That’s been my position ever since I heard of Teslas. I like a lot of the things about the car, but not the CEO. Nor would I buy a car that could be altered on the fly (“Oops, software update, your car is possibly going to brake to an abrupt stop. We’ll be working on that, and we hope you’re not going 75 on the freeway.”)
Especially if that software can controlled by a madman.
.
Now, THAT gives me hope. I’d have to start my EV calculations all over again and see…
We do. Very cheated.
And this is why I’m buying a Ford Lightning (when they’re available). I know Ford, I grew up with Ford, I know people that design Fords, I trust Ford, I bought an F-150 in 2015 that still purrs like a kitten with 190,000 miles. I just wouldn’t put any of my hard-earned money into Tesla; not the cars, not the stock. And thank you for sharing your professional experience on this.
I’ll just point out that Teslas are no longer tied to a proprietary charging platform. They now offer a CCS Combo adapter for recent Teslas that allows them to charge at non-Tesla Level 3 chargers.
And of course the included J1772 adapter works just fine to connect a Tesla to other Level 2 charging stations.
Cromulant Excoriation
Only if it makes an obnoxious noise when the throttle is punched or, better yet, rolls coal.
I was wondering about you. I’d be pissed. The used market is taking a huge hit also.
Agree. My 4 Runner has three big fat knobs for controlling and adjusting the heat. I don’t have to take my eyes off the road.
The radio has a big knob for on/off/volume. But a touch screen for stations. Your supposed to be able to do it with voice control I think.
But really, with Sirius XM you sort of need a computer interface there are hundreds if not thousands of stations. I still hate it.
I’ve only used this in rental cars but most still had physical buttons to advance stations, and it seemed like they’re clustered by type. Count me in with the anti-touchscreen crowd. Not that I have anywhere to charge at home.
I’ll admit that the touch screen in the 4 Runner (2019) has a very bad interface. The navigation system sucks as bad as the radio controls. At least compared to my wifes Subaru.
With the Nav system, I’ve often said “Screw this, I basically know where I’m going” Ya can’t input an address. Or it doesn’t recognize it. If my Wife is with me we’ll just put it into a phone and one of us is the navigator. The Nav system is that bad.
I’ve never really given much consideration to buying an EV. There needs to be more advancements in battery tech before I consider it. I would consider a hybrid, though; I think those make more sense at this time.
The navigation in our Tesla (Model X) is the best I’ve ever used. The radio/satellite interface is the worst, by far. As far as touchscreens go, the Model X doesn’t have a tablet glued to the dash, like the Model 3 and Model Y. It’s integrated and looks fine. Except for the audio system (another manufacturer that doesn’t see the need for an “off” button.) the touchscreen is fine.
This. Although I too would want to avoid enriching Musk, the wider issue is that I’ve seen nothing about Teslas that appeals to me, and the idea of shelling out for a car with that amount of attached strings is a definite turn-off.
Were I in the market for an EV or hybrid right now, I’d probably go with a Hyundai Ioniq. But I’m not.
The cheapest Tesla, the model 3, starts at $43,900, which is more than I’ll spend on a car now, so no.
There are used cars available more cheaply of course, but they don’t qualify for the tax credit (?).
Are Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) still a thing? That’s my plan for my next vehicle purchase in a few years.
Maybe the price drop does make the Tesla slightly more appealing to me, but I still don’t really like it as much as other EVs. Particularly I don’t like Tesla’s philosophy of just using one big screen for everything. I’m sure I’d get used to it, but I would really rather have some gauges right in front of the driver. My current favorite EV is the Polestar 2, and that would be my first choice if I had to replace my car today. But in reality I don’t plan on replacing my car any time soon. When I do it probably will be with an EV, and it will depend on what EVs are on the market then.
Other people mentioned Tesla’s charging network, but with my driving patterns I’ll most likely be doing 99% of my charging at home, so that isn’t much of a consideration for me.
Models X and S have gauges in front of the driver.
Same here, but for that 1% it’s nice to have a simple and efficient charging network. The other ones I have tried have been buggy.
Ok, but the Model 3 is the Tesla model I’d be most likely to consider, based on price and size.
Understood. I know a guy who has a Model 3 and loves it. (I think some of the SDMB also have 3s.) I was put off by the touchscreen but like you say, you probably get used to it.
Yes, they are. I’d like a full EV, but when I analyze things a PHEV is likely the best fit. With my current driving patterns, I’d be able to get by with battery-only over 90% of the time, with the convenience of fill-ups on road trips.
Then there’s the full-nerd option, the solar-powered Aptera.