Update: Thinking About a Tesla Model 3

KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 10/24/2019 8:47pm
10/24/2019 8:47pm
KHI Guy wrote:
It’s time for a new driver, and I’ve been really intrigued by Teslas since the Model 3 came out. So, I went and drove two of...
It’s time for a new driver, and I’ve been really intrigued by Teslas since the Model 3 came out. So, I went and drove two of them last week, a Model 3 Dual motor and a Model 3 Performance. The point of the test drive was hoping that I would hate the car, and therefore making my car purchase that much easier. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way…

The best way to describe the experience was this: The Dual motor is really quick, it throws you back in your seat when you hit the accelerator (notice I didn’t say “gas pedal”, Grinning ). The Performance model….Holy Shit! That thing throws you in the BACK SEAT when you hit the pedal. I had heard people describe Tesla as a “technology company”, not a car company. With that in mind, I was expecting to find some glaring obvious deficiencies with the car, but I just didn’t really see anything from the hour or so I spent with them. They seem to have gotten the “car” part mostly right.

Am I missing something here? I need some input from people with Tesla experience out there to either talk me out of buying one, or talk me into it.
mxer146 wrote:
Fell free to ask away anything you need to know. I’m a tech for Tesla.
Thank you. I appreciate the offer. Smile
tcannon521 10/26/2019 1:02pm
10/26/2019 1:02pm Edited Date/Time 10/26/2019 1:03pm
XXVoid MainXX wrote:
And with regen braking the brakes shouldn't wear out very fast at all. Hopefully they start adding super caps to the battery system at some point...
And with regen braking the brakes shouldn't wear out very fast at all. Hopefully they start adding super caps to the battery system at some point. Then nearly all braking could be regenerative.
tcannon521 wrote:
I hope someday ultra caps are used for something with electric vehicles. I’m not sure regeneration is where the focus should be. Here’s my reason: Model...
I hope someday ultra caps are used for something with electric vehicles. I’m not sure regeneration is where the focus should be. Here’s my reason:

Model X charge rate: 200kw max
Model X regeneration rate: 50kw max

Chevy Bolt charge rate: 50kw max
Chevy Bolt regeneration rate: 70kw max

There’s a lot of room for improvement with energy going back to the current battery pack for Tesla.
Did you hear Elon say they are boosting range to all vehicles during the conference call? He also stated true one pedal driving was coming in the next update. I have a feeling those comments mean regeneration rates are increasing during the next update.
mxer146
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mxer146 10/26/2019 4:25pm
10/26/2019 4:25pm
XXVoid MainXX wrote:
And with regen braking the brakes shouldn't wear out very fast at all. Hopefully they start adding super caps to the battery system at some point...
And with regen braking the brakes shouldn't wear out very fast at all. Hopefully they start adding super caps to the battery system at some point. Then nearly all braking could be regenerative.
tcannon521 wrote:
I hope someday ultra caps are used for something with electric vehicles. I’m not sure regeneration is where the focus should be. Here’s my reason: Model...
I hope someday ultra caps are used for something with electric vehicles. I’m not sure regeneration is where the focus should be. Here’s my reason:

Model X charge rate: 200kw max
Model X regeneration rate: 50kw max

Chevy Bolt charge rate: 50kw max
Chevy Bolt regeneration rate: 70kw max

There’s a lot of room for improvement with energy going back to the current battery pack for Tesla.
tcannon521 wrote:
Did you hear Elon say they are boosting range to all vehicles during the conference call? He also stated true one pedal driving was coming in...
Did you hear Elon say they are boosting range to all vehicles during the conference call? He also stated true one pedal driving was coming in the next update. I have a feeling those comments mean regeneration rates are increasing during the next update.
The range updates I believe are mostly due to hardware on M3, but also a software update to older 3 and s/x (3%) roughly. The one pedal driving will be awesome as I do it mostly already is my MS work car
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 10/26/2019 5:21pm
10/26/2019 5:21pm
I don't get the appeal of one pedal driving. I get the whole regen braking thing and how it applies there, but really I want the car to go when I hit the accelerator, stop when I hit the brake, and somewhat coast when I do neither. Admittedly, it took like two blocks to get used to the regen braking in the Model 3 when I drove it. I wonder how many people blow through the first stop sign when they hop back into a gas car.
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tcannon521 10/26/2019 6:44pm
10/26/2019 6:44pm Edited Date/Time 10/26/2019 6:45pm
mxer146 wrote:
The range updates I believe are mostly due to hardware on M3, but also a software update to older 3 and s/x (3%) roughly. The one...
The range updates I believe are mostly due to hardware on M3, but also a software update to older 3 and s/x (3%) roughly. The one pedal driving will be awesome as I do it mostly already is my MS work car
Are all versions receiving the HP and range bumps? Also, is the single pedal driving going to increase regen rates? If not, any idea on why it’s capped at 50kw?
jasonward73
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jasonward73 10/28/2019 10:40am
10/28/2019 10:40am
KHI Guy wrote:
I don't get the appeal of one pedal driving. I get the whole regen braking thing and how it applies there, but really I want the...
I don't get the appeal of one pedal driving. I get the whole regen braking thing and how it applies there, but really I want the car to go when I hit the accelerator, stop when I hit the brake, and somewhat coast when I do neither. Admittedly, it took like two blocks to get used to the regen braking in the Model 3 when I drove it. I wonder how many people blow through the first stop sign when they hop back into a gas car.
To each their own.... I love the regen feature and only using one pedal.

