Tesla Model 3 General Discussion

[Nessy]

I think at this point if you put anything in that spot it looks better than what it currently is.

Thing is, if the Model 3 comes to the UK looking as it does now, that void will get filled with a registration plate anyway. I think it's only the US that have no front registration plate requirements.

TBH, I quite like it without anything there at all, but i'll still probably have a play around with the front void.

 

[Endless-Wilso]

I think at this point if you put anything in that spot it looks better than what it currently is.

Sounds like a photoshop challenge.

 

[Nessy]

Sounds like a photoshop challenge.

Awesome smiley to fill the void?

 

[CodeRedR51]

Thing is, if the Model 3 comes to the UK looking as it does now, that void will get filled with a registration plate anyway. I think it's only the US that have no front registration plate requirements.

TBH, I quite like it without anything there at all, but i'll still probably have a play around with the front void.

Some states require them, some don't. In fact I'm changing out the front grille on my car tomorrow to get rid of the front plate bracket the dealer put for no reason seeing as they are not required in my state.

 

[Nessy]

Some states require them, some don't. In fact I'm changing out the front grille on my car tomorrow to get rid of the front plate bracket the dealer put for no reason seeing as they are not required in my state.

What happens if you go out of state (in your car, obviously) for any great length of time? Are you required to carry plates with you that you have to attach?

(off topic, I know)

 

[CodeRedR51]

What happens if you go out of state (in your car, obviously) for any great length of time? Are you required to carry plates with you that you have to attach?

(off topic, I know)

Nope, only if you move perminately.

 

[homeforsummer]

The problem is that a "non-grille" look is only really possibly with an mid or rear engine mounted car with a lower profile nose. Doesn't really work on a sedan front engine style nose.

Porsche would disagree:

Electric, sedan-style car with a low nose and only a lower grille opening. The Mission E is exactly why something like the Model S doesn't interest me visually, and the Model 3 even less so. While I'm aware abandoning a traditional automobile look would turn away customers - event the Mission E looks more or less like a typical car - Tesla's insistence on having a "frunk" paints them into a corner in terms of styling, because they have to have the bulk of a full front end anyway, little different to if there'd been an engine in there. And then you end up with a car that looks like it should have a grille.

Anyway, it's not like a sizeable "frunk" isn't possible in a car with a relatively low-profile nose anyway - a 991 or a Boxster still has a pretty usable front boot:

...and a Tesla would still have the advantage of a proper luggage area too (that said, as Jalopnik points out, it's ridiculous that the Model 3 has a tiny trunk opening when it should have been a hatchback).

 

[CodeRedR51]

I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with the Model S, I think it looks great.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with the Model S, I think it looks great.

It's nice enough, but it's also pretty generic. It's like the car insurance companies use in their ads when they don't want to use a recognisable vehicle. It could be so much better, given the absolutely pristine sheet they had to start with - the Model S has no bloodline to reference like someone attempting to redesign a 5-series or an E-class. I can understand the need to play it safe, but it's weirdly conservative for a company that in every other facet does things completely different from the norm.

Though it's not really the car I'm talking about here. The Model S has elegant proportions and a fairly coherent face, which are two things the Model 3 does not have.

 

[Joey D]

My wife and I were talking last night and we are really considering replacing our Focus with a Model 3, especially if we end up in California this year. We'd keep the Tacoma, but since we are considering Los Angeles, I doubt we would really need the truck for anything past weekend treks to the mountains.

Also considering a Chevy Volt and Bolt are nearly the same price as the Model 3 is, it doesn't really seem like much of a stretch just to drop a couple more thousand and end up with a Tesla.

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

Video of the Model 3 out in the wild.

 

[homeforsummer]

My wife and I were talking last night and we are really considering replacing our Focus with a Model 3, especially if we end up in California this year. We'd keep the Tacoma, but since we are considering Los Angeles, I doubt we would really need the truck for anything past weekend treks to the mountains.

