a friend came over today (on Christmas day, ha) and he'd rented a Model 3 from Hertz. It was a new one with gray trim and the new center console. When i saw it in the drive i asked if i could get a ride in it, he said sure and that he was fine with me driving it. Ok then!

drive time was short (10 mins) with festivities, but i drove it enough to get the feel of it.

the simplest overall explanation of the feeling i was left with was overall how 'normal' it seemed but with several caveats.

By simple i mean i drove it without issue, i was fine with the somewhat aggressive regen braking (you take your foot off the gas and you slow down pretty quickly, which i know is adjustable), i was fine with the steering and basic controls like turn signals.

Back to the beginning, approaching the car, needed help to get in the car and 'start' it. So that part didn't feel normal. Hold the key card against the B pillar (between front/rear doors) to get the car to unlock. Push the 'fat part' of the door handle at the 'back' to make the FRONT thin part stick out which you can pull out to open the door. Not very intuitive at all to me, but obviously something you'd get used to.

to 'start' it, i think it was foot on brake, pull right stalk down to get into D, then off... (?)

The center screen wasn't as bad as i thought, although i didn't operate it at all, since i was concentrating on driving. I do believe that using it WHILE driving would indeed be quite a distraction but it's not a fair evaluation without using it or trying voice commands, etc.

once i got onto a straight bit of empty road i floored it and it's a nice rush of silent acceleration (except wind and some tire noise) that's very linear. When you're going 'fast enough' you just let off and it slows down. That part is fun for sure.

It corners pretty flat, but i thought the steering was pretty bad. It needs variable ratio. The brakes, when you need more braking than the regen provides, felt good.

I found the seats hard and fairly uncomfortable.

my friend said he'd charged it 3 times already and didn't do so where he was staying (fam) because there's no garage 240 outlet, so he went to the big supercharger place in town (we only have one i believe) and he said it was annoying how long it took (30-40 mins each time). He now lives in an apartment and while he'd like a tesla he knows it's completely impractical because he couldn't charge at home.

my friend also showed me some of the 'novelty' features too... the 'christmas mode' where it will play christmas tunes from speakers OUTSIDE the car as well as inside! The stupid fart cushion feature, and the ability to play netflix when parked. None of this impressed me.

Overall it was like a quiet, fast econobox that is definitely not priced like one (probably 50k). It's a amazing feat of engineering and design.

it's certainly an exciting time in car land and i'm thankful i got the opportunity to finally drive an EV and a tesla specifically.

between that drive and videos i've watched recently though, i think i'd rather have one of hyundai/kia/genesis' new ev's (a hyundai ioniq 5, a kia ev6, or a genesis gv60) than the model 3 or y, but i'm not in the market yet. Plenty of time to figure out what's next for me.

 

So your next daily is going to be an EV?

 

i'd say quite likely but we'll see. I have a garage and a house so should be able to charge at home once the electrical mod/circuit is done.

My work suv is leased though so we'll see how leases are on an ev if i go that way again (tesla is obviously pretty uninterested in leasing). With such rapid changes happening i'm less interested in owning, plus a work lease is just a 'known' up front and after it's done i just walk away.

Anyway, yes, i'm definitely interested in my next work vehicle being an ev but that's a couple of years off.

 

What did you think of the torque-curve? If you remember my review a couple of years ago, the Model 3 I sampled, even with the extra weight/drag of AWD, would handily dust off the fastest of the 1960s muscle-cars I grew up with. You mentioned a "nice rush" of acceleration, but I'd call it more than a simple rush....and could get immature or inattentive drivers in trouble very quickly.

I agree that the brakes are very effective, particularly with regeneration...this car at least has some of the stop that's needed to match its go.

 

there isn't one. like an electric golf cart, it's a torque ramp, torque proportional to gas pedal position.

 

Correct, no torque curve on an EV.

Your experience mirrored mine with the Model 3, you should drive a Model S. Much more attractive, but still for the money doesn't attract me just because of the build and lack of luxuriousness. Clearly too the Hertz Model 3s are low option/battery etc.

 

Yes, that's what I meant (perhaps I could have used a better term)...but it is the same effect as a torque curve. Electric motors, by the laws of physics, produce max torque at very low RPM (just off zero) and power output drops with added RPMs.

 

I agree with you that I'm impressed by the new Hyundai/Kia lineup. Especially the ability to power external devices. The only thing Tesla has that is impressive is the charging network. It is the best in the country although lacking in my area.

Instead of range anxiety I'm afraid when battery cars start becoming more popular you will be waiting in line to charge causing your charge time to be hours. No way thanks.
I see very few Teslas on the road in my area or any EV's for that matter.

 

I do like the look of the ioniq 5 and was thinking that could be a good little car for my soon to be 16 year old once he decides he wants to drive. At his age I couldn't wait to drive but he still has ZERO interest...

 

Great that you got to drive a EV & aTesla at that. I've driven my son & daughter in/laws '19 X when they go to the airport quite a few times & you'll find the screen really simple & intuitive & quick to use. Shows where all the supercharger stations are, how many stations/stalls & how many are plugged in. Kinda seems like your buddy has range anxietty as a quick trip to a ev station same as a gas station. Being a rental, yeah they'll give you a card vs a key which would be in your pocket. As far as the steering in Telsa's, I find the ratio really short. As you found the center of gravity really low thanx to the batteries as they all have that low c. of g. feel, Out of those 3 you mentioned, I'd say the Ionig 5 stands out. Yeah it seems like it take a bit to charge a EV, = 15-30 minutes to go from 10% to 80% really depending on the EV but its better then dealing w/ your basic ice maintance as lot of ppl don't think about that. Have a look at the Polestar as well. As you know they'll be a big swarm of quality Chinese built EV's soon. Have a look at a BYD Han....as well as the BYD plant & thats another story compared to whats going on w/ the US legacy manufactures........

 

same ol' discussion but obviously people who can charge at home won't have much concern most of the time.

Loads here.

 

Its too bad you didn't get to drive the faster ones. There is a significant difference between the one you drove and a higher spec Performance model. Also, the one he has is probably the LFP batteries and if you don't pre-condition those, it will take longer to charge than the LR or Performance model with NCA/NMC batteries. The benefit of the LFP batteries is that you can charge to 100% everytime and there is no degradation. Also, Supercharging doesn't seem to affect those either...they are just heavy and energy density isn't great.

 

Its not a curve though is the point. Torque doesn’t peak or drop off like it does with an ICE at different rev ranges. Torque is applied evenly according to throttle input.

 

I've only ever driven Model S.
How was Model 3's agility?
Does it change directions as instantly as a 3 Series, C Class or IS?

How does Model 3's ride compare in terms of compliancy/stiffness, and float/control?

 

This was a good review of a first time driving the Tesla. Pretty much spot on, IMO.
A few points...
I never use the credit card; the car recoginzes my smartass phone. Sooo easy. Makes other cars seem stupid. No start button baby! The door handles are still a little strange... But that's Tesla.
Your brake regen comment is 100% normal, but in a short time you will find 1 pedal driving offers far better control of the car. You will love it. Brakes last forever, to boot.
I like your comment about normal driving. As oyu use the car more, this becomes more true. But when you gotta merge or accelerate, any Tesla is simply amazing.

You barely mentioned the minimalist interior. While it works for me, many find it polarizing. Did you try, "I'm cold" ?

My biggest problems with Tesla are 2: The car needs HUD and outside mirror BSM. Once you are used to Lexus, these are glaring issues. Unforgiveable!
On the plus side, the OTA improvements are mostly nothing but othertimes simply amazing.
Bottom line, driving the Tesla is driving the future.