Tesla Model 3 News and Discussion

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#2838400 25-Dec-2021 20:38

BuzzLightyear:
lxsw20:

They've got to do something to make an Model 3 fun, they've got no "soul" as such.

As a car guy who’s been quite anti EV until recently the model 3 is a great car. I love driving it, the balance and power as well as grunt when you need it, sharp steering. It’s really a top class drive EV or not. I still appreciate burning rubber in my other cars but can’t knock the model 3 for driving dynamics. The software is the cherry on top and you have to live with it to appreciate it.

Yeah nothing wrong with them (apart from questionable build quality), my flatmate had one goes well etc - great daily. It's just they are a bit of an appliance, thats all.

If I wanted to go out for a "fun" drive I'd take the old mans MG B out, slow as it is.

RobDickinson

1524 posts

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#2838402 25-Dec-2021 21:14

lmfao some people are quite bitter.

Theres almost nothing that would 'see off' my car and it gets updates every few weeks, many have involved car focused stuff (like more power, one pedal driving, blind spot monitoring camera in the last patch etc.

But hell if you want your car to age as badly as , well, most of them do, then buy that bmw or volvo. Dont convince yourself it has soul though its just another mass produced product.

lxsw20

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#2838403 25-Dec-2021 21:15

RobDickinson:

lmfao some people are quite bitter.

Nah, just not everyone subscribes to the church of Elon.

Obraik

2123 posts

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#2838552 26-Dec-2021 12:41

Technofreak:

Before I answer your question about new features, tell me, what are all these amazing upgrades you keep getting on your Tesla?

My car brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. On a typical winding New Zealand secondary road it will comfortably see off most cars.

Notable changes to me since I bought it in 2019:

Various improvements to nearly all functions that worked from the factory but have benefited from learnings over the years. Things like UI improvements, auto wiper algorithms, auto park improvements, energy efficiency, driver profile settings and voice command improvements
Cruise control being able to change lanes on the motorways
Cruise control being able to adapt to the traffic around the car and change lanes to move around slower cars. It will also get itself into the correct lane for an upcoming exit and then take the exit.
Cruise control speed sign recognition - many cars have this, mine didn't at first but now it does.
Having the car drive from its car park to me using my phone.
Track mode - being able to dial in the cars power, handling and braking characteristics for track days (I haven't really had a use for this)
Additional music/podcast streaming services
Ability to display and reply to text messages received on my phone.
Bring up the camera feed from the side repeater cameras when indicating for blind spot monitoring
Climate control improvements
Additional audio system settings

Upcoming:

Being able to monitor the cars cameras remotely from my phone

There are of course all the "fun" additions like a large number of games, the recent Light Show and an increasing number of video streaming services. I often catch up on my YouTube playlist while waiting for my partner in stores and the like.

Like yours, my car also brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I still enjoy the instant acceleration and love taking it through winding roads - the car (and me) really loves the corners

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Technofreak

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#2838602 26-Dec-2021 15:57

Obraik:

Technofreak:

Before I answer your question about new features, tell me, what are all these amazing upgrades you keep getting on your Tesla?

My car brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. On a typical winding New Zealand secondary road it will comfortably see off most cars.

Notable changes to me since I bought it in 2019:

Various improvements to nearly all functions that worked from the factory but have benefited from learnings over the years. Things like UI improvements, auto wiper algorithms, auto park improvements, energy efficiency, driver profile settings and voice command improvements
Cruise control being able to change lanes on the motorways
Cruise control being able to adapt to the traffic around the car and change lanes to move around slower cars. It will also get itself into the correct lane for an upcoming exit and then take the exit.
Cruise control speed sign recognition - many cars have this, mine didn't at first but now it does.
Having the car drive from its car park to me using my phone.
Track mode - being able to dial in the cars power, handling and braking characteristics for track days (I haven't really had a use for this)
Additional music/podcast streaming services
Ability to display and reply to text messages received on my phone.
Bring up the camera feed from the side repeater cameras when indicating for blind spot monitoring
Climate control improvements
Additional audio system settings
Upcoming:

Being able to monitor the cars cameras remotely from my phone
There are of course all the "fun" additions like a large number of games, the recent Light Show and an increasing number of video streaming services. I often catch up on my YouTube playlist while waiting for my partner in stores and the like.

Like yours, my car also brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I still enjoy the instant acceleration and love taking it through winding roads - the car (and me) really loves the corners

Yep some nice to have stuff, but nothing I'd be trading up for. I kind of get the feeling that a lot of those things could have been enabled from day one and you have to wonder why not.

Horses for courses, for example, I'm not a fan of adaptive cruise control, the car already has good a good voice command system, good auto wipers, I don't use streaming but would do that via my phone anyway. I see being able to "call my car to come to me" as a gimmick. I have autoparking which is also a bit of a gimmick which I have only used to try it out. Out of your list the only thing I don't have that I'd make use of is the speed sign recognition.

