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Comment by rsp1984 | Hacker News Reader

rsp1984

Tesla builds honestly really great cars. I don't have a car, but if I were to buy one it would no question be a Tesla.

Did you ever drive one? I did a Model 3 test drive the other day. Acceleration is out of this world, but everything else... meh. Interior looks and feels like it lasts for about 2-3 years. Brakes feel like stepping into a pile of mud. Huge central screen for everything is more distracting than useful. I was happy to get back into my 2007 BMW when the test drive was over. Still feels solid after 14 years.

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Yeah, I rent them on Turo when I've got a road trip lined up. I agree about the fit and finish, but the driving dynamics are just so much fun. I suspect they'll be able to fix up their fit and finish in time. My favorite interiors tend to be Audis fwiw.

The thing is heavy though. That was also a dealbreaker for me. I'm used to ~1.3 tons of my BMW. Just fun to throw into corners. The Model 3 I tested had about 1.8 or 1.9 and it certainly felt like it. Understeered like crazy. Also I was constantly moving left and right on the seat.

> but the driving dynamics are just so much fun

Try the other EVs then. Try a Taycan, try a Mach-E, try an E-tron GT.

I'm not trying to call out you specifically, but there are so many people who are completely unaware of what the auto market actually looks like, and then they compare a new Tesla with whatever old mid-range ICE they had before, and of course the Tesla seems like a magical space-age vehicle that is better than anything else they've ever driven.

But the competition isn't slouching. The Taycan isn't far behind the Plaid in performance, and it beats the Tesla in repeating launches. The EQS has longer range and way more tech. Super Cruise and Blue Cruise are better than Autopilot in the areas they are enabled. There's plenty of cheaper EVs than Teslas, like the VW ID.4 or ID.3. There will be tons of Rivians and EV Hummers and F150 Lightnings on the roads before the first Cybertruck is delivered, if at all. You can get a EV truck from Volvo, today, and other truck makers are following suit, so you'll get an electric semi from the competition way before the Tesla Semi sees the light of day.

And every single one of them has better interior quality, better fit-and-finish, and better customer service than Tesla.

> it beats the Tesla in repeating launches

This was true pre-plaid, but no longer. Tesla majorly beefed up thermals on the Plaid.

> try a Mach-E

It's crap, don't bother if you enjoy handling. Germany is the only option ATM.

> Super Cruise and Blue Cruise are better than Autopilot in the areas they are enabled.

Ah yes, Blue Cruise, which can't drive curves on a highway by itself. Seriously, what metric are you using here?

> There's plenty of cheaper EVs than Teslas, like the VW ID.4 or ID.3.

In the US, only the ID.4, and that starts at the same price as the Model 3, which is ubiquitously reviewed better.

You're making strong points, but the fact remains that Tesla is ahead. This will change, but not yet.

I'll do that next time! You are right, I haven't actually tried competitor pure EVs except the BMW 118i and i3 way back in like 2014.

The BMW i4 should be available next spring in the US. Looks like a regular 4-series, and faster and cheaper than an M4.

Sure, more expensive than a Model 3, but you get an actual luxury vehicle.

Tesla is still unbeaten at performance/dollar or range/dollar, so if that's important, go for it. But if other things are more important, the competition sure is heating up.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to give it a go.

I own a model 3. The car has no presence. It doesn't feel special, like a 50k car should. Having said that,the interiors look good as new 2 years later, the autopilot is great for commute, the audio system is great, and it feels like this is what future would be.

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