Also considering a Chevy Volt and Bolt are nearly the same price as the Model 3 is, it doesn't really seem like much of a stretch just to drop a couple more thousand and end up with a Tesla.

If Tesla's track record is anything to go by, it's probably a little optimistic expecting the Model 3 to be available any time this year.

I'd almost be tempted to wait and see whether there are any rumblings of the next-gen Leaf at some point this year too. It'll be another in the 200 miles/$30k bracket. The market's certainly going to get busy over the next few years.

 

[FT-1]

I'd almost be tempted to wait and see whether there are any rumblings of the next-gen Leaf at some point this year too. It'll be another in the 200 miles/$30k bracket. The market's certainly going to get busy over the next few years.

There is also VW with a Microbus EV, but that's been put on hold since the dawn of time. With that said, I hope the number of Model 3 orders convinces VW to fast track the production of the BUDD-e, it has quirky styling and could take a sizeable share of people who can't bear the wait of the new Tesla.

 

[Joey D]

If Tesla's track record is anything to go by, it's probably a little optimistic expecting the Model 3 to be available any time this year.

I'd almost be tempted to wait and see whether there are any rumblings of the next-gen Leaf at some point this year too. It'll be another in the 200 miles/$30k bracket. The market's certainly going to get busy over the next few years.

I forgot about the Leaf, guess we will need to put that on the list too. And the Focus still has a little life left in it so it probably won't be replaced this year. Right now we are targeting next spring/summer for a new vehicle.

 

[JohnBM01]

There hasn't been a Tesla I disliked. I'm surely not a hater of this Model 3 Tesla. I saw a Model S earlier today, and it may be possible I may see more Model 3's on the road. All the best to Tesla with this Model 3.

 

[homeforsummer]

There is also VW with a Microbus EV, but that's been put on hold since the dawn of time. With that said, I hope the number of Model 3 orders convinces VW to fast track the production of the BUDD-e, it has quirky styling and could take a sizeable share of people who can't bear the wait of the new Tesla.

While I admire VW's ability to make interesting EV concepts and the e-Golf/e-Up are both very good cars, I'm less confident in VW's ability to get a 200mile/$30k car on the market any time soon, even with an imminent threat from Tesla.

I forgot about the Leaf, guess we will need to put that on the list too. And the Focus still has a little life left in it so it probably won't be replaced this year. Right now we are targeting next spring/summer for a new vehicle.

The Focus is one of a handful of EVs I've still not yet driven, but given what else is/will be available it'd be a long way down my list. Model 3, Leaf and Bolt will be the major players for the next few years I suspect. Unfortunately my current job doesn't give me much opportunity to test EVs, but I'm also looking forward to seeing what the Hyundai Ioniq is like in its various forms. 155 miles EV range from that one, apparently.

But if full EV isn't a necessity the new Volt is supposed to be a pretty good car too. Lots of praise from my previous employer over it.

Much as I'm not a fan of the Model 3's styling, it's great to see the options available on the market expanding at the rate they are, and virtually all of them are pretty good cars too.

 

[CodeRedR51]

If Tesla's track record is anything to go by, it's probably a little optimistic expecting the Model 3 to be available any time this year.

I'd almost be tempted to wait and see whether there are any rumblings of the next-gen Leaf at some point this year too. It'll be another in the 200 miles/$30k bracket. The market's certainly going to get busy over the next few years.

Model 3 deliveries won't take place until end of 2017.

 

[homeforsummer]

Model 3 deliveries won't take place until end of 2017.

I thought it might have been 2017 but wasn't sure when. Even so, Tesla hasn't managed to deliver the Roadster, Model S or Model X when it said it would, so probably some time into 2018 is more likely...

 

[bremics]

Also, Musk did joke about being able to meet the demands, so it could be a while til everyone gets there's.

