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  1. L

    Trimotor vs dual motor?

    The range is the reason I changed my reservation to the tri-motor version. I don't really care about the extra power. But I plan to tow an RV with my CT, the extra range means that the CT will do everything can imagine doing with a personal vehicle for the next 20 years or so. Between the...
  2. L

    If you had a choice: Acceleration or Distance?

    Ludicrous mode is an option, and one i plan to forgo. Seriously, any car that can take a 2nd generation Prius at a stoplight has more acceleration than I need. (We owned a 2nd generation Prius for 12 years.) I'm sure I'll enjoy the extra acceleration that the Model 3 provides now and then...
  3. L

    If you had a choice: Acceleration or Distance?

    Our Mazda5 has a 0-60 time of around 9 seconds. It's plenty fast for my purposes. The announced 6-second 0-60 time for the base Model 3 will be fun sometimes, but I'll rarely use it. I'd rather have a long range than fast acceleration.
  4. L

    Buy or Lease Model 3

    Buy, for UA. My wife has appropriated my Model 3 reservation for her hour long commute (50 miles each way). Between the fuel savings, the autopilot, and the lack of a.proper hatchback, making this commute in a Model 3 is a total win. But, she's going to be putting at least 25k-miles per year...
  5. L

    Why regenerative braking belongs on the brake pedal

    Yes, but there's no reason to be condescending about it. That sarcastic comment upthread about "oh, another non Tesla owner weighs in" is the most condescending thing I've seen on this forum since I put down my deposit. That kind of attitude soured the BMW brand for me, first in traffic and...
  6. L

    Why regenerative braking belongs on the brake pedal

    You've clearly never driven on ice. 0.3Gs is probably at lrast 10x the amount of acceleration yiu can get from the traction that's available. The easiest way to regain control of the car on ice is to cut power to the wheels and point the front wheels to match the direction of travel. Back...
  7. L

    An Idea for fixed battery replacement cost - Tesla please read this

    That's too simplistic. Tesla leases cars, and the residual value of the car is one of the biggest factors in that business. Also, used car values affect how much someone is willing to pay for a new car, both for businesses and for individuals who do their homework. (While Tesla doesn't haggle...
  8. L

    Why regenerative braking belongs on the brake pedal

    Two driven wheels (as opposed to four braked wheels) in most cases. Also, in most cars, the driven wheels and the biggest brakes are in the front, which provides more traction and does not encourage oversteer. An average driver switching from the throttle to the brakes in a regular FWD car on...
  9. L

    We will need a lot more Service Centers

    Toyota owners are a tough crowd! I'm incredulous when someone suggests I should considet a BMW, because Toyotas are higher quality (on the aspects of quality that I care about) - and cost about half as much (when similarly equipped). Toyota just sent me a letter offering to replace the...
  10. L

    Why no regen braking system in actual brakes as well as motor regen?

    We drove a Prius for 12 years and never had any real issues with the braking system. We had the first set of brake pads put on it at around 170k miles. The most annoying feature of the brakes is that it would take 5-6 stopsigns to get the rust off of the discs the morning after it rains (most...
  11. L

    Kim Komando staff article-very pessimistic in nature

    Several cars on my radar: Chevy Bolt and Volt 2016+ Honda Civic Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Depending on our exact needs at the time. And also the reliability record of those cars once they're in the public's hands (I'm mostly concerned about the Pacifica). Note the conspicuous absence of...
  12. L

    Kim Komando staff article-very pessimistic in nature

    Those of us coming from Toyotas and Hondas are a tough crowd. We're a much tougher crowd than luxury car buyers, judging by the sub-Toyota reliability ratings I see on luxury cars. We are less likely to have spare cars laying around[0], and we haven't needed them. We depend on this one car to...
  13. L

    Design center now shows 75D

    A pedantic note to the people on this thread about the difference between kilowatts (KW) and and kilowatt-hours (KWh). KW is a measure of instantaneous power, like horsepower. KW is determines the maximum acceleration of the vehicle. 1HP is roughly 0.75KW. KWh is a bucket of energy, like...
  14. L

    Can someone please photo shop a white rendering of Model 3

    I love the blue. I expect that's the color I'll choose for mine! :)
  15. L

    Part 2 reveal (post Q1 results CC)

    My guesses in order of probability: Production moved forward HUD Model 3 wagon/CUV (Model Y?) If the wagon/CUV is revealed, we'll put down a second deposit.
  16. L

    Model 3 reveal effect on other luxury car sales

    Twelve years of Prius ownership qualifies my wife and I as "Prius faithful". Don't get me wrong, the Prius is a fantastic car to own -- and I'm a big fan. But a car that will make the Prius obsolete is really exciting! P.S. I ordered during the reveal. I was too busy with my startup to make...
  17. L

    Tesla Model 3 Fully Autonomous ?