But Tesla is way ahead of you. All you have to do is tap a button on the screen and you can coast just as if you're in an ICE car.
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mxer146
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mxer146 10/28/2019 7:52pm
10/28/2019 7:52pm
mxer146 wrote:
The range updates I believe are mostly due to hardware on M3, but also a software update to older 3 and s/x (3%) roughly. The one...
The range updates I believe are mostly due to hardware on M3, but also a software update to older 3 and s/x (3%) roughly. The one pedal driving will be awesome as I do it mostly already is my MS work car
tcannon521 wrote:
Are all versions receiving the HP and range bumps? Also, is the single pedal driving going to increase regen rates? If not, any idea on why...
Are all versions receiving the HP and range bumps? Also, is the single pedal driving going to increase regen rates? If not, any idea on why it’s capped at 50kw?
It sounds like all are getting the update but just the newer m3 “2020” models will have new hardware that will allow a little more. Not sure on regen rates
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XXVoid MainXX
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XXVoid MainXX 11/6/2019 4:38pm
11/6/2019 4:38pm
Truck reveal on the 21st.
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tcannon521 11/12/2019 7:01pm
11/12/2019 7:01pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2019 7:02pm
I’m both worried and excited about the truck unveiling. Elon’s comments about it bring a lot of what if’s....
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 11/29/2019 12:21pm
11/29/2019 12:21pm
tcannon521 wrote:
Which location are you dealing with?
Sent you a message...
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 12/24/2019 9:52am
12/24/2019 9:52am
Picked up my Model 3 Performance Thursday night. Thanks to all of you contributing to this threat that helped me make my decision. Smile
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peelout
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peelout 12/24/2019 10:26am
12/24/2019 10:26am
it matches your coat
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XXVoid MainXX
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XXVoid MainXX 12/24/2019 11:33am
12/24/2019 11:33am
Sweet! It shouldn't be long before I can trade in some TSLA for a Tesla.
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AHRMA361 12/24/2019 2:27pm
12/24/2019 2:27pm
Nice ride! You get that in Lyndhurst?
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mxer146
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mxer146 12/24/2019 9:31pm
12/24/2019 9:31pm
Rad! Hope you love it
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KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 12/25/2019 10:17am
12/25/2019 10:17am
AHRMA361 wrote:
Nice ride! You get that in Lyndhurst?
Yes, I ordered it online and picked it up in Lyndhurst.
tcannon521 12/29/2019 8:54am
12/29/2019 8:54am
KHI Guy wrote:
Yes, I ordered it online and picked it up in Lyndhurst.
Congrats!! What are your thoughts so far?
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 12/30/2019 8:16am
12/30/2019 8:16am
tcannon521 wrote:
Congrats!! What are your thoughts so far?
I've only driven it about 150 miles or so, and I won't drive it much until the winter weather clears out. So far so good though.

My big take away so far is how much like a "normal" car it really is, albeit with the performance of a full blown sports car. I think that when most people hear "electric vehicle", they still think of cars like SMART, Honda Insight, or 1st generation Prius. Everyone that has seen/ridden in it says it's pretty much the exact opposite of what they thought it would be. From a passenger perspective, it really isn't much different than an Accord or Camry, minus a console full of buttons.

I really like the minimalistic layout of the interior. You see a lot of complaints about the big "iPad" for a dashboard, but it is not an issue because after you get your initial drivers set up done, you aren't really messing around with it when you are driving. Also, most people are used to a navigation screen in that spot of the dash, so there is nothing odd about it. However, I do wish that they had the MPH either behind the wheel or on a heads up display just above the wheel.

Overall, the car is absolutely legit. The big question is how it will hold up over time. Will the hardware/software function the same way in 10-15 years as it did when new? Or will it be like a laptop computer or smartphone that just stops working right so you keep getting new ones?
APLMAN99
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APLMAN99 12/30/2019 9:06am
12/30/2019 9:06am
KHI Guy wrote:
I've only driven it about 150 miles or so, and I won't drive it much until the winter weather clears out. So far so good though...
I've only driven it about 150 miles or so, and I won't drive it much until the winter weather clears out. So far so good though.

