Home Automotive Tesla Model 3: The long wait is nearly over

Tesla Model 3: The long wait is nearly over

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The lack of physical controls and the dominance of the 15in tablet is such a radical departure from normal practice that you either love it or hate it. For me, the jury's out but I believe I will come to love it...

Two months ago I sold my Jaguar I-Pace and ordered a Tesla Model 3 Long Range as a replacement. I had a strong feeling that I wanted to try the world of Tesla with its user experience that is designed from the ground up to cater for the next generation of car owners. I see the Tesla world as being very similar to Apple’s and I’m already a firm fan. I am now about to find out because my Model 3 arrives tomorrow.

If you are interested in cars, especially in electric cars, continue reading.

Waiting so long for a new car is a rare experience for me. I normally buy used, ideally one-year-old dealer demonstrators, so the changeover is more or less instant. In this case, however, I realised there would be a wait for the Tesla to arrive in the country, and I didn’t want to take delivery until March 1 because that’s when the year-designator in the number plate flips over to 21. Few private motorists in the UK register a car in February (or August, for the plates change twice a year) since this can affect resale values. A ridiculous system, but there you are.

How much is that Tesla in the window, the one with the waggly tail?… (I hope not).

There has been a ton of anticipation and the opportunity for me to mug up on all things Tesla over the weeks. After an intensive crash course of YouTube videos, I think I now know almost everything about the Model 3.

Today I am covering the anticipation, what I expect to find and what I believe the ownership experience will be. I can then compare anticipated thoughts with reality. If you are interested, that is.

Ordering

The Tesla buying experience, so far, has been far better than I expected. Ordering online and collecting from a central location, with no dealer involved, is a novel thing. It could well be the way of the future. The owning experience will come later.

Ordering on-line is straightforward because there are relatively few choices to be made. The one large decision, whether or not to have what Tesla calls FSD (Full Self-Driving), can be left until after delivery because it is a software update that you can buy at any time. Strangely, it is now often cheaper for manufacturers to build all the options into the car and then make them available either on subscription or as an additional one-off purchase.

Essentially, after deciding on the model, there is not much to bother about—just exterior colour, interior trim and size of wheels. Compare this with the buying process for a typical German car. You can spend a day agonising over every last detail of an Audi, Mercedes or Porsche and, even then, remorse sets in as soon as you’ve signed the form. It’s said that no two Porsches are the same, such is the degree of available customisation. However, any such additions are not reflected in resale values, so Tesla’s (and other manufacturers’) method is more sensible and, potentially, cheaper.

With Model 3, there are just three variants. The Standard Range Plus has rear-wheel drive and a smaller battery. The Long Range gets two motors for four-wheel drive, upgraded interior trim and audio, and a larger battery. At the top comes the Performance model, with better acceleration, sportier wheels, tweaked suspension and a rear spoiler. Choosing is straightforward, and there is a massive amount of advice on the internet to steer you to the right model.

I did not consider the Performance model because the extra acceleration (0-60 mph in 3.1s as opposed to 4.2s with the Standard Range Plus) does not attract me. And those fancy 20in alloys are kerb magnets of the highest order. Crucially, though, the Performance model is priced at over £50,000, so it loses the £3,000 government grant that is available to lesser models.

Decision

My choice was the Long Range with the standard 18in Aero wheels (with wind-cheating plastic covers for maximum efficiency). I’ve learned that larger wheels mean a shorter range (which is also the case with petrol or diesel cars, although the difference is less important).

My local Tesla showroom is closed for the duration. Eintritt verboten! But this blue car with white “vegan” seats is a 2020 version of the car I will collect tomorrow. The outside differences are cosmetic. For 2021 the chrome trim, including the handles, is finished in matte black.

After agonising over the colour, I chose metallic blue instead of the standard white or the optional black, silver grey and red. I was strongly tempted to red but was discouraged by my friends (“mutton dressed as lamb” was unkindly mentioned). It was, they said, too boy racer and would attract unwelcome attention, both on the road and in the car park.

