dogs in back), fit and finish, how easy the UI is comparatively, etc. What I don't need though is a rundown on is charging times, range etc (I'm fully aware of the difference there).

I've read some of the car site comparisons online, but looking for real life owners who actually lived with both cars. Thanks for any info in advance!

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[snowdoggie]

MME glass roof (at least in the 22 MY) has a black almost polarizing effect to keep the interior from heating up unlike the TM3. MME feels more like your in control and really driving with instrumentation to reflect that while the TM3 feels more like your a passenger for now helping the AI learn to drive you in the future.
People have different driving styles and comfort levels so it is very subjective, you should know it may take months to get a MME unless you are willing to pay ADM.

TSLA is DTC while F is still stuck in a dealer model so your buying, selling, servicing experience would also be different.

I personally like the looks of the MME, the tech of the TM3, the comfort of the MME, the buying exp of TSLA, maturity of TSLA (right now some dealers and even tow trucks are clueless on how to do XYZ on/to a MME), accel was similar.
I recommend booking multiple test drives since you already have a TM3, it would be much easier for you to compare and let us know.

 

[greatdane1588]

MME glass roof (at least in the 22 MY) has a black almost polarizing effect to keep the interior from heating up unlike the TM3. MME feels more like your in control and really driving with instrumentation to reflect that while the TM3 feels more like your a passenger for now helping the AI learn to drive you in the future.
People have different driving styles and comfort levels so it is very subjective, you should know it may take months to get a MME unless you are willing to pay ADM.

TSLA is DTC while F is still stuck in a dealer model so your buying, selling, servicing experience would also be different.

I personally like the looks of the MME, the tech of the TM3, the comfort of the MME, the buying exp of TSLA, maturity of TSLA (right now some dealers and even tow trucks are clueless on how to do XYZ on/to a MME), accel was similar.
I recommend booking multiple test drives since you already have a TM3, it would be much easier for you to compare and let us know.

Yeah there's a couple cars on order locally with a somewhat reasonable adjustment... which is the only reason I'm considering it right now. Our Rivian order got pushed out to possibly as late as 2024 and we want/need an electric car with more space than the Model 3 in the meantime, and the Mach-E is kinda where we landed as the best option as a replacement, and fortunately we might be able to get our hands on a new one sooner than later.

 

[back_at_it_19]

from a friend looking at moving from a Model Y to a MME (and my reasons as well) -
MME has Apple CarPlay (plugged and wireless)
MME has Android Auto
MME has dashboard instrumentation
He likes the MME UI a little better (I don't know about that)
MME, he thinks, judges range better and seems to not lose range over the months
He likes that Ford is preserving battery capacity (only allowing max kWh charge on a larger battery), to extend battery life
MME drives like a solid car, not a light vehicle like the MY
MME is MUCH quieter on the road (very noticeable), which is why it's heavier (also the larger battery)

 

[cdiv]

So, from roughly a week with my Mach-E premium extended range awd (vs a Model 3 long range dual motor)... it is far quieter. I don't care either way about having the speedometer behind the wheel. I think the sound system is better. The Mach-E comes in colors, while the Tesla comes in shades of boring plus red... and even the red is boring. (though if you really want boring, look at Polestar's colors) CarPlay is a must... so much so that I had this stupid thing in the Tesla, even though that's a *stupid* place for a touchscreen.

Heated steering wheel is really nice (though I believe Model 3s newer than mine have that). The fit and finish is excellent, though I'm not one of the people that found Tesla's interior lacking. Tesla's paint is awful.

The FordPass app is... fair. The info it displays is delayed, sometimes significantly, and it can't tell me if my car is locked or not. (Though I suppose that isn't important since if I'm unsure I can just hit the lock button) Phone as a key is rough... but Tesla's was too when I got the car.

The in-car UI is laggier than the Tesla, but not bad. Unlike the Tesla, I've yet to get a black screen instead of the rear camera when shifting to reverse. 360 camera is nice. Front park assist seems shorter range and I do kinda miss the distance readout.

All in all, I am very happy I traded in the Model 3 for the Mach-E. No idea if this rambly mess of a post is helpful, but here we are.

