Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) New toy

They annoy me because decent ones are way outside my budget!

Electric cars may have fewer mechanical moving parts, but they have billions of electrons to control, and when they go AWOL anything can happen.

I'm warming to the idea.

Neil, nearly a month on now, what's the outcome so far?

I haven't really driven it much to be honest.... but the driving I have done has been very good. As I may have mentioned before, it is an entirely uninvolving vehicle to drive - although it's silent, comfortable, fast, cheap to run and with every driving aid and gadget you could want. So for the vast majority of the driving I do, which is incredibly boring drives on dual carriageways, the Tesla is perfect. The cruise control and autopilot are very easy features to use that really make sitting in traffic rather easy and relaxing. Same for motorways too - just set and forget (almost).

I have also decided to use it to get to any meetings I might have in London in the future - there is parking to be had in Belgravia for around £15 for most of the day.... no fuel cost, no congestion charge (currently). Far nicer than the nausea of the train and (pre-Covid) rammed and costly parking in out of town village stations.

It is an unashamedly electric vehicle - and I prefer that to the EV's that are trying to look like ICE cars. A minimalist interior and, of course, the Tesla charging network which trumps the wild-west network with their multiple RFID cards, slow charging and many apps required for all other EV's.

Would I recommend it? Yes, I think so. It's an appliance, a very good one. But it's not a GT40 or E-Type... or Morgan! I do like the thought of never needing a service or visiting a petrol station... that's quite pleasing.

It will be interesting to see if the no servicing bit holds true over higher mileage?

The car is quite heavy due to the batteries so there must be a toll on the suspension components and tyres?
Whilst the brakes will probably take far less of a hammering due to the re-gen I am guessing.

When you say it is a little uninvolving is it due to the steering being numb, lack of noise or is it because it is actually very well balanced and easy to drive.
I am going to have to borrow a demonstrator.

I keep catching myself surfing the Tesla website and looking at the 3Per then knowing i only really need the 3LR.
(Then I go to the US site and spec up a cybertruck trimotor but that's a different problem)

There's nothing to service, so I'm not entirely sure what could be adjusted or replaced. In the vast majority of owner reviews I've read, they don't require any attention other than wiper blades, screen wash and rotating the tyres and/or eventually replacing them. Tesla do not recommend any servicing other than changing the pollen filter - which you can do yourself pretty easily.

Tesla advise that the brakes should last the lifetime of the vehicle - it's one pedal driving with energy regeneration, so the brakes are very rarely used.

It is uninvolving because there's no drama and there are no discernible characteristics. It's not like a Ferrari, a Morgan or even a BMW or Mercedes. It is an annodyne, rather clinical experience. As you suggest, it's rather well balanced, has great steering, low centre of gravity and easy to drive. I am not complaining in the slightest - I rather like it actually! Having owned everything from a vintage Le Mans Aston to a Bentley and everything in between, the Tesla is both novel and interesting. It is as exciting as having a new fridge - but there a delights in such a thing... whether that be a silent ice dispenser or low running costs.


ETA - Alistair, you are just down the road from me.... when this madness is over, come and have a drive of it.

Did I see you coming from Overton to Whitchurch today in the 3 Neil ? I thought I saw a WMD plate on one.

You didn't.

My WMD plates are not on the Tesla - also I didn't go out at all yesterday (31st). But you'll definitely see me around and about in the Tesla as it's my daily driver..

Ah I guess you will need AA70 EMP for that one then?

I had a Nero hybrid as a courtesy car about 3 weeks ago. Impressive drive. Only did the bare minimum miles due to lockdown restrictions.
I had a look over it. I do question the amount of tech and toys they put in it. Why have lots of electric consuming things when they drain the battery and limit e-range? Electric adjusting seats? Why? It is a general use family car.
Maybe they are for lazy, incompetent idiots? The flat screen display was an eye magnet, ok new novelty experience but it was distracting watching the battery charge indicator. Learning the driving characteristics to manage charge would be a job to do. I think full ev would be more straight forward, comparable to ice and tank content.
The acceleration on kickdown was impressive. Finding the point where normal power versus hard power would be straight forward. The built in satnav seemed comparable to my Garmin.
Would I have a Nero? Yes. BUT full ev not hybrid variant and if the buying cost was lower.
I wonder how much a Dacia Duster ev would cost?