Hello everyone! Random anonymous internet guy writing to you from the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, California!).
My expected delivery date (May - July) is fast approaching (unless it gets pushed back again) so I rented a Midnight Silver Model 3 (manufactured in Mid December and delivered early January) from TURO to test it out for one day (26 hours), since Tesla does not currently offer test drives.
I thought I would share my impressions and concerns just in case it may be worth something to someone. Opinions are subjective, so please take what I say with a grain of salt and with the understanding that what I expect of and desire in a brand new car may be different from you. Furthermore, I am also a non-owner that has always wanted a Tesla and has never driven one up until this weekend so I am coming at this with fresh eyes blinded by emotion and want rather than rational thinking.
I will give each category a numerical score out of 100 and average out the grade at the end.
The car rented:
- Midnight Silver Model 3
- Manufactured in early to mid December, delivered early January (VIN between 2600 and 2800).
- Firmware 2018.4.17 (a bit behind)
- Standard AERO tires.
- Just over 4,500 miles on the odometer.
About Me:
- Male, mid to Late 20's, live in San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, CA). I commute 53 miles (round trip) every day and like to go on road trips every month or so. Never owned nor driven a Tesla before.
What I drive:
Currently: 2004 BMW 645ci (fun car but TERRIBLE mpg)
Used to own: 2007 Mercedes ML350, 2005 BMW X5, 2001 Mercedes S500, 2001 BMW 7 Series
(I was raised in a family that preferred to own used Mercedes and BMW).
The Model 3:
Acceleration and Handling: 100/100
Awesome handling, it really "hugs" the road. As the professional reviewers and many on TMC have previously stated, the Model 3 is truly a joy to drive. It feels much quicker than is advertised. The instant torque is wonderful; all the 12 people that drove with me in the car throughout these 26 hours were shocked at how fast the car was. I will say that the acceleration and handling is better than my 2004 BMW 646ci (if that even really means anything). I would characterize the suspension as "very firm." You can feel the road -- and every bump, hole, or crack. However, despite being "very firm" its still comfortable.
Comfort: 80 / 100
Visibility:
The car's visibility is superb. It is likely the best feature of the car. Front visibility is wonderful, which is likely due to the Model 3's lack of a traditional dash. Side visibility is also great. Rear visibility is a bit hindered by the design of the back, but its still fine and the (very clear) back-up camera (which can be enabled during a regular drive) enables easy reversing.
Seats:
The front seat (driver and passenger) are comfortable and have many adjustment options. For those of you that will share the car, you are able to create profiles and save your desired specification as with most cars. The seats themselves are slightly plump and the lather is soft (which I liked very much, I am not a fan of the hardened diamond leather seats on newer German cars). There is adequate foot space for both the passenger and driver.
However, the back seats are only comfortable for a short period of time. They are positioned too low so it puts some stress on your lower back. Furthermore, there is not a generous amount of leg room -- its adequate, but can easily become "cramped" if you are slightly above average in height. At first my passengers did not complain, but after driving with me for over 3 hours, they began asking for a break so that they could stretch their legs.
While the car is technically a 5-seater (and the middle back seat has seat warmers, which is cool) there is not enough room for a typical adult. It really is more of a 4-seater.
Climate Control:
The single continuous vent is fantastic. Its my third favorite part of the car (behind the great visibility and autopilot). The ability to set the A/C to blow around your rather than on you is great. Since Southern California typically gets into the 100 F / 40 C degree weather, Iv always run my AC at nearly full blast. While this cooled down the car, it typically gave me a headache as the vents would blow on my face or slightly to the side of my head / arms. With the Model 3, you can adjust it to blow just to the side of you, below you, over you, or directly on you (and the GUI displays a "human" to help you adjust on the body or around it). Its honestly great.
Noise:
Road noise is another pet peeve of mine. I was actually surprised at how loud the cabin is. Its not as loud as a ICE car, but its definitely much louder than my best friend's bolt. You definitely get used to it, but its still loud. The front is quieter than the back, my passengers would point out that the road noise seemed worse when they sat in the back than in the front. I was actually disappointed with the road noise.
