Tesla Model 3 - The Elephant NOT in the Room

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Had this happened in my family, I would have had to just find a new family because I would never have heard the end of it.

"Does anyone want to take a test drive in my pickup? I just recharged it at the gas station down the street and it's good for another 630 miles."

"Do you take the little batteries out of that thing to plug them into the charger like a regular Power Wheels?"

I love my EV's, but I'm still from a pickup truck family.
 
LAF said:
Let me give you a real life example of my brother who has a model X. He came to visit for Thanksgiving on a 300 mile trip. He planned his stops to charge and thought it was going to work fine.

Well there was a little more traffic than he anticipated and he was afraid to be late so he didn't want to wait the entire time to completely refill 80 miles from us as he planned. He made it in time but to our dismay (and I am sure his) he was afraid to give us a test drive because he was afraid he might not make it back to the charging station on the way home. I am happy to sacrifice cool factor and some pickup with my Clarity (which my friend likened it to riding in a monorail) to avoid this type of scenario.
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So I would call this poor planning. Even with conventional ICE, I always time my trips with the expectation of delays. I’d much rather arrive early than have the tension and anxiety of arriving late as the result of delays I should always expect.

Your brother is like my son. If he needs to be at an airport at 9:15, he won’t build in extra time for delays to the airport. One day it will bite him in the arse and he will learn his lesson. Each to his own. ;)
 
We have a friend who just took delivery of his Model 3 (his wife gets the Model S). He let us drive around a bit, but I left feeling a little underwhelmed. While the fit and finish was fine, and the car felt like a smaller Model S, the drive screen was often obscured by glare. Since that's the main info center, we suspect that it will be aftermarket fixed - and quickly - but still…

The seats felt a little weird, and the inside trim level felt just a little cheap. No knobs of any type. Acceleration and braking felt just like the Model S, so that wouldn't be feel like going from a Tesla to a Clarity. For $30k less than a Model S, however, I'll hold onto my reservation.

There are definitely parts of the country where the SuperCharging network could use much more of a build out. Even here in California, there is a need for more slots - and we have quite a few already. For example, we have one supercharger in San Diego, an area with over 2 million population, and it's always busy, typically a wait to charge unless you're there very early or very late at night. We keep reading about new SuperChargers on the books - but we don't see any new ones opening.

Destination charging is a much more actionable goal, but most of those are level 2. So charging a practically empty battery would take quite awhile. I think the car will take off once Tesla gets its Fremont act together and starts putting Model 3s on the road.
 
bfd said:
We have a friend who just took delivery of his Model 3 (his wife gets the Model S). He let us drive around a bit, but I left feeling a little underwhelmed. While the fit and finish was fine, and the car felt like a smaller Model S, the drive screen was often obscured by glare. Since that's the main info center, we suspect that it will be aftermarket fixed - and quickly - but still…

The seats felt a little weird, and the inside trim level felt just a little cheap. No knobs of any type. Acceleration and braking felt just like the Model S, so that wouldn't be feel like going from a Tesla to a Clarity. For $30k less than a Model S, however, I'll hold onto my reservation.

There are definitely parts of the country where the SuperCharging network could use much more of a build out. Even here in California, there is a need for more slots - and we have quite a few already. For example, we have one supercharger in San Diego, an area with over 2 million population, and it's always busy, typically a wait to charge unless you're there very early or very late at night. We keep reading about new SuperChargers on the books - but we don't see any new ones opening.

Destination charging is a much more actionable goal, but most of those are level 2. So charging a practically empty battery would take quite awhile. I think the car will take off once Tesla gets its Fremont act together and starts putting Model 3s on the road.
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Yup, you're experience sounds consistent with what I've heard. The 3 feels much like an S, but without many of the luxury signals. That's certainly to be expected for a significantly cheaper entry ticket. I hadn't heard about the glare on the screen, but as you say, that should be an easy after-market fix.

