This Man Hated His Tesla Model S So Much He Traded It For A Chrysler 300

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

As I've posted in other threads, I've had significant seat time in a 3 as well as an S and materials selection is one of my biggest gripes (though road noise on the 3 was surprising, this wasn't the case with the S). The interior feels extremely cheap. It didn't feel/look like it was going to fall apart, I didn't see any huge panel gaps or anything, but compared to my M5, which I had owned just prior to driving the S, despite the cars being in a similar price bracket, the S had nothing on the bimmer in terms of interior materials selection and that "quality" feeling you expect at that price point.

On the 3, well, getting out of the Jeep, which is draped in leather on every surface and feels luxurious, the 3 doesn't. It feels like a Nissan Sentra or similar economy car inside in terms of materials selection, placement, design...etc.

I also owned an Audi e-tron for about a month (my personal version of the "mistake" this thread is about) and not getting the Luxury option was a mistake, though the primary reason for divesting myself of it was the fact my wife hated it and we both missed the SRT. That said, the Audi was leaps and bounds better than either Tesla in terms of materials, sound deadening, interior design...etc.

It ultimately comes down to what traits are most important to you. If you don't really want an EV (which should be a no brainer primary component of this decision-making process) then buying one is going to end up being a mistake. I definitely wanted an EV, and my wife thought she did, but we discovered that wasn't really the case. If you want the best range and neat-o technology and are comfortable with everything on a screen and how well the interior is dressed isn't of super high priority, you'll likely love a Tesla. If you like certain things like heads-up displays, a traditionally located cluster, physical controls for things and a very nice infotainment that supports CarPlay and Android Auto and range isn't top of the list, you are likely better served looking at some other marques like BMW, Audi, Porsche...etc.

I think having a comfortable interior is a must in a car you spend a lot of time in.

 

[PandaBear]

Quality and Tesla do not go hand in hand from what I've seen. Like I've said before, the issues with electric cars in general that makes them inferior to ICE vehicles make them a non-starter for regular people that need a standard vehicle to get them back and forth to work as well as other errands. Then you throw in all the problems that Tesla has with quality and the only people who will buy these things are those who can afford to have their electric car that sits next to their gas vehicles that do all the real work when needed. If you can put up with those things then great, maybe a Tesla is right for you.

If you buy a car from a startup company expect startup problem.

To be honest you probably get the same bad quality from Lotus, Polaris, etc that makes cool stuff. If you want quality interior you can probably still get it from Mercedes, Audi, Lexus when they eventually make EVs.

Still, I don't think Chrysler and quality would be in the same sentence, but whatever floats your boat I guess.

 

[PandaBear]

Nothing like telling the world you made a mistake. That person should have known right up front that the Tesla was not the car for them. Buying on emotion does that.

That is, if this story is true. It is the internet.

Sounds like a typical honeymoon period is over and people started hating their stuff, and jump right into another honeymoon period with another car / wife / toy.

 

[Kira]

There's gotta be a word for this.....People ride in posh cars then measure every other car's attributes against that; as if a tinny little Yugo was ever going to be comparable to Auntie's 1966 Oldsmobile 98 LS.
Unreasonable perhaps? I'm thinking more childish, stoned and possibly stupid.

'61 Falcons get compared to like Novas etc.

It seems everyone wants to be a prima donna car magazine tester with a haughty, critical vocabulary.

Midsized cars have to measure up to these mismatched comparisons so car makers stretch the quality by buying cheaper goods. They look good on the showroom floor but don't hold up. If people weren't so "show-offy" there might've been upward pressure on quality.

Now we have to put up with silly screens, ridiculously low profile tires and $1,000 wheels which crack (aka alloys).
New, truly exciting technologies come along and I gotta worry about pretty seats wearing out or the next "ego screen" on a truck's dashboard fritzing.

 

[PandaBear]

I think having a comfortable interior is a must in a car you spend a lot of time in.

