Drove a Tesla yesterday.

AZjeff

AZjeff

$50 Site Donor 2023
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Jan 14, 2011
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At 5000’ in Az where the Deer and Antelope play
1 YO Model Y, dual motor, extended range. Went to a retirement party BBQ for my former boss, was talking with a former coworker who retired some time ago and he said guess what he has a Tesla. Told him I've never even sat in one, he said come on then. He had me get in driver side, then explained the screens and about the regenerative braking then said put on your seat belt lets go for a ride. Had to do a 3 point turn to get going in the right direction, he said don't worry it won't let you hit anything. Really? Got going up the street and played with the pedal to get a feel for the 1 pedal driving deal. Interesting. Got onto the highway and he said get on it, I gave it some pedal and it took off and he said no, floor it, so I did. Now I know what everyone talks about. Let off around 60 and it was still pulling HARD. Took 7 miles off the range in a couple of seconds. Best automotive parlor trick ever. Can't imagine what Ludicrous mode feels like. There probably aren't many $49k (-$7500) cars much less SUVs that can launch like that if that's your thing.

So drove it a couple of miles down the road then back. He said hit it again but there was no need. I asked him about the car, did he like it, did he have range anxiety, has it had any problems...he likes it pretty well overall but after a year still some things he doesn't like. The glass roof is just too hot here in Arizona so he got a sunshade and still too hot so got some of that silver insulating sheet that's used on water heaters put between the glass roof and sunshade and that fixed that. Some things in the operating sequences in the different screens he doesn't like. He just had it to Tesla in Phx and had a faulty computer replaced and now the screens are different so he has to get used to how to operate some things again. He took a trip to California and the range dropped so fast in the heat while running the AC and seat coolers he almost ran out of battery and had to detour through a sketch part of a town to get to the closest charger with 2% remaining charge. You start a trip and it shows you your stops at chargers but recalculates as it goes. So he does worry about range. That was learning curve mistake. Also on return from a California trip he pulled off to charge and it wouldn't take a charge at all. It was hot but other Teslas were charging so he had to call Tesla and it was rollbacked to a service center where they couldn't duplicate the problem, it charged up. This required an overnight stay in a motel for 4 people. Something about the battery cooler wasn't set correctly or something so it was too hot to charge. He really likes the safety features (nanny stuff), says as he gets older he needs all the help he can get. He had to ask another Tesla owner at a charger once how to adjust the mirrors, he couldn't find the right screen. Still had to hunt for it to show me. Maybe you just say Hey Tesla adjust mirrors?

I looked it over and didn't see any fit/finish problems that people talk about. The interior is kinda plain. After a less than 10 minute drive I can't say I love it or hate it. I think we could get along with one fine but an EV doesn't fit our needs right now. There's probably a point where you'd just age out of being able to understand how to use it unless you're a computer geek. Glad I drove it but didn't move the needle for me either way.
 
AZjeff said:
I looked it over and didn't see any fit/finish problems that people talk about. The interior is kinda plain. After a less than 10 minute drive I can't say I love it or hate it. I think we could get along with one fine but an EV doesn't fit our needs right now. There's probably a point where you'd just age out of being able to understand how to use it unless you're a computer geek. Glad I drove it but didn't move the needle for me either way.
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About 20 years ago may be longer one of my friends bought a Ferrari and eventually took his mom for a Ride and I asked Mary [ his mom] How did you like the Ferrari and she said " it's just another car"
 
@AZjeff I am not sure which configuration Model Y you drove; they are all pretty fast especially up to a certain speed.
We replaced the '18 Model 3 RWD, which I loved, with the new M3P. Just so you know, this is AWD and is rated at 510 HP. It is probably over 600... Very few people have ever been in a genuine 10 second car... For 55 large, there is nothing even close. You are talking Supercar acceleration.

No one needs a car this fast. But it is a great daily driver; easy to drive and live with. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but I pretty much love this car. I would buy it again right now.
 
That's the way to figure out whether you like a vehicle. Take one for a drive, talk to someone who owns one, and look one over carefully.

I test drove a Model 3 and ordered one a few days later. It suits me fine.
 
I didn't talk motor efficiency but EV as a whole. With motors using less electricity, weak motors running on lower amperage would extend battery charge. It's like pegging power consumption on a cellphone or laptop to get an extra hour of use.
 
99% of the driving public doesn't care or want their car to have supercar performance. They want a driving experience like they're used to. I don't understand the science but if the 3.5 seconds to 60 could be traded for 100 more range miles people would be all for it. Apparently the performance is just baked into the system.