Here on Long Island, we've already got 2 brand new Supercharger locations that are very close to going operational. We've got another 2 or 3 that are scheduled for this year. So things are improving. We're headed up to Connecticut today, and there are quite a few SCs along the way, so no real concerns. It's nice getting these free 'fill-ups'. ;)
 
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To quote myself, from a Twitter troll post:

Got a Honda Clarity. It has three advantages over the similarly priced Tesla Model 3.

a) I went into the dealership on a Monday night and drove out with a car. No wait/deposit.
b) Range is about 30 miles longer than the Model 3.
c) Honda’s CEO doesn’t melt down on Twitter.​
 
These are different size class vehicles, as the Clarity is one of the few to seat 5 adults well and travel about 50 miles electric. Everything else costs a lot more or shorter range. The rear seat of the model 3 looked uncomfortable, more like the 2nd row seats of a Chrysler minivan with stow and go seats, which are very low to fit into the storage space.
 
leehinde said:
b) Range is about 30 miles longer than the Model 3.​
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You must have gotten a defective one. Mine goes 999 miles after a fill-up. Says so on the dashboard. ;-)

5 months now and I still don’t regret cancelling my Model 3 reservation. They told me it would happen sometime so I’m sure it’s coming.

If I do decide to do a Tesla in the future, I’ll go with the Model S. That’s what I should have just bought four years ago when all this stuff started.
 
One of the big reasons why I went for clarity is the car size. The back seats are very roomy. I can fit kids and adults back there comfortably.

I was under the impression that Tesla model 3 was a small car, similar in size to BMW 3 series. To those saying the 3 is spacious, how does it compare to the clarity? I’ve never been in one
 
Baekacaek said:
One of the big reasons why I went for clarity is the car size. The back seats are very roomy. I can fit kids and adults back there comfortably.

I was under the impression that Tesla model 3 was a small car, similar in size to BMW 3 series. To those saying the 3 is spacious, how does it compare to the clarity? I’ve never been in one
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Drive Electric Week is this September. So you should be able to see and perhaps set in one at one of the local events.

https://driveelectricweek.org/
 
A Tesla crashed into a parked police car in California yesterday. All these telsa are crashing more then Microsoft Windows. :D

Honestly, I don't know how Tesla will be able to repair on all their car since they don't have physical repair shops and there is so much a mobile repair guy can do driving around in a car.
 
The media is sensationalizing (what else is new?) any and all Tesla accidents. There are something like 500 cars that catch on fire every day, but if one of them is a Tesla, it makes the front page. As to the cause of crashes involving the use of autopilot, I'm sure almost all of them can be traced back to the ignorance of the driver. When you see clowns sitting in the back seat as their Tesla drives itself or drivers texting, doing their nails etc, you realize why these things happen. Hey, these things also happen to non-Tesla cars. Whod'a thunk?

I have had absolutely zero issues with my Model S. I use the Autopilot as it should be used, as a driver's aid, nothing more nothing less. I am always in control and always aware of what the car is doing. I arrive at my destination much more relaxed as a result. Anyone doing anything less than that is an idiot. Sorry for my bluntness, but between the media sensationalism and some of the clowns that drive these cars, it's very annoying.

In all honesty, as much as we love our Clarity, my Model S is the best car I've ever driven.

Unfortunately I find a tendency in these threads for a few to try to denigrate cars they don't own. It's no different than the A/V forums I visit. Knock anything you don't own, no matter how much or how little you know about it. It rips some of these forums apart as the two sides fight bitterly about 'whose is bigger and better'.
 
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megreyhair said:
A Tesla crashed into a parked police car in California yesterday. All these telsa are crashing more then Microsoft Windows. :D

Honestly, I don't know how Tesla will be able to repair on all their car since they don't have physical repair shops and there is so much a mobile repair guy can do driving around in a car.
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They have a number of service centers now, and I believe they're still growing. Here is the current map. Obviously not as many as Honda dealerships, but not nearly as many customers either.
Tesla Service centers.webp
 
Domenick said:
That's an excellent suggestion. I think that'll work for me if I start bringing a bagged lunch instead of flying to New York to dine at the Waldorf Astoria every day. :D
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You have to admire their honesty, "No one needs a product like this. We exist for those who have to have one."

If I only had another place to store our kayaks I'd surely lease one...

geo
 
Ken7 said:
The media is sensationalizing (what else is new?) any and all Tesla accidents. There are something like 500 cars that catch on fire every day, but if one of them is a Tesla, it makes the front page. As to the cause of crashes involving the use of autopilot, I'm sure almost all of them can be traced back to the ignorance of the driver. When you see clowns sitting in the back seat as their Tesla drives itself or drivers texting, doing their nails etc, you realize why these things happen. Hey, these things also happen to non-Tesla cars. Whod'a thunk?

I have had absolutely zero issues with my Model S. I use the Autopilot as it should be used, as a driver's aid, nothing more nothing less. I am always in control and always aware of what the car is doing. I arrive at my destination much more relaxed as a result. Anyone doing anything less than that is an idiot. Sorry for my bluntness, but between the media sensationalism and some of the clowns that drive these cars, it's very annoying.