    I test drove a 2016 Honda Civic Limited the other night that had automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist -- all on a high volume / low cost ($27K MSRP) car. We're looking at the Civic as a commuter for my wife between now and Model 3 Delivery Day (outside of...
  18. L

    Tesla Model 3 Fully Autonomous ?

    Depends on the situation. Driving is a chore when your trip is a chore. I like driving on twisties. I don't like being stuck in traffic. Long stretches (8-12 hours) of prarie can get to be tedious and fatiguing, even if I kinda like the meditation of it.
  19. L

    Model 3 reveal effect on other luxury car sales

    I'm in! I'd love to know more about my fellow Model 3 enthusiasts, and I'm willing to trade like information for it. :) I suspect it's a far wider demographic than currently frequents the Tesla scene. I'll start: The most I've ever spent on a car is $21k, and I live in a college town in...
  20. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    It depends on where you live.l as to whether ice is a corner case. It's a corner case for Bay Area residents, for sure. Where I live (south of Chicago), icing is a frequent event. I've lived here 8 years, and I've probably had to chip ice off of my windshield 100 times, and I've gone at least...
  21. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    If the door is frozen shut, unlatching it doesn't do much. You've got to give it a sharp yank. Now, if I can roll down the windows (not always a good idea when they're covered with ice) AND unlatch the door from my phone, I might be able to give the door a hard enough yank the window frame...
  22. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    I live in the Midwest, but have spent the past four years working with tech companies in the bay area. The people I know from there have a tough time imagining the weather that we consider normal put there. With a bery few exceptions, I don't think they're spending much time up in Tahoe or...
  23. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    It doesn't really, except in mild weather. Winter temperatures in my part of the world run from 0F (with 30kt winds) to well above freezing. In my experience, pre-heating the inside is good for removing ice from the windows (that's what the defroster and the aide vents are for), but it doesn't...
  24. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    You use the door handle to yank the door open after the ice gets in the seams between to door and the car. I've probably put a good 50lb pull on the door handles on my Toyota at times. And that's assuming you can get to the door handle at all (not a problem with conventional door handles)...
  25. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    Have you ever tried to chip ice off of a car? The mechanical disadvantage you get from being on the short end of a lever (which is what this recessed door handle is) really is one of the worse ways to do it. The Model S door handles have been problematic. Many owners have had them replaced...
  26. L

    Model 3 Door Handles - Here is how they actually work

    That door handle looks like it will be a disaster when covered with ice, unless the electric motor is strong enough to crack ice with the long moment on the end of that handle... I suppose you could work around this deep flaw by wasting energy on a special heating element in the handle (and...
  27. L

    Model 3 reveal effect on other luxury car sales

    I'm someone who wouldn't normally pay this much for a car but will pay this much for a Tesla. It's not because I can't afford a more expensive car (I made 6 figures last year, and live in a college town in the Midwest with a modest cost of living), it's just that I'm inclined to shop for value...
  28. L

    POLL: Model 3 Options, what will you spend your money on?

    AWD, Autopilot (if optional), and HUD (if optional), and supercharging (if optional). I'm not really a luxury kinda guy, and matte finishes aren't my thing, so I'll take the base model goodness on the cosmetic aspects of the car. The advertised sub 6-second acceleration is twice as fast as I...
  29. L

    Fiat can do it in 12!

    The Chrysler 200 is a very nice looking car. I like the way it looks. I haven't had a chance to drive one yet. The reviews aren't great. But making their vehicle look as nice as the Chrysler 200 or the Giulietta is probably what Marchionne meant
  30. L

    Possible hidden costs

    Speaking for myself, the only BMW enginrs I found even the least bit interesting were the diesels. I saw a picture of a gasoline powered twin turbo V8 in one of their cars once. Tracing the plumbing to figure out what I was lookijg at was fun, but that was the extent of the fun I was likely to...
  31. L

    Possible hidden costs

    Being nickeled and dimed by BMW options is one reason I haven't bought one. Being nickeled and dimed is not a luxurious experience for me. I've been up and down the SES ladder many times during my life, and I can almost instantly change from affluent thinking to frugal thinking when promted...
  32. L

    Possible hidden costs

    We went 12 years without updating the map in our Prius because the map CD cost $300. "My Smartphone does that" We kept thinking about getting the update, because out-of-date maps suck, but we never pulled the trigger. Also, it didn't seem like the dealers really wanted to sell it to us. The...
  33. L

    Is HUD a bad idea?

