# Tesla Model 3 anticipation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2017, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478 "2017-07-31T04:19:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 91
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1802 "2018-09-11T16:30:01Z")
I think so? But I’m not totally clear if you have to be on the reservation list or have already put in your order in order to be invited to the event(s). ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1803 "2018-09-11T18:08:06Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Isn’t it obvious? Because sometimes people want to sit in the car and not be running down the battery or running the engine. It’s a hybrid with a big battery. It can probably run the accessories for hours. And if they really feel the need to handle that edge case, you can still have an off button or the like. But there’s no reason to make the common case slower. > [@Ravenman](#): > > I think so? But I’m not totally clear if you have to be on the reservation list or have already put in your order in order to be invited to the event(s). You had to at least have been on the reservation list, and I’m about 90% certain you had to have ordered already as well (the invitation was phrased as “As a future Model 3 owner, …”). My friend had already ordered, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1804 "2018-09-11T18:16:16Z")
If I was on a list, waiting for a year(s), and found out they were building cars “out of order”, I’d be pissed! And I’d wonder why. But I wouldn’t be on any list. I don’t (with the exception of my home mortgage, long since paid off) buy what I can’t pay for, and won’t pay for what can’t be delivered. I stay out of trouble that way. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1805 "2018-09-11T18:16:25Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > It has a pushbutton start. But why? The keyfob authorizes it, and the engine does not start up right then anyway. it will if the traction battery is in a low enough state of charge. > [@](#): > > There is no reason they couldn’t have gone the Tesla route, with no explicit start–just get in and start driving. But for some reason there’s a button. > > There is also a switch for the parking brake. Why? The whole thing is obviously electronic, and must be rated for use all the time, since some people live on hills. There is no reason not to just engage it every time the car is in park and leave off the switch. Tesla did that and it works fine. > > It feels like the design doesn’t trust the driver enough to learn a new way of operation, even if it’s better. Someone thought that people would complain if there’s no control at all, even though the only historical reason there were separate controls is because they used to be (electro)mechanical. Or they tested on a focus group without ever looking at how quickly the people get used to the new way, and instead only asked their initial preference. > > About 1/4 of the trunk appears to be filled with batteries. But they’re inconveniently arranged so you really lose about half if you have a large object. No wonder “sedans are dying” when they ruin the already-limited storage like this. > > The display said “Thank you for driving a hybrid” when I got out. I suppose the sentiment is nice, but it felt like an apology. So, basically your point is “Ford didn’t do what Tesla did so it sucks.” The point is that the Ford hybrids were intended to be “regular cars” with hybrid powertrains, in contrast to how Toyota seems to think their hybrids have to have increasingly weird styling and inscrutable controls in order to look more “advanced.” The stuff you’re kvetching about is the same as it is in the non-hybrid Fusion, so there’s no learning curve for someone going from a Fusion to a Fusion Hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1806 "2018-09-11T18:36:25Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > So, basically your point is “Ford didn’t do what Tesla did so it sucks.” I think the point is, why is Ford doing something basically the same as it was done in 1946 when there are better alternatives? I do readily admit though, that Ford hasn’t fallen for the manufacturer meme of “let’s make hybrids and electrics look stupid.” Also, the Bolt looks no worse than a Cruze, though I think both are too close to the Prius. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1807 "2018-09-11T18:42:16Z")
Good lord, it’s just a button. It’s not like it’s a car fueled by coal and whale oil. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1808 "2018-09-11T19:34:05Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I think the point is, why is Ford doing something basically the same as it was done in 1946 when there are better alternatives? Because it isn’t an obvious improvement, especially for a hybrid vehicle on which the electronics are powered by a standard automotive 12 volt lead-acid battery. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Good lord, it’s just a button. It’s not like it’s a car fueled by coal and whale oil. Great, you just gave Rick Perry a new idea for his next energy initiative. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1809 "2018-09-11T20:12:51Z")
[https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/11/technology/business/elon-musk-tesla-colors/index](https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/11/technology/business/elon-musk-tesla-colors/index). 2 of 7 car colors now cost extra. Black and silver metallic. I’m sure this will be hailed as a brilliant idea! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1810 "2018-09-11T20:49:09Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > So, basically your point is “Ford didn’t do what Tesla did so it sucks.” Tesla didn’t invent the concept of simplification. But they spent a lot of time looking at all the little conventional bits on a car and asking if they’re really still necessary. > [@jz78817](#): > > The point is that the Ford hybrids were intended to be “regular cars” with hybrid powertrains, in contrast to how Toyota seems to think their hybrids have to have increasingly weird styling and inscrutable controls in order to look more “advanced.” The stuff you’re kvetching about is the same as it is in the non-hybrid Fusion, so there’s no learning curve for someone going from a Fusion to a Fusion Hybrid. That’s fair. It just feels like a missed opportunity. The car has many of the necessary components to feel like something new compared to a gas-only version. But for platform consistency, I guess, they didn’t. I don’t want lots of weird controls that are different for the sake of being different, but if there’s an opportunity to streamline then it feels like they should. And obviously, if it were just the start button or whatever, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But this is the kind of stuff that adds up and gets people excited about Tesla. It’s practical, too, but more than that it makes it feel like you have something new instead of a minor variation on an old theme. I do genuinely hope Ford takes the CX727 platform as an opportunity for this kind of fresh start. The very little I’ve seen looks promising, but concepts don’t always translate to reality. They do seem to be [taking some cues from Tesla](https://jalopnik.com/the-baby-ford-bronco-could-be-a-focus-based-crossover-1828229965). ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1811 "2018-09-11T21:02:29Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Because it isn’t an obvious improvement, especially for a hybrid vehicle on which the electronics are powered by a standard automotive 12 volt lead-acid battery. Tesla uses what I believe is a standard automotive 12 volt lead-acid battery to powers the controls too, it just gets recharged from the main traction battery whenever it drops too low. But, as jz mentioned, with a hybrid you’d have to worry about the traction battery potentially being too low to be able to charge up the 12V without also starting up the engine, which you may not want to do automatically every time you sit in the car. Hence the button. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1812 "2018-09-11T22:07:07Z")
