After 6+ months of waiting, we finally got our Tesla Model Y delivered to us (literally dropped off in front of our house)! Below is quick review on it (keep in mind we already have a Model 3 SR+ that I was very impressed with, and a X3M in our garage still):

TL;DR : Class leading acceleration, efficiency, and tech with much improved quality, but for how long?

Good : Great acceleration (ran 11.7s stock), decent mileage (~290miles on fulle charge), and improved tech

Bad : Choppy ride with the stock 21s, not athletics as model 3, not as roomy as a true midsize SUV
Ugly : very bland minimalist interior; price went up $5k since we originally ordered

Quick take:

We ordered our MYP after sampling Tesla ownership with a Model 3 SR+. It took about 6 months before it was delivered to us, with no flaws (Tesla QA has improved apparently). It will be used primarily as my wife's car to transport our son to and from school. Everything about it is basically a taller Model 3 (because they are essentially identical in architecture), so unfortunately it is not as large I would like, but still on par with our x3m. Interior is very typical Tesla minimalist styling; you either like it or don't. I think with competition quickly coming, Tesla can't sit on their laurels and needs to do a better job here, but it's fine for us for now. Quick drive around, and you get the classic tall SUV seating position, but the ride is a bit choppier then our model 3 and probably on par with our x3m though. Mash the accelerator pedal though, and the instantaneous torque will push you back in your seat. Our x3m is tuned and doesn't feel as visceral, but it is slightly quicker then the MYP (11.35 vs 11.76 1/4 mi). All in all, I think it's a good buy for now (especially if you paid the old prices from last year), given all the gas price fluctuations, but doesn't really wow me in any way even though it is a best seller and leading the EV push. Hoping more competition will soon come to really push Tesla to innovate again and be more complete as a car.

 

Looks great in white. 21" wheels are too much on any car IMO almost no sidewall. As a Tesla owner I'm kinda surprised you think the company is standing still, very soon we will see models with 4680 structural packs and front and rear gigacastings. I'm not aware of any other auto maker doing this anytime soon. There are rumours that unnamed EV makers in China are attempting gigacastings.

On the flip side I'd love to see other auto makers get it together there is nothing better than honest, healthy competition.

 

what will be the tangible benefits to consumers of these things? i presume the 4680 batteries may give better range? what does 'structural pack' mean and what is the benefit?

the gigacastings may lower manufacturing cost, but something tells me EVs aren't getting any cheaper.

 

The 4680 has better thermal control capabilities and are cheaper to manufacture. During their development, they also developed them to be structural chassis instead of a separate module so redundant structural elements can be removed saving weight. The Model Y with the structural battery pack will be cheaper, lighter, more thermal control capable, with the same range if Tesla margins were kept constant. The 4680 may also have a different chemistry but no one knows for sure until its released and people examine it.

I'm also in the belief that these benefits won't be passed onto the consumer at this point in time. Tesla will reap the benefits because they sell every single car they make and there is an insane waiting list to get one.

 

Nice combo you got there!
White is always nice.

I may have my white Polestar 2 parked next to the upcoming Polestar 3 later this year or early next year, possibly replacing my wife's Q7.

BTW, Volvo will be employing gigacastings soon. I'm assuming Polestar will follow as well.

https://www.popsci.com/technology/vo...k%20operation.

 

Nice, sounds like you went into this purchase eyes wide open. I hope it treats you well!

Volvo and Mercedes are implementing mega casting of their own but it does seem they're not taking the exact same angle of attack.

 

My understanding is the giga castings make for a structurally better car than our car; the improvement is immeadiately noticable.
I will likely buy a Model 3 Performance if and when new batteries, cast frame and HUD (please!) are available.

In the meantime, our 2018 Mid Range will do everything a Performance will do, only slower. At least I keep telling myself that... Ha!

 

I don't think you can drift in yours

 

Hope your experience with the MYP is better than mine, definitely more suited to California than Canada. My 2021 rides like absolute crap even when downsizing wheels, its had 3-4 permanent rattles/squeaks, had the dreaded heat pump failure during -25C weather, and the 12V battery has failed, all in 1yr of ownership. I cannot wait to get rid of it.

 

Congrats on the Y. I opted out of the 20" for my Polestar because they reduce range, and increase NVH substantially. 21" worse. If you are able to, I would go down to 19". I barely feel or hear the road at any speed, which is exactly what I want. And yes, prices are probably not going down for EV's

 

I'm aware think I posted about it awhile back. I'm skeptical it will be "soon" though but props for Volvo going all in on this. All auto makers will or should go with gigacastings it saves so much complexity and time.
Nope. I think Tesla will use the improvements in a zero sum way, a lighter car less batteries with about the same range and in the process save a bunch of money. If so this is a greedy play on their part.

 

difference being Tesla is doing it in 2022, and Volvo in 2025.

In many, many ways, they are years ahead of everyone.... then when it comes to basics, they can be still behind. I wonder if Giga Texas and Berlin will actually improve on it as China improved over California.

 

The term structural pack is worrying, I wonder how this will effect ability to remove and replace cells inside. It may become like unserviceable phones at this rate

 

The difference is, Tesla will not be using modules, and will be building the entire battery pack as the structural platform of the vehicle, which will solidify the platform as one unit. It will reduce the number of parts, reducing mass, and efficiency. This also reduces manufacturing costs. I'm not an expert on this, but it will still be serviceable

 

Everything about what you just said is a red flag for serviceability, hence my concern. Structural means removal is nearly impossible without compromising the car or very difficult to reweld it in.