Perhaps they were right. While my heart still hankers after red, but blue is probably the “head” choice. For me, however, there was no doubt about the white interior. As my new friends on the many Tesla YouTube channels tell me, the white seats are cool. Super cool, in fact. The blue metallic and the white “vegan” interior both cost an additional £1,000.

As a final touch, I added FSD despite it currently being a misnomer. I could have added FSD after purchase and, perhaps, that would have been the sensible choice. The problem with full self-driving is that it isn’t. And even when it becomes technically possible, it is unlikely to be legal in many countries for a long time.

Adaptive cruise control which is standard on all Teslas. If you opt for FSD you get automatic lane change (but, in the UK, requiring a confirmatory press of the indicator stalk), automatic parking and “Summon” which allows the car to travel without a driver for short distances in car parks (all controlled from the smartphone, of course). This is potentially useful when the space is tight and opening the door is difficult. Also included is “navigate on autopilot”, which includes a higher degree of autonomy and response to traffic lights. In the future, self-driving in town will be activated by software update. It is unlikely, however, that FSD in town will be legal in the UK for some time.

Many people think FSD it is a waste of money, even though my car will continue to get self-driving upgrades for the rest of its life as part of the initial package. Probably a majority of purchases will not choose this expensive option (£6,800 including tax).

Rather annoyingly, since I ordered my car Tesla has introduced an intermediate package called “Enhanced Autopilot” at a lower cost of £3,400. Currently, this gives everything in the FSD package except traffic-light recognition. Too late for changes now.

There are rumours that the FSD package will be available for monthly rental from the middle of 2021 and that is an even better proposition, especially for people such as me who seldom keep a car longer than twelve or eighteen months. We live and learn. It’s worth bearing in mind if you are considering a Tesla.

Tesla contact

So far, my contacts with Tesla have been highly impressive and I haven’t missed having a friendly local dealer at my beck and call. Following the straightforward initial order, which was accompanied by a non-refundable £100 deposit, my Tesla experience has only become better.

I have made three or four calls to discuss the car and delivery and, in every instance, the phone has been answered promptly and the staff members have been very bright, chatty and super efficient. They probably all moonlight as blue shirts in Apple Stores.

In the EV world, it’s all about the chargers. And Tesla’s fast Superchargers rule the roost. It’s going to be hard for the rest of the industry to catch up.

At an early stage, I asked if my particular car would be made in China rather than California, following stories I had seen in the press. To my surprise, the Tesla representative was happy to chat at length and he confirmed the origin. As I understand, all right-hand-drive Model 3 and Y models will in future be made in China. They confirmed that the car would have the latest Shanghai-factory improvements, including the revised interior front door trim and a heated steering wheel.

I did mention the known lower-body paint quality issues on 2021 models manufactured (presumably in California) in November and December of last year. I was assured that the quality of Made in China (MIC) models is “excellent” and that I would not experience any problems. While they would say this, I’m quietly hoping for the best and I will report when I get my hands on the car.

Customer service includes regular text messages to cover every step of the buying process, including when to pay the balance of the invoice, no later than seven days before delivery. Once I’d paid, I received the provisional registration number, which enabled me to confirm insurance.

Collection

On Monday, I go to Tesla’s distribution depot at Thorpe Park, Surrey, for a “low-contact” collection. This is a Covid-induced system but, according to guinea pigs in the USA and the UK, it’s a painless and, in some ways, preferable arrangement. All I need is my driving licence as ID. I will have ample time to inspect the vehicle without a salesperson fussing around. My phone will open the car. I sign the release documents and drive home. It sounds simple, so let’s see how it goes tomorrow.

Why did I buy a Tesla in preference to, say, a Porsche Taycan, an Audi eTron, a Polestar or a Mercedes EQ? The overriding reason is the Tesla charging infrastructure. In the EV world, it’s Tesla and The Others when it comes to charging. I’ve had extensive experience with the other world, and I wouldn’t say I like it. I’ll expand on that more when I have the Model 3 in my hands.

