I know I haven't been active here in a LONG time. I drove beaters a lot of years I am a gearhead at heart just middle age, family and career have put a damper on wrenching and drastically changed what I drive.
The aim is for the Model 3 to eventually be down to a $35k base price they are just prioritizing the higher margin cars at first and badly missing production goals.
A year ago I thought Tesla was a joke, then had opportunity to drive one when I went to check out a 2017 Chevy SS M6 I was considering replacing my 2015 SS A6 car. For those not familiar the SS it is an awesome car and updated G8, was essentially a Camaro stretched 2" with a boring looking Malibu like body, standard LS3 415hp/415tq A6 or M6 tranny RWD and 2015-2017 had standard Mag-Ride, instrumented testing had it at 4.7 0-60mph and .97G lateral. After driving a Tesla P85 and feeling 440tq everywhere below 43mph and then plateau at 416hp from there to 73mph I was hooked. 700lbs heavier and 1hp 25tq more and it does 0-60 in 4.2seconds published 3.9 instrumented testing.
I wouldn't buy a new Tesla but I did buy one 3yo used and have been very happy since August which admittedly is a short time. It does not handle as well as the Chevy but I am in Wisconsin and it is flat and the Tesla will still handle a round-a-bout better than a 4700lbs car should.
Power delivery of an electric motor is awesome, peak torque off zero is what you want, electric traction control is great very precise, you get that massive lowend torque without transmission complexity, single speed gear box is cheap simple and reliable.
The Model S and Model X are solid sellers for their price ranges. Yes the Model 3 production is going poorly but if they get their act together it is going to be a big deal.
On financials the gearup to build the Model 3 production was expensive and the supercharger network is "planned" to double last year and this year, huge expense but this allows electric vehicles to roadtrip 400volt 200amp DC is good for as much as 150miles of range in 30minutes so yes it is slower than gas but on a 400mile trip if you were going to stop for one meal it is the same drive time as a regular car you just eat while it is at the "pump". The supercharger network is expansive enough to road trip and are free for most Model S and Model X.
Tesla superchargers in USA
I am no eco-freak the P85 I bought is a family hotrod, the insurance cost ends up putting a big dent in the "fuel" savings too so I wont claim fuel savings as a plus.
I came here hoping to find a UOA of the Dexron VI used in the gear reduction box and found this so put my $0.02 in for better or worse. The fill seems to be quoted as 1.4quarts with an initial 12K change then I have heard suggestions all the way up to 500K before next change, seems excessive and was hoping for data.
Maybe I am the one that needs to do the sample.