I think everyone should spend as much money as they can in their homes, their cars, their kids educations, their health, their sex lives, their spirituality, their self confidence, their.....


The problem is we all have finite amount of resources (money, time, attention, stress tolerance, etc). Transportation is not the top of most people's priority.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

I think everyone should spend as much money as they can in their homes, their cars, their kids educations, their health, their sex lives, their spirituality, their self confidence, their.....


The problem is we all have finite amount of resources (money, time, attention, stress tolerance, etc). Transportation is not the top of most people's priority.

Ahhh, most people.

I went and found leather seats from a better model for mine.

I am not most people

 

[PandaBear]

Ahhh, most people.

I went and found leather seats from a better model for mine.

I am not most people

Once upon I time I was carpooling between Northern and Southern California regularly and share rides with carpoolers. One day I got a request (paid) to transport 2 car seats down to someone's friend, someone got a friend to pull 2 leather seats from a junkyard.

Or maybe that seats were full of cocaine money, I don't know.

 

[OVERKILL]

If you buy a car from a startup company expect startup problem.

To be honest you probably get the same bad quality from Lotus, Polaris, etc that makes cool stuff. If you want quality interior you can probably still get it from Mercedes, Audi, Lexus when they eventually make EVs.

Still, I don't think Chrysler and quality would be in the same sentence, but whatever floats your boat I guess.

Actually, the interior quality after FIAT took over increased dramatically in the FCA vehicles, it's why the DT RAM became the truck interior benchmark for example. Stellantis appears to be trying to continue this trend.

 

[OVERKILL]

There's gotta be a word for this.....People ride in posh cars then measure every other car's attributes against that; as if a tinny little Yugo was ever going to be comparable to Auntie's 1966 Oldsmobile 98 LS.
Unreasonable perhaps? I'm thinking more childish, stoned and possibly stupid.

Where do you see that happening in this thread?

'61 Falcons get compared to like Novas etc.

It seems everyone wants to be a prima donna car magazine tester with a haughty, critical vocabulary.

Midsized cars have to measure up to these mismatched comparisons so car makers stretch the quality by buying cheaper goods. They look good on the showroom floor but don't hold up. If people weren't so "show-offy" there might've been upward pressure on quality.

Now we have to put up with silly screens, ridiculously low profile tires and $1,000 wheels which crack (aka alloys).
New, truly exciting technologies come along and I gotta worry about pretty seats wearing out or the next "ego screen" on a truck's dashboard fritzing.

I'm not sure what this rant is about, but it doesn't seem germane to the subject of this thread, which is a Tesla Model S (a car that costs over $100K) which he traded for a 300, which is actually a less expensive automobile, but likely better equipped inside.

 

[BHopkins]

This person clearly didn't do one solitary bit of homework before spending a lot of money on an auto.

This man will be mocked by thousands.

How can you say that with certainty?

If he researched Tesla on Consumer Reports, he would find that they rated Tesla very highly. He would find all kinds of raving reviews from millennials. The news is full of positive reviews for Tesla cars. Perhaps he talked to people like Jeff, who love their Tesla cars. I am convinced that many overlook the quality issues, because they love the other features of their Tesla cars. Perhaps he thought he would be able to also, but found that the quality was jut too much for him to overcome.

 

[Cujet]

It is no secret I like a comfortable seat, and a responsive car. The Tesla seats are reasonably comfy. The Model S is, in my opinion, not far from being a "drivers car" as the response to any input is fast. Big tires, and a few tweaks gets it there.

I enjoy the 300 as a long distance car and I'd prefer to drive a 300 over a Model S on ultra long trips, as the Model S wastes to much time. However, "IF" the Model S could match the 300 in high speed highway range and refuel times, I'd choose the Model S, hands down.

However, I do agree that menu driven "selections" are annoying, when simply cranking up a knob is in order. My 2011 F150 has a temp knob, and all it does is move the blend door, flat out GLORIOUS!!! I can select the air temp I want, like God intended. That is another subject entirely.