In all honesty, as much as we love our Clarity, my Model S is the best car I've ever driven.

Unfortunately I find a tendency in these threads for a few to try to denigrate cars they don't own. It's no different than the A/V forums I visit. Knock anything you don't own, no matter how much or how little you know about it. It rips some of these forums apart as the two sides fight bitterly about 'whose is bigger and better'.
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I think you are spot on Ken. It seems to be the nature of the beast that people defend their own decision (me) and denigrate the alternative (I don't think I'm in that group - just critical). The three Model S Teslas in our neighborhood are three times the number of Clarity's, and are beautiful cars. But despite the fact we have another long range vehicle (2018 Odyssey) we both love driving the Clarity long distance too.

Something just occurred to me - I've read a lot of comments about long distances being hard on the Clarity with its undersized engine - I truly don't believe that is the case because that engine is generating electricity for the more powerful electric motor in most instances rather than straining to move the car forward by itself. In fact, even driving 80 on our Texas interstates still adds 0.1-0.2 miles EV range OVER the needs of the electric engine, until you get in a steep climb, which is when you'll really be glad you had the full battery to draw on and avoid (as much as possible) the angry bees.
 
The Tesla 3 vs Clarity is not a valid comparison. The base Tesla 3 ($36,000 and change) in theory costs about as much as a Clarity Touring, but The base Tesla 3 does not exist. Sometime early in July, Tesla will have sold more than 200,000 EVs and the $7,500 tax break will be going away for Tesla vehicles. The Tesla 3 also does not come with any free super charging.

The Clarity is a much less expensive car than any Tesla including the 3. On a long trip it takes just a few minutes to fill the gasoline tank. It's practical range on ICE (40 mpg highway) is about 250 miles. To get an equivalent practical range with a Tesla 3 requires the $9,000 battery upgrade. (220 miles base - 40 = 180 and 310 miles - 40 = 270)

Most importantly, the Clarity is available now and Honda will not be going bankrupt anytime soon.
 
DaleL said:
The Tesla 3 vs Clarity is not a valid comparison. The base Tesla 3 ($36,000 and change) in theory costs about as much as a Clarity Touring, but The base Tesla 3 does not exist. Sometime early in July, Tesla will have sold more than 200,000 EVs and the $7,500 tax break will be going away for Tesla vehicles. The Tesla 3 also does not come with any free super charging.

The Clarity is a much less expensive car than any Tesla including the 3. On a long trip it takes just a few minutes to fill the gasoline tank. It's practical range on ICE (40 mpg highway) is about 250 miles. To get an equivalent practical range with a Tesla 3 requires the $9,000 battery upgrade. (220 miles base - 40 = 180 and 310 miles - 40 = 270)

Most importantly, the Clarity is available now and Honda will not be going bankrupt anytime soon.
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I feel like there is a valid comparison to be made. The tax credit will begin to phase out once Tesla sells their 200,000th vehicle, but the full credit will still be available for 3-6 months, and partial credits for a year after that. So the price differential is not that big.

The Honda Clarity doesn't come with free gas. So same deal as the superchargers there.

And while the base Tesla does have a shorter total range, it also has a longer all-electric range. So that trade-off is probably worth it to some people.
 
Forbes Magazine's take on the $35K Tesla Model 3:
The Elusive $35,000 Model 3: A Godot-Like Wait For The 'Mass-Market' Tesla
Tesla informed many of its nearly half million reservation holders this month that Model 3 production challenges mean deliveries are taking longer than planned, particularly for the base version. “Standard” Model 3s – i.e., the one that actually costs $35,000 – now go into production in late 2018, rather than the first quarter...
 
Emanuel Green said:
I feel like there is a valid comparison to be made. The tax credit will begin to phase out once Tesla sells their 200,000th vehicle, but the full credit will still be available for 3-6 months, and partial credits for a year after that. So the price differential is not that big....
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I think the math tells a different story. The true "average" price of a Tesla Model 3 is $50,000, so even after $7500 credits for both it and the Clarity, you still have an almost $14,000 difference. If you ONLY drove the Clarity as a hybrid, that's
196,000 miles ($14,000/$3.00X42mpg) miles of "free" driving. Stack in the effect of nearly daily driving at electric rates...well, you quickly get the picture that you can drive the Clarity for its useful life for the price differential of the Model 3...just sayin'
 
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