EV Discussion thread

1961Nick

Grumpy_chap said:

How different is the Performance model for suspension settings / handling compared to standard SR / LR versions?

I know a few people with TM3's and none commented on poor handling.

AIUI, the Performance version is same as LR version other than software allows higher peak power / acceleration.  Plus different wheels.  I may be wholly incorrect.

The Model 3 LR has more compliant suspension settings than the Performance as well as 18" wheels instead of 20".

JKenH

1961Nick said:

Although I've not driven the model Y, I'm surprised by those comments based on my experience with the M3P. Compared to the 435d x-drive M-Sport, the Models 3's suspension is more compliant, the steering is more accurate & there's less roll & understeer. That's quite an achievement & more than I was expecting to be honest. 

You have probably become accustomed to a firm ride with the M-Sport suspension of the BMW. Preferring a softer ride (personal taste and spending most of my time on poor roads) I have always avoided firm suspension options and elastic band tyres. SE trim in BMW or Mercedes was always my preferred choice. With my Golfs I always go for the well equipped Match version over the sportier trims. I was gutted that only the basic Golf had the fattest tyres. 

Low profile tyres are more about style than handling. For years F1 cars ran small wheels and high profile tyres. 15” rims and 195/50 profile tyres are what we race Mazdas on. 

WhatCar? Did a comparison of the M3 and MY. Here are the comments on ride quality:

But while there are plenty of similarities, there are also some surprisingly big differences. The Model 3 has fairly firm suspension, so it isn’t as calm and easy-going as some EVs, including the Audi Q4 e-tron– but at least the ride never becomes overly fractious

The Model Y, however, crosses the line into what we’d describe as uncomfortable. You’re jostled around in your seat continually, and any potholes you don’t manage to avoid will really make you wince. The Model Y’s larger wheels (19in versus 18in) probably don’t help matters, but it feels as though less time and effort has gone into tuning the suspension.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/new-tesla-model-y-vs-tesla-model-3/n24887

The latest 2023 Model Y being made in China has a softer ride. 

shinytop

Firm/sporty suspension and big wheels is one thing but

"build quality is sufficiently suspect that the interior creaks and groans its way down the road like a galleon in a gale. The steering has a nasty stodgy quality top dead centre and then is instantly too quick and rather darty."

isn't really acceptable on any mainstream car, let alone a £50k plus one.  

It's often said on this forum that Tesla is able to make EVs cheaper than the competition.  Perhaps this is why.  

JKenH

shinytop said:

JKenH said:

Is the Tesla Model Y a premium sector car or just a Ford Mondeo sold at a premium price?This review by Car magazine praises the power train and range of the MY but the rest of the car leaves the reviewers cold.

MUSK TRY HARDER

Tesla’s used to getting its own way. But with the EQB and iX1, has the German establishment passed Elon’s Model Y?

Alas, the Tesla’s ride quality is shocking; cart springs and concrete damping – right up there with a shopping trolley on corrugated iron, and the sound enters the cabin with a gusto that would impress even the Kodo drummers. Worse still, build quality is sufficiently suspect that the interior creaks and groans its way down the road like a galleon in a gale. The steering has a nasty stodgy quality top dead centre and then is instantly too quick and rather darty. 

It may go like a stabbed rat, but the Model Y also has all the charm of one. Quick, but not very pleasant. And if we’re judging these as premi-um products, that’s not ideal. 

Suggestion about Car April 2023 page 48
https://go.readly.com/magazines/537cb47901704d67d200002e/63fdfebf5f69dd0008b55283/48

That's an insult to Ford; Mondeos were very good cars!!

Does this count as the NVH discussed previously that only ICE cars were supposed to suffer from? 

I agree: the Mondeo was a very good car and very popular before  SUVs came on the scene. They were roomy and did the job but being ubiquitous lacked status - hence the comparison with the MY. 

Mondeos were also renowned for the balance of fine handling and ride which apparently is not a MY trait. My apologies, therefore, to the Mondeo for that inane comparison. 

JKenH

Grumpy_chap said:

I know a few people with TM3's and none commented on poor handling.