Stop losing sight of the forest for the trees. The Fusion hybrid has a start button because all fusions have start buttons. It has a parking brake switch because all fusions have them. That’s it. It works the same as all fusions because it is a fusion. It would be dumb for them to make a bunch of changes to the car just for the hybrid versions just to appeal to EV geeks (who won’t buy one anyway.) especially on a vehicle line which is apparently not profitable enough as it is to keep making. And really, picking on the “thanks for driving a hybrid” thing? It’s been there since the 2010 model. Find something legitimate to complain about. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1813 "2018-09-11T22:40:58Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > It would be dumb for them to make a bunch of changes to the car just for the hybrid versions just to appeal to EV geeks (who won’t buy one anyway.) especially on a vehicle line which is apparently not profitable enough as it is to keep making. I don’t know how to make sense of this argument. It sounds like “why bother making our cars better; people aren’t buying them anyway.” Maybe people aren’t buying them because they kinda suck? I don’t mean to pick on Ford here; sedan sales are down in general, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Fusion _in particular_ (I’d pick it over most Japanese sedans). Tesla seems to have found a way to excite a lot of buyers, though; the Model 3 easily outsold the Fusion in August. A BEV Fusion probably wouldn’t have made my short list due to not being sporty enough (although who knows; I liked Ford’s SHO models back in the day), but a fast BEV Mustang easily would have. I realize that the platforms aren’t compatible with a floor battery right now, but that’s not exactly my problem as a consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1814 "2018-09-12T06:08:07Z")
Tesla finished with the service today. Their initial estimate was Thursday but they finished after just a day. Zero complaints about the service–it was a very fast and easy process. The fix was to re-torque the seat bolts. They also pushed the 34.1 firmware to my car, but I haven’t noticed any differences yet. I do have it easy with regards to service since the center is two blocks from my workplace. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1815 "2018-09-12T11:00:05Z")
If we want to talk about improving cars, I’d submit that “not charging an arm and a leg for a color other than black” is a better start than “eliminate a button/switch that 99.9 percent of the cars on the road have.” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1816 "2018-09-12T19:45:49Z")
Telsa just emailed me saying that there are a limited number of rear wheel drive vehicles (LR of course) available for immediate delivery. Meanwhile, the configurator is saying the standard range will be available in 4-7 months (that’s January to April 2019). ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1817 "2018-09-12T21:37:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Telsa just emailed me saying that there are a limited number of rear wheel drive vehicles (LR of course) available for immediate delivery. Meanwhile, the configurator is saying the standard range will be available in 4-7 months (that’s January to April 2019). Yes, for the first time the estimated delay to the standard range has decreased. They may actually build it. You’ll have to do the same math I did: $49,000 - 7500 for LR today $35,000 - 3750 or - 1875 for SR in 4-7 months For me, the deciding factor was the large upcoming maintenance costs on my old car. Avoiding that made getting the LR today only about $4000 more expensive than the SR in the future. I considered that an acceptable price to pay for LR and the premium interior. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1818 "2018-09-12T22:46:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If we want to talk about improving cars, I’d submit that “not charging an arm and a leg for a color other than black” is a better start than “eliminate a button/switch that 99.9 percent of the cars on the road have.” Considering the shocking number of people in [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=861503) that just seem to take whatever color the dealer has in stock, maybe that’s not such a bad plan. More seriously, Tesla has any number of choices that amount to “if we simply/restrict the options in this way, we decrease the accessible market by X units but increase our production rate by Y units”. It’s in Tesla’s interest to ride the curve such that they provide just enough choices to meet their production rate. If that means cutting the color choices–well, I guess that sucks for people really set on one color but I can’t blame Tesla for doing what they need to maximize their chances for survival. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1819 "2018-09-13T00:20:08Z")
I’ve been an interested observer of this thread for quite some time. Then last night I took my dogs for a walk, and we went further than we normally do into an area full of offices and light industry, and passed [this view in a window](https://imgur.com/a/DRKAXCJ). I’m guessing it’s a repair center or something? Too small to be manufacturing and if it was research or something they wouldn’t have been glass windows anyone could look in. (I’m in Santa Clara, CA, about a 30 minute drive from the big Tesla plant.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1820 "2018-09-13T00:36:36Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > (I’m in Santa Clara, CA, about a 30 minute drive from the big Tesla plant.) That is in all likelihood the exact repair center I was just at. Were you taking a walk on the San Tomas Aquino Trail? Perhaps with a big triangular glass building on the other side of the trail? ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478/1821 "2018-09-13T01:46:43Z")
A few more thoughts. The rear seat does not fit two adults and a car seat. We’ll try again in 6 months when we switch to a booster seat,. Parked next to a Bolt today, and we weren’t even at charging spots. I’ve seen the Bolt up close before, and even next to the Model 3 I think it looks pretty good. It’s just the wrong segment for what I want. I think Chevrolet missed the mark though, they could have made a few styling changes and given it a 1" lift and moved it from a compact hatchback to a CUV. They would sell twice as many. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478.md?page=90) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-model-3-anticipation-thread/792478.md?page=92)