Chris100
RMS Regular
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Still no tyres so not the update people want
But a little over a month of ownership at 2700miles clocked up I thought I would offer some insight as to what life is like with a Tesla. The weekend seen me do a road trip to Kildare and back again in it that showed the cars utter strengths.
I had done this exact trip in the M4 during the summer and it was a pleasant journey, the m4 is comfortable, effortlessly fast and quite economical. The tesla just outdid it in every aspect for that journey.
Left with a full charge from the house overnight, out into a preheated car on a miserable wet day. No pissing about with keys etc unplug the cable, jump into the car and go.
For a long journey like that, mostly on motorways you just need comfort and ease of driving. Well autopilot just takes that to another level. It’s hard to describe unless you are familiar with it but it really lets you switch off. You aren’t quite a passenger as you are still interacting for overtakes, keeping an eye on the road etc but the car is taking care of so much, including indicating and coming off at exits etc there is no stress in following a map, focusing on your road speed, or even steering.
I have never driven a car over a distance and got out feeling refreshed but that’s exactly how the tesla makes you feel. You can enjoy the music, enjoy the conversation, enjoy the trip in a different way. Then when you know you are heading back to the car to return home, have it preheated, instant cosy car.
I stopped at apple green and had my first experience of a supercharger, wow! Quickly plugged in and I was inside, use the loo, quick bite to eat and by the time I was done my range was pretty much full again. In all of 15mins or so. It would have been more hassle stopping for fuel than it was stoping to charge.
Then you have the one pedal driving, crawling in traffic, negotiating towns etc it is just 100 times easier and more pleasant than a conventional automatic car.
What about the fun aspect? Well one of the only joys of that journey from a driving perspective is leaving the toll booths. Granted there is no noise while leaving it with haste but when you are being shot into the horizon at warp speed, giggling like a child, the noise doesn’t matter.
So far the car has slotted so well into my life. Bob flavin mentioned on the podcast that come a wet miserable day I won’t be enjoying the car. On a wet miserable day, I wouldn’t be enjoying the M4, struggling for traction. In the tesla I am relaxed and chilled.
It genuinely is the perfect daily driver.
The downsides
- the door handles are stupid, awkward to use and passengers are bewildered as to how to get in. Also in the dark you can’t see them at all. Wouldn’t be a problem on a different coloured car but on a black car it is infuriating!
- if there is water on the roof and your window is down there is a Tsunami coming in over your door trims and your arm when you move. Despite knowing this I repeatedly forget and do this to myself regularly. Angers me no end.
That’s it, can’t think of a single other bad thing about it.
Am I glad I still have a noisey petrol car, absolutely! Have I driven the noisey petrol car as often as I thought I would, sadly no. Or maybe that speaks volumes to just how good the Tesla is.
If you have been debating getting one, go for it! But be warned, it will erode away all the things you think you enjoyed about motoring and show you there is a whole other side to it that can really be enjoyed.
That’s enough EV love for today, I may take the M4 a spin later making popping banging noises and feel traditional brutal power just so I don’t turn soft.
Cost is still the issue for me as a daily, I could go and buy a £5k petrol car as a daily and it will still be significantly cheaper to own and run than the Tesla.
In order to keep the "big money" in my fun car that is what I will do.
Looking at the Kia or Hyundai equivalents they are £50k, madness.
For me to spend £50k on a car it has to be something I want to go and drive, not something that gets me from A to B.
I totally get how it is working for you Pete, but honestly how many peoples "daily" is £40-50K?
! Is it just they are more expensive than you think they are worth?!
but this things immense 
