To All you 2015/2016 model S owners:
I am considering buying second hand, instead of a brand new model 3, as I hopefully will get more bang for a buck and less depreciation.
what do you guys think? Are you still happy with your current model s, or are you getting frustrated by the slower mcu1 and not having ap3?
I recently sold one of our Model S's and bought a Model 3, and I'm going to give you my thoughts on this.
Cons:
1) This is a smaller car, absolutely. We really miss the hatchback aspect of the Model S, as it makes for far more storage than the 3 has. In my opinion, that is the only significant design flaw on this car. Our doberman, who rides in the back of the S, agrees whole heartedly on this one (she hates riding between the kids in the 3).
2) I miss the instrument cluster in the S. For better or worse, I really want that screen in front of me.
Pros:
1) The drivetrain on the 3 is head and shoulders above that in the S and X. I know this on the surface may sound controversial, but hear me out on this one. If you are a long-time S/X owner there are little things you got used to that you wished were always a little bit better, but you brushed them aside in your head because the car was so much better than what every other manufacturer builds. With the 3, those are gone. Examples include:
- a) The charging experience is MUCH nicer for long trips. Even if you are not at a V3 supercharger, the car charges at full speed for longer, and tapers far later in the experience. When I was driving my P85 cross-country I was spending 30-35% of my time charging, vs. driving (yes, I kept logs and calculated). In the Performance 3 I have now, even with spirited driving, I'm in the 15-20% area for total time of trip spent charging. That is obviously lower if I managed to hit a V3 supercharger. It makes a huge difference for distance driving.
- b) The motor is more refined (less of a concern in Raven Model S/X), as there is absolutely zero noise from it. Both our P85s had a bit of a high-pitched whine to them.
2) Handling - this car handles like it is on RAILS. It reminds me of a true sports sedan like the BMW M3. The Model S with the + suspension is close, but I would give the edge to the Model 3. It truly is a driver's car in that regards.
3) Fit and finish - as one of my buddies said "The Model 3 is where Tesla really put on their big boy pants and learned how to make cars.". Yes, you will hear stories of the early 3's with paint and fit and finish problem, but anything late 2018 or later is put together VERY well. The seams between the panels are great and the paint is uniform and well-applied. There are no rattles in the cabin.
4) Battery degradation - while this one is still partially unknown, there are enough high-mileage 3's out there now that we have a decent idea on how degradation is looking compared to the packs used in the S/X, and the degradation curve looks to be substantially shallower than on the S/X. It looks like all of Tesla's R/D on battery technology really paid off for their first mainstream car.
5) Autopilot - I came from a car with no AP, so anything was a huge upgrade for me here.