Another Tesla convert...?

Jasx

Hi all,
Company car (Skoda superb combi) due for renewal in June and the company are pushing for EVs. I have the option of another Skoda, upgrade to Audi A4 Avant (probably basic spec so for me probably not worth the additional BIK over the Skoda) or a Tesla LR AWD (middle one, cant quite swing the performance one unfortunately!).

While the Tesla was a bit underwhelming in the flesh (physical size and quality of finish, didnt test drive yet though!) i have got the Tesla obsession with the simplicity and all that lovely tech - oh and the environmental thing too...

I have a few reservations though:
- 3 Kids are a bit older now and only two of them need a proper car seat, rear bench is obviously narrower than the Skoda but any experience out there with 3 kids in the back seat of a Tesla?! Tesla also appears to have raised haunches either side of the rear bench which makes fitting a car seat a bit more difficult/restrictive?
- Range anxiety, i do on average 800-1000kms a week for work mainly Dublin-Belfast but this appears to be reasonably well serviced with a bit of planning. However i also hit Galway, Cork and Limerick on occasion and options for charging appear to become very limited (pretty limited generally outside of the central east). Currently i dont have to think about refueling but i am just concerned i am going to spend more time planning for Tesla chargers than where i am actually going!!! Anyone struggling living with one of these doing big mileage? Am i better to stick with a dirty diesel for now?

The reviews and experience with the Model 3 appear overwhelmingly positive so it must be doing something right, just hope its not a novelty when real world experience kicks in!!! Compounding the above we have a caravan so if i make the switch i will need to upgrade the wifes car to pull it for trips away...or Cybertruck?!

adunis

You know teslas are type approved for towing right ?

Sabre Man

Have you taken a look at the supercharger network? Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast should be easy.

Mickeroo

Athenry and Cork are supposed to be getting superchargers this year I think? Already one near Limerick in Birdhill.

Lumen

adunis wrote: »

You know teslas are type approved for towing right ?

The Model 3 towing limit is 910kg, so you'd need a very small caravan.

KCross

Jasx wrote: »

Company car (Skoda superb combi) due for renewal in June and the company are pushing for EVs.

If buying a Tesla you'd want to be getting an order in. Delivery times are hit and miss. You wont get a specific date so you'll need a plan B if your Skoda goes back to the leasing company and you havent received your Tesla yet.... or do you have flexibility in when the Skoda goes back?

Basically, dont get rid of the Skoda until you see your actual car in Sandyford with your name attached to it!

Jasx wrote: »

- Range anxiety, i do on average 800-1000kms a week for work mainly Dublin-Belfast but this appears to be reasonably well serviced with a bit of planning. However i also hit Galway, Cork and Limerick on occasion and options for charging appear to become very limited (pretty limited generally outside of the central east). Currently i dont have to think about refueling but i am just concerned i am going to spend more time planning for Tesla chargers than where i am actually going!!! Anyone struggling living with one of these doing big mileage? Am i better to stick with a dirty diesel for now?

If your primary route is Dublin-Belfast you should be able to do that without any charging but it all depends on the car being fully charged at home every night.... do you have a driveway where a cable can be plugged into the car?

Dont buy an EV unless you have that. Dont be dependent on public charging infrastructure particularly as a rep where time is of the essence.

Jasx

Thanks everyone, yes if i go with a Tesla had planned to add a tow bar primarily for a small trailer or bike carrier but his might delay order...Caravan would be a bit too heavy and wouldn't help with range!!!

Current car lease stops at end June, could probably get a hire car for a few weeks but not months...

Jasx

KCross wrote: »

If buying a Tesla you'd want to be getting an order in. Delivery times are hit and miss. You wont get a specific date so you'll need a plan B if your Skoda goes back to the leasing company and you havent received your Tesla yet.... or do you have flexibility in when the Skoda goes back?

Basically, dont get rid of the Skoda until you see your actual car in Sandyford with your name attached to it!




If your primary route is Dublin-Belfast you should be able to do that without any charging but it all depends on the car being fully charged at home every night.... do you have a driveway where a cable can be plugged into the car?

Dont buy an EV unless you have that. Dont be dependent on public charging infrastructure particularly as a rep where time is of the essence.