The second reason to buy Tesla is for the technology, with its regular software updates, and the general satisfaction of being part of an enthusiastic world. It is a feeling of inclusion that I am used to with, for instance, Leica and Apple. And the Tesla ownership experience is likely to be similar.

Reflections

As I wait for the delivery hour, it is perhaps time to reflect on what I expect from the Tesla Model 3. If nothing else, it will serve as a benchmark for my updates on what it is like to live with this car. So here goes:

PROS

  • Technology, driver assistance that continues to improve
  • The Supercharger network and the absence of charger/range angst
  • One place (the screen) to control almost all functions
  • Excellent handling
  • The Tesla world of enthusiasts
  • The minimalist approach
  • High efficiency, low electricity costs
  • Estimated 300-mile real-world range

CONS

  • Possible fit and finish problems that are well documented
  • Absence of a speedometer in line of sight
  • No air suspension and possible increased road noise
  • No blind-spot assist for overtaking, but the on-screen display could address this niggle
  • “Vegan leather” seats that could be sticky in hot temperatures
  • Possibility of wind noise at speed

Over the next few months, I am hoping to be able to make some long trips in the Model 3. No more do I have reservations about longer distances. The Supercharger network is always there and the car will plan charging stops. I shall be looking at what it is like to own a Model 3 and deciding whether my above points are accurate and if the bad points, if any, are worth living with because of the overall advantages of the car.

Shall I regret selling the Jaguar I-Pace? Will I wish I’d bought a Porsche Taycan or, even, a Tesla Model X (despite the size)? I am looking forward to being able to say that the Model 3 is the best compromise in today’s electric-vehicle market. Stay with us for more stories on life with the Model 3.

If you have enjoyed reading this article and are thinking of buying a Tesla, don’t forget to use a referral code. Anyone’s code will do, and it ensures that you get 1,000 free charging miles while the referral code owner gets the same. Make a note of my code if you would like to help yourself and Macfilos at the same time. I am also adding a referral code for Octopus Energy which I believe to be Britain’s best energy provider, whether or not you have an electric car. It is also one of the cheapest, and I shall be charging my Tesla for 5p per KWh — almost unheard of economy at around £1.25 ($1.75, €1.45) for 100 miles.

https://ts.la/michael12301 — for 1,000 free miles and a 1,000-mile donation to Macfilos

share.octopus.energy/pink-zebra-525 — for £50 off your first bill and £50 to Macfilos

Experiences with the first-generation Nissan Leaf

One-year review of the Jaguar I-Pace

Mike’s love affair with the electric car


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9 COMMENTS

  1. I understand needing to change often, but having driven both recently, I’d not be persuaded by the Tesla. Vegan means plastic seats, like in a German car. Pay leather prices, and you should get the genuine article.
    The Jaguar iPace is a nice place to sit in, let alone drive. It has genuine honest materials everywhere. Vinyl seats, fake wood on the dash, and fake wool in the carpets don’t cut the mustard. But I suppose if people are buying German cars, they are used to it.
    I hope you are not hideously disappointed by your (hopefully) Chinese built American car, but I certainly was, just as I was by the Model S five years ago and the Roadster ten years back. They are good for an American car, but not for me.
    Once the silly acceleration has lost your attention, the rest of it will be probably too bland to interest you for long. I give it six months.

  2. 0-60 in 3.1 seconds, I would fear leaving my false teeth on the back seat.

    I am intrigued to see how you get on, as equally to see how the government resolve a charging network in places similar to where I currently live. As it will hinder all progress once the car manufacturers stop producing engine based cars.

    • Yes,3.1s is a bit fast for me. My new car is a slowcoach and takes all of 4.4 (or is it 4.2). Don’t know how I’ll manage.

  3. So where are you going to go CRUISING in your new chick magnet? Looks like you ready for fun with that!

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