> owning a Tesla one of my medium-term life goals for the environmental benefits.
Besides the fact that owning a Tesla is barely going to do anything for "environmental benefits" (but it will make you feel good), why not considering other EV makes? Tesla is all over the news but other models are available with almost the same performance and lower prices.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S is similar in terms of speed+acceleration to Model S, while lacking a bit in range (190-200 miles vs 370 miles) and being much more expensive overall ($79k vs $185k).
Unfortunately, that’s the closest comparable EV that is available today. I am not comparing to any vehicles that arent available yet on purpose.
Note: i intentionally picked the longest range models of both cars, but it was mostly to prop up Porsche, because even the cheapest Model 3 in production beats Taycan with 220 miles of range.
Note that's EPA range. The taycan dramatically beats it in real world use while Tesla tends to do worse than rated. There are a number of tests out right now showing the Taycan gets as good or better range than most Teslas (the difference is even more dramatic when you include charging time).
The only head-to-head range test that's been published to date shows that a brand new Taycan has about 3% less range than a 2-year old, used Model 3, at 95 mph on the Autobahn (and other tests show that the Model 3 has about 15% less range than a Model S).
The Taycan does significantly beat EPA in low-average-speed, "spirited driving" tests with the A/C and heater turned off (usually in the mountains, and never head-to-head against another EV that might also be its EPA). "Car people" are impressed by these tests because gas cars are known get poor MPGs in sprited mountain driving. "EV people" are unimpressed by these tests because they know the true test of an EV is high speed cruising, where aerodynamics matter and regen doesn't.
So, while it's impressive that the Taycan comes close to (but does not beat) its EPA range in real-world highway cruising, it still has less range for 3x the price.
That was the exact point I was trying to illustrate. The closest EV that comes to Tesla cars in specs is a car with half the range and more than twice the price.
I know, right? The hypocrisy. Could've at-least went half the price and mention Chevy Bolt, Volt - whatever their naming scheme of GM cars sucks.
Then again it's from different users posting the replies.
Still, who suggests an electric porsche at twice the price and half the range. By buying an Tesla you get more value, brand equity and the feeling of "doing" more good than any Porsche purchase would be and you'll support an American company vs a company that shoes in an EV because they should.
I'm sure he has - I have too. It's not comparable. Sure, if you only care about range vs. dollars, it's close to a base model 3... but it feels like a cheap Chevy, doesn't have nearly the acceleration performance, and the driver assist isn't in the same league.
Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who owns Chevy Spark EV (the smaller, cheaper, precursor of the Bolt basically).
For a full replacement for ICE cars (instead of owning 1 ICE and 1 EV), there's really no substitute for a Tesla.
I'm on my second Spark EV and when it came time to go all electric replacing my Honda Fit I looked hard at the Bolt because I like small hatchbacks. Now every time I pass one in my Model 3 I'm glad not to have made that mistake. The Bolt isn't a bad car, but it's not at all comparable to a Model 3.
Besides the fact that owning a Tesla is barely going to do anything for "environmental benefits" (but it will make you feel good), why not considering other EV makes? Tesla is all over the news but other models are available with almost the same performance and lower prices.