I genuinely appreciate your reply. And I think it’s really important to hear all sides of vehicle ownership, including, but not limited to; the good, the bad and what needs to be improved. Your post is really important for others to take in consideration when considering a Model 3 or Tesla in general. For me, I think it’s vital to be objective, and that’s understanding all the positives and negatives, because I am very much involved into the EV buying market as we speak.
I can tell you, I’m somebody that’s _extremely_ particular about aesthetics and quality control. Aside from the panel gaps that I think we’ve all heard of, I can’t stand rattles, and that’s generally one of the most intrusive annoyances that can be very much interrupting, especially in a ride where you can’t hear the engine. I get it though, no manufacturer is perfect, but I believe there are quality control issues that can be avoided for the most part. Things that I don’t think are acceptable, is when the speakers are loose and rattling, that’s just not something that should be even happening in the first place.
I can tell you this, I laid this exact game plan out with my wife what I plan on doing. I actually plan on using an app called ‘Turo’, and basically what that is, you can rent a car (Any car you desire) for one day or weeks at a time. I plan on renting at least [3] Model 3’s in separate weeks and driving them all to see how I like the quality, ride control, U.I., handling, ect. Being I don’t have any accessibility to Model 3’s in my area, I feel this is the best and most appropriate route to determine if the M3 would be to my standards. So before committing to a car purchase, I can have three ‘tester’ rides before I make a decision.
Also, as for the whole ‘cult-like’ following of Elon musk and the Tesla brand, I don’t care about that in the slightest and nor am I even remotely interested in the Musk phenom. I buy a car because it meets my needs in terms of what I expect and overall gives me the pleasure of something that I enjoy. I’m not brand committed, I’ve owned loads of sports cars from every domestic manufacturer that you can think of, and I’m just ready for the next EV move. I would never let the likes of a company name and/or branding influence my decision purchasing their car.
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Oh, I researched ‘Rivian’ earlier you mentioned. Some really cool technology in all kinds of climates in terms of what this company is doing, and even though they’re smaller in a target segment, they appear to have a very bright future, as I was watching a few of their demo reels earlier.
Whether it’s taking families on new adventures or helping fleets electrify at scale, our vehicles all share a common goal — preserving the natural world for generations to come.
rivian.com