[Nibbles]

Not quite a Tesla but had a test drive in the Fiat 500E today as Mrs Nibbles is considering one. I was reasonably impressed, I'm not sure it could ever be classed as value for money but a little bit more space and reasonably nippy with a decent range.

[JustChris]

Definitely saw my white one there a few minutes in.

[Panchoa]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Definitely saw my white one there a few minutes in.

Think I saw my black one too

Mines due 1st march

[Scoobyd]

Mate of mine has had an F10 535d for the last 5 years and now fancies a change. Almost pulled the trigger on a white F10 M5 at the weekend to scratch that itch but the potential running costs ended up putting him off.

He went and drove the TM3 today. Both LR and Performance versions. The Performance model blew him away! And most of his neck muscles too I think! Couldn't justify the extra cost though so looks like he's going to pull the trigger on a LR later this week.

Another BMW driver heading into a Tesla…

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Scoobyd

Mate of mine has had an F10 535d for the last 5 years and now fancies a change. Almost pulled the trigger on a white F10 M5 at the weekend to scratch that itch but the potential running costs ended up putting him off.

He went and drove the TM3 today. Both LR and Performance versions. The Performance model blew him away! And most of his neck muscles too I think! Couldn't justify the extra cost though so looks like he's going to pull the trigger on a LR later this week.

Another BMW driver heading into a Tesla…

He should get the LR and but acceleration boost. Gets to 95% of the P with 0-60 figures 3-7s but many record below that. Cripes!

[Scoobyd]

Originally Posted by JustChris

He should get the LR and but acceleration boost. Gets to 95% of the P with 0-60 figures 3-7s but many record below that. Cripes!

Well he's pulled the trigger today and think that's exactly the route he's going!

His wife said the Performance model was too much and he only needed the entry level. So they eventually compromised on the LR and he'll sneak the acceleration boost upgrade in the back door without her knowledge once it gets here!

[SteveChester]

What is the acceleration boost? Do you need to spec it when you buy it or is it some software config that can be changed anytime?

[Panchoa]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

What is the acceleration boost? Do you need to spec it when you buy it or is it some software config that can be changed anytime?

Software update but not sure on costs though.

[Cilonen]

Originally Posted by Panchoa

Software update but not sure on costs though.

£1500.

Compares well to a £10k price difference between LR & Performance, given the boost will put 0-60 within half a sec of the Performance.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

What is the acceleration boost? Do you need to spec it when you buy it or is it some software config that can be changed anytime?

Yes as others say SF option on the App and you can return it after 48hrs if you 'don't like'.

[TodmordenLad]

Reading this thread makes me wonder why you would buy anything other than a Tesla if you were in the market for a decent EV daily?

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

Reading this thread makes me wonder why you would buy anything other than a Tesla if you were in the market for a decent EV daily?

Whilst absolutely getting the appeal of Teslas, I find other EVs far more appealing.

The Model Y ticks every box for me, apart from emotional appeal (how it looks) and a few feature shortcomings. But I find myself wanting others more.

Not knocking Teslas, I can see why people choose them.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Whilst absolutely getting the appeal of Teslas, I find other EVs far more appealing.

The Model Y ticks every box for me, apart from emotional appeal (how it looks) and a few feature shortcomings. But I find myself wanting others more.

Not knocking Teslas, I can see why people choose them.

I was doing fine on the "want an EV front" until I realised that:

- high speed motorway use is where they are at their worst for range - and I reckon of the 8300 miles in the RS4, over 6000 have been on motorways.....

- some of the Tesla guys (with Model 3) are saying they work on 2 miles per 1% of battery on average, so realistically a 180 miles range - which would definitely not be so handy with my 300 miles in a weekend / 200 miles plus to watch a game of football which is how I generally use my car...

But in the world of EVs I'd like Tesla battery and supercharger in a more conventional manufacturers skin and interior..... I'm not sure I am really ready for some of the tech in Tesla's, for gods sake I still miss the CD player in my car!

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Whilst absolutely getting the appeal of Teslas, I find other EVs far more appealing.

The Model Y ticks every box for me, apart from emotional appeal (how it looks) and a few feature shortcomings. But I find myself wanting others more.

Not knocking Teslas, I can see why people choose them.

What I know about EV's, MB, could be written on a very small postage stamp, so yes, sweet FA.
Apart from the odd Jag, all the newer EV purchases around my neighbourhood are Tesla model 3's. One of my neighbours, who is a serial car changer, started with a Kia e-Niro and realising that he quite liked the idea, swapped it for Tesla (a fast one, dont ask me which one) which he now swears by. I'd happily own a Model 3 as far as looks are concerned, and yes, the Model Y is no oil painting, as you say.
Which EV makes/models do you prefer then?

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Whilst absolutely getting the appeal of Teslas, I find other EVs far more appealing.

The Model Y ticks every box for me, apart from emotional appeal (how it looks) and a few feature shortcomings. But I find myself wanting others more.

Not knocking Teslas, I can see why people choose them.

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

Reading this thread makes me wonder why you would buy anything other than a Tesla if you were in the market for a decent EV daily?

The SC network though.

If largely staying local then yes totally all bets are off and it's an open market.

15,000+ mpa type usage in the general charging network to me would be terrifying!

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

What I know about EV's, MB, could be written on a very small postage stamp, so yes, sweet FA.
Apart from the odd Jag, all the newer EV purchases around my neighbourhood are Tesla model 3's. One of my neighbours, who is a serial car changer, started with a Kia e-Niro and realising that he quite liked the idea, swapped it for Tesla (a fast one, dont ask me which one) which he now swears by. I'd happily own a Model 3 as far as looks are concerned, and yes, the Model Y is no oil painting, as you say.
Which EV makes/models do you prefer then?