 

[astrorob]

@cdiv how do you feel about the 1-pedal driving in the MME vs. the tesla? is the 1-pedal mode selected from the transmission control? (on the Bolt putting the car in L activated 1-pedal) or, is it part of the driver profile? i have read that the mode influences the 1-pedal feeling a lot - do you have an idea which mode + 1-pedal approximates the tesla best WRT regen?

do the driver profiles work like the tesla? seats/mirror position driving mode/etc tied to the profile?

i also read that it's hard to get the rear camera to come up easily. we need this to figure out if we've parked far in enough in our garage. it's easy to bring up on the tesla of course.

 

[Mopey]

Considering possibly trading in our Long Range AWD Model 3 in for a AWD Mach-E (extended range either in Premium or California trim..)

Just so you know, California trim doesn't come with AWD. NEVERMIND

 

[ARK]

Just so you know, California trim doesn't come with AWD.

For 2022, you could get the Route 1 in either RWD or AWD, and for 2023 it is only AWD ?

 

[Mopey]

Oops. I stand corrected. Good to know.​

 

[cdiv]

how do you feel about the 1-pedal driving in the MME vs. the tesla?

Honestly, I haven't really tried 1-pedal on the MME. I liked whisper without 1-pedal and left it like that.

do the driver profiles work like the tesla? seats/mirror position driving mode/etc tied to the profile?

Yup, except that the Tesla supports more profiles... The Mach-E has three plus guest. But everything you'd think would be tied to the profile is as far as I've found.

i also read that it's hard to get the rear camera to come up easily. we need this to figure out if we've parked far in enough in our garage. it's easy to bring up on the tesla of course.

You can bring up the front and 360° camera from the touchscreen (tap the car, tap camera). I don't know that you can bring up the rear camera without being in reverse... I've never tried. The touchscreen is kinda laggy so bringing the camera up manually is annoying. It will come up automatically when the parking sensors kick in, but that happens far later than I'd like.

On the other hand, no matter how quickly I turn the car on and shift to reverse I have yet to have the rear camera fail to come up or show a black box, something my Tesla did more often than not.

 

[astrorob]

thanks for the reply!

Honestly, I haven't really tried 1-pedal on the MME. I liked whisper without 1-pedal and left it like that.
Yup, except that the Tesla supports more profiles... The Mach-E has three plus guest. But everything you'd think would be tied to the profile is as far as I've found.

bummer - OK - i've gotten quite used to the 1-pedal driving (Bolt and M3), hopefully MME is similar. the bolt was largely similar to the tesla, but the bolt had steering wheel paddles to increase regeneration braking. that was kind of nice but i haven't felt the need for them with the tesla.

You can bring up the front and 360° camera from the touchscreen (tap the car, tap camera). I don't know that you can bring up the rear camera without being in reverse... I've never tried. The touchscreen is kinda laggy so bringing the camera up manually is annoying. It will come up automatically when the parking sensors kick in, but that happens far later than I'd like.

ok maybe not that bad. as long as we can tell where the back of the car is with the 360 camera we should be good. the bolt did have the 360 camera, but it was so short that we never had to worry about this. i can't remember using it for this purpose.

On the other hand, no matter how quickly I turn the car on and shift to reverse I have yet to have the rear camera fail to come up or show a black box, something my Tesla did more often than not.

mine does this from time to time but seems to have gotten better at some point. i just figured they fixed a bug somewhere but it does seem like it could be a race condition and so just comes and goes from compile to compile.

 

[azulejost]

I haven’t owned a Model 3 but I rented one for a weekend thinking I may order one over the summer. That drive was purely fun, spirited stuff and left a great impression of the Model 3 RWD with LFP battery, so not exactly your experience. We’ve also owned a Bolt, Pacifica Hybrid, and briefly Escape Plug-in Hybrid for reference.

I’ve finally had a chance to spend some time on twisty 2-lane mountain roads in my Premium Standard Range RWD, so feel I can compare.

Regen in Unbridled 1PD mode is pretty good, but Tesla’s seems a little bit stronger. I liked the regen-on-demand paddle, but whereas the Model 3 sometimes would be a bit too much and unsettle the back of the car, the Mach-E doesn’t seem to allow that. And if any friction braking is needed, the Mach-E is far superior in the confidence and stopping power from the brake pedal.