Yep have room for a charger in the drivewayðŸ‘

MightyMunster

Check out abettertouteplanner.com you can select your car,change weather etc to see worst case scenarios. Will give you a good idea of the charging network layout.
As said above don't buy one unless you can charge at home.

I'd be surprised if you don't order one after a test drive

ELM327

adunis wrote: »

You know teslas are type approved for towing right ?

The only one of note is the X. The S is not approved at all, and the 3 is 910kg (1000kg coming soon)

Lumen

ELM327 wrote: »

The only one of note is the X. The S is not approved at all, and the 3 is 910kg (1000kg coming soon)

Polestar 2 will tow 1500kg and has similar spec and price to M3 LR AWD (£50k/78kWh/300 kW).

Is it coming to Ireland? Dunno. How efficient? Dunno.

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/polestar/2
https://www.slashgear.com/polesatar-2-towing-capacity-bests-model-3-as-fastback-ev-shows-accessories-19603968/
https://www.polestar.com/press-release/2019/10/03/polestar-2-pricing-in-european-launch-markets-confirmed

ELM327

Lumen wrote: »

Polestar 2 will tow 1500kg and has similar spec and price to M3 LR AWD (£50k/78kWh/300 kW).

Is it coming to Ireland? Dunno. How efficient? Dunno.

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/polestar/2
https://www.slashgear.com/polesatar-2-towing-capacity-bests-model-3-as-fastback-ev-shows-accessories-19603968/
https://www.polestar.com/press-release/2019/10/03/polestar-2-pricing-in-european-launch-markets-confirmed

So, a car that doesnt exist yet here, and is not a Tesla, when the post was about Tesla tow ratings.

Lumen

ELM327 wrote: »

So, a car that doesnt exist yet here, and is not a Tesla, when the post was about Tesla tow ratings.

Engage chill mode, I'm not disagreeing with you. The thread is about a mid-year purchase, and the Polestar will sort of be available then.

FWIW the Tesla doesn't exist yet either for me, in the sense that I don't have one and have no idea when it will arrive.

ELM327

Lumen wrote: »

Engage chill mode, I'm not disagreeing with you. The thread is about a mid-year purchase, and the Polestar will sort of be available then.

FWIW the Tesla doesn't exist yet either for me, in the sense that I don't have one and have no idea when it will arrive.

It does exist - it's been sold here and people drive them.

unkel

Jasx wrote: »

I have a few reservations though:
- 3 Kids are a bit older now and only two of them need a proper car seat, rear bench is obviously narrower than the Skoda but any experience out there with 3 kids in the back seat of a Tesla?!

You don't mention it, but I presume you mean the Tesla Model 3?

I strongly urge you to bring your kids and their car seats to Sandyford and to try the car out for yourself. It is officially a D-segment saloon, but in my experience it is one of the smaller ones when it comes to rear passenger space.

ELM327

The model 3 is tiny inside. It's more like a skoda rapid than a bmw 3 series.
I had an e46 that was bigger inside!

The S is large inside with masses of storage and a large trunk , and of course the X is cavernous.

Idbatterim

those polestars are class!

jusmeig

ELM327 wrote: »

The model 3 is tiny inside. It's more like a skoda rapid than a bmw 3 series.
I had an e46 that was bigger inside!

The S is large inside with masses of storage and a large trunk , and of course the X is cavernous.

This is a little unfair (you also drive an S right...so you are going to say that about 99% of cars!!)

I drive an A4 for years, I find the 3 roomier with better legroom.
I know the booth on a 3 series is a bit bigger, but calling it tiny is a stretch!

unkel

ELM327 wrote: »

The model 3 is tiny inside. It's more like a skoda rapid than a bmw 3 series.
I had an e46 that was bigger inside!

That's a bit of an exaggeration! I've no personal experience of the brand new model BMW 3-series, but the outgoing one is very similar in the back to the Tesla Model 3. Also one of the smaller D-segment saloons out there.

I've had several E46 3-series myself and I'd put money on the rear space in one to be not smaller than the Tesla Model 3

ELM327

jusmeig wrote: »

This is a little unfair (you also drive an S right...so you are going to say that about 99% of cars!!)