Noteworthy:
Its worth noting that since the Model 3 lacks a traditional dash, you are able to adjust the steering wheel without being restricted by the need to maintain speedometer visibility -- this enables many more options for steering comfort.
As stated above, the car is definitely stiff. However, it does not really hinder comfort, the car does a good job of handling an uneven road and bumps.
Technology: 90 / 100
Autopilot:
As someone that has never driven a AI enabled car nor a Tesla before, Autopilot was great. It came in handy during the abnormal Sunday afternoon 405 traffic (well... actually now traffic in LA has gotten so bad that standstills during Sunday afternoons is basically "normal"). It handled well and while I didn't trust it at first, I found myself turning it on quite frequently.
The Screen:
The quality of the screen itself is great. Its very sturdy and very responsive, on par with Apple's iPad.
Honestly, I got used to the speedometer being to my right within the first view minutes. Its likely due to the fact that I often drive with Google Maps showing on my iPhone, which would be situated in a cup holder on the center hand rest / console (so the position of the screen was actually an improvement for me).
The user interface was ok. It definitely can be streamlined and improved upon, and I was told by the owner that certain functions had already been moved around in a recent update. Certain features are easier to navigate than others. I was annoyed by how many taps (3) it took to bring up the audio source control and then select my iPhone (another 2) as the source so that I could play my own music. Sometimes I had to reach across the screen to tap on something (such as un-muting the navigation's voice... which is done by clicking a super small speaker icon on the upper right-hand corner) which was definitely a hassle and not necessarily safe while driving. However, the map was clear and easily navigated. Streamlining of the UI is definitely needed and it will be interesting to see how Tesla approaches it with limited screen real estate (I know Elon said voice will be used to control the car, which would be cool).
Audio Quality:
Audio quality is great, I read that its supposed to be "superb" because Elon is apparently an audiophile (idk if that's true). While it is definitely very good and much better than many cars that I have sat in, its not "superb". But this is subjective and unique to each person.
Build Quality: 70 / 100
This is going to be controversial. As I stated above, this is just my opinion. Also, the car I rented was produced in early December and delivered in early January, so I am hoping many of these issues were addressed. Here I go . . .
The interior appears to have good quality upon first glance. The leather is stitched very well, I did not notice any creases and is comfortable. I did not notice any rattling sounds. I did not see any cracks anywhere. I was actually surprised and really enjoyed the interior.
However, once I began examining the car a bit closely (and not nitpicking... just basically looking around more diligently) I noticed several things that were of concern:
1) The lining is flexible and even loose. I am not sure if the lining is supposed to be so flexible when you touch it in places all around the car (especially around the glass roof). However, the lining on the A pillar on the driver's side was already loose and coming off from the bottom (closest to the windshield). I didn't even need to touch it to notice -- it was sticking out somewhat noticeably.
2 ) Interior seals were poorly fitted. Both of the back doors had seals that were loose and sticking out when you opened the door.
One seal is the very back triangle-like seal at the edge of the door. In the photo below I am pulling at it, but it was noticeably sticking out and was not glued down.
Another seal was at the opposite edge of the same door. It was bent and hanging off. This occurred on all 4 doors.
Another photo of the same door:
3) Seals on the exterior of the car were cracking or coming loose. For example, there was a seal / cap near the wipe blades on both sides of the car. Both of them were loose, I did not touch them... I just noticed that they were coming off as I stood outside the car taking photos while it was at the Redondo Beach supercharger.
3) Software Issues:
- Numerous software issues. The screen froze a few times and had to be reset while driving. The audio became staticy a few times and I had to change sources to reset it. These are easier to fix with OTA updates so I won't make a fuss out of them.
4) Panel Gaps --- none that I could notice, I think this may be an overblown issue.
Overall
Overall, there were other issues but I don't want this to read like a hit-piece. Suffice it to say that most of my passengers and I felt that car was not truly finished -- at least it did not feel like it was. Yes, the car is supposed to be "$35,000" ... but in reality this model was $61,500 after taxes ($56,000 before taxes) so one would expect there be fewer issues with seals and caps (I at least do not expect loose seals and caps, but you may disagree).
