Tesla Model III preorders have started

[yinan]

There wont really be a second year model. Tesla upgrades are rolling upgrades and mostly software bugs and fixes. There are only like 20 moving parts that make it go.

 

[bigi]

Nice car. The interior will change a lot. Some of the exterior will too.

This is a very early prototype.

Model S has changed a lot from its prototype days.

215+ Mile Range - Good
Supercharger enabled
Autopilot Hardware all models
2 Trunks
6 Second or less 0-60. No tranny. Great driving experience.

Bye bye gasoline.

 

[bigi]

 

[phreaqe]

dang, i really want to love it but holy crap is that interior ugly, and the nose looks terrible as well.

That screen just looks out of place hanging there.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I love the exterior look minus the somewhat odd looking front end. I'm also not sold on the interior since I'd much rather have some sort of instrument cluster, even if it was just a small sliver of a screen with digital speedometer, turn signal lights, headlight on/off/high indication, and range/energy remaining gauge. I suspect they will have one of those heads-up style displays. Also it's sort of weird with a giant tablet hanging off the dash. Alas, a vehicle with ~200 miles range with a long fill-up time just doesn't fit with my lifestyle.

 

[Kaido]

I love the exterior look minus the somewhat odd looking front end. I'm also not sold on the interior since I'd much rather have some sort of instrument cluster, even if it was just a small sliver of a screen with digital speedometer, turn signal lights, headlight on/off/high indication, and range/energy remaining gauge. I suspect they will have one of those heads-up style displays. Also it's sort of weird with a giant tablet hanging off the dash. Alas, a vehicle with ~200 miles range with a long fill-up time just doesn't fit with my lifestyle.

tbh I would choose a 2016 Volt over the Model 3. Zero range anxiety, ever.

 

[yinan]

Given proper power it will probably charge as fast as the Model S, 85% in 20 minutes. That really isn't much longer than a typical fill up, plus its free.

 

[MBrown]

Given proper power it will probably charge as fast as the Model S, 85% in 20 minutes. That really isn't much longer than a typical fill up, plus its free.

How long will they still be able to offer free charging to Tesla owners?

 

[A5]

How long will they still be able to offer free charging to Tesla owners?

I sincerely doubt the 3 will get "free" access to the Supercharger network.

It'll almost certainly be an expensive option like it is on the entry-level Model S. They need to find a way to make it billed at the time of use.

 

[Kaido]

I sincerely doubt the 3 will get "free" access to the Supercharger network.

It'll almost certainly be an expensive option like it is on the entry-level Model S. They need to find a way to make it billed at the time of use.

Per Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/31/tesla-unveils-its-35-000-model-3/

every single one will have Supercharging as a standard feature.

 

[AdamK47]

Tesla is the Apple of cars. It's impossible for me to even contemplate owning one.

 

[MBrown]

Per Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/31/tesla-unveils-its-35-000-model-3/

But is it free?

 

[herm0016]

That's very disingenuous to say "there's plenty of other decent cars out there" in a discussion of the first mass market Electric vehicle. This isn't the launch of some stupid Camry or Mustang, it's the launch of something very important to Tesla Motors and what I'd say the rest of the world. The Chevy Bolt my guess will have an EPA range of probably 150 miles, less than the 200 miles it is currently being advertised as such. It's also going to be a more expensive vehicle than the Model 3 and not have any of the special features the Model 3 has.

the bolt has already started preproduction, and word on the street is slightly over 200 miles in good conditions. I would pick a 17 volt over that stuipid screen in the middle 3 anyday. We have a 13 volt and consistently get 30-50 miles per charge.

I Think its hilarious that people are comparing a car that will not even be in production for a almost 2 years to one that has a running factory producing cars for verification today. I bet the future bolt ends up cheaper and with more range than the 3 when people actually start getting cars.

 

[Kaido]

But is it free?

That's the question.

One of the perks of having a Model S is that it's a pretty exclusive club in terms of Supercharger access. With the Model 3 effectively making performance electric cars mainstream, those free charging stations are going to get saturated if they come bundled with lifetime access. Here in CT, they added a Supercharger array (8 units) at Red Robin just outside of Hartford. I was there the other day and I think 6 out of the 8 were in use already, and we only have 3 other locations (Darien, Greenwich, and Milford), all of which are far away.

So even though all Model 3's will come with the Supercharging capability, it will be interesting to see how they play that out in terms of actual access. If it's free, that's going to be a huge selling point. If it's pay, I think a lot of people will still do it, but it will cut down on how packed the Superchargers get, at least in the short-term until they build out more locations.

 

[Kaido]

But is it free?

Supposedly it is:

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/posts/1437538/

"Yesterday, in Munich, Germany, Tesla Motors CEO mentioned a Gen 3 (Model E) feature that had not been previously known.

"Musk confirmed to the crowd of gatherers that Gen 3 will get free access to the growing network of worldwide Superchargers.

"This, of course, will be a huge selling point for future Gen 3 buyers."

I don't see any official confirmation from Tesla though...

 

[TechBoyJK]

there are plenty of other decent cars out there, but people need something to latch on to.

Uh, there's literally no other comparable cars out there right now. Let me know when Toyota makes an EV for mass sale that can smoke a Ferrari off the line.

 

[Kaido]

I Think its hilarious that people are comparing a car that will not even be in production for a almost 2 years to one that has a running factory producing cars for verification today. I bet the future bolt ends up cheaper and with more range than the 3 when people actually start getting cars.