I drive an A4 for years, I find the 3 roomier with better legroom.
I know the booth on a 3 series is a bit bigger, but calling it tiny is a stretch!

It's tiny compared to my expectations, perhaps that was biased but I sat in the 3 before I ever sat in my (or any) S

unkel wrote: »

That's a bit of an exaggeration! I've no personal experience of the brand new model BMW 3-series, but the outgoing one is very similar in the back to the Tesla Model 3. Also one of the smaller D-segment saloons out there.

I've had several E46 3-series myself and I'd put money on the rear space in one to be not smaller than the Tesla Model 3

Perhaps it's rose tinted specs on my part but that was not my memory.

unkel

I think the whole Model 3 might fit in the frunk of the Model S :pac:

markpb

unkel wrote: »

I think the whole Model 3 might fit in the frunk of the Model S :pac:

And the whole of the model S would get lost somewhere under the seats of the model X

jusmeig

ELM327 wrote: »

Perhaps it's rose tinted specs on my part but that was not my memory.

You are a Model S oligarch now..you should force any Model 3's off the road...and yield only to a Model X (or Cybertruck)

Sabre Man

The Model 3 trunk is deeper than the one on the Model S (unless you remove the parcel shelf).

unkel

markpb wrote: »

And the whole of your model S would get lost somewhere under the seats of the model X

Model X is just 1% longer and 5% wider than Model S. It's footprint is barely bigger!

It's 15% taller though...

markpb

unkel wrote: »

Model X is just 1% longer and 5% wider than Model S. It's footprint is barely bigger!

It's 15% taller though...

Nah the X is a combination of a Tardis and Mary Poppins bag. Slightly bigger on the outside, absolutely cavernous on the inside.

BobbyBingo

ELM327 wrote: »

The model 3 is tiny inside. It's more like a skoda rapid than a bmw 3 series.
I had an e46 that was bigger inside!

The S is large inside with masses of storage and a large trunk , and of course the X is cavernous.

I'd have to disagree. Tiny inside it is not. The Model 3 is surprisingly roomy - it really is. The boot is brilliant although not as accessible as the Model S, but it honestly seems very generous in size. The frunk is definitely bigger in the 3 than the S and legroom behind the driver is pretty decent and compares well (although not as good) as the S.

Smaller than an S ? Yes. Tiny ? Absolutely not. IMO.

B

BobbyBingo

ELM327 wrote: »

The only one of note is the X. The S is not approved at all, and the 3 is 910kg (1000kg coming soon)

You are right 910kg. The one to look out for though as well is the nose weight. IIRC it is about 50kg..

unkel

BobbyBingo wrote: »

I'd have to disagree. Tiny inside it is not. The Model 3 is surprisingly roomy - it really is. The boot is brilliant although not as accessible as the Model S, but it honestly seems very generous in size. The frunk is definitely bigger in the 3 than the S and legroom behind the driver is pretty decent and compares well (although not as good) as the S.

Smaller than an S ? Yes. Tiny ? Absolutely not. IMO.

B

The only point where it is small is the rear bench width. And that is the only point where smallness is an issue for most owners (basically anyone who ever wants to transport 5 people for more than a few minutes)

The Model 3 is only just about adequate for 3 adults in the back, as long as they're not too big. Probably same for a 2 childs seats and another child without a child seat, but you'd have to check your own configuration

A car like the ID.3, although advertised as being the size of a Passat on the inside, only has room for 3 very small people in the back seat (and probably no more than 1 child seat if it has to fit 3 small kids). That's why it is out for us.

MightyMunster

Test drove the model 3 with a joie spin 360 car seat and there was plenty of space, came from a 3series and didn't seem any smaller in the back

unkel

MightyMunster wrote: »

came from a 3series and didn't seem any smaller in the back

They're very similar. Amongst the smaller of the D-segment saloons.

Jasx

MightyMunster wrote: »

Check out abettertouteplanner.com you can select your car,change weather etc to see worst case scenarios. Will give you a good idea of the charging network layout.
As said above don't buy one unless you can charge at home.

I'd be surprised if you don't order one after a test drive

great website, was exactly what I was looking for!!!