Big lines forming for prospective Tesla Model 3 buyers

[MrH]

Just watched the video. Car looks great, I'm sure it will be amazing, but I'm not buying everything he said by any means.

Fremont factory once made 500k/year. True. Tesla does not have the infrastructure or processes to get anywhere near that by end of next year. The Model X launch shows us everything we need to know.

Also, making these at a profit at $35k I don't think is possible.

It says everything when he says deliveries should start end of next year. They have zero confidence in their ability to hit timelines and volumes. Suppliers cannot afford to capacitize for a huge program like this without certainty. Basically the second they think they're ready to go full steam ahead, they'll hit a supplier capacity constraint. Right when that one gets fixed, they'll hit another.

[BimmerM3]

I like it. The absence of grille is on purpose- shows it's not like all the other cars.

+1. I'm certain that was a very intentional design decision. I can see Elon sitting in a board room asking, "Why do we need a grill for a car without a radiator?"

[Morris Minor]

I have a Gen 3 Prius, & the center-mounted instrumentation works well. But, while on the Prius the cluster is mounted well forward, & so only a trivial eye deflection from the driver's center axis, that in the Model 3 is well aft of the windshield and needs a hard glance right.

[93JC]

[Laconian]

Imagine what this shit is going to do to the electric car market. All of a sudden, the Leaf looks like it's $5k too expensive.

[Laconian]

[AutobahnSHO]

Imagine what this shit is going to do to the electric car market. All of a sudden, the Leaf looks like it's $5k too expensive.

I really do want to go electric. Someday. My current commute is:
Drive to physical training, 2.5miles. Drive home.
Drive to work, 2miles, drive home for lunch.
Drive back to work, drive home.

[2o6]

Imagine what this shit is going to do to the electric car market. All of a sudden, the Leaf looks like it's $5k too expensive.

The The Chevy Bolt has about the same range and will be 5-10k cheaper.


And will likely stay together longer and has the support of a real dealer network.

[2o6]

With that said, it's a really pretty car and I want one.

[2o6]

This car is sort of an "iPhone" a pretty good device but technically not that different than what other manufacturers are doing.



But the packaging and product make it look more expensive and extravagant than it really is.

[Cookie Monster]

The more I see the exterior, the more I like it.

The more I see the interior, the less I like it.

[Laconian]

I really do want to go electric. Someday. My current commute is:
Drive to physical training, 2.5miles. Drive home.
Drive to work, 2miles, drive home for lunch.
Drive back to work, drive home.

Actually, that's like the worst case for electric. You're barely scratching the surface of that battery capcity. Just burn some dinosaurs, it's not like an ICE car burns much fuel to go 6 miles.

[Cookie Monster]

Actually, that's like the worst case for electric. You're barely scratching the surface of that battery capcity. Just burn some dinosaurs, it's not like an ICE car burns much fuel to go 6 miles.

Or just ride a bicycle.

[ifcar]

The The Chevy Bolt has about the same range and will be 5-10k cheaper.


And will likely stay together longer and has the support of a real dealer network.

The Bolt base price is $37,500 as opposed to $35,000. And while the Tesla can be optioned up to be more expensive, I believe that would be by adding things you can't get on the Chevrolet.

[SJ_GTI]

Actually, that's like the worst case for electric. You're barely scratching the surface of that battery capcity. Just burn some dinosaurs, it's not like an ICE car burns much fuel to go 6 miles.

Fuel efficiency drops a ton when you don't drive much. I am not going to trade in my car "just because" but I think an electric car is most likely to be my next car. My commute is short (about 5.7 miles each way). With an electric car I would never have to go to a gas station again.

The problem for myself is that I also want a car that is at least somewhat fun to drive. Most of the mainstream brands are making their electric cars FWD econo-cars. To me the big draw to Tesla would be that is a good, fun car that is electric.

If the Chevy Bolt was AWD (or RWD) and had a suspension that was designed more for fun than for comfort it would probably also be a consideration. Even a Volt/Spark or Leaf would be fine for my needs. But they are all FWD, which I do not want.

[CaminoRacer]

Short commutes cause oil sludge.

[SJ_GTI]

Or just ride a bicycle.

I cannot speak for him, but riding a bike would sometimes be possible for me, but it would always be a hassle. Out here in the suburbs there are not many sidewalks and there are almost no bike lanes. There is no easy way to get from my house to my job without riding on roads that have little or no shoulder, yet those roads also have speed limits of 45-50 MPH. Not great for biking.

[GoCougs]

This car is sort of an "iPhone" a pretty good device but technically not that different than what other manufacturers are doing.