I do know that in 50+ years of driving everything from $300 junk to new cars and trucks not one has ever let me down and I had to spend a night in a motel somewhere. What he had happen is the equivalent of pulling up to the gas pump and the car refuses to take gas. The driver shouldn't have to make adjustments because of environmental conditions for the car to take on fuel. Maybe a Tesla owner has an idea about this. This owner is pretty low key and took it in stride I guess, I'd be a little less tolerant.
 
AZjeff said:
99% of the driving public doesn't care or want their car to have supercar performance. They want a driving experience like they're used to. I don't understand the science but if the 3.5 seconds to 60 could be traded for 100 more range miles people would be all for it. Apparently the performance is just baked into the system.

I do know that in 50+ years of driving everything from $300 junk to new cars and trucks not one has ever let me down and I had to spend a night in a motel somewhere. What he had happen is the equivalent of pulling up to the gas pump and the car refuses to take gas. The driver shouldn't have to make adjustments because of environmental conditions for the car to take on fuel. Maybe a Tesla owner has an idea about this. This owner is pretty low key and took it in stride I guess, I'd be a little less tolerant.
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Sure; our 1st Tesla was a Model 3 Mid Range RWD; it was pretty darn perfect. Still fast as stink up to about 80 mph where acceleration drops off. I think the current Model 3 Long Range RWD (363 EPA range and sub 5 second 0-60) is a great way to go. Plus many can take advantage of the tax credit.

In my case, I wanted something special. There was zero chance I would buy anything else. And by the way 0-60 is sub 3 seconds... EPA range is over 300 miles, but not using Insane mode of course.
 
The Model Y Long Range is 3.5 to 60, that's what I was referring to. Very happy for you for the sub 3 0-60. I was asking if you Mr. Tesla driver have to do anything, like turn on battery cooling or something if you're driving in 110+ heat and going to a Supercharger that's scheduled on the route the Tesla planned out for you?

How often do you do sub 3 0-60 rips?
 
AZjeff said:
The Model Y Long Range is 3.5 to 60, that's what I was referring to. Very happy for you for the sub 3 0-60. I was asking if you Mr. Tesla driver have to do anything, like turn on battery cooling or something if you're driving in 110+ heat and going to a Supercharger that's scheduled on the route the Tesla planned out for you?

How often do you do sub 3 0-60 rips?
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No, the car manages battery and component temperatures and cooling automatically.
 
AZjeff said:
The Model Y Long Range is 3.5 to 60, that's what I was referring to. Very happy for you for the sub 3 0-60. I was asking if you Mr. Tesla driver have to do anything, like turn on battery cooling or something if you're driving in 110+ heat and going to a Supercharger that's scheduled on the route the Tesla planned out for you?

How often do you do sub 3 0-60 rips?
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No 110+ heat. Rarely go to a Supercharger.

I have kinda tested the power but certainly don't make a habit of it. The acceleration comes into play during driving like merging and lane changes.
Not much different from my other fast cars. The first was a 66 GTO. Sure wish I still had that one... Or the 73 FireChicken with the 69 400 engine... That was a great car! Lowered, 50 series Radial TAs, etc. Sucked the gas though...

You are spot on; no one needs a M3P. Or a Corvette, BMW, Porsche, Caddy, you name it. The Taycan at the end of the block is drop dead gorgeous, though... FYI the top dog Turbo S is close to $200K...
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dubber09 said:
Just wait till they mandate more power efficient EVs with weak motors.
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They can and do make the motors smaller and weaker, but increase the gear reduction so there is more power. It’s like a gas car in first gear that can go 100+ mph quietly. More efficiency with more power.
 
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dogememe said:
No, the car manages battery and component temperatures and cooling automatically.
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So something malfunctioned in my friend's Y and Tesla doesn't know what. Happens with ICE cars too.

@JeffKeryk , you're fixated on the high end extreme performance examples of EVs, that's cool, the rest of us would prefer something that would blend in with our dull plebeian lifestyles with minimal disruption. When our situation changes and we aren't pulling trailers or offroading we'll look at EVs, who knows?
 
I would actually consider one as my commuter to work (37 mile round trip) and charge at home, but honestly the range anxiety on a trip would get me too nervous. Honestly I'm not a big fan of EV's, but my commute is perfect for something like this.
 
Delta said:
I would actually consider one as my commuter to work (37 mile round trip) and charge at home, but honestly the range anxiety on a trip would get me too nervous. Honestly I'm not a big fan of EV's, but my commute is perfect for something like this.
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That’s perfect for a plug in hybrid.
 
Coworker has a Tesla (no idea what, other than it has 4 doors). Acceleration is something else. Ingress/egress and space in the back seat, not so much.

EV might work for me, lots of commuting on the highway. 110-120 miles roundtrip. Not sure about tire cost and all that, need a set of winter tires at some point. Plus the upfront purchase cost and all.
 
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