Encountering the Tesla Model 3 - a new experience that began as an impulse purchase

About six months ago I purchased a Tesla Model 3 (Highland) Long Range.

The mileage has already exceeded 10,000 kilometers, and I would like to frankly state what I have felt over the past six months.

The purchase was triggered by a curious visit to the Tesla Shinsaibashi store.
I was captivated by Tesla that day, and to be honest, it was so amazingly advanced.I don't want to be on the GLB anymore." I felt that I was no longer in the GLB.And I had already placed my order online that evening. It was truly an impulse purchase.

Evaluation as an everyday car - amazing convenience and comfort

Let's start with an evaluation of the car as a daily-use vehicle.

It is extremely convenient for daily use such as commuting and shopping.Convenience of electric vehicles is more than you can imagineIt was.

Charger at home (Regular 200V outlet), all you have to do is plug it in when you get home, and it will recover in a few hours, enough for a daily run or so, and you can leave the next morning fully recovered. No need to go to a gas station, thus relieving stress. This feeling can only be understood by those who have bought and operated the system.On the contrary, electric cars give the illusion of unlimited driving.about.

Another major advantage is that it can be used easily for short-distance travel.
With an engine-powered car, you may arrive at your destination before the engine is warmed up, but this is not a problem with electric cars. Electric vehicles do not have this problem. They can use energy without wasting it.

They are also energy efficient in traffic jams. While engine cars continue to consume gasoline while idling, electric cars only use energy for air conditioning and audio when stopped. Therefore,Electricity costs are not as bad as expected when driving in traffic jams or at low speeds.
(You're wrong here.(Note that there are many articles that imaginatively state that electric cars will run out of battery power if there is a traffic jam.(It is the exact opposite. Quite the opposite.)

The power of Autopilot - amazing safety and comfort

Tesla is well known for its Autopilot. There have been several upgrades and minor improvements over the past six months.
And the latest update, delivered last month, determines if you have a steering wheel,The torque-sensitive type has been replaced by a camera-based image recognition type, which is even more extremely comfortable to use.

During the day, use the camera in the car to see if there is a hand on the steering wheel.The driver can simply touch the steering wheel. This is very easy. This camera-sensing type is easier to use than the latest electrostatic handles.

And the performance of the autopilot is excellent.
It works the same in all road conditions, whether it's raining heavily, in tunnels, or at night.The car is a very fast car. Even on the steep curves of the Hanshin Expressway, they slow down as they make turns.A big difference from other companies' systems that throw you off the driving track at the slightest curve or change in environment.It is.

Tesla's Autopilot has a different approach to control than those of other manufacturers. The impression is that it operates by predicting the situation more precisely. For example, if a car in front of it is about to cut in, it will predict its movement and slow down. When it detects a construction site, it slows down, and when a truck passes by, it moves a little closer to the edge of the road,Behaves as if driven with intentionshow. Its proactive approach to driving is clearly evident when you use it, and it is easy to see that its thinking is fundamentally different from that of other companies.

I commute on the expressway, which is about 20 km each way every day, and do almost nothing from the entrance to the exit of the interchange. Just touching the steering wheel is enough.
It does require some torque on the steering wheel at night.The update has made it better with very little torque, which is the most comfortable thing in the world.Today, it probably requires less steering wheel operation than any other manufacturer's product.

Driving performance - Porsche drivers will be satisfied with the driving performance

The Tesla Model 3 has a very solid ride. It is completely the opposite of the "American car" ride that many Japanese imagine.

In my experience, domestic cars and other vehicles of the same class are no match at all.
Acceleration performance, of course, is even more remarkable.Chassis body rigidity, firmness of suspension, and ground feelIt is.

It has a slightly different flavor from European cars, but it rides as close to a European car as possible. It is sporty and enjoyable enough to drive on mountain roads and winding roads. The sharpness of the exit after exiting a corner is at a level that completely overwhelms even a Porsche.

High suspension performance,The roll when going around a curve is perfectly in place. The vehicle does not wobble or fluff, and the roll angle remains constant as the vehicle makes the turn, giving the driver a very secure feeling.

However, the stock tires are eco-friendly and do not offer much grip, so the car understeers slightly when cornering at high speeds. With a real sports car like a Porsche or BMW,Although it is not as good in terms of feeling quality, it is still more than enough to enjoy sports driving.There are some in the

Highway performance - stability and cruising ability

Stability and cruising ability on highways are adequate.