 

[homeforsummer]

Somewhat - Tesla produced 50k cars last year and had to do some serious ramping-up to achieve that. Hitting the 200k reservations so far (provided those 200k people actually go ahead with wanting a Model 3) will take some serious doing.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I thought it might have been 2017 but wasn't sure when. Even so, Tesla hasn't managed to deliver the Roadster, Model S or Model X when it said it would, so probably some time into 2018 is more likely...

He kind of made a big deal about delivering them on time while making his speech before the unveil, so we'll see. And he also mentioned that the assembly plant they are using has the capacity to make 500k cars a year.

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

He kind of made a big deal about delivering them on time while making his speech before the unveil, so we'll see. And he also mentioned that the assembly plant they are using has the capacity to make 500k cars a year.

At the rate the pre-orders are coming atm, they'll need every bit of that capacity when production starts.

 

[Omnis]

Yeah, but then everyone that buys their Tesla buys it and then doesn't need a car for a decade. Then what? You rush to make 200k cars and then have a factory that sits idle? lol.

 

[TexRex]

Wow, that's profoundly ugly.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Video of the Model 3 out in the wild.

Have to say, doesn't look too bad in motion.

 

[homeforsummer]

He kind of made a big deal about delivering them on time

Yes, he's quite good at that...

 

[kikie]

Have to say, doesn't look too bad in motion.

Agreed!

Although I'm not a Tesla fan, this model 3, except for the desktop monitor dashboard, looks good. Too bad I'm still not convinced that an electric car is a good replacement for a car with a combustion engine.

14 days ago, I test drove the i3 with a range extender (again) and I wasn't impressed. Once the car gets to cruising speeds, it doesn't feel more comfortable/silent than my Mondeo. When the range extender kicked in, it was a annoying, with a constant RPM, noice coming from this little motor.

Somewhat - Tesla produced 50k cars last year and had to do some serious ramping-up to achieve that. Hitting the 200k reservations so far (provided those 200k people actually go ahead with wanting a Model 3) will take some serious doing.

Elon Musk says that the Fremont factory produced 500,000 cars a year (probably the model S and X combined?)

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

Elon Musk says that the Fremont factory produced 500,000 cars a year (probably the model S and X combined?

I think he referred to the maximum capacity of the factory. They're nowhere near 500.000 a year atm. Total production for 2015 was 17.400.

 

[JacoJa]

My wife and I were talking last night and we are really considering replacing our Focus with a Model 3, especially if we end up in California this year. We'd keep the Tacoma, but since we are considering Los Angeles, I doubt we would really need the truck for anything past weekend treks to the mountains.

Also considering a Chevy Volt and Bolt are nearly the same price as the Model 3 is, it doesn't really seem like much of a stretch just to drop a couple more thousand and end up with a Tesla.

IMO, you should definitely go for the Model 3. You're getting so much more car for the money. It's a heck of a lot faster, it's well designed, looks great, and you can't put a price on all of the safety benefits the Tesla has to offer. By comparison, the Chevys just look like any other generic car on the market. If I had the funds, I would have already pre-ordered the Model 3... I think it might be the replacement of my everyday CT200h in a few years. 👍

 

[YSSMAN]

My wife and I were talking last night and we are really considering replacing our Focus with a Model 3, especially if we end up in California this year. We'd keep the Tacoma, but since we are considering Los Angeles, I doubt we would really need the truck for anything past weekend treks to the mountains.

Post-LA Visit EV Report:
Hell of a lot of Model S and '16 Volts on the road out there. Hardly any Leafs compared to Michigan, which seemed very odd. The Fiat 500E was pretty popular, too. My guess would be that the more car-like models would be the best given the time/distance needed to travel just to get down to the local CVS, let alone getting across town. More or less, not too different considering the distances needed to be traveled here in Michigan as well.

In the short-term, if it were my money, I'd probably vote to lease a '16 Volt or '17 Bolt while waiting for the Model S inventory to free up.