The end of 2017 marked a great time for Tesla Model 3 reservations holders in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area, with the carmaker ramping up its non-employee deliveries for the mass market electric car. Among these proud, new Model 3 owners is Mel Herbert of Talking Tesla podcast, who recently uploaded a video on his YouTube channel about his first impressions of the vehicle. Apart from providing a brief walkthrough of some of Model 3’s features, Herbert also gave some useful comparisons between his newly-acquired Tesla and its larger sibling, the Model S.
One thing that immediately struck Herbert was how the Model 3, which is nearly 12″ (304mm) shorter in length than the Model S, has impeccable visibility. According to the Talking Tesla host, Model 3’s lack of an instrument cluster and minimalistic dashboard provides drivers with an excellent view of the road. Coupled with the design of the car’s hood, the Model 3 actually provides better visibility than its larger, more premium siblings — the Model S and the Model X.
“There is so much visibility out of here even compared to the S, and I would say even compared to the X. You can see so much more out of this car because this (the hood) also seems to drop off faster than on the S, so it sort of gets out of the way.”
Talking Tesla’s show host emphasized his point by providing a first-person view from inside both the Model 3 and the Model S. True to his observations; Model 3’s windshield does offer a better view of the road than the Model S’ windshield, which, while far wider, is also significantly narrower.
Apart from Herbert’s observations about the Model 3’s excellent windshield and trunk space that passes the “golf club test”, he also took special notice of the vehicle’s ease of entry. Herbert notes that the vehicle’s open cabin design, which has enough headroom to support a driver as tall as 6’7″, feels easier to enter than the Model S.
The resolution and dynamic range of Model 3’s display is also significantly higher than the screens found in the Model S and Model X, says Herbert. Despite lacking a driver’s instrument cluster, as found in the Model S and Model X, the touchscreen is still easy to see from the driver’s seat. However, Herbert notes that not all areas of the screen are easily visible while driving because of the landscape orientation.
The reason for Model 3’s one-touchscreen-for-all-riders design is likely because the vehicle was built with self-driving in mind. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, for one, has stated that the car would play an important role in the Tesla Network, an upcoming ride-sharing network that would enable commuters to summon a car to pick them up and drop them off at a designated location. According to Musk, Tesla owners would have the option to allow their car to participate in the Tesla Network, enabling their vehicles to pretty much pay for themselves.
Tesla is currently ramping up the production of the Model 3, with new locations such as the Marina Del Rey delivery center starting operations. The carmaker is expecting to hit its target production rate of 5,000 units a week at some point in the first quarter of 2018.
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(Sounds exactly what I'd work toward to try to come up with as a few 'pro's' if I had to settle for the 'con' of coming in at 2nd best with the ME vs. MS..)
YAWN
(Sounds exactly what I'd work toward to try to come up with as a few 'pro's' if I had to settle for the 'con' of coming in at 2nd best with the ME vs. MS..)
Wow... Why don’t you tell us how you really feel about it... ?! ;)
Wow... Why don’t you tell us how you really feel about it... ?! ;)
Hey Mike...
coach said "go for the championship" !
Never head him say.. " go for 2nd place" ! !
Given the choice.. I'd say "see if you can get a gently broken in MS off lease or used.. and be sure to avoid the "P" models unless they are TESLA certified... "
I just can't see getting excited about a Toyota Corolla when they also make the Avalon ..
Same here..
.. almost 25K on my ms 90 d.. 25 months in with little regret..
But we could use a 150Kw battery opgrade for the cold weather areas of the states..
Happy New Year !
(...) I just can't see getting excited about a Toyota Corolla when they also make the Avalon ..
(..) Happy New Year !
Thanks, Joe and best wishes for your New Year too... :cool:
Look, there is no doubt the Model S is a fantastic car, and for certainly many aspects still superior... yet it is also about twice as expensive or more on an apples to apples basis.
Great for you that you could afford one, yet remember that is not the case for all of us out there...
I recently looked at prices for ‘gently broken in’, or demo MS’ over here in Europe (post facelift, of course) and I can assure you they’re still at least 40-50% more expensive than the €55k I now expect to pay for my LRB PUP 19’’ Wheels Midnight S≡R≡NITY (not even including EAP, unless a miracle happens). One thing for sure, I would need an S100D to get the same kind of range and that’s definitely out of my price league.
I think Mel’s conclusion is, for the much lower cost of the Model 3, you get, relatively speaking, a really wonderful, in many ways enhanced EV vs. the S as it is today. That’s definitely worth more than a ‘yawn’ to me... ;)
Keep enjoying your car though. I would too... :)
Thanks, Joe and best wishes for your New Year too... :cool:
Look, there is no doubt the Model S is a fantastic car, and for certainly many aspects still superior... yet it is also about twice as expensive or more on an apples to apples basis.
Great for you that you could afford one, yet remember that is not the case for all of us out there...
I recently looked at prices for ‘gently broken in’, or demo MS’ over here in Europe (post facelift, of course) and I can assure you they’re still at least 40-50% more expensive than the €55k I now expect to pay for my LRB PUP 19’’ Wheels Midnight S≡R≡NITY (not even including EAP, unless a miracle happens). One thing for sure, I would need an S100D to get the same kind of range and that’s definitely out of my price league.
I think Mel’s conclusion is, for the much lower cost of the Model 3, you get, relatively speaking, a really wonderful, in many ways enhanced EV vs. the S as it is today. That’s definitely worth more than a ‘yawn’ to me... ;)
Keep enjoying your car though. I would too... :)
I wouldn't get my hopes up too much on those range numbers.. watts used per mile vary from a low of 290 w/mi with the MS to as much as 450-500 w/mi in colder weather...
The weight differential between the 2 vehicles may be the main reason for the higher range quotes.. knowing the battery density is a bit improved.. but not to the point where Id say "game changer"
But actually getting 340 miles range or whatever that translates in to as kilometers... doubtful.. more like on a perfect day in perfect weather in perfect traffic.. without getting on it...
You'll be lucky to see 85% of it on any given drive...
Oh.. and I can afford a MS either... but they gave me the keys to the lease pkg. anyway as a challenge! !
(...) But actually getting 340 miles range or
Oh.. and I can afford a MS either... but they gave me the keys to the lease pkg. anyway as a challenge! !
If you find out they want to challenge a European too, please be sure to say a nice word for me... :D
Hey Mike...
coach said "go for the championship" !
Never head him say.. " go for 2nd place" ! !
Given the choice.. I'd say "see if you can get a gently broken in MS off lease or used.. and be sure to avoid the "P" models unless they are TESLA certified... "
I just can't see getting excited about a Toyota Corolla when they also make the Avalon ..
Same here..
.. almost 25K on my ms 90 d.. 25 months in with little regret..
But we could use a 150Kw battery opgrade for the cold weather areas of the states..
Happy New Year !
Exactly, why are there so many BMW 3 series on the road when they make the 7 series...