Well, it's like anything else - it's an exciting new toy that people want. Supposed to drive like a BMW 3-series, with usable electric range, that you can plug in to charge at home. That's pretty dang cool!

I've followed EV's for awhile, but honestly, I don't think I'll get one until they can achieve a 500-mile range (and they build out the Supercharger network more). Tesla supposedly has some battery prototypes with that range capacity, but they're prohibitively expensive right now. I dunno. I like the Volt gen2 more as a car...50-mile electric range, plus a refillable 300+ mile gas range - you'd never have to get in a situation where you're in a pinch because gas stations are everywhere.

 

[yinan]

the bolt has already started preproduction, and word on the street is slightly over 200 miles in good conditions. I would pick a 17 volt over that stuipid screen in the middle 3 anyday. We have a 13 volt and consistently get 30-50 miles per charge.

I Think its hilarious that people are comparing a car that will not even be in production for a almost 2 years to one that has a running factory producing cars for verification today. I bet the future bolt ends up cheaper and with more range than the 3 when people actually start getting cars.

I really don't care if the Bolt is free, I still wouldn't take one because GM is a crappy company theat does not know how to innovate or to take risks in order to be great.

 

[TechBoyJK]

the bolt has already started preproduction, and word on the street is slightly over 200 miles in good conditions. I would pick a 17 volt over that stuipid screen in the middle 3 anyday. We have a 13 volt and consistently get 30-50 miles per charge.

I Think its hilarious that people are comparing a car that will not even be in production for a almost 2 years to one that has a running factory producing cars for verification today. I bet the future bolt ends up cheaper and with more range than the 3 when people actually start getting cars.

But is the volt as safe as the Tesla? Probably not. It's GM. Hard to trust them these days. Safety is a big concern for me, and nothing can top the Model S right now. I assume those same safety benefits will be passed down to the 3 in some form or another.

 

[yinan]

But is the volt as safe as the Tesla? Probably not. It's GM. Hard to trust them these days. Safety is a big concern for me, and nothing can top the Model S right now. I assume those same safety benefits will be passed down to the 3 in some form or another.

Plsu, will the Bolt have autopilot? I can't wait to play video games on the way to work 🙂

 

[Subyman]

The range is fine for 95% of my driving and I have a truck, so anything further away I'll just take it. I'd think a lot of people that are interested in this likely have a second car. 215 mile range is perfect for people that commute to work from the suburbs. The only time I'd find myself needing more is when I'm going to the next city over or traveling to see family, but again I have another vehicle.

The biggest what if for me is what do you actually get for 35k? I'm thinking the car will more likely sell in the mid to high 40's when you option it decently. Then we are stepping into German car territory. I'm also a little unsure at Tesla's ability to deliver in a timely manner. The Tesla X has something like 20,000 preorders and only 500 have been delivered since launch last year.

 

[K1052]

Well, it's like anything else - it's an exciting new toy that people want. Supposed to drive like a BMW 3-series, with usable electric range, that you can plug in to charge at home. That's pretty dang cool!

It's not a toy. There are tons of people like myself that would find it totally appropriate as a primary vehicle. I don't take multi-hundred mile road trips every week, can charge at home in my condo garage, and is more stylish than basically everything else on offer at it's price point.

 

[freeskier93]

Given proper power it will probably charge as fast as the Model S, 85% in 20 minutes. That really isn't much longer than a typical fill up, plus its free.

Do you drive a semi or something? It takes me like 3 minutes to fill up a 19 gallon tank, and what planet do you live on where electricity is free?

 

[Brovane]

That's the question.

One of the perks of having a Model S is that it's a pretty exclusive club in terms of Supercharger access. With the Model 3 effectively making performance electric cars mainstream, those free charging stations are going to get saturated if they come bundled with lifetime access. Here in CT, they added a Supercharger array (8 units) at Red Robin just outside of Hartford. I was there the other day and I think 6 out of the 8 were in use already, and we only have 3 other locations (Darien, Greenwich, and Milford), all of which are far away.

So even though all Model 3's will come with the Supercharging capability, it will be interesting to see how they play that out in terms of actual access. If it's free, that's going to be a huge selling point. If it's pay, I think a lot of people will still do it, but it will cut down on how packed the Superchargers get, at least in the short-term until they build out more locations.

I do see Supercharger crowding as a issue, especially the ones in big cities. I have heard on Tesla forums about local owners dropping off there Model S to charge at a Supercharger and then leaving it there for several hours. I would have thought that Tesla would be better served by charging some type of nominal fee for Supercharger access like $5-$10 per use for the Model 3. This should cut down on the people that use the chargers to try and save money. Tesla is opening a new Supercharger about every 3-4 days and by the end of 2017 they should have doubled the network. However Tesla can be responsive for over-crowding at Superchargers.

Around Christmas they had crowding at the Tejon Ranch Supercharger, I-5 corridor between LA and San Francisco get's busy during the holidays. They sent a Tesla employee to the site to help manage the charging. They also recently added a Supercharger at Buttonwillow. So in theory if you charged up at Buttonwillow you could just bypass Tejon and then you have multiple options in LA to supercharge.

 

[yinan]

Do you drive a semi or something? It takes me like 3 minutes to fill up a 19 gallon tank, and what planet do you live on where electricity is free?

Superchargers are free.

When I fill up I generally take a piss, get a drink etc. All of that takes time, plug in while doing it and bam you are full again at no charge.