    Maybe that's why politicians don't understand engineers when the engineers are talking.... ;-)
  34. L

    Is HUD a bad idea?

    Having your eyes on the road is not the same thing as seeing what your eyes are pointed at. A quick demo showing how this works: Careful design in the HUD software will be required to make sure that it doesn't encourage you to ignore the things that your eyes are pointed at. For instance...
  35. L

    Model 3 reveal effect on other luxury car sales

    I'm not in the market for a luxury car. I don't see what the big deal is about BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, et al -- it seems like you're just paying extra for the same old technology that's under the hood of every other car. My experiences with BMWs in particular has been that they're just...
  36. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    Not quite. I'd prefer a hatchback, but I'm keeping my reservation because, on balance, the rest of the car makes up for this one deficiency. Someone mentioned minivans upthread. We're so practical that we have two minivans at the moment. (We replaced our recently totaled Prius with a second...
  37. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    I don't agree with your argument, because the hatchback on our Prius worked fine with respect to interior space and rear seat room for us for 12 years. Judging by the photos, our 2004 Prius was slightly smaller than the Model 3.
  38. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    Same here. But our other car is a minivan. My wife is starting a job with a long commute (much longer than mine). She might claim Model 3 for a littany of very good reasons: cheaper fuel, autopilot, safety features, etc... So, I might be stuck with the gas guzzling minivan until we see the...
  39. L

    Why are people (including Elon) surprised by the number of Model 3 orders?

    My personal guesses are: A HUD to replace th dashboard instrument cluster that was missing from the car during the reveal. A hatchback/wagon/CUV variant of the Model 3, possibly the Model Y. Details, details, details. That's my guess, though 2 may be wishful thinking on my part. But I've got...
  40. L

    Survey: Why did you pre-order a TESLA Model 3?

    All of the above. Also, I've been looking for a car that finally beats the 2004 Toyota Prius at what it's good at. There are plenty of good vehicles out there which can do different things better (Volt, F-150, sporty cars). But it's a hard car to make obsolete. The Model 3, the Bolt, and the...
  41. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    Those cars are overpriced, and lack a compelling value proposition. If it weren't for the Model 3 (and its competitors), we'd just get another Prius. We owned our last one for 12 years, and it was a fantastic owner's car (as opposed to a driver's car). The Prius is the car that converted me...
  42. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    Same here. My kids ride in the back, and the oldest one is 6. Also, we're a short family, so headroom ia rarely a problem for any of us. I'm keeping my reservation, though, because I like everything else about the car so far*. * I suspect that the ascetic dashboars will be completed with a...
  43. L

    No hatch-back on model 3 - Anyone else disappointed.

    Yeah, no. If a Model S were more important than my other financial obligations, I would have bought one already. The Model 3 has a much more reasonable impact. Remember that, for those of us with modest tastes, new ICE cars run around $20k. So a $42k Model 3 is already double "what a car...
  44. L

    Poll: How do you feel about Grill-less front end styling?

    A front license plate will break up the flat area. My home state (Illinois) requires it, and it looks like Tesla's designers provided for that.
  45. L

    Poll: How do you feel about Grill-less front end styling?

    It took a couple of hours and the realization that my home state will require a license plate in the flat area -- but I really like the front end styling.
  46. L

    If You're Reserving -what car are you coming from?

    In sprirt, we'll be coming from a 2004 Toyota Prius. In reality, our beloved Prius was totaled in February, and replaced with a minivan, making us a two minivan family. The Model 3 will replace our older minivan. I've never had much interest in the cars that Tesla has declared that they're...
  47. L

    Model 3 Notchback Trunk - Deal-Killer?

    The real problem in a cold climate is that snow and ice accumulate on the liftback. Passengers are wearing jackets when it's cold enough to matter, and the body adapts to winter as the seasons change. In inrush of cold air isn't a shock to the system the way it is when you spend a few weeks in...
  48. L

    Model 3 Notchback Trunk - Deal-Killer?

    I'm in the pro lift back camp, so much so that this was the main question I wanted answered in the reveal. I jumped the gun and made my reservation as soon as I saw the profile. I still like the car and am looking forward to delivery, but the trunk is definitely a compromise I had to think...