Acceleration out of corners in the Tesla would frequently activate Traction/Stability control and make an almost video game experience where it would not allow more power no matter how far you bury the pedal until it got sorted out. Yet on a damp interstate cloverleaf, the Model 3 broke into a progressive oversteer never activating traction control in a less controlled and more dangerous setting that the other conditions. I don’t find traction/Stability control as intrusive on the Mach-E and it feels more like you get to control the power and even with the narrow tires, it goes. Overall the Tesla is faster and quicker, but it feels less rewarding to me as a driver if that makes sense. And the braking confidence with the Mach-E is far superior even though it’s substantially heavier.

I have 2 elementary school aged kids and it’s easy to live with for pick up and drop off and keeping them comfortable. Fit and finish and interior quality are better on the Mach-E, but the wireless charging pad angle and lack of overheating the phone on the Model 3 is the best of any car I’ve driven. My iPhone overheats in the Mach-E way too often and suddenly shuts down dropping calls, navigation, etc. Tesla’s UI is better except for CarPlay which is better for voice to text and calls. But the Ford navigation is pretty strong to the point I used it today over Waze, Apple Maps, or Google.

The hatch is theoretically better for awkwardly shaped hauling, but with typical stuff it’s a wash. Same for the frunk except slightly easier to access the Tesla’s.

One other thing, the Model 3 sidewalls and wheels seem far too easily damaged—I’ve never had an issue in any car I’ve owned or driven aside from a Tesla test drive and weekend rental. The 225/55R19s on the Premium make that far less an issue (wider tires would be good at times though). Subconsciously, I think that combined with the interstate ramp slide left me feeling while I may have a ton of fun in a Model 3, the Mach-E was the smarter, safer choice.

I think I’d be happy with either one, but at the end of the day the Mach-E gives up a bit of quickness but offers a much more solid, well-put together, and quiet experience. I was happy with my choice before, but after this recent trip through mountain driving roads that have been the sites of almost all of my favorite driving experiences, I’m thrilled to have this Mach-E.

 

[RSH]

We own both the M3 and MME. Prefer some things on the MME:
- if Fordpass doesn't cooperate, the backup door code and password have you covered typically. If you don't have your backup card in the M3, you're stuck.
-blindspot detection in the side mirror makes sense to me. Looking away from the road to the center screen for blind spot detection, or looking at the pictures on the center screen just seems counterintuitive.
- really like ability to have carplay/android auto
Some things I prefer in the M3:
- app never let's me down
- dog mode is helpful
- frunk closes so much easier than my MME
- getting info on types/availability of chargers using the screen is much easier in M3

I enjoy both.

 

[astrorob]

One other thing, the Model 3 sidewalls and wheels seem far too easily damaged—I’ve never had an issue in any car I’ve owned or driven aside from a Tesla test drive and weekend rental. The 225/55R19s on the Premium make that far less an issue (wider tires would be good at times though).

thanks for the long comparison, that was very helpful.

yes, somehow i have curb rash on 3 out of the 4 wheels of the car, and it is very severe. tesla's lease return process is very opaque, so i expect them to just charge me $1000 or something without warning or recourse. hence i need to get it all fixed by a 3rd party before i return the car.

like you, i never had an issue in any other car. i think i scratched the bolt's passenger side front wheel on a very unfortunate angled curb once, but it was minor enough that it didn't count against us when returning that car.

IMO curb rash on MY/M3 should be considered normal wear and tear. just look around at any M3 you see on the street and you'll find that easily 3/4s of them have bad curb rash at least on the passenger side.

 

[astrorob]

- if Fordpass doesn't cooperate, the backup door code and password have you covered typically. If you don't have your backup card in the M3, you're stuck.

i understand the MME now only comes with one key fob. i wonder if you can buy a 2nd one? 'typically' doesn't seem good enough; i'd hate to find myself out somewhere and not be able to get the car started.

the tesla has never once let me down with the phone and we've never had to use the key card.

edit: how do you feel the 1PD compares between the two cars? which mode, if any, do you feel approximates the tesla's feel?

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