The model 3 door handles

[400ev]

I just hope they don't come in chrome like that. It would be a finger print magnet and yes, it will be scorching hot in the sun, and ice cold in the winter.
They should offer them in body color. That would blend the handles in with the car even better and make the overall appearance even more slick.

 

[Pando]

The door handles look great, but I'm wondering of a potential safety issue. If someone brushes past the car with loose clothing, it can form a "hook", which isn't good when the car then starts moving.

 

[GarrickS]

Regarding the different shaped handles, an engineer that night told me that the matte car was an earlier prototype originally built with S handles. The real handles going forward are the hockey-stick handles.

 

[Thomas Edison]

It looks like the hockey stick handles would be much more uncomfortable than the standard straight style from the MS. When you grab it your thumb is higher than the rest of your fingers. So you're thumb pushes it in at the higher point. If it was flat then when you tried to grab it your wrist would have to be more flat which would probably be less awkward. It seems like if they reversed it and made them curve down instead of up it would make much more sense from an ergonomic standpoint.

 

[ChooseGreen]

It seems that Tesla is diligent about testing their products in winter conditions. I really hope that the same is done here. Not only to offer something solid to pull on in the event the door is frozen shut as a previous poster mentioned, but also if there is a glaze of ice over the whole handle and/or in the cavity behind the handle. Given Tesla's popularity in Norway, I'm sure this is on their radar.

 

[favo]

On the hockey stick style handles, the part you actually pull on looked awfully thin and potentially uncomfortable with a square cross section. I hope they work on the ergonomics. I can already tell my mom (in her 70s) will have trouble with this style of handle. I'm kind of hoping they have an auto-present option (either handle a la S or door a la X).

 

[SΞXY P100D]

It seems that Tesla is diligent about testing their products in winter conditions. I really hope that the same is done here. Not only to offer something solid to pull on in the event the door is frozen shut as a previous poster mentioned, but also if there is a glaze of ice over the whole handle and/or in the cavity behind the handle. Given Tesla's popularity in Norway, I'm sure this is on their radar.

Heated door handles probably? I really like the look of the hockey stick handles, but like some of us here I do wonder about the ergonomics.

 

[LoL Rick]

Did somebody say Kindig already? Yep.

Door Handles, 2 different styles?

 

[Skryll]

Until they fail and you're stuck w/paying a whole bunch of money to replace them.

[proposed] Class action lawsuit against tesla - door handles unreliable mentions $1300 a pop. And some have been thru a bunch of handle replacements (e.g. [proposed] Class action lawsuit against tesla - door handles unreliable).

Hope they stick w/what appears to be mechanism that is WAY less likely to fail.

Not covered under warranty?

 

[stopcrazypp]

Not covered under warranty?

It is covered, but the general warranty is shorter than the powertrain one (as with most vehicles) so there are many Model S out of warranty already in regards to that.

 

[gregincal]

I'm a lefty and I just always have adapted to whatever is presented. I use my left hand to open the driver's side doors and my right hand for the passenger side doors.

As does everybody else whether left handed or right handed. Anything else is extremely awkward no matter what the door handles are like.

 

[arjay]

BTW, I totally predicted these door handles a week ago...

Love those handles Brad, good find.

 

[Mark Z]

Manual handles are an improvement. Less to fail. More to love.

 

[JimmyAZ]

BTW, I totally predicted these door handles a week ago...

I love this! These are just like Aston Martin's door blades. I miss those. Jaguar is using them in the F-type also, but those present themselves when you unlock the door. Aston's, or atleast my 09 were just like these. I think it's a great compromise to the self-presenting design of the S.

 

[aronth5]

BTW, I totally predicted these door handles a week ago...

Just so you're aware a picture of these handles was posted back in December I know because I posted it.

 

[MitchB]

I much prefer the Model S style doors aesthetically, but with the functionality of the Model 3 prototype. Although in my opinion, the reason they probably went to the "hockey stick" shape was to make it more easily recognizable so that passengers or those who don't typically ride in this car can find the handle. The L shaped handle has a way more obvious button to press. This seems more new customer friendly.

 

[gregincal]

I much prefer the Model S style doors aesthetically, but with the functionality of the Model 3 prototype. Although in my opinion, the reason they probably went to the "hockey stick" shape was to make it more easily recognizable so that passengers or those who don't typically ride in this car can find the handle. The L shaped handle has a way more obvious button to press. This seems more new customer friendly.

I'm still worried people I'm picking up will walk up to the car and have no idea what to do. I actually like the look of the hockey stick handles better though (or at least they are new, the S design is kind of old at this stage).

 

[MitchB]

I'm still worried people I'm picking up will walk up to the car and have no idea what to do. I actually like the look of the hockey stick handles better though (or at least they are new, the S design is kind of old at this stage).

Fair enough. I think as a Model 3 reservation holder that has been waiting for this car for what seems like forever, I am so used to Model S as the standard. It's just a matter of accepting and getting used to all of the cool new designs that come with the Model 3! Example: Horizontal touch screen or the "unknown" invisible instrument cluster that everyone seems to be freaking out about.

I'm not sure if there will be an option for auto-presenting doors on the 3, something that is available with the X, but I would love to see a tech package with Auto-Pilot and the whole nine yards of tech greatness.

 

[Mark Z]

I'm not sure if there will be an option for auto-presenting doors on the 3, something that is available with the X, but I would love to see a tech package with Auto-Pilot and the whole nine yards of tech greatness.

After two weeks of waiting for the repair of a Model X front door latch, I want reliability without losing the ability to enjoy the vehicle. Driving around with a door ajar that won't pull in to latch, constant beeping, no AP or cruise and only one touchscreen method to lock Model X isn't fun and not safe.

 

[sqram]

I seems like you can press the left side with any fingers. Doesn't necessarily need to be the thumb.
Once you press the left side of the handle, the door opens and you can just grab the door to fully open it