EVDRIVER said:
The S and 3 are very different cars. anyone that wants more performance and MUCH more room would need an S. The 3 is quite small and no where as functional space wise. I would not call the 3 more modern, the dash has a more minimalist design but saying the S is stale is a bit subjective, in fact many people prefer the S design. I frankly find the lines as more basic at least seeing them side by side. The s will have some changes in the future and will be segmented like any other car line.
I suppose I am an exception — especially in a Model 3 thread — but I like pretty much everything about the Model S better than the Model 3
except for the cost. I am leaning toward replacing my S60 with another CPO S with a larger battery (for faster Supercharging, since most of my miles are long road trips). The main advantages of the 3 would be the chance to get a new car and to take advantage of my state tax credit to further reduce the cost — I don't qualify for the federal tax credit because I am too low income. While that is tempting the S just offers so much more:
• Larger size means
much more cargo space; it is trivial to put a large mountain bike in my S. It makes for a great camping vehicle. I've even been able to put a ten foot length of electrical conduit in my car — it fit fine. Since I went to just one car in a two car garage — no ICEV needed anymore thanks to the Supercharger network — the size isn't a problem at home and I have lots of garage space left over.
• I really like the S instrument cluster — best I've had on any car — and I prefer the larger vertically oriented center display screen — on road trips I have nav on top and the energy projection plot on the bottom. Again, most of my miles are road trips so this stuff matters to me.
• The S warranty is better than the 3 warranty since it covers the drive train for eight years. The 3 warranty on the battery only is also limited in mileage, which is not the case with the larger battery versions of the Model S.
• Free Supercharging. With my miles that does add up, although the main benefit is more in just not having to even think about fuel costs for a long trip. I've Supercharged my S60 at least 156 times, all of them on road trips since the nearest Supercharger Station is 98 miles from my mountain home.
For my purposes the Model 3 has these advantages:
• Lower cost. This would include a $5000 state tax credit, possible lower insurance cost (not sure), perhaps lower repair costs should that be necessary (again, not sure), possible lower annual registration costs (although not likely to be much compared to another CPO S of similar value). Likely slightly lower tire costs.
• Perhaps more reliable since it is was designed to be a simpler vehicle so possibly fewer repairs needed. This remains to be seen, of course.
• More efficient, so lower electricity use per mile, not that I pay for electricity at home anyway due to solar panels and reliable public charge stations here (paid for by the Colorado plug-in car registration fee). This is offset by having to pay for Supercharging, so the better efficiency of the smaller Model 3 is more of a "green" less-wasting-of-energy thing.
Some things are pretty much a wash:
• The Model S has
superb handling and performance on the steep mountain hairpin turns that I drive every time I leave home. I expect the Model 3 to be similar.
• I find both the Model S and the Model 3 to be attractive cars, although I don't really care about such things.
I suppose mine is a minority view. For many people a smaller car is better adapted to urban areas with narrow streets and limited parking and that would be a significant advantage of the Model 3.
