timbop
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Tim
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2020
- Threads
- 63
- Messages
- 6,743
- Reaction score
- 13,784
- Location
- New Jersey
- Vehicles
- Solar powered 2021 MME ER RWD & 2022 Corsair PHEV
- Occupation
- Software Engineer
Thanks for the experienced info. I test drove a dual motor model 3 in the summer of 2020 as I got tired of the lack of info from Ford and also liked a lot about it. Before the test drive I read the manual to get acquainted with the interface and learn more about the car. Even though I read the manual the night before it still took prompting from the sales rep to remember how to set the mirrors and navigate the UI. The car was fun to drive and definitely quick, but I agree with you that having to navigate through the UI to do even simple things is a shortcoming in design - especially since the controls are overloaded and unlabeled so you have to remember which of the 2 scroll wheels does what and what direction to push the gear selector for which action. I'm a software engineer so would adapt/remember where everything is pretty quickly but my wife would not. She is a luddite and would be completely overwhelmed by the UI.So husband has a Model 3. There is a great deal I like about the car, but I do have a number of complaints.
1. Fit and finish is as bad as they say. We have had chrome slide off on the door handles (thankfully no injuries). We currently have the trim on the driver side B pillar falling off and needing to be secured back into place (NOT EASY). This alone is taking two weeks for a service tech to come out for a visit).
2. The car has some major safety issues with autopilot. It will try and take you down closed express lanes. It will phantom brake in the middle of the highway. Sometimes this shit is horrifying and you ABSOLUTELY MUST pay close attention at ALL times.
3. The trunk entry is tiny.
4. As good as the infotainment is good at some things it FREQUENTLY requires extensive menu diving for simple tasks. Driver distraction is very much a thing here.
5. The lack of a dash screen is very noticible, the center mount screen is definitely a problem.
6. The Road Noise is LOUD.
7. There is a learning curve, and it is often a moving target, as Tesla frequently changes things.
This is not to knock it. It is basically a really good value for a very fast sports sedan, that is fun to drive. The charging network is very good, but not as convenient as you think (I have closer fast chargers for my mache in NW DC).
But my god, Tesla needs to get into the basics of car building more.
Needless to say after experiencing a Tesla, I wanted something else. I saw a Mustang Mach-E in person and was impressed as hell. Drove one and a MY and couldn't get the MME out of my mind.
He would still get another Tesla. He talks about getting a Model Y. So despite the issues, he still loves it, because he loves the tech and performance. Despite its issues, he still loves Tesla.
Overall the Tesla software is more refined and snappy and the car was fun to drive, but they went too far with the "minimalism". When you have to give someone a 15 minute tutorial just so they can adjust the mirrors/steering wheel and shift into reverse/drive then you've done something wrong.
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