 

[UncleDave]

How can you say that with certainty?

If he researched Tesla on Consumer Reports, he would find that they rated Tesla very highly. He would find all kinds of raving reviews from millennials. The news is full of positive reviews for Tesla cars. Perhaps he talked to people like Jeff, who love their Tesla cars. I am convinced that many overlook the quality issues, because they love the other features of their Tesla cars. Perhaps he thought he would be able to also, but found that the quality was jut too much for him to overcome.

You are kidding me right?

Did he not even bother to sit in one prior to buying it - or look at a picture of it online anywhere?

He clearly did not test drive it or go for a ride.

What kind of sound did he expect it to make?

Why did he take delivery of it if the quality was so bad?

Jeff hasn't done any online reviews like the thousands that are out there a a click of a mouse describing everything he complained about after the fact. Never in the history of automobiles is such detailed information been available to potential buyers of every make and model. You used have to go buy magazines and even then didnt learn a 1/10 of what you can now online for free.


It's simply not a credible position to not have known/ been surprised about what he is complaining about post purchase. The man put himself squarely in the position he found himself in.

It's a little like being shocked to discover gambling in a casino.

 

[JeffKeryk]

It is unfortunate tht the buyer of that expensive Tesla was unhappy; it happens. I will say I would do my best to be informed if I were spending Tesla money... Or Porsche or whatever money. But, each to their own. Stuff happens.
IMO, buy the car that works for you, be it a Tesla, Yugo, 300, Taycan, 1993 Toyota 4wd PU, whatever.

I recently posted a pic of a brand new Porsche Taycan we walked by in downtown Palo Alto. I can tell you, you have to see this car in person.
I have seen many driving around, but this was the 1st one I was close to. There are very few cars with the flat out beauty of the Taycan.
But this car is not for me. It is just too much. I let people borrow my cars, don't have enough garage space, etc.
I much prefer the Model 3 for my personal use case.

As far as buying the wrong car, you can make a case that I did, buying a Model 3 Mid-Range, which is no longer available. I rarely use AP, and that was 5 large. Oops. Now I am considering the Model 3 Performance, which was just too much money at the time. They are much cheaper now...
If I had any brains in my head I woulda bought TSLA in Dec 2018... Sheesh.

Is our Model 3's interior comparable to wifey's new RX450h F Sport? Depends on what you want. After driving the 3, the Lexus interior seems overly complicated. Others feel differently. I can say, "Set the temperature to 72" and the Tesla does it. The RX is old school complicated with all those dang buttons that you gotta decipher.

I am curious what changes Giga Berlin brings to Tesla... The Germans sure know how to paint!

So buy what you want. And perhaps try and respect other's choices. Personally I think people spend too much money on cars. Like Teslas. And Taycans. And whatever... All good.

 

[UncleDave]

It is unfortunate tht the buyer of that expensive Tesla was unhappy; it happens. I will say I would do my best to be informed if I were spending Tesla money... Or Porsche or whatever money. But, each to their own. Stuff happens.
IMO, buy the car that works for you, be it a Tesla, Yugo, 300, Taycan, 1993 Toyota 4wd PU, whatever.

I recently posted a pic of a brand new Porsche Taycan we walked by in downtown Palo Alto. I can tell you, you have to see this car in person.
I have seen many driving around, but this was the 1st one I was close to. There are very few cars with the flat out beauty of the Taycan.
But this car is not for me. It is just too much. I let people borrow my cars, don't have enough garage space, etc.
I much prefer the Model 3 for my personal use case.

As far as buying the wrong car, you can make a case that I did, buying a Model 3 Mid-Range, which is no longer available. I rarely use AP, and that was 5 large. Oops. Now I am considering the Model 3 Performance, which was just too much money at the time. They are much cheaper now...
If I had any brains in my head I woulda bought TSLA in Dec 2018... Sheesh.