However, aerodynamically, downforce seems to be slightly lacking. This is probably due to its design to minimize aerodynamic drag in order to earn electric power. For this reason, in high-speed areas such as leading the overtaking lane of the New Tokyo-Nagoya Expressway, the ground feel is somewhat inferior to that of European cars. However, it has much higher high-speed stability compared to Japanese cars. At the very least, it is safe to say that there is no reason to feel uneasy on Japanese highways.

As for braking, regenerative braking is basically used for deceleration, but physical braking is also used for emergency braking. The brake touch and braking force at this time may feel a little insufficient. For sporty driving on mountain roads and winding roads,Compared to European cars, the touch and feel of the brakes may seem lacking.

Ease of use of the interface - surprisingly easy to use

Many have commented on the large touch screen placed in the center of the screen, saying that it may be difficult to use.

However, in my experienceVery easy to useI feel that this is a good thing.
I don't think it would suit people who find it too difficult to open apps and other operations on their current phones, and who find it easier to use a mobile phone,Many people who can use a smartphone normally without resistance would find it easy to use.Still, I think most people who find it difficult to use it often dislike Tesla in the first place or have preconceived notions about it.

By the way, I basically prefer physical buttons to touch buttons.
Currently, I find the touch screens on Porsche's Taikan, Cayenne, etc. difficult to use and would like to see them bring back the physical buttons, but with this one from Tesla, it's quite the opposite. It is such a stress-free operation.

The user interface is well thought out and the feel is similar to the iPhone and iPad. The screen is crisp and switching is smooth, and menus are easy to understand. Voice recognition is also highly accurate, making it easy to set destinations and search for music.

It also has an excellent ability to display the surrounding conditions. For example,Even on a five-lane road in Osaka, the system recognizes and displays cars, pedestrians, bicycles, and even colored cones at a distance. This shows how well the system understands its surroundings.

This high recognition capability is also directly related to safety. The system responds appropriately to vehicle ejection and bicycle wobble, and applies the brakes or steers to avoid them.I think it is far safer than human attention.

I went home today to try out Tesla's free updates.

...I can now perceive my surroundings to an extent that humans can't even see.
Recognizes brake lights and blinkers of the car in front
Autopilot in traffic seems to take into account the brake light of the car in front, so starting and stopping is very smooth.... pic.twitter.com/lWkWdzE85B

- Hiro@Porsche came to my house (@boxster_gts) June 6, 2024

Everyday usability - attention to detail

The size of the car is very good. It can be used in any parking lot without any concern.

It can enter a flip-up coin-operated or multi-level parking garage with no problem, and the luggage space is ample and the trunk capacity is perfect. The smartphone function that allows you to control the air conditioner from the outside also works crisply, unlike other companies,Air conditioners automatically start up at a time specified for each location.The attention to detail is evident in such things as the following. This is what hospitality is all about.

Another very convenient feature is that the smartphone becomes a key. There is no concept of unlocking the car, and the car is unlocked simply by approaching the car with the smartphone. When getting out of the car, the car is automatically locked by simply leaving the car.

Even when riding in the car, if the driver fastens the seatbelt and steps on the brake, the system automatically switches to drive or reverse depending on the surrounding conditions.
No need for extra operations,Simply get in and fasten your seatbelt to start driving, and when it's time to get out, simply unbuckle your seatbelt and exit the vehicle.No special operation such as putting it in P or parking brake is required.

And when shopping for short periods of time at convenience stores, etc.The air conditioner's "hold mode" allows you to run errands while keeping the interior of the car comfortable.

Such overwhelming ease of use,Makes you wonder why other car makers couldn't make it happen.About.

Conclusion - Innovative car for everyday use

The Tesla Model 3 is a highly recommended vehicle for everyday car users. It offers a good balance of convenience, comfort, and driving performance, and is versatile enough for many uses.

At this time,For a daily use car, I wouldn't want to drive anything other than a Tesla.
I personally come into contact with a variety of highly rated cars, but I feel that none of them, from the perspective of daily use alone, can quite compare to the overall hospitality, great convenience, driving feel, and comfort of the Tesla.

I myself wonder why this car is selling so tremendously around the world and only in Japan.
It is unfortunate that too many Japanese have a negative bias against Tesla and EVs.
If you are interested in Tesla, we recommend that you feel cheated and give it a try.

This will surely open up a new world of cars.

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In the meantime, here is a link to my Tesla referral code.
At the time of writing the blog購入時に150,000円も安くなるThis is a great deal for a great price. If you are in the market for a Tesla, don't forget to take advantage of this offer.