[jedberg]

I used to be super gung-ho about Tesla. I've preordered the X and the 3. Never pulled the trigger on the X, and probably gonna give back my 3 reservation too.

I love the way the car drives. The driver experience is amazing, with the way it just goes where you want and autopilot just driving it on the freeway for me. If it was just me, I would get one.

But the interiors are awful. They let me test drive an X for a day, trying to convince to act on my reservation. Right after that test drive, instead of the X, we got a Honda Odyssey.

Sure it uses gas, but my family is way more comfortable in the van, and I saved $100,000. After driving the X, my first thought was, this car costs $140,000, but it feels like $30,000 on the inside. The seats were barely adjustable. There was nothing for the kids, no climate controls in the back for my wife. The back row was tight and uncomfortable for my mother in law.

I hope one day Tesla does an all electric van. But I suspect I'll get that from Honda or Toyota before they ever get around to it.

[susanhi]

I highly suggest sitting in a Model 3 before giving up your reservation. My expectations were not high from the pictures, but we took delivery 2 weeks ago and it is a phenomenal car and the interior is gorgeous. It reminds me of a mid-century modern piece of furniture.

I'm coming from a Model S, have done a couple of week-long test drives of the X, and the Model 3 interior is IMO far superior. I think they'll need to update the S/X interior to align more with the styling with the 3 because they look dated in comparison.

Also the seats are a lot more comfortable in the Model 3 than the ones in our S. Though I never thought the S seats were particularly uncomfortable.

[jedberg]

Yeah I won't give up on the 3 until I actually get to sit in one and drive one. Both of my wife's brothers pre-ordered too, so I'll probably get a chance to hear about a lot of first hand experience.

Thank you though for the details, it does help to hear that the pictures aren't doing it justice.

[netsharc]

How are the rear seats? Saw the S and X in a car show. Got in the rear of the S, holy crap, because of the battery underneath, as an adult you're basically squatting when you sit in the back (this guy is only partially sitting: https://youtu.be/XGjlSOGgDXI?t=28).

Edit: looking at some other car reviews, it seems it's a normal way to sit in the back, but in the Model S I felt like my knees were bent so much more.

[pkulak]

I think you'll get the same feeling in the 3. But all indications are way more knee/head room than you'd expect. Not sure which one I'd rather have, but I also never sit in the back up my own car, and my kids are still in car seats.

[susanhi]

I haven’t spent too much time back there since I have two little ones (in car seats) back there.

But I did sit back there when we first got it and was really surprised at how much head room there was. I think the extra head space might be due to the glass roof.

[greglindahl]

The low floor gives the opportunity to have more headroom in the back. Yes, if you're used to sitting in front seats, it's lower than you're used to.

[rsync]

"But the interiors are awful."

This cannot be overstated. The interiors are indeed awful.

The interior of a maxed out Model S approaches the fit, finish, materials and features of the low end germans (A4, 3Series, Cclass) from below.

In fact, while I find it hard to believe, it appears that many Model S drivers are driving their very first expensive car. Forum comments/postings make it very clear that they are not comparing these cars to others in their price category (A8, etc.)

[jsgo]

I don't find that hard to believe, personally. I buy Hondas (well, Honda as mine has run for quite a while and I've been happy with it). The only expensive car I would currently consider would be a Model S if I felt that I could afford it without causing any issues. I have zero interest in another similarly priced car. Now, if Honda or others were to introduce electric cars with substantial promise in reliability, driving distance, look? I may even strike Tesla from the list of automobiles I would have interest in.

So there are probably quite a few people who moved up in income at around the time the Model S became a highly rated car and that is what you're seeing.

[greglindahl]

Yeah, I'm that kind of Tesla buyer. I don't give a shit about fit, finish, and materials of the interior. I wouldn't know good fit, finish, or materials if they bit me on the ass.