Is our Model 3's interior comparable to wifey's new RX450h F Sport? Depends on what you want. After driving the 3, the Lexus interior seems overly complicated. Others feel differently. I can say, "Set the temperature to 72" and the Tesla does it. The RX is old school complicated with all those dang buttons that you gotta decipher.

I am curious what changes Giga Berlin brings to Tesla... The Germans sure know how to paint!

So buy what you want. And perhaps try and respect other's choices. Personally I think people spend too much money on cars. Like Teslas. And Taycans. And whatever... All good.

The Taycan ls like an Italian (german) mistress calling to me.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

Where do you see that happening in this thread?

I'm not sure what this rant is about, but it doesn't seem germane to the subject of this thread, which is a Tesla Model S (a car that costs over $100K) which he traded for a 300, which is actually a less expensive automobile, but likely better equipped inside.

Well, in that case, the 300 would be a better car for him..

 

[Jake_J]

Yes it's a click bait article but it's indicative of Tesla's quality problems which is all goes back to their manufacturing issues and that could be a huge liability for them in the long term. Tesla is winning the EV race right now thanks to their innovation and better designs but as the regular car companies catch up their sub par manufacturing will become a pressing issue.

 

[E365]

Even McLarens are still poorly made, as they’ve always been. And like Tesla, still massively popular. I don’t think the vast majority cares or even knows of the issues a small number of people nitpick about.

 

[DwightFrye]

It seems that we are not all on the same page with our definitions of quality issues. To me, that means poor body panel or interior panel fit, squeaks, rattles, paint flaws, mechanical issues that require a trip to the dealer and that kind of thing.

Others cite the use of "cheap" materials and the interiors of $75k Tesla's being no better than a $25k Corolla. Those are not quality issues in the respect that the components in question fail to meet their design requirements or exhibit defective materials and/or worksmanship. Those are issues where the buyer expects "higher quality" as in better materials that other vehicles in the same price class offer.

If you have criticisms of the types of materials and the design in the Teslas, say so. They may be warranted. And if you find QC issues, like poor fit and finish and defects, kindly be specific. Just spouting off that Teslas have "quality issues" does little to help anyone decide if a Tesla is worth considering.

 

[UncleDave]

It seems that we are not all on the same page with our definitions of quality issues. To me, that means poor body panel or interior panel fit, squeaks, rattles, paint flaws, mechanical issues that require a trip to the dealer and that kind of thing.

Others cite the use of "cheap" materials and the interiors of $75k Tesla's being no better than a $25k Corolla. Those are not quality issues in the respect that the components in question fail to meet their design requirements or exhibit defective materials and/or worksmanship. Those are issues where the buyer expects "higher quality" as in better materials that other vehicles in the same price class offer.

If you have criticisms of the types of materials and the design in the Teslas, say so. They may be warranted. And if you find QC issues, like poor fit and finish and defects, kindly be specific. Just spouting off that Teslas have "quality issues" does little to help anyone decide if a Tesla is worth considering.

Agreed "Quality" is a term often cited but rarely detailed.

Any hit piece on anyone with such generic complaints and zero accompanying photos or detail just begs to be ignored.

Lazy writing begets lazy attention paid to it.

 

[OVERKILL]

It seems that we are not all on the same page with our definitions of quality issues. To me, that means poor body panel or interior panel fit, squeaks, rattles, paint flaws, mechanical issues that require a trip to the dealer and that kind of thing.

Others cite the use of "cheap" materials and the interiors of $75k Tesla's being no better than a $25k Corolla. Those are not quality issues in the respect that the components in question fail to meet their design requirements or exhibit defective materials and/or worksmanship. Those are issues where the buyer expects "higher quality" as in better materials that other vehicles in the same price class offer.

If you have criticisms of the types of materials and the design in the Teslas, say so. They may be warranted. And if you find QC issues, like poor fit and finish and defects, kindly be specific. Just spouting off that Teslas have "quality issues" does little to help anyone decide if a Tesla is worth considering.

That's why I called it materials selection in my response to you, not "quality issues".