My big take away so far is how much like a "normal" car it really is, albeit with the performance of a full blown sports car. I think that when most people hear "electric vehicle", they still think of cars like SMART, Honda Insight, or 1st generation Prius. Everyone that has seen/ridden in it says it's pretty much the exact opposite of what they thought it would be. From a passenger perspective, it really isn't much different than an Accord or Camry, minus a console full of buttons.

I really like the minimalistic layout of the interior. You see a lot of complaints about the big "iPad" for a dashboard, but it is not an issue because after you get your initial drivers set up done, you aren't really messing around with it when you are driving. Also, most people are used to a navigation screen in that spot of the dash, so there is nothing odd about it. However, I do wish that they had the MPH either behind the wheel or on a heads up display just above the wheel.

Overall, the car is absolutely legit. The big question is how it will hold up over time. Will the hardware/software function the same way in 10-15 years as it did when new? Or will it be like a laptop computer or smartphone that just stops working right so you keep getting new ones?
From the little anecdotal evidence that I have heard, the stuff that is going to go wrong generally occurs early. If the battery doesn't malfunction early, they seem to be lasting for longer than projected. There are still some outliers that fail early and the anti-EV crowd will always point to those as the norm, but they are probably not any more likely to fail than an ICE engine would be and Tesla seems to be very "forgiving" on the ones that are just out of warranty, etc.

On the truck side of the EV world, I'm wondering how the Rivian will do, especially with the newly shown "tank mode". That could really be an off-road benefit!!!!!
tcannon521 1/8/2020 6:25pm
1/8/2020 6:25pm
KHI Guy wrote:
I've only driven it about 150 miles or so, and I won't drive it much until the winter weather clears out. So far so good though...
I've only driven it about 150 miles or so, and I won't drive it much until the winter weather clears out. So far so good though.

My big take away so far is how much like a "normal" car it really is, albeit with the performance of a full blown sports car. I think that when most people hear "electric vehicle", they still think of cars like SMART, Honda Insight, or 1st generation Prius. Everyone that has seen/ridden in it says it's pretty much the exact opposite of what they thought it would be. From a passenger perspective, it really isn't much different than an Accord or Camry, minus a console full of buttons.

I really like the minimalistic layout of the interior. You see a lot of complaints about the big "iPad" for a dashboard, but it is not an issue because after you get your initial drivers set up done, you aren't really messing around with it when you are driving. Also, most people are used to a navigation screen in that spot of the dash, so there is nothing odd about it. However, I do wish that they had the MPH either behind the wheel or on a heads up display just above the wheel.

Overall, the car is absolutely legit. The big question is how it will hold up over time. Will the hardware/software function the same way in 10-15 years as it did when new? Or will it be like a laptop computer or smartphone that just stops working right so you keep getting new ones?
I’m glad you are enjoying it. If I end up with a Model Y from the raffle I’ll owe you. ;-)

I’m curious why you aren’t going to drive it during the winter? The ability to preheat the cabin from my phone is one of my favorite features. Did you install a Nema 14-50 outlet in your home yet?
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 1/11/2020 2:48pm
1/11/2020 2:48pm
tcannon521 wrote:
I’m glad you are enjoying it. If I end up with a Model Y from the raffle I’ll owe you. ;-) I’m curious why you aren’t...
I’m glad you are enjoying it. If I end up with a Model Y from the raffle I’ll owe you. ;-)

I’m curious why you aren’t going to drive it during the winter? The ability to preheat the cabin from my phone is one of my favorite features. Did you install a Nema 14-50 outlet in your home yet?
Thanks. I'm not driving it a lot right now because it has the 20" summer only tires on it. Also, I really didn't want to buy it until the spring time, but the tax credit totally drove the timing of my purchase. Even though our winter has been pretty mild so far, the weather is really hard on vehicles in NE Ohio. I have an aversion to tearing up my brand new car right away. I will get another set of wheels with either all seasons or dedicated snow tires for next year though.

I didn't put a 14-50 outlet in yet, but I will soon. I have a 6-20 that runs my air compressor, so that will give me plenty of juice for the time being. Actually, a 110 outlet is enough right now, haha.
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GeorgiePorgie 1/14/2020 7:40pm
1/14/2020 7:40pm
I hope you got your plates before January 1st so you could avoid that $200 electric surcharge!
KHI Guy
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KHI Guy 1/15/2020 6:45pm
1/15/2020 6:45pm
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
I hope you got your plates before January 1st so you could avoid that $200 electric surcharge!
Don't get me started, haha..UGH!!!

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