I should say, it's not that I dislike the looks of the Teslas - I will jump to their defence when they are called ugly. Its more a combo of the interior and exterior that there is nothing grabbing me on an emotional level.

Money no object, i would love an i4. Or perhaps an iX. But the EV6, ioniq5 and BZ4X all appeal at lesser price points.

I do like the Y, it's the only proper boot out there. But it would be virtually no cheaper than my Disco, and I can't give up its many charms without banking a good saving.

So the other EVs appeal more (to me) and cost less.

That's todays opinion anyway 😂

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by JustChris

The SC network though.

If largely staying local then yes totally all bets are off and it's an open market.

15,000+ mpa type usage in the general charging network to me would be terrifying!

Definite advantages in the SC network.

For me specifically, though:

Offices are 37 and 40 miles away, so no issue even if I went back daily.

Heathrow is 99 miles away, so now a return trip is fine for most EVs. I don't fly for work anymore, so don't need to worry overly about edge case trips.

Since I bought the 440i in 2016, I've driven more than 200 miles in a day once.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Definite advantages in the SC network.

For me specifically, though:

Offices are 37 and 40 miles away, so no issue even if I went back daily.

Heathrow is 99 miles away, so now a return trip is fine for most EVs. I don't fly for work anymore, so don't need to worry overly about edge case trips.

Since I bought the 440i in 2016, I've driven more than 200 miles in a day once.

Ah that would explain it!

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

Reading this thread makes me wonder why you would buy anything other than a Tesla if you were in the market for a decent EV daily?

Certainly a few years ago when I bought our Tesla there simply wasn't another EV on the market that you could buy and than use just like any other car. Last weekend we spent 3hr+ in the car due to traffic, random trips to the swimming pool. Pretty much no other EV back in 2016 could manage a normal weekend day without some serious range anxiety.



These days there is far more choice, but it does show how far ahead of the game Tesla was. Range is far less of a USP these days, and even Tesla supercharging isn't no where near as much of a game changer. However Tesla is still years ahead interms of connectivity and software development.

The Tesla app now shows you stuff like charging history and if you have a PowerWall gives you all kinds of options to align charging to the cheapest time you can buy electricity.



The fact the software in the car can tell me exactly where to charge, how long for, and show me real time availability of chargers also makes holiday road trip planning as easy as any combustion car.



The options for other EVs are all there these days, but as an overall package, right now if I had £50-100k spare to drop on another EV it would 100% be another Tesla to go along side our X.

The £50-100k is my biggest criticism of Tesla, when the original S was launched all the talk was about enabling 'moving the world to EVs'. The S was never going to be the car to do that, with an aluminium chassis, a push on 0-60 performance all helping to 'justify' the price of entry. The narrative was once Tesla becomes an essential company, and batteries becomes cheaper the cars will become cheaper and everyone will get access to decent EVs.

Fast forward to now, and a steel construction 3 with a SMALLER battery than a 2014 S now costs pretty much the same. One of my friends just ordered a Y, £55k, that's within throwing distance of the crazy £70k we paid for our X, bare in mind all the additional stuff the X has. As Tesla has matured over the years they are becoming more and more like any other car company. Profit is now their main goal, and product pricing reflects that. Is that a good thing? I suppose that depends on how you view the world.

However their continuous push with technology remains, and the fight for autonomy between Tesla, Waymo, and Intel I still think will define the automotive industry going into this decade. On that front, no other car manufacturer is on the same planet let alone ballpark. There are plenty of good EVs to choose from these days, but there still is only one technology company making EVs.

[Grant_7]

Bit of a test coming up for my Model 3 SR+ soon; off from Warwickshire into the Yorkshire Dales, then routing back via Doncaster to see a relative. Will be a mix of Supercharging and public charging.

Will report back on ease/issues and also a summary of costs.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

There are plenty of good EVs to choose from these days, but there still is only one technology company making EVs.

And if you want your car to be an automotive equivalent of an iPhone - and I accept these days many people probably do - that's fine. Not everyone does though.....

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by JNW1

And if you want your car to be an automotive equivalent of an iPhone - and I accept these days many people probably do - that's fine. Not everyone does though.....

Absolutely that's why choice is a good thing.

However we are living through fourth Industrial Revolution, the way I/We all use information in 2022 compared to 2002 is unrecognizable. Mail order catalogues, a road atlas to plan things, even accessing bank/government services.

Tesla's approach to technology, especially digital information is very similar to how Amazon, Google, Apple, IBM all work. The future(and present) is going to be governed by those who understand how best to leverage the flexibility of digital data.

Tesla's valuation on the stock market really isn't based production numbers or sale figures the likes of BMW/VAG/Toyota are judged on. They are based on the belief that Tesla has the vision/belief to capitalize on future opportunities in digital technology no other car company can dream off.

I took our 2015 Lexus for its annual MOT yesterday, its literally like stepping back in time about 20 years. The fact our Lexus and Tesla came off the production line barely 18 months apart says it all really. Will consumers remain 'happy' the car they buy today will be the same in 2-3-4 years time? Whats not surprising though is Tesla has now updated the backend software on all their cars so if you pull in to a Tesla service center in principle you don't even need to 'check in' to drop the keys off. The software integration has got to a point where Tesla can access the cars without any input from the owner, and on pick up, again its a txt message with a code to unlock the car and off you go, invoice is on the phone, no need to wait in reception.

The iPhone comparison is a good one, would you buy a phone today if you knew you could never add apps/customize/gain function over time, and literally all will ever do is have the same functionality as when you bought it forever??? This true for pretty much every car been produced today, expect for what Tesla is producing.

As I've said Tesla isn't a car manufacture, they are a technology company that happens to make cars as their product. It doesn't matter if anyone thinks thats a good or not, but its not chance the largest companies on this planet are technology firms.