Tesla opened up its 14-day Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) trial for some Model 3 owners over the weekend and we were included in the update. We wanted to share our learnings from the first few days of using the solution around town and on the highway.
Tesla has updated its Android app in an attempt to improve the connectivity and functionality of the Phone Key for the Model 3. To date, Tesla’s Phone Key has proven to be underwhelming, relegating owners to using the keycard to get into the car. A new FCC application even hinted that Tesla heard the message loud and clear and was working on a bluetooth Key Fob for the Model 3.
The Tesla Model 3 is the most expensive new car that I’ve ever purchased and seeing as how the top vehicles being traded in for a Model 3 include the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, and Honda Accord, I’m not alone. Having such an expensive vehicle has made me more cautious of curbs, other vehicles, and the elements, so one of my first inclinations after taking delivery was to seek out some protection for the car.
More than any car I’ve seen or driven, the Tesla Model 3 is unusually susceptible to curb rash on both passenger side rims. This can be attributed to the fact that the metal rims stick out farther than the rubber and also to the important subtlety that the design of the Model 3 makes it feel like a much smaller, sportier car.
Electric vehicle activist, early adopter, and now Model 3 owner Paul Fosse was kind enough to take his fresh Tesla Model 3 an hour or so south to let me drive it. He also brought along some friends and their Model 3 for double the chocolate, double the fun. (Actually, I think no chocolate was involved — whoops.)
We took delivery of our Tesla Model 3 last week, and even as a long-time Tesla driver, there were a number of things that stood out — some positive, and a few not so much.
The Tesla Model 3 has been shipping for just over a year now in a single powertrain configuration — the Long Range version with the Performance Upgrade Package. Tesla shared that the focus on versions of the car with higher profit margins was key to ramping up production in a financially wise way — leading to what it hopes to be the start of sustainable profitability in Q3 of this year.
As a new Tesla Model 3 owner, I have struggled with the bluetooth phone connection that is supposed to serve as the primary key for the car. I shared about this in a post detailing some of my learnings from the first 24 hours with the car and was met with a flurry of comments about the phone key. This article will dive deeper into my phone key situation and add further context from around the interwebs from other Tesla Model 3 owners.
The Tesla Model 3 is the defining car of this generation. The first car to truly set the bar for what an affordable electric car can be. The only problem is that … well, it isn’t that affordable. Yet. Let’s rewind for a minute to see where this tale started.
I thought the Model 3 would be great, top of its class, similar to the Model S we’ve had for a year. However, it seems I was caught off guard due to Tesla’s incessant improvements and all of the nitpicky, consistent attacks from Tesla critics (paid or otherwise). The Model 3 is better than I expected. I expected to love it, but I didn’t expect to love it so much. In particular, there were a handful of little things that made the car significantly more comfortable as a passenger and more enjoyable to drive than our 2015 Model S 85D.
