RayK
Active Member
Back in January 2018, Turo was basically the only way to test drive a Model 3.
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Should I test drive before delivery?
- Thread starter Proximian
- Start date
I wanted a test drive too but they didn't have any Model 3's at the time, so I test drove a Model Y just to get a feel for how a Tesla works / drives.
After ordering the Model 3 I still wanted to know what the seats and sight lines would be like, so I stopped into a different showroom that had a Model 3 on the floor and I was able to get in and check it out. This worked out well for me because I didn't need to drive it.
After ordering the Model 3 I still wanted to know what the seats and sight lines would be like, so I stopped into a different showroom that had a Model 3 on the floor and I was able to get in and check it out. This worked out well for me because I didn't need to drive it.
BigNick
Infamous Fat Sweaty Guy
My first test drive in a Model 3 LR (summer 2021), I found the seats to be rather uncomfortable, even after the 15 minute test drive. That car had the white seats.
My 2022 Model 3 Performance has the black seats, and I found them more comfortable on my nearly 100-mile trip home after taking delivery, though not as good as the "Next-Gen" seats in my previous P85D. Both the M3P and P85D were better than the first-gen seats in my 2014 S 85.
I don't think there's an actual difference between the the material color, the LR vs P seats, or 2021 vs 2022 models.
I think it's a matter of not taking the time on the test drive to get the seat adjusted correctly for my heiney. (Test drives were very limited in duration and I wanted to drive, rather than mess around with the controls.)
Tesla showrooms can arrange for a 24 hr test drive. I highly recommend setting this up, that way you can spend hours in the car and really familiarizing yourself with the vehicle over time. There's a recent reddit thread where someone made a very detailed pros/cons list about his Tesla, and half of those items are like "quality is worse than BMW" and "don't like center screen." I don't understand complaining about these things after you buy it - how did you not know or consider these items before you shelled out $50k?
You should have considered test driving prior to ordering in my opinion. Why worry about test driving after ordering unless you want to familiarize yourself with the controls and get a feel for the vehicle. I suggest you watch a ton of YouTube videos, there are good and bad ones that lists the pros and cons. Take everything with a grain of salt. Its a different car for sure. I love mine.
Let us know how you like yours. Cheers!!!
These comparisons drive me batty. Quality is subjective. What does quality actually mean? Is it the sound the door makes, or tire wear? Is it how quickly the cabin warms, or how fast it accelerates? Is it how the silkscreening on the dashboard buttons wear, or how bright the overhead light gets? Is it the visibility of the side view mirrors, or the bracket for the license plate?
Quality means something different to everyone. For example - in the past, I’d never consider anything but a lease on a BMW, because I wouldn’t want to own it out of warranty due to my own perception of BMW’s power train. That’s not a true measure of quality — it’s my perception.
No matter what Consumer Reports or some rando talking head on YouTube says, it’s not an objective measure.
So when I hear things like this, I tend to discard it out of hand.
As someone said to me the other day, there’s no perfect car. If there were, Rolls Royce wouldn’t have mechanics.
@BigNick I'm with you on all of that, the Model 3 seats are (much) better than the original Model S front seats, but not as good as the "next-gen" ones. The Model 3 seats feel a little small in all dimensions and the cushioning is borderline too soft. The next-gen S seats felt basically just right in every way. My favorite were ones spec'd with cloth in the middle - more grip, less slip.
I've read the new 2021+ Model S front seats are basically just a ventilated version of the Model 3 seats. That's disappointing if so, as I would consider that a downgrade from the "next-gen" seats.
I strongly recommend a test drive in a dealer car or as a second choice, with a friend; the dealer will know what a person new to the car neeeds to know to be safe and enjoy it. As others have mentioned, seats are very personal as are steering wheel settings, views around the car, acceleration (I have friends who have never had it out of chill mode and love the car), luggage space (huge, but easier to be impressed when you see it all in person). I can't imagine buying a car without having driven it.
Good luck, and I suspect you will enjoy it.
Good luck, and I suspect you will enjoy it.
ODWms
Member
Personally I wish I’d hired / leased one for a decent period before ordering (At least a week when off work to get some good drives in). I wouldn’t have ordered one if I had done, I just had the usual 1/2hr test drive that’s the norm in UK
. I’ll be brutally honest and say after 2 months I’m 85% or so sure I made a mistake.
. I’ll be brutally honest and say after 2 months I’m 85% or so sure I made a mistake.
Our friends once used a wheelchair to compare and decide. No joke. Of course they actually needed to fit it in there, so if you need to put bodies in…who’s to judge?!
Well I was thinking sex but if you know
a guy that knows a guy, you may be correct.
You should test drive. I ordered the model 3 RWD Dec 2021 after driving the 3 and Y. The car is so fast I did not get the Performance. It's fast enough
Correction Ordered Sept got DecYou should test drive. I ordered the model 3 RWD Dec 2021 after driving the 3 and Y. The car is so fast I did not get the Performance. It's fast enough