But the packaging and product make it look more expensive and extravagant than it really is.

The comparison to Apple is an extremely apt one. A Nissan Model S or Dodge Model X would be DOA.

The real genius of Tesla "packaging" is the contrived notion of the thing and the government manipulation. It's brilliant. Can't wait till it all collapses though. The irrational exuberance is bound to suck resources and attention from improving IC-powered vehicles.

[SJ_GTI]

The comparison to Apple is an extremely apt one. A Nissan Model S or Dodge Model X would be DOA.

The real genius of Tesla "packaging" is the contrived notion of the thing and the government manipulation. It's brilliant. Can't wait till it all collapses though. The irrational exuberance is bound to suck resources and attention from improving IC-powered vehicles.

I mean, certainly I think being "hip" is part of the draw for some people, but it is, legitimately, the only electric car that I have seen that could replace a sport sedan. For me, that is the big draw. I couldn't care less if it was made by GM, Toyota, or VW. I just would like a car that is fun to drive, and from my POV an electric car seems more practical than an ICE car.

[Raza]

1. The front end looks ridiculous.
2. What the hell is a Chevrolet Bolt?  I thought it was a Volt.

[SJ_GTI]

1. The front end looks ridiculous.
2. What the hell is a Chevrolet Bolt?  I thought it was a Volt.

Bolt is the new all-electric car from Chevy. ~200 mile range.

Concept


Production

[93JC]

The more I see the exterior, the more I like it.

The more I see the interior, the less I like it.

Me too. At first glance the exterior gave off too many BMW 3 GT vibes, but the more I look at it the more I like it. The beltline seems  lower, which (again, at first glance) gave the impression of the car being a little too bulbous, but I look at it again and it look fairly handsome. I don't have a problem with the idea of the lack of a grille (the Model S doesn't really have one either, after all, it's just a painted fascia piece meant to emulate a grille), but the execution of it is not great. It looks like a car that was meant to have a grille but they filled it in instead. The front still looks a weird.

The interior, on the other hand, is totally 'meh'. I despise the iPad. It looks tacked on, and I'd wager it would be awful to use. This alone would be a deal-breaker. The rest of the interior itself is just... 'meh'. If you get all hot and bothered by minimalism and think it's 'chic' then I'm sure it would float your boat. To me it looks rather bleak and dour. It's like an Apple Store.

This is also a serious problem:

https://youtu.be/16SWVS56aZU?t=3m24s

That trunk opening is not only preposterously small but it looks like anyone above four feet in height would have to duck under the trunk lid to get to it.

[12,000 RPM]

Jalop spoke about that

Should have been a hatchback....

[Cookie Monster]

Me too. At first glance the exterior gave off too many BMW 3 GT vibes, but the more I look at it the more I like it. The beltline seems  lower, which (again, at first glance) gave the impression of the car being a little too bulbous, but I look at it again and it look fairly handsome. I don't have a problem with the idea of the lack of a grille (the Model S doesn't really have one either, after all, it's just a painted fascia piece meant to emulate a grille), but the execution of it is not great. It looks like a car that was meant to have a grille but they filled it in instead. The front still looks a weird.

The interior, on the other hand, is totally 'meh'. I despise the iPad. It looks tacked on, and I'd wager it would be awful to use. This alone would be a deal-breaker. The rest of the interior itself is just... 'meh'. If you get all hot and bothered by minimalism and think it's 'chic' then I'm sure it would float your boat. To me it looks rather bleak and dour. It's like an Apple Store.

This is also a serious problem:

https://youtu.be/16SWVS56aZU?t=3m24s

That trunk opening is not only preposterously small but it looks like anyone above four feet in height would have to duck under the trunk lid to get to it.

Yikes, that looks terrible. Can't believe they designed it that way.

[Laconian]

That's awful. As bad as the Mini convertibles - just a horizontal slot.

[Cookie Monster]

If they didn't hinge it so far up the C-pillar it wouldn't at least open up so weirdly, making you have to duck underneath to get stuff out of the trunk...

[SJ_GTI]

Would definitely prefer a hatchback (similar to the Model S) myself, but it seems fine. But maybe I don't use my trunk as some people. 

[2o6]

Body rigidity has to come from somewhere. The glass roof looks like it's one piece from the base of the a pillar to the start of the trunk.

[Raza]

Bolt is the new all-electric car from Chevy. ~200 mile range.

Concept


Production

Hmm.  That's ugly. 

[SJ_GTI]

Hmm.  That's ugly.

Its "functional." 

I agree, but I could get over the looks if it was fun to drive.