Delivery TODAY of Tesla Model 3 ! Epic Party...

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These initial ones are hand-built. They had to hand build them because the production lines are not up yet and they don't want to miss yet another launch date. Kind of a [censored] launch party.
 
I absolutely love the electric cars. Love the performance, the response, the quiet.

I want to purchase one. However, my trips include 600-700 mile drives to TN and regular 290 mile trips to Jax, FL. I'm not willing to stop and charge mid trip. And I don't have the time to wait 40 hours for 115V to top off the car when I arrive.

Regardless of what Tesla claims, long trips are difficult at best. Impossible under most circumstances.
 
Its ceremonial. Let them have their fun. Time will tell if this thing is great or not.

The real truth will come out when Car and Driver gets their copy. Real handling facts, not just some non-expert saying "it drives reeeeel good".

With the instant torque of electric motors in a smaller chassis than a current Model S, we might see some better Autocross times and some good times returned on big racetracks.
 
Originally Posted By: Ethan1
These initial ones are hand-built. They had to hand build them because the production lines are not up yet and they don't want to miss yet another launch date. Kind of a [censored] launch party.


Do you have a source for that? My understanding is the first one of the production line came about a week ago which is actually slightly early.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2...two-weeks-early
http://www.thedrive.com/sheetmetal/12288/first-tesla-model-3-just-rolled-off-the-production-line
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I absolutely love the electric cars. Love the performance, the response, the quiet.

I want to purchase one. However, my trips include 600-700 mile drives to TN and regular 290 mile trips to Jax, FL. I'm not willing to stop and charge mid trip. And I don't have the time to wait 40 hours for 115V to top off the car when I arrive.

Regardless of what Tesla claims, long trips are difficult at best. Impossible under most circumstances.


You're not alone. If car makers could figure out how to "refill" electric cars in 10 minutes like a combustion engine I think most people would make the switch. Unfortunately I don't think charging will ever be fast enough without generating so much heat that it melts the battery. They need to come up with some sort of hot swappable battery packs.
 
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Is this car a competitor to the Chevy Bolt?
Directly, almost. The big difference is the "wow" factor when driving one. The Model 3 looks much better, and its a must-have Tesla. The Chevy is just a GM electric which looks like an econo-box Sonic. Your choice!
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I absolutely love the electric cars. Love the performance, the response, the quiet. I want to purchase one. However, my trips include 600-700 mile drives to TN and regular 290 mile trips to Jax, FL. I'm not willing to stop and charge mid trip. And I don't have the time to wait 40 hours for 115V to top off the car when I arrive. Regardless of what Tesla claims, long trips are difficult at best. Impossible under most circumstances.


People are saying they can rent a Sonata for the twice a year long trips. Teslas and Chevy Bolts do 200+ miles on a battery, enough to get most people by except for vacations. Renting a car for those trips isn't a bad idea, unless way frequent.
 
Just looking at how far batteries have come in the short time since the GM EV car, I have no doubt that a fast charge car will eventually come. Phenomenon such as Beijing, China and IC engines slowly being banned from European inner cities will drive development of electric cars like nobody's business. Back all that up with (hopefully) less maintenance costs and the potential for outrageous performance and I think the future for electric cars is good. As engineering efforts are dedicated more to batteries and less to IC power trains the innovation will go by leaps and bounds.

I am sooo ready for an electric car.....
 
Isn't the Chevy Bolt cheaper? And I'd be willing to bet that the Chevy dealer network is better right now than the Tesla network will ever be. This would be especially true for Texas (lol).

What does one do when their Tesla fails to proceed?
 
Hahaha, they send a flatbed. My neighbor's got picked up the other day for a failure in his charge controller. They are not perfect yet.

Physics is pesky, I doubt that the power density issues with battery packs will be overcome anytime soon. But what a fun car for around town!
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I absolutely love the electric cars. Love the performance, the response, the quiet.

I want to purchase one. However, my trips include 600-700 mile drives to TN and regular 290 mile trips to Jax, FL. I'm not willing to stop and charge mid trip. And I don't have the time to wait 40 hours for 115V to top off the car when I arrive.

Regardless of what Tesla claims, long trips are difficult at best. Impossible under most circumstances.


Incorrect.

Buddy drove his Tesla from Texas to California. Charging stops about every 175 miles for 20-30 minutes at a time. Car drove itself most of the trip, he said.

Direct quote: "Best road trip we ever had"
 
I am willing to stop and charge during a long trip. When I drive alone, I will spend 10 minutes refueling and then probably 10 minutes grabbing a snack and using the facilities. If I can plug into a supercharger and do all of the above and be going again in 30 after a much more relaxed time, I am all for it. This is especially applicable when traveling with the family, as stops are never "quick".

Cujet, there are no superchargers near your TN destination or en route for any other trip?

In any case, I rarely need to put on huge miles in a short amount of time. If I did, I would still have an ICE car in the collection or would simply plan the stops into the trip just like I plan stops for gas. It wouldn't really make a huge difference.
 
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Isn't the Chevy Bolt cheaper? And I'd be willing to bet that the Chevy dealer network is better right now than the Tesla network will ever be. This would be especially true for Texas (lol).
Tesla Model 3 is cheaper. Compare base models, no options, and the Bolt=$36k and Tesla Model 3 = $35k.

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
What does one do when their Tesla fails to proceed?
Call AAA. They have special recharging trucks to juice you up (and your car too) by the side of the road.
 
Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies


People are saying they can rent a Sonata for the twice a year long trips. Teslas and Chevy Bolts do 200+ miles on a battery, enough to get most people by except for vacations. Renting a car for those trips isn't a bad idea, unless way frequent.


I see Teslas make the 150-200mile trek from San Jose/SF to Tahoe/Reno all the time - Tesla does have "supercharging" stations that feed high-voltage DC directly to the battery packs of the Model S/X - model 3 owners have access to them as well and it's good for 70-80% charge in 30 minutes. The ski resorts and casinos have limited charging stations.

But range anxiety - which is why my parents cancelled their order. They're still open to the idea, but want to see something that hits 300miles on a charge with the size of a Camry.

I want to get a Model Y when it comes out so I can justify buying a burly SUV like a 100 Series Land Cruiser/Lexus LX or something I can have fun with on the weekend.
 
Last edited:
nthach,
We all know you can restrict your route to the supercharger fast-DC charging network and take a trip, putting up with half-hour partial 75% charges every time, hoping nobody else is using the charger, and hoping the charger works..... All this can be done. No doubt.
The only thing is, people are spoiled by 400 mile range cars that get a full tank in 10 minutes, and have the ability to go on any route.
Thats the point. Everybody has to decide for themselves what level of frustration they are willing to put up with.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Hahaha, they send a flatbed. My neighbor's got picked up the other day for a failure in his charge controller. They are not perfect yet.

Physics is pesky, I doubt that the power density issues with battery packs will be overcome anytime soon. But what a fun car for around town!


Everything breaks down i guess. Hopefully they get things sorted with your neighbor's car.
 
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