My expected delivery date (May - July) is fast approaching (unless it gets pushed back again) so I rented a Midnight Silver Model 3 (manufactured in Mid December and delivered early January) from TURO to test it out for one day (26 hours), since Tesla does not currently offer test drives.
I thought I would share my impressions and concerns just in case it may be worth something to someone. Opinions are subjective, so please take what I say with a grain of salt and with the understanding that what I expect of and desire in a brand new car may be different from you. Furthermore, I am also a non-owner that has always wanted a Tesla and has never driven one up until this weekend so I am coming at this with fresh eyes blinded by emotion and want rather than rational thinking.
I will give each category a numerical score out of 100 and average out the grade at the end.
The car rented:
- Midnight Silver Model 3
- Manufactured in early to mid December, delivered early January (VIN between 2600 and 2800).
- Firmware 2018.4.17 (a bit behind)
- Standard AERO tires.
- Just over 4,500 miles on the odometer.
About Me:
- Male, mid to Late 20's, live in San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, CA). I commute 53 miles (round trip) every day and like to go on road trips every month or so. Never owned nor driven a Tesla before.
What I drive:
Currently: 2004 BMW 645ci (fun car but TERRIBLE mpg)
Used to own: 2007 Mercedes ML350, 2005 BMW X5, 2001 Mercedes S500, 2001 BMW 7 Series
(I was raised in a family that preferred to own used Mercedes and BMW).
The Model 3:
Acceleration and Handling: 100/100
Awesome handling, it really "hugs" the road. As the professional reviewers and many on TMC have previously stated, the Model 3 is truly a joy to drive. It feels much quicker than is advertised. The instant torque is wonderful; all the 12 people that drove with me in the car throughout these 26 hours were shocked at how fast the car was. I will say that the acceleration and handling is better than my 2004 BMW 646ci (if that even really means anything). I would characterize the suspension as "very firm." You can feel the road -- and every bump, hole, or crack. However, despite being "very firm" its still comfortable.
Comfort: 80 / 100
Visibility:
The car's visibility is superb. It is likely the best feature of the car. Front visibility is wonderful, which is likely due to the Model 3's lack of a traditional dash. Side visibility is also great. Rear visibility is a bit hindered by the design of the back, but its still fine and the (very clear) back-up camera (which can be enabled during a regular drive) enables easy reversing.
Seats:
The front seat (driver and passenger) are comfortable and have many adjustment options. For those of you that will share the car, you are able to create profiles and save your desired specification as with most cars. The seats themselves are slightly plump and the lather is soft (which I liked very much, I am not a fan of the hardened diamond leather seats on newer German cars). There is adequate foot space for both the passenger and driver.
However, the back seats are only comfortable for a short period of time. They are positioned too low so it puts some stress on your lower back. Furthermore, there is not a generous amount of leg room -- its adequate, but can easily become "cramped" if you are slightly above average in height. At first my passengers did not complain, but after driving with me for over 3 hours, they began asking for a break so that they could stretch their legs.
While the car is technically a 5-seater (and the middle back seat has seat warmers, which is cool) there is not enough room for a typical adult. It really is more of a 4-seater.
Climate Control:
The single continuous vent is fantastic. Its my third favorite part of the car (behind the great visibility and autopilot). The ability to set the A/C to blow around your rather than on you is great. Since Southern California typically gets into the 100 F / 40 C degree weather, Iv always run my AC at nearly full blast. While this cooled down the car, it typically gave me a headache as the vents would blow on my face or slightly to the side of my head / arms. With the Model 3, you can adjust it to blow just to the side of you, below you, over you, or directly on you (and the GUI displays a "human" to help you adjust on the body or around it). Its honestly great.
Noise:
Road noise is another pet peeve of mine. I was actually surprised at how loud the cabin is. Its not as loud as a ICE car, but its definitely much louder than my best friend's bolt. You definitely get used to it, but its still loud. The front is quieter than the back, my passengers would point out that the road noise seemed worse when they sat in the back than in the front. I was actually disappointed with the road noise.