I doubt that they could tell. You shouldn’t ever be driving on a public road at such a speed that handling becomes an issue. You would be amazed at just how fast even the most humble modern family car can get round a corner - not in my hands I should add. 

JKenH

Man Accidentally Drove Away in Someone Else’s Tesla Using the Car’s App

Unusual story - if it’s true.

When Randev was getting his car, there were two nearly identical Model 3s parked side by side, he explained to the outlet. He added that he was in a hurry and had to pick up his kids from school, so he unlocked the wrong Tesla and drove off. 

“After five, 10 minutes I got a text on my phone that said ‘Rajesh are you driving [a] Tesla,” he explained to the outlet. Randev went on to say the person who messaged him told him he was driving the wrong car. 

The two finally met up, and Randev said the other Tesla owner told him he was able to get his phone number from a document he had inside the Tesla. That means, if you’re following along, the other guy was able to gain access to Randev’s Tesla as well. Wild.

https://jalopnik.com/man-accidentally-drove-away-in-someone-else-s-tesla-usi-1850218858

JKenH

Tesla have now removed the discounts for inventory stock on M3 and MY although there are some (reduced) discounts still available on Demo stock. This follows a reevaluation of their CPO/TeslaUsed stock a few days ago which saw prices rise by c£5k.

https://tesla-info.com/inventory/UK/

Edit: There has also been a significant fall in inventory levels.For the last month new M3 inventory has been running above 300 and reached 411 on 4 March. Today it is down to just 63 units. New MY inventory is down to 22 from 843 on 4 March.

JKenH

JKenH said:

Tesla have now removed the discounts for inventory stock on M3 and MY although there are some (reduced) discounts still available on Demo stock. This follows a reevaluation of their CPO/TeslaUsed stock a few days ago which saw prices rise by c£5k.

https://tesla-info.com/inventory/UK/

Edit: There has also been a significant fall in inventory levels.For the last month new M3 inventory has been running above 300 and reached 411 on 4 March. Today it is down to just 63 units. New MY inventory is down to 22 from 843 on 4 March.

Update: Tesla have reinstated discounts and M3 inventory back up - to 270 units. Still no discounts on MY but inventory up to 107 units.
CPO/Tesla used now showing cars available from £22,400 which is where they were before they disappeared last week.

Grumpy_chap

So far as I can tell, there was nothing in the budget affecting EV's.
Overall I guess that is a good thing as nothing was going to be a give-away in that regard, but what incentives there are could have been restricted - the main one being that the low BIK rate continues.  I know that is of interest to only some EV drivers, but it is what we've got.

JKenH

JKenH said:

Two Tesla M3s listed today below £24k and 17 now listed below £27k. Interestingly the total number for sale is still dropping, down to 1557. Could this be because the car dealers are reluctant to buy them at auction?

https://tesla-info.com/inventory/UK/

I think what might be more significant is that Tesla themselves have reduced the prices of the used M3s they have in stock. A couple of weeks ago I recall there weren’t any below £30k but today there is one available at £26,600. This includes a  1 year Tesla warranty. This car was originally listed by Tesla on 2 December at £35k. Tesla currently have 305 used M3s in stock.

Meanwhile WBAC has lifted the valuation on the M3P I was following to £27,405. On 2 Feb this had been £25,135 and on 28 Jan £23,195. The cheapest used M3P listed by Tesla is £36k.

Read into that whatever you like.

Today’s figure from WBAC for my old 20plate 40kWh Leaf at 18k miles is £11,565. On 23 Jan it was £13,585 and in October last year £20,685.

Interesting developments with prices. Cheapest Tesla used/CPO M3 SR today is £26,100 compared to £22,400 yesterday (the higher mileage ones have disappeared). The cheapest 2020 car is £28,200 but for £28,300 you can now get a 2020 M3P but it’s 76k miles. Meanwhile the WBAC valuation on the 2019 14k miles M3P I have been following is continuing to go up at £28k. 

My old 40kWh Nissan Leaf is now down to £10k with WBAC from £20,685 in October. My 2020 Golf Estate was £14,500 in October and today it is £15k. I have now noticed that the retail prices of 40kWh Leafs are beginning to come down having lagged trade prices for some time and are now much closer to pre COVID prices for 3 year old cars.