To answer your question the one thing I don't have which I'd like on my car and that is the IntellilLux LED headlights which were an some models, and that cannot be done via an OTA update. They have been described as being like witchcraft and are amazingly good, very often described by reviewers as the best self dipping (intelligent) LED headlights they have ever used. Very good beam control and very good light.

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Obraik

2123 posts

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#2838619 26-Dec-2021 17:05

The point is more that Tesla where possible, doesn't make you buy a new car to get new features. Excluding the minor hardware changes since then, my car is operationally much the same as a new Model 3 purchased today.

I've included a lot in the first bullet point but that point is probably the best part of OTA updates. As an example, my previous BMW which was out of warranty had an annoying issue with its transmission (it would sometimes jerk a bit when taking off from a slow speed). BMW had made an update available (a bug fix, essentially) but the previous owner had never had it done while it was in warranty. To get that update applied I'd have to take it to a BMW dealer and they wanted $400 with a disclaimer that it could brick the transmission ECU and I'd have to pay for a replacement. These sort of bug fixes are included in these OTA updates by Tesla and are done in my garage at no extra charge.

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Technofreak

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#2838809 26-Dec-2021 22:05

Obraik:

The point is more that Tesla where possible, doesn't make you buy a new car to get new features. Excluding the minor hardware changes since then, my car is operationally much the same as a new Model 3 purchased today.

I think we're splitting hairs to some extent. Software updates are not exclusive to Tesla whether that be via OTA or otherwise. There is a very finite limit to how much upgrading can be done with existing hardware.

Some of the new features you mentioned are a small tweak which may or may not improve the user experience. YMMV depending on the individual. In other cases they enable hardware already fitted, which begs the question as to why it wasn't done from the factory.

In my experience any meaningful/worthwhile feature upgrades involve new hardware otherwise that feature would have been implemented from the factory. Hardware upgrades usually only come with the release of a new model. That's a fact of life.

There is no doubt Tesla do some neat stuff, but a bit like Apple with their phones, a lot of things they create hype around are done by other manufacturers too.

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Obraik

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#2838812 26-Dec-2021 22:18

Hairs aren't being split, you're just trying your best to downplay the usefulness of OTA updates.

Software updates OTA for a vehicle were pioneered by Tesla. Only now are other companies starting to offer the same and for most that's still limited to just the infotainment system whereas Tesla can apply updates to all aspects of the car. Software updates aren't new to cars but prior to Tesla, you'd have to take your car to the dealer and pay them for the privilege (as I highlighted with my previous BMW experience).

With new cars, it's pretty common for much of the hardware to be the same as the previous year. However, if those cars have new software features that were added with that new year you can't benefit from that (at least not for free), even though you have the same hardware. In a Tesla, that's not the case.

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RogerMellie

319 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2838820 26-Dec-2021 23:00

Serious question, are Teslas yet being fitted with 4G modems (or even 5G?)

When I took an X for a test drive in 2017 or 2018 I noticed it was still a 3G modem, which stuck out to me as being a big red flag for all the demand on connectivity it would have.

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2838822 26-Dec-2021 23:19

I think they've had 4G modems since 2018. All Model 3 have 4G capability. Interestingly, they use Telstra sims that are roaming here in New Zealand, so you have the benefit of the car using the carrier with the best coverage. The downside is that since Tesla also has their own APN based in Australia, accessing some NZ based streaming sites in the cars browsers won't always work due to geoblocks.

No word on when 5G is going to be added to the cars, but the coverage for that is pretty minimal anyway. Tesla has provided modem upgrades for older cars in the past so it's quite likely they'll do the same for today's cars when 5G is more prominent

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Technofreak

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#2838927 27-Dec-2021 08:58

Obraik:

Software updates OTA for a vehicle were pioneered by Tesla. Only now are other companies starting to offer the same and for most that's still limited to just the infotainment system whereas Tesla can apply updates to all aspects of the car. Software updates aren't new to cars but prior to Tesla, you'd have to take your car to the dealer and pay them for the privilege (as I highlighted with my previous BMW experience).

Which kind of indicates to me Tesla didn't do their development testing like other manufacturers if there's a need for continual updates or as I said before these updates are to add stuff that could have been enabled from the factory which would have been the case with other manufacturers, hence they don't generally release on going updates like Tesla do. Yes I know there's always updates/recalls from any manufacturer but you haven't mentioned anything like that.

I'll say it again, Tesla have done some really cool stuff. However to use the updated features you have mentioned as a reason why someone should buy a Tesla over another make is IMO overstating the value of those updates. The light show feature you mentioned a page or two back is a case in point. It's just glitter and gloss that adds nothing what so ever to the driving experience. It's a bit like the tunes that F & P dish drawers can play, no one buys a dish draw for the tunes.

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Obraik

2123 posts

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#2838982 27-Dec-2021 11:39

Technofreak:

Which kind of indicates to me Tesla didn't do their development testing like other manufacturers if there's a need for continual updates or as I said before these updates are to add stuff that could have been enabled from the factory which would have been the case with other manufacturers, hence they don't generally release on going updates like Tesla do. Yes I know there's always updates/recalls from any manufacturer but you haven't mentioned anything like that.

