Here are my summary impressions after 5,000 miles...
- Road noise is my sole meaningful negative. I hope that Tesla will add some dampening around the wheel wells in future production, at least in the LR version of Model 3 since it is designed for long-haul driving. I'd pay for a retrofit. I am used to a Lexus RX450h, and prior to that a BMW535, both of which are cocoon-like in terms of eliminating road noise. While increased road noise does help differentiate Model 3 from Model S/X, I really do think Tesla could turn it into a win here by making enhanced dampening part of the LR option.
- Road trips from Atlanta to: Memphis, Miami, Hilton Head. Upcoming: Orlando, Boston.
- 256wh/mi overall thus far.
- Vampire drain is manageable/immaterial, but would take some planning if leaving the car unplugged for weeks at a time due to vacation/etc. If that's part of your use case, start planning.
- TACC and EAP are amazing, almost always, and have gotten markedly better since I took delivery (I believe my car has been improved four times already via OTA updates).
- Mobile Service swapped out my one We Owe item from delivery, quickly. Mobile Service is a major differentiator that gets little to no love in the media/press. Naturally I don't expect to need service often/ever, but it was super convenient.
- I am 6'2", my wife is 5'9", our son is 6'4", our daughters are 6'0" and 5'8". All are comfortable driving Model 3, and all of us fit comfortably in the front or back seats. We have not attempted to use it as a 5-seater (and won't).
- I wish the motor that elevates the driver seat was quieter. It's louder than the other seat motors and makes it sound cheap.
- My favorite feature is the all glass roof. Finally there is a perk to riding in the back seat!
- Superchargers have been 95% fantastic. Occasionally a broken single charger (Macon, GA). Disappointing to have called it in for repair, only to return a week later and see that it still had not been repaired. There is room for improvement w/r/t the superchargers...the car should be able to tell me which stall to use when I arrive, for max charge rate and to avoid parking at a non-operational stall.
- Phone key has been 99% fantastic. Very occasional, unpredictable, one-off episodes of the car not opening when I pull the door handle. I use an iPhone 6.
- The range of the LR has been incredibly satisfying. We have used a LEAF since 1/1/12, and to no longer be range-limited is a really liberating experience. Before getting Model 3, I spent a lot of time on ABRP planning trips. Now that we've taken a handful of road trips in Model 3, I can conclude there's just no need to plan. Hop in and go.
- It is satisfying to have an all-electric garage...my wife and I share the Model 3 and the LEAF. The LEAF will remain in the family until Model Y is available. I have no idea what gasoline prices are anymore; that is a problem solely for our kids, who remain ICE-dwellers for the foreseeable future.
- Projecting out a bit, I foresee 20k miles in our first year with the Model 3. This beats Year One of our LEAF, but only by 3k miles (I was a hard-core commuter when we first got the LEAF, plus it was the first car dispatched nights/weekends as well.). My LEAF will be fully paid by net energy savings once it hits 100k miles. I suspect it'll take about 200k miles for my Model 3 to be fully paid by net energy savings. Not sure we'll ever get there with Model 3, but it's also probably not reasonable for me to have free vehicles be a goal.
In short, the car is fantastic. Can't wait to place my Model Y deposit and would do so today if Elon would let me.
- Road noise is my sole meaningful negative. I hope that Tesla will add some dampening around the wheel wells in future production, at least in the LR version of Model 3 since it is designed for long-haul driving. I'd pay for a retrofit. I am used to a Lexus RX450h, and prior to that a BMW535, both of which are cocoon-like in terms of eliminating road noise. While increased road noise does help differentiate Model 3 from Model S/X, I really do think Tesla could turn it into a win here by making enhanced dampening part of the LR option.
- Road trips from Atlanta to: Memphis, Miami, Hilton Head. Upcoming: Orlando, Boston.
- 256wh/mi overall thus far.
- Vampire drain is manageable/immaterial, but would take some planning if leaving the car unplugged for weeks at a time due to vacation/etc. If that's part of your use case, start planning.
- TACC and EAP are amazing, almost always, and have gotten markedly better since I took delivery (I believe my car has been improved four times already via OTA updates).
- Mobile Service swapped out my one We Owe item from delivery, quickly. Mobile Service is a major differentiator that gets little to no love in the media/press. Naturally I don't expect to need service often/ever, but it was super convenient.
- I am 6'2", my wife is 5'9", our son is 6'4", our daughters are 6'0" and 5'8". All are comfortable driving Model 3, and all of us fit comfortably in the front or back seats. We have not attempted to use it as a 5-seater (and won't).
- I wish the motor that elevates the driver seat was quieter. It's louder than the other seat motors and makes it sound cheap.
- My favorite feature is the all glass roof. Finally there is a perk to riding in the back seat!
- Superchargers have been 95% fantastic. Occasionally a broken single charger (Macon, GA). Disappointing to have called it in for repair, only to return a week later and see that it still had not been repaired. There is room for improvement w/r/t the superchargers...the car should be able to tell me which stall to use when I arrive, for max charge rate and to avoid parking at a non-operational stall.
- Phone key has been 99% fantastic. Very occasional, unpredictable, one-off episodes of the car not opening when I pull the door handle. I use an iPhone 6.
- The range of the LR has been incredibly satisfying. We have used a LEAF since 1/1/12, and to no longer be range-limited is a really liberating experience. Before getting Model 3, I spent a lot of time on ABRP planning trips. Now that we've taken a handful of road trips in Model 3, I can conclude there's just no need to plan. Hop in and go.
- It is satisfying to have an all-electric garage...my wife and I share the Model 3 and the LEAF. The LEAF will remain in the family until Model Y is available. I have no idea what gasoline prices are anymore; that is a problem solely for our kids, who remain ICE-dwellers for the foreseeable future.
- Projecting out a bit, I foresee 20k miles in our first year with the Model 3. This beats Year One of our LEAF, but only by 3k miles (I was a hard-core commuter when we first got the LEAF, plus it was the first car dispatched nights/weekends as well.). My LEAF will be fully paid by net energy savings once it hits 100k miles. I suspect it'll take about 200k miles for my Model 3 to be fully paid by net energy savings. Not sure we'll ever get there with Model 3, but it's also probably not reasonable for me to have free vehicles be a goal.
In short, the car is fantastic. Can't wait to place my Model Y deposit and would do so today if Elon would let me.