![]() ![]() The options list is short, especially in comparison with that for a similar German car. If you wish to order, you are steered to a computer screen and assisted through the straightforward on-line procedure. You can visit Tesla showrooms -there is one near my home- for advice. The first thing to remember when buying a Tesla is that there are no dealers, no middlemen. Having made my decision, I was waiting anxiously for delivery day. It’s very much horses for courses, but I am keen to try a new way. Many keen drivers, I know, would run a mile at the prospect of Tesla’s minimalistic approach to controlling the car. Personal preference is paramount, and there is no denying that many drivers prefer the driving experience and the sound effects of an internal-combustion engine. When it comes to choosing a car, however, there is no right or wrong choice. To have bought right at the end of the old models’ production run would have been careless, to say the least. As it happened, I had a lucky escape in not ordering an S or an X in early 2021 because, during my waiting period for the Model 3, both the older cars received major updates. The Model 3, which had just been face-lifted, seemed to be the sensible choice out of the three. Most of the time it’s just me behind the wheel. But both these cars are considerably larger than the I-Pace and I had no need for the interior space. I also considered the Model S and Model X as closer rivals to the I-Pace. The Model 3 was not the only option on the list, however. That really just left Tesla, with its Supercharger network being the most important draw. In general, I believe the I-Pace is a better BEV than either of the German alternatives. I discounted both Audi and Mercedes based on poor range, even compared with the I-Pace. While I was attracted to Porsche because of my long-standing appreciation of the marque and my wonderful experiences with three 911s and a Macan over the years, I decided rather reluctantly that I should resist the temptation and enjoy the 50 per cent saving. However, I was rather disappointed that Porche had throttled back on the regenerative braking, which I believe to be one of the major attractions of an EV. I am sure I would have loved the Taycan from a driving perspective. I was strongly drawn to the Porsche Taycan and had a couple of test drives. Having decided to sell the (otherwise excellent) Jaguar I-Pace because of the inadequate public charging network in England, I had more or less ruled out anything but Tesla. ![]() The choiceįirst, though, I should explain why I chose a Tesla and a Model 3. I had been paying too much attention to social media. The second pleasant surprise was that my worries over fit and finish were unfounded, as I explain later. If my Long Range is this good, I really would like to try the Performance, even though I made the right decision in my choice because I didn’t need the extra acceleration, nor the larger wheels with low-profile tyres. This isn’t the Performance model with tweaked suspension and faster acceleration: it’s the middle-of-the-range four-wheel drive, bigger battery version. The white seats go well with the blue exterior I rather like it, although last year’s chrome was also very attractive. All 2021 Model 3s feature “chrome delete” which means that every bright spot is finished in a matte black.The Model 3 is a blast and feels very much like a well-set-up BMW 3-series or a sports version of the Audi A4. I didn’t expect to enjoy driving this car so much. What I hadn’t bargained for was that the driving experience would wholly eclipse the joys of playing with the technology. If you are interested in the experience of owning a battery electric vehicle, read on. Yet, I’d overlooked the obvious in failing to consider the Model 3 as a driver’s car. It was the renowned technology of Tesla that was looking forward to. ![]() ![]() I’m used to electric cars, so that wasn’t it. They are, I’d convinced myself, a glimpse into the future of self-driving cars. During my two months’ wait for Oskar, the new Tesla Model 3 Long Range, I focused primarily on the much-lauded driver aids and what they could do for me. ![]()
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