Driving it for three years felt like punishment. On top of that, every cab driver and wannabe Uber hero in NYC is in a Tesla now. Nothing says “luxury EV” like blending in with the taxi line at LaGuardia.

I ❤ this observation.

 

I hope every person that owns a Tesla can see this and I hope Tesla see this. Honestly the biggest POS I’ve ever driven

 

There are things that Tesla does well, but manufacturing a tight vehicle that feels premium is not yet one of them. To be honest, I haven't yet driven the refreshed 3 or Y, and I've read that they've improved build quality. I hope to rent a refreshed Tesla sometime soon, if only to see if they've moved the needle.

That said, I still have respect for Tesla for disrupting the market and forcing Legacy Auto towards electrification. We're all better off because of it, and now we have many alternatives to consider.

 

There are things that Tesla does well, but manufacturing a tight vehicle that feels premium is not yet one of them.

It was never their priority. They deigned to be a car for the mass market. Their volumes (declining, along with market share) indicate success. They may have tried to apply a luxury label to some of their higher priced models and some owners perceived it as a luxury vehicle based on the price they paid, not characteristics of the vehicle itself. Materials, fit, finish, assembly quality, sound control, driving characteristics and ergonomics, all things drivers of better cars appreciate and are willing to pay for, are lost on the mass market target. Inexperience in such vehicles also comes into play. Tesla prides themselves on their low cost of manufacturing and it shows in their product..

 

Yes the new Model 3 and Y is a very big improvement.
Says something about how bad the first ones was.
Maybe they have gone from zero to 50 percent BMW quality now ?

 

Maybe they have gone from zero to 50 percent BMW quality now ?

Ts have been removing features from their cars steadily over the years, they went from 0 to negative. They used to have radar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, interior options, physical controls, signal stalk? Really? etc. To this date the worst equipped vehicle in the US, T model 3, is still overpriced at over $40,000.

 

I'll give tesla credit for some value for the price for the masses.
Like a fully loaded 3 performance is fast as heck. Great range. Get 20 inch wheels. Advanced Self Driving. Ventilated sports seats (which I really liked). Great tech. Feels roomier

What I don't like - like you said its just not the same quality. There is zero individualism. I wonder how often owners walk up to the wrong car. I prefer the driving dynamics of the bmw. Hate the minimalism. Actually blame tesla for the minimalist trend we are seeing these days.

But competition is heating up. KIA and Hyundai have great EVs. The germans have all launched new platforms. Then there's the chinese. Surely Tesla shareholders know that the incredible run is coming to an end?

 

Yeah the model 3 performance is fast it’s nice for sure but again it’s a fast iPad. There’s just nothing special about a Tesla. Overpriced iPad with 20 inch wheels

 

Dammit and there was I thinking there are other tablets, perhaps the Tesla would be better with a Samsung Tab then?

 

Well, I was test driving the latest Model 3 Performance the other day. The car handled pretty well, felt fast (off the line maybe more impressive as my M50), but after an hour I was bored of driving it. Interior is way better than the previous generation and the seats now actually hold you in place, but it never got to me. Yes, the car is blistering fast but the party trick wears off very quickly.

Handing over the keys left me with the conclusion that the car lacks the soul to be more than a fast and adequate EV. Just a fast EV....

 

Well, I was test driving the latest Model 3 Performance the other day. The car handled pretty well, felt fast (off the line maybe more impressive as my M50), but after an hour I was bored of driving it. Interior is way better than the previous generation and the seats now actually hold you in place, but it never got to me. Yes, the car is blistering fast but the party trick wears off very quickly.

Handing over the keys left me with the conclusion that the car lacks the soul to be more than a fast and adequate EV. Just a fast EV....

Exactly how I felt. It was boring and fast. I miss the the sound system and the sentry mode. I wish the bmw can do something like the sentry mode. Other than that it's not a car. BMW have been building and crafting cars for over a 100 years. This is what they do. I find excuses to drive this car. It's truly a pleasure. The Tesla was boring and so many imperfections. They should be slapped in the face for charging the amount of money they do.

 

If the Model 3/Y were $30,000 they'd arguably be a good deal – they've got good to great range and some desirable technology in the stuff their app can do. As noted, they're fast, though I'm not really sure this matters all that much for a mass-market car; at some point – and I think we've more than reached that point – they're fast enough for the vast majority of drivers. They're probably fine for a mass-market grocery-getter. But trying to market them as a "luxury" anything is a cruel joke. There's simply no metric where this is true.

 

At 30000 - It is cheaper to get a proper car - like a second hand BMW i3 for grocery. In Europe much easier to go shopping/parking in my i3 instead of my i4.