[dmode]

Model X is not a 140,000 car. It starts much lower. You can similarly option up a 5 series to 100k. In any case, I prefer my Model S interiors 10x more than my X5 or Hyundai Santa Fe. Both of them have a 1000 buttons on the front dash with random functions which are hard to figure out. And let’s not get started about the iDrive or whatever it is in Hyundai. I love the clean minimalist interiors of Model S. Model 3 interior looks even better

[jedberg]

A fully loaded X is $151,000 + taxes and license. My fully loaded Odyssey was $48,000 including all fees.

I've been in other $151,000+ cars before, and the X isn't anywhere close to that.

[greglindahl]

If you don't care about performance and you don't care about having an electric car, why are you considering a Tesla?

[jedberg]

I care a lot about both of those things. But I care more about the comfort of my passengers. I had hoped that the X had both the performance and the comfort, but it failed so badly on the comfort that I had to forsake performance to get the comfort.

[spectrum1234]

You're okay with ugly exterior though?

[whafro]

Everyone differs here, but I think the X is actually pretty ugly at the front. The hood and grille just seem like a fussy child's face.

I still love the look of the S, and think it's aging pretty well, but I couldn't bring myself to get the X in part because of the exterior design. I ended up with a 2018 XC60.

[kabdib]

The T8?

[whafro]

It wasn't available when I ordered. I had a time constraint, so got the first one off the boat into North America (allegedly), so it has a T6. But all things being equal, I'd love a T8 in there.

[SystemOut]

On a mid-range or long-range trip with the family I don't really care about the exterior unless we're talking Aztek level ugly. Minivans are super useful and they've been focusing on family oriented interiors for a long time. I can take the seats out and haul a ton of stuff back there too. They also beat SUVs for the utility aspect in most situations.

[toast0]

Why care about the exterior? You don't see it when you're driving.

[singingboyo]

To be fair, the older Odysseys were really damn ugly. Newer ones are slightly better, but not amazing.

Of course, interior wins over exterior every time, but I do admit to some confusion as to why anyone bought the old ones.

[jedberg]

I didn't even think about the exterior when I bought it. It's for my family, so all I worried about were features that will make my family comfortable while giving me a good driving experience.

I suspect that's why all those old vans were bought too -- you don't get a van for its styling. :)

[singingboyo]

That's true, you certainly don't. Honestly, it's true of any car - if something looked like a PT Cruiser (to pick a stereotype) but did what I wanted far better than anything else, I probably would have gotten despite the exterior. Though that is absurdly hard to imagine, so it's hard to be sure what would happen.

In any case, I think exterior certainly comes into play at a subconscious level after looking at a bunch of different models for a month... and if two vehicles are otherwise very similar, I might opt for a slightly nicer exterior over, say, 3-level vs 2-level heated seats, or rain-sensing wipers. (On that note, I've never found a rain-sensing wiper system that I liked...)

For context, though, I'm in Vancouver, and as a city we're rather snobby about car appearances.

[jedberg]

> I've never found a rain-sensing wiper system that I liked...

Me neither, they're always too aggressive. I end up doing by hand, which would be super hard on Model 3 from what I hear.

> For context, though, I'm in Vancouver, and as a city we're rather snobby about car appearances.

I grew up in Southern California. I doubt you will find a place more snobby about their cars. :)

[secabeen]

Right, and Teslas are the best cars on the market today for auto-steer and adaptive cruise control, which contributes significantly to driving experience. As for family comfort, the Tesla seats are pretty good, and I don't really want any other comfort features than a good seat or two, and a cup-holder. Most everything else I want for family comfort/entertainment is delivered better via tablet or phone.

[greedo]

99% of buyers care about a cars exterior. Otherwise the Pontiac Aztek would be a bestseller...

[jedberg]

That would only be true if the Aztek were a stellar car other than its look. But it isn't.

[youngtaff]

With Tesla's there's something weird about the line where the hood meets the windshield that you don't see in other sports cars

[secabeen]

That may be the deep cut under there that the wiper lie in. It's for maximum aerodynamics.