This isn't a comprehensive review as I haven't driven that far but first impressions of the refresh model 3 vs. my previous one (which I sold to webuyanycar which offered me £4k more than Tesla!). Have gone from standard range to long range.
Tesla have improved their built quality a bit (its a lot less rattly) and have significantly improved their ability to paint things. I appreciate this might also be a case of me having a bad car last time and a better one this time - its not light years difference. I still have badly aligned rear lights but the boot does not scrape. Camera works so far, although that might not last! They can still get better on fitting the rubber seals, have a bit of a gap on the roof but the panel itself looks very centred and its not leaking, so I presume I can just see the drainage channel. All of the little bits and pieces they have added to the refresh all make the overall excellent driving/living with experience that bit better.
I especially like the new steering wheel, bit more comfortable for me and the new dials are great, the old ones always felt a few clicks (especially scrolling sideways) from breaking. Centre console is a big improvement and looks much nicer in the flesh. Auto boot is great I don't miss the tinny clunk and number plate rattle of the old one. Heatpump is a bit noisy, but seems to improve efficiency - the little bit of driving I have done looks positive on this, in the old SR+ the range really died in winter which was part of the motivation to upgrade (as was fact it hardly depreciated at all so made sense economically). I think I am getting similar wh/mi than I was in my SR+ on average. Not sure if new windows make any difference to cabin noise, I always thought the cabin was fairly quiet anyway, road buzz just more noticeable as there was no engine there.
The Tesla Freemont build quality seems to be only half the problem IMO. Most of the issues I have had with the car on collection seem to be a function of the team in the UK, like the small cut I now have in the centre console. Pretty sure it did not leave the factory like this. And stains over the trim and marks from all the protective stickers they use in transit that were not removed, that just seems poor valeting prior to collection. And the missing mudguards. These issues seem to come from rushed work getting the car ready for collection, which is what happens when you are trying to get 50 people into a new motor each day. If they just stopped trying to rush to meet quarter end I am sure it would pay dividends longer-term for the customer experience. They'd save a lot of cash too, not then needing to fix things that were damaged by rushing and clumsiness!! That said these are all minor.
Overall very pleased with the switch. LR is very rapid. Nice Christmas present (if only I could use it!)
Tesla have improved their built quality a bit (its a lot less rattly) and have significantly improved their ability to paint things. I appreciate this might also be a case of me having a bad car last time and a better one this time - its not light years difference. I still have badly aligned rear lights but the boot does not scrape. Camera works so far, although that might not last! They can still get better on fitting the rubber seals, have a bit of a gap on the roof but the panel itself looks very centred and its not leaking, so I presume I can just see the drainage channel. All of the little bits and pieces they have added to the refresh all make the overall excellent driving/living with experience that bit better.
I especially like the new steering wheel, bit more comfortable for me and the new dials are great, the old ones always felt a few clicks (especially scrolling sideways) from breaking. Centre console is a big improvement and looks much nicer in the flesh. Auto boot is great I don't miss the tinny clunk and number plate rattle of the old one. Heatpump is a bit noisy, but seems to improve efficiency - the little bit of driving I have done looks positive on this, in the old SR+ the range really died in winter which was part of the motivation to upgrade (as was fact it hardly depreciated at all so made sense economically). I think I am getting similar wh/mi than I was in my SR+ on average. Not sure if new windows make any difference to cabin noise, I always thought the cabin was fairly quiet anyway, road buzz just more noticeable as there was no engine there.
The Tesla Freemont build quality seems to be only half the problem IMO. Most of the issues I have had with the car on collection seem to be a function of the team in the UK, like the small cut I now have in the centre console. Pretty sure it did not leave the factory like this. And stains over the trim and marks from all the protective stickers they use in transit that were not removed, that just seems poor valeting prior to collection. And the missing mudguards. These issues seem to come from rushed work getting the car ready for collection, which is what happens when you are trying to get 50 people into a new motor each day. If they just stopped trying to rush to meet quarter end I am sure it would pay dividends longer-term for the customer experience. They'd save a lot of cash too, not then needing to fix things that were damaged by rushing and clumsiness!! That said these are all minor.
Overall very pleased with the switch. LR is very rapid. Nice Christmas present (if only I could use it!)