 

Is there any way to get something “sentry” like in the M50?

 

Outside of a separate dash cam installation, no. And that has its own set of problems as well. I suppose it's possible that BMW could add it in a software update, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

And the dash cam install doesn’t cover sides and back only front? Is that right?

 

Right.

 

I don't want to be too derogatory, but I see them as rolling piles of trash, and because they're basically giving them away now, cities across the country are littered with them.

 

Yeah, w


Considering the number of completed but undelivered Cybertruks littering empty fields and parking lots, those are non-rolling pieces of trash.

 

Hmmm - I love my i4 and definitely think it’s a better car than either the 2019 Model 3 or 2023 Model Y i had, but really, clichés like “iPad on wheels”, “cheap science project”, and “no soul” are just so far off the mark. There are many fine pieces of design and engineering in Tesla’s cars. And let’s not forget it was they who made mass market EVs a reality. They solved most of the key issues that all EVs use today - rapid DC charging, battery heating & cooling, active BMS, mitigating the fire risk, …

You may not like Teslas, but your claims are hyperbolic and unjustified.

 

My buddy absolutely loves his Model X Plaid. And all BS aside, It Drives Itself - and does an excellent job of it. I was extremely impressed.

 

My brother has a Model Y, and I would agree with you. But the problem is that it does an excellent job of it until it doesn't. And Tesla has a track record of it really not working when it doesn't. My chief worry would be the inevitable lack of attention that a driver is going to have over time with an almost-but-not-quite system that very well might kill you or someone else when it fails. Until it's virtually perfect – like five 9's level – it's just not worth it, in my opinion. I know Tesla people want to say that it's already better than human drivers, but a) I haven't seen an actual peer-reviewed study that says that, and b) with Tesla's policy of covering up anything negative, how would we even know?

 

I would say that Tesla did a great job with their battery system, charging and most of the software but the build quality was downright horrible for years and years. The interior design is also really cheap. Now all of this has improved a lot with the new models but buttons on the steering wheel for turn signals??? Awful. I do like the sentry mode etc and all cars should have some kind of camera system like this for insurance purposes. The self driving is scary quite frankly. Out of the blue it just decides meh I don't know what to do so you take over. In a big city, this system is a disaster. I actually like driving so I'd never rely on it.

 

See that’s the thing: no system is ready for autonomous driving in a big city. Not yet, anyway. I’m more than happy with DAPP in the i4 on the highway, but I would never consider engaging it in city traffic.

 

The only thing I miss (and I miss it a LOT) is the supercharger network, which obviously has nothing to do with the car design. 😉

Moving from a Prius (Hybrid) to a Tesla was the “EV” goal at the time, it was pretty easy to clear. Today, there are legitimate EV choices - many of them lower priced and almost all higher quality. Leases for NEW i4s are insanely cheap right now in California.

Once you look outside of your bubble, it’s amazing how much you can discover…

 

The only thing I miss (and I miss it a LOT) is the supercharger network, which obviously has nothing to do with the car design. 😉

This seems to be area and need dependent. I’ve had no US CCS1 network issues when traveling half dozen times a year, 1,000-2,000 miles per trip on the Eastern seaboard for 2 1/2 years. YMMV.
There is one trip I make where the TSCN would be more convenient, but not a trip breaker either way. My DCFC needs are satisfied without having to compromise on my choice of car. The exclusivity of the TSCN is ending and many brands already have access; BMW “soon.” There is no longer a need to prioritize a DCFC provider or consider it a market advantage.

 

I’m not driving the M50 but the eDrive 40. Plenty of range and speed for me. I agree with what you say, I test drove the Volvo EX35, (its software didn’t feel solid) then a Tesla much better but I didn’t like the iPad and even less how the indicators were buttons on the wheel. I also drove and BYD and then the i4. Wow it was the car I was looking for and as you say BMW make everything a great experience.

 

iX3 is Cylindric and structural, and not replaceable, at least not by me.
So that is a big cost/space/weight saver, but a big potential problem when car battery is out of warranty.

What BMW have done that I believe is a first, is that they have removed the floor in the car, so the seat mounts is welded directly to the battery cover. That means access to battery electronics is just remove back seat, instead of i4 where you have to lower the battery, so every repair is 5-10000 use just for unmount / mount of battery. Replacing charge port is one example that is crazy expensive in the i4.

Removing floor also result in less weight and more space/leg room. Will be interesting to see if the i3 next year will be the first EV sedan with ok leg space in the rear.

BMW (CATL) cells is bigger and more efficient than Tesla cells.