SAronian
Member
My experience going from i3 to Model 3 mirrors yours. Range is king.
I do prefer the Model 3's audio quality over the i3's Harmon Kardon.
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BMW I3 and Chevy Bolt versus the M3
- Thread starter Niroc
- Start date
My experience going from i3 to Model 3 mirrors yours. Range is king.
I do prefer the Model 3's audio quality over the i3's Harmon Kardon.
SAronian
Member
I thought I would miss the i3's regen braking to full stop, but the change was easy to make. Tesla's method of brake "auto-holding" whenever stopped is one of my favorite features. It makes so much sense not to hold the brake while waiting to resume moving.
sreams
Member
Sure. Put if the motor design doesn't allow for that, I'd rather not have an extra paddle.
seattlite2004
Active Member
No need for paddle to regen to a stop in the Bolt. Paddle just makes regen more agressive...so decel rate is higher is higher with the paddle.
The i3 is a pretty good little car. BMW will also be using the i3 platform for the 2020 MINI electric. For which it’s a great fit and it will sell like proverbial hot cakes if they price it right.
The Bolt is a waste of time. It’s pretty much the same compact SUV they’ve been selling under a few different names for the past several years that has offered ICE, then hybrid, and finally all electric drive options. It’s the same as it’s hybrid counterpart, they just removed the generator motor and fuel tank and put in a larger battery and slightly better charge ability. All things considered, it’s a completely different philosophy than the other two vehicles and feels like a half-assed attempt to appease a small market segment. I truly think when GM decided to offer it, they did for two reasons: 1> Add a zero-emission EV that can help lower average fleet MPG numbers. 2> They might sell enough of them to almost justify the effort because, treehuggers. Well, as it turns out, it’s been way more popular than anticipated and yet if they actually put a bit of effort into designing something good, they could be making a killing. I think they see it, but at times they don’t or don’t know what to do with it.
The Model 3 is a whole different animal. 100% designed from the ground up as an EV and everything just fits and works together with purpose.
The Bolt is a waste of time. It’s pretty much the same compact SUV they’ve been selling under a few different names for the past several years that has offered ICE, then hybrid, and finally all electric drive options. It’s the same as it’s hybrid counterpart, they just removed the generator motor and fuel tank and put in a larger battery and slightly better charge ability. All things considered, it’s a completely different philosophy than the other two vehicles and feels like a half-assed attempt to appease a small market segment. I truly think when GM decided to offer it, they did for two reasons: 1> Add a zero-emission EV that can help lower average fleet MPG numbers. 2> They might sell enough of them to almost justify the effort because, treehuggers. Well, as it turns out, it’s been way more popular than anticipated and yet if they actually put a bit of effort into designing something good, they could be making a killing. I think they see it, but at times they don’t or don’t know what to do with it.
The Model 3 is a whole different animal. 100% designed from the ground up as an EV and everything just fits and works together with purpose.
Leafdriver333
Somewhat Active Member
Bolt is a good car for city driving. It is small (and narrow), so it is easy to park. The premium version has some nice features, like 360 degree view, front camera, and electronic rearview mirror, which make driving and parking in tight places much easier. It also has cross-traffic alerts, and pedestrian alerts.
It also has a hatchback, so you if you fold backseats, you can fit a lot more in it than into Tesla.
Regen on Bolt can bring the car to a full stop, and it also doesn't slide back on hills.
Bolt also has Apple CarPlay, which Tesla lacks.
Bolt doesn't have vampire drain, so if you leave it in the airport for a week, you will find it with exactly the same mileage as when you left.
Agreed. Also the camera that show in the rear view mirror is wonderful addition. It has plenty of tech in the car. They really needed an independent design team to work on the car. So much potential. Simple esthetics and better seating could have given M3 a bit of competition. This is good for the consumer. As it stands now Tesla is king with no challenge
sreams
Member
Why not just have it all be in the pedal position? I'm pretty good at modulating the accelerator to fully control my deceleration. I just don't see the point in an extra control.
Leafdriver333
Somewhat Active Member
I use my brake pedal only if I need to come to a complete stop. If my car can recognize the situations with cameras and sensors where I am approaching a stop sign, stop light, or a stopped car, Tesla should take the car to a complete stop using full regen and disk brakes at the final 5 yards.
seattlite2004
Active Member
True...they could have had one more regen selection. The Bolt's L mode is just like the model 3's most aggressive regen...pressing the paddle gives even more agressive regen. So...when in a L mode and paddle depressed...you have the Bolt's most agressive regen...more than the Model 3's....and you can still modulate the accelerator while depressing the paddle to control deceleration.
Not completely true on vampire drain... If you are in a hot climate it will cool its battery when hot.
p-f-g
Member
They’re upgrading the battery. The MINI E will supposedly have a 300km/ 186mi range. So still not amazing, but a step in the right direction. OTOH, while I really like my MINI, there’s no way I could drive it that far in a day without suffering lower back pain and bruised kidneys. Heh. Pricing is said to be in line with other MINI models.
MacGreiner
5YJ
I agree with most of the comments here. The i3 was my first EV. I loved it. Sure it wasn't great for long distance trips - although I did them. Highway skitti-ness was poor over 55 mph and the suicide doors were a bit of a pain at times.
That said, it was like the TARDIS inside. The carbon fibre construction, nearly 0 vamp drain, insane turning circle, fantastic 1 pedal driving, great 0-30 performance, great seating position, fantastic headlights, etc. are all things I miss.
My son liked it so much he made an i3 hist first car.
We have often joked that when we buy a holiday house, an i3 will be the car in the garage.
That said, it was like the TARDIS inside. The carbon fibre construction, nearly 0 vamp drain, insane turning circle, fantastic 1 pedal driving, great 0-30 performance, great seating position, fantastic headlights, etc. are all things I miss.
My son liked it so much he made an i3 hist first car.
We have often joked that when we buy a holiday house, an i3 will be the car in the garage.
jkoya
NA2 NSX
No, this is the new Isetta!
Wow - you are right, that is the new Isetta !! If I see the same BMW Rep at this years Auto Show, I'll mention it to him. Thanks for the link !
kgoroway
Member
But also the most affordable when leasing...
Leasing the tesla is nonsense as their rates are very high.
Chevy *doesn't* credit the full $7500 tax credit to the lease (only half of it), and the residuals are mostly correct (the car won't be worth much in 3 years), so the payments end up very high.
BMW *does* credit the full $7500 tax credit to the lease, and the residuals are all kinds of messed up...They think the vehicle will still be worth $30K at the end of the lease...which makes the payments MUCH MUCH less.
I cross shopped the i3 and the Bolt. The lease payments on the i3 were over $150 less per month.
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