I'll say it again, Tesla have done some really cool stuff. However to use the updated features you have mentioned as a reason why someone should buy a Tesla over another make is IMO overstating the value of those updates. The light show feature you mentioned a page or two back is a case in point. It's just glitter and gloss that adds nothing what so ever to the driving experience. It's a bit like the tunes that F & P dish drawers can play, no one buys a dish draw for the tunes.

So by your logic, are you arguing that an iPhone 6S was a flawed device when it was released 6 years ago since it didn't ship with the features it received in iOS 15 the other month?

I gave you an example of a BMW update lol. If you're looking for examples of Tesla doing the same via OTA updates, here's a Model X airbag fix, a braking fix for the early Model 3 and the Model Y getting an Airbag deployment improvement based on testing in Tesla's own crash lab and earlier in the year I purchased mine, an update was released that increased the Model 3's performance by 5%. This is a sample of examples.

No, I don't think anyone is buying a Tesla purely because it has the fun features...but many have been swayed to buy a Tesla because of the fun aspect ontop of everything else they have. That might not be the case for you, but you are not everyone. I also gave you a list of new stuff that was added to my car since I've owned it that has added to the driving and ownership experience

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michaelmurfy

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#2839688 28-Dec-2021 23:05

Well today I was told there was a Tesla for sale around my area - messaged the guy, turned out he was just around the corner. This is a Model 3 Performance version (2019 model). He then messaged me about 30mins later telling me it was sold. I thanked him, and then asked if he wanted to go out for a drive anyway to which he said sure!

So went for a drive - this is my very first drive in an EV in general. I've been a passenger in a Nissan Leaf as well as a Tesla (for a short drive) but driving one is a whole other story. Being a performance model he got me to do the launch (holy crap) then did a bit of driving around before asking him if I could do the launch again. I was amazed with how well this car handled, and just how much power was there along with how polished the software is compared to every other car I've driven.

I was saddened to drive my Kia Seltos home but I do 100% know that my next car is going to be a Tesla. I do like the "Software Defined Car" aspect. So thanks so much @morbandit for allowing me to take your car out! I really appreciate it!

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morbandit

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#2839691 28-Dec-2021 23:31

michaelmurfy:

Well today I was told there was a Tesla for sale around my area - messaged the guy, turned out he was just around the corner. This is a Model 3 Performance version (2019 model). He then messaged me about 30mins later telling me it was sold. I thanked him, and then asked if he wanted to go out for a drive anyway to which he said sure!

So went for a drive - this is my very first drive in an EV in general. I've been a passenger in a Nissan Leaf as well as a Tesla (for a short drive) but driving one is a whole other story. Being a performance model he got me to do the launch (holy crap) then did a bit of driving around before asking him if I could do the launch again. I was amazed with how well this car handled, and just how much power was there along with how polished the software is compared to every other car I've driven.

I was saddened to drive my Kia Seltos home but I do 100% know that my next car is going to be a Tesla. I do like the "Software Defined Car" aspect. So thanks so much @morbandit for allowing me to take your car out! I really appreciate it!

Any time mate... well once I get a replacement lol

Bandit

Crysoganus

30 posts

Geek

#2839750 29-Dec-2021 06:57

morbandit:

michaelmurfy:

Well today I was told there was a Tesla for sale around my area - messaged the guy, turned out he was just around the corner. This is a Model 3 Performance version (2019 model). He then messaged me about 30mins later telling me it was sold. I thanked him, and then asked if he wanted to go out for a drive anyway to which he said sure!

So went for a drive - this is my very first drive in an EV in general. I've been a passenger in a Nissan Leaf as well as a Tesla (for a short drive) but driving one is a whole other story. Being a performance model he got me to do the launch (holy crap) then did a bit of driving around before asking him if I could do the launch again. I was amazed with how well this car handled, and just how much power was there along with how polished the software is compared to every other car I've driven.

I was saddened to drive my Kia Seltos home but I do 100% know that my next car is going to be a Tesla. I do like the "Software Defined Car" aspect. So thanks so much @morbandit for allowing me to take your car out! I really appreciate it!

Any time mate... well once I get a replacement lol

This mirrors my first experience in an electric car, and it was a Tesla. Once you've actually driven one rather than consumed the ongoing tidal wave of anti-tesla rhetoric you actually "get it". They're truly an impressive machine. After my experience I waited for a year for the Model Y to come out, then decided to make the jump and sold my 4th new Mazda CX-5 for a 2021 Performance.

I then waited for 6 months for it to be delivered. This is by far the best car I've ever owned, every day I drive it I smile, that's not an experience I can remember from any other vehicle.

Bums in seats sell Teslas. One drive and you're hooked, well, I was. The Dual Motor Model 3 with the OTA performance software update isn't much slower than the P. The standard Model 3 despite being a heap cheaper also goes really, really well. The MIC vehicles are the match quality wise for anything from Japan.

The OTA updates are a thing of excellence, why has this taken so long to do from every other car maker?

A brilliant car.

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