Noteworthy:
Its worth noting that since the Model 3 lacks a traditional dash, you are able to adjust the steering wheel without being restricted by the need to maintain speedometer visibility -- this enables many more options for steering comfort.
As stated above, the car is definitely stiff. However, it does not really hinder comfort, the car does a good job of handling an uneven road and bumps.
Technology: 90 / 100
Autopilot:
As someone that has never driven a AI enabled car nor a Tesla before, Autopilot was great. It came in handy during the abnormal Sunday afternoon 405 traffic (well... actually now traffic in LA has gotten so bad that standstills during Sunday afternoons is basically "normal"). It handled well and while I didn't trust it at first, I found myself turning it on quite frequently.
The Screen:
The quality of the screen itself is great. Its very sturdy and very responsive, on par with Apple's iPad.
Honestly, I got used to the speedometer being to my right within the first view minutes. Its likely due to the fact that I often drive with Google Maps showing on my iPhone, which would be situated in a cup holder on the center hand rest / console (so the position of the screen was actually an improvement for me).
The user interface was ok. It definitely can be streamlined and improved upon, and I was told by the owner that certain functions had already been moved around in a recent update. Certain features are easier to navigate than others. I was annoyed by how many taps (3) it took to bring up the audio source control and then select my iPhone (another 2) as the source so that I could play my own music. Sometimes I had to reach across the screen to tap on something (such as un-muting the navigation's voice... which is done by clicking a super small speaker icon on the upper right-hand corner) which was definitely a hassle and not necessarily safe while driving. However, the map was clear and easily navigated. Streamlining of the UI is definitely needed and it will be interesting to see how Tesla approaches it with limited screen real estate (I know Elon said voice will be used to control the car, which would be cool).
Audio Quality:
Audio quality is great, I read that its supposed to be "superb" because Elon is apparently an audiophile (idk if that's true). While it is definitely very good and much better than many cars that I have sat in, its not "superb". But this is subjective and unique to each person.
Build Quality: 70 / 100
This is going to be controversial. As I stated above, this is just my opinion. Also, the car I rented was produced in early December and delivered in early January, so I am hoping many of these issues were addressed. Here I go . . .
The interior appears to have good quality upon first glance. The leather is stitched very well, I did not notice any creases and is comfortable. I did not notice any rattling sounds. I did not see any cracks anywhere. I was actually surprised and really enjoyed the interior.
However, once I began examining the car a bit closely (and not nitpicking... just basically looking around more diligently) I noticed several things that were of concern:
1) The lining is flexible and even loose. I am not sure if the lining is supposed to be so flexible when you touch it in places all around the car (especially around the glass roof). However, the lining on the A pillar on the driver's side was already loose and coming off from the bottom (closest to the windshield). I didn't even need to touch it to notice -- it was sticking out somewhat noticeably.
2 ) Interior seals were poorly fitted. Both of the back doors had seals that were loose and sticking out when you opened the door.
One seal is the very back triangle-like seal at the edge of the door. In the photo below I am pulling at it, but it was noticeably sticking out and was not glued down.
Another seal was at the opposite edge of the same door. It was bent and hanging off. This occurred on all 4 doors.
Another photo of the same door:
3) Seals on the exterior of the car were cracking or coming loose. For example, there was a seal / cap near the wipe blades on both sides of the car. Both of them were loose, I did not touch them... I just noticed that they were coming off as I stood outside the car taking photos while it was at the Redondo Beach supercharger.
3) Software Issues:
- Numerous software issues. The screen froze a few times and had to be reset while driving. The audio became staticy a few times and I had to change sources to reset it. These are easier to fix with OTA updates so I won't make a fuss out of them.
4) Panel Gaps --- none that I could notice, I think this may be an overblown issue.
Overall
Overall, there were other issues but I don't want this to read like a hit-piece. Suffice it to say that most of my passengers and I felt that car was not truly finished -- at least it did not feel like it was. Yes, the car is supposed to be "$35,000" ... but in reality this model was $61,500 after taxes ($56,000 before taxes) so one would expect there be fewer issues with seals and caps (I at least do not expect loose seals and caps, but you may disagree).
