# Teslas really are not great cars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2025, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339 "2025-03-30T09:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/261 "2025-04-20T12:32:14Z")
Glad you like your Leaf, but I don’t see how someone could say it’s nicer than a Model 3. The 3 is larger, quieter, has 2x to 4x the horsepower, 2x the range, handles better, brakes in shorter distances, has a far better sound system, cooled/heated seats, AWD, and then there’s the Tesla charging network. Even if it didn’t have these deficiencies, the Leaf’s short range makes it a city-only car for my needs. If I had a Leaf, I’d need a Model 3 for road trips. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/262 "2025-04-20T13:04:12Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > The 3 is larger, quieter, has 2x to 4x the horsepower, 2x the range, handles better, brakes in shorter distances, has a far better sound system, cooled/heated seats, AWD, and then there’s the Tesla charging network. I charge at home, so the range works OK. There’s just one day a week in the winter when I have to charge before I go home, and even then, I just have to make a quick stop, for like, 10 - 15 minutes. The Leaf is completely silent when the A/C isn’t running, & the vents, while we are talking about A/C, in the Leaf, are aimable-- drove me nuts that the Tesla’s weren’t. I listen to news in the car, so the sound system is good enough, but I know how to replace speakers and receivers with aftermarket. A don’t _like_ heated seats, and I _really_ don’t like heated wheels. I have a garage, so I never got into a frigidly cold car. Even when it was 3 degrees out, the interior of my car in the garage was about 28. The Leaf has one-pedal control, which was superior to the jerky braking I got from the Tesla. I suppose I would have eventually gotten used to the way the brakes operated on the Tesla, but it was still jerky after a week. But I guess they could have been recently replaced. I didn’t think the Tesla handled better than my Leaf, although it did handle well, and I’ll admit that as part of a rental fleet, it had twice as many miles as my car, and who knows how well it had been driven before me? The Tesla charging network isn’t really aboutt the car itself, but it was nice; however, I’ve had the Leaf almost two years, and know where all the chargers are, and where to go when, plus having the charger at home. And the Leaf is a lot simpler to charge because the computer doesn’t control the port, and I don’t have to anticipate charging, so I can tell the car to prepare itself to charge. The Leaf requires no foreplay. As far as being larger-- the Leaf is large enough. I looked at larger cars, but the Leaf was what I needed. In fact, a smaller car would have worked, but the Leaf is as small as it gets, unless I want one of those electric Smart cars, and no, that is, in fact, _too_ small. Here’s the thing-- before I drove one, I bought into the specialness, or whatever, the aura of the Tesla. And then I drove one. They aren’t genius-- just weirdly quirky, and not _bad_ cars, but not better cars either (other than for the environment, but so is my humble Leaf). And people who own them are not better people, contrary to what some particular Tesla owners of my personal acquaintance, think. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/263 "2025-04-20T13:35:20Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > The Leaf has one-pedal control, which was superior to the jerky braking I got from the Tesla. I suppose I would have eventually gotten used to the way the brakes operated on the Tesla, but it was still jerky after a week. But I guess they could have been recently replaced. The Tesla also has one pedal control. FFS. How did you not realize that? That’s just embarrassing. I get how you were frustrated to get a different car foisted on you than you reserved, especially one where you had an irrational hate boner about it. You’ve just continued to be ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/264 "2025-04-20T13:45:46Z")
Yet again, despite all the updates. I’m in a 45 mph zone. The Tesla shows it knows the speed limit is 45. I turn on cruise control because the county loves to have deputies there to catch speeders. The Tesla says, “Aww shit. You want to do 65.” And I’m to trust the autonomous driver when they can’t even get cruise control right? > [@hajario](#): > > The Tesla also has one pedal control. FFS. How did you not realize that? That’s just embarrassing. Except mine has two pedals. An accelerator and a decelertrix. So maybe not embarrassing since one would not know by looking at it that the Tesla’s regenerative braking is so good you _could_ use it as one pedal control. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/265 "2025-04-20T13:49:54Z")
Do you have a 2023 Model 3? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/266 "2025-04-20T13:51:43Z")
Model Y but I’ve driven a 2023 X and it had 2 pedals. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/267 "2025-04-20T13:52:14Z")
OP had a 2023 Model 3. Of course it has a brake pedal but it’s a one pedal driving car. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/268 "2025-04-20T13:52:55Z")
Which has 2 pedals. > [@hajario](#): > > Of course it has a brake pedal but it’s a one pedal driving car. **Can** be. Or you have always driven it like an ICE car it would not embarrassing to not realize you can drive it like a one pedal car. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/269 "2025-04-20T13:55:27Z")
Yes. It has a break pedal. My 2024 Y has one. But it has “one pedal driving”. Same as the Leaf. You don’t have to use the break pedal except in emergencies ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/270 "2025-04-20T13:56:17Z")
> **[Tesla One Pedal Driving Guide](https://tesla-outfitters.com/blogs/tesla-infos/one-pedal-driving-tesla)** > > We'll explain to you briefly and concisely what One Pedal Driving at Tesla is all about and how you can use this driving style. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/271 "2025-04-20T13:57:57Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > **Can** be. Or you have always driven it like an ICE car it would not embarrassing to not realize you can drive it like a one pedal car. Absolutely, unless your regular car is a Leaf ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/272 "2025-04-20T14:00:55Z")
I’ll try one last time then I’m dropping it. Most one pedal cars have (wait for it) one pedal. The Tesla has two pedals. Yes, you are correct that the Tesla can be driven as a one pedal car. That’s how I drive it. But if you have never driven one and you hop into one and see the two pedals … > [@hajario](#): > > The Tesla also has one pedal control. FFS. How did you not realize that? That’s just embarrassing. No you’re wrong. It would not be embarrassing to think it drives like a regular two-pedal car. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/273 "2025-04-20T14:03:43Z")
I’ll also try one more time. The Nissan leaf also has two pedals. “One pedal driving” doesn’t mean there isn’t a physical brake pedal for emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/274 "2025-04-20T14:05:42Z")
I didn’t realize there were any cars that lack a brake pedal. All the cars I’ve heard of with one pedal driving have that as an option. Fwiw, i knew the Tesla has one pedal driving. I suspect the rental electric Kia i drive had it, too, but i didn’t use it because, rental, not gonna learn new shit for a 3 day rental. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/275 "2025-04-20T14:07:54Z")
I just did a quick and dirty Google which may be wrong but I don’t think there are any production cars without a brake pedal. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/276 "2025-04-20T14:12:43Z")
My boss regrets his purchase of the cybertruck and has been unable to sell it. In spite of his approval of trump and elon, he is a decent boss, so I do feel bad for him. I now also work for his brother and he is a decent boss too. I’m hoping that that their eyes are beginning to clear. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/277 "2025-04-20T14:15:28Z")
Most of the Teslas are quirky cars that aren’t to my tastes, but that delight some of their drivers. I don’t understand the cybertruck. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/278 "2025-04-20T14:15:46Z")
Those trucks are an ugly shit show. No question. I’ve never been in one but I’ve been right next to one a few times. They don’t look better up close. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/279 "2025-04-20T14:16:58Z")
I walk by his when it’s in the driveway, it’s huge. They are ugly as hell. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/280 "2025-04-20T14:21:31Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’ll try one last time then I’m dropping it. Most one pedal cars have (wait for it) one pedal. Can you name a few? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339.md?page=15)