Any reason to buy anything else but a Model 3?

Toyota's recent aesthetic design is fugly. Burn me at the stake (yes, I also have some misgivings about the bare, flat front-end on the Model 3, but I like it from every other angle).

 

I admit that I had some misgivings about the model 3 front fascia when first introduced. Pictures didn't do it justice. Now that I have seen it in persons several times, I really like it. Standing next to the car, the front end looks kind of Porsche like. You might want to maintain an open mind until you see one in person. The front end is so radical, it will take time for some people to get used to it. The front end is designed to permit a Cd of 0.23 compared to a Prius, which I think is somewhere around 0.28

 

Well if the world really cared we would have mass transportation, and no need for cars, since they all contribute to poor air quality in one way or another.

Radical you say? Not sure how it is radical, it's just a very plain front end that looks like a pig snout, but again everyone's tastes are different. The new RAM truck front end is taking a beating from truck guys, but I think it looks good! You will never please everyone, unless it's an Italian car?

 

Agreed. That is why Europe is light years ahead of the US in daily transportation of citizens. Remember that when Gov. Brown wants to fund mass transportation for California, which is way behind the curve.

Have you stood next to one and seen one in person?

 

I have and seen then charging in Fountain Valley. Parking my Pruis in the few of the spots next to all the Chargers. (Sure packed with Tesla charging, no empy chargers, hope no one is in a hurry for a charge!)

 

And we know how that's working out.
California's bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions | Fox News

 

Fox News?

 

I was thinking Prius vs Volt but I am new here.

 

Calif. governor still supports high-speed rail despite cost overruns | SmartBrief
Essential California: The bullet train project in crisis
California bullet train project faces audit as costs climb | The Fresno Bee
California Lawmakers OK Bullet Train Audit as Cost Rises | The California Report | KQED News
High Speed Rail On Track to Incur Billions in Cost Overruns - California Political Review
Brown Champions High-Speed Rail Even Though It’s Billions Over Budget « CBS Local

 

Yep, trying to play catch up on mass transportation is going to be very expensive after a lifetime of neglect. The alternative of doing nothing will be even more expensive.

To get this back on topic, it is going to be very expensive for legacy automakers to play catch up with Tesla in the EV market. Tesla has a 10 year head start. I wish the other makers well. The more EVs we get on the road, the better off we will all be. The more mass transit we have in California, the better off we will all be.

 

I have to agree and disagree.
The huge advantage the legacy automakers have is that their production and delivery infrastructure is already in place.
Yes they have a lot of catch-up to do on the infrastructure, and some catch-up to do in the drivetrain and battery management systems.
Most of them also have huge war chests, and can afford to do it.

Their biggest challenge overall, will be changing their own culture not their technology.
Most auto manufacturers are only doing the minimum they have to to keep government regulators happy, at least in the US.

In my opinion the auto manufacturer that can make the biggest difference in the availability of their own electric cars is Nissan.
GM has the know-how and experience however, they have a much bigger challenge with their own culture.

Toyota certainly has the know-how, experience and technical capability. And I think their dealers have been/can be brought along very easily, unlike the GM dealers. Toyota’s biggest issue seems to be the culture in the middle and the top.

 

I do not think most Toyota dealers can be brought along easily. If that were so they would be at least charging Primes for test drives and on delivery. Some Toyota distributors are refusing to sell the Prime.

These US dealer chain issues still need resolving. My preferred dealer would have loved having Primes to sell but their stock is based on previous sales in a non-CARB state of an unavailable plugin.

Toyota US themselves need to stop listing hybrids as not a car or truck. They are hurting potential sales to new hybrid owners. Very few non-hybrid owners shop specifically for a hybrid.

 

I agree with everything you posted except Toyota dealers can be brought along more easily.

I agree. Dealers don't make their money on sales, they make their money on service. EVs require less service than ICE. There is no financial incentive for dealers to sell EVs. The legacy automakers will have to restructure their sales apparatus if they ever expect to make money on volume sales of EVs. That is going to be tough for them to do.

 

I stand by that. Toyota dealers may be ambivalent towards EVs, many are completely onboard with the cars, perhaps not the infrastructure though.
GM dealers though, are a different story. Many have spoken out against the Volt, and less so the Bolt. Some are openly hostile towards the Volt. Even putting them under a tarp in the back of the lot.

It is a lot easier to bring along those that are ambivalent, than those that are hostile.

 

Autonation is the big fish in a small pond around here and sells ALL major brands. Not sure how they can be pro-ev on one lot but anti-ev on the lot next door.......

 

Mitsu Plugin Outlander. Not the most efficient - but right now it's the cheapest game in town for a plug-in SUV. That honor should have gone to the RAV4. I digress. Also, mitsu Outlander is not weird looking, but rather the exact same as the non-hybrid version. Stealerships? Don't EVEN bother to ask them questions like, "What's the traction pack's hi/low buffer?" ... so yea, their sales critters are just as harmful to their own product as most other stealerships are.
.

 

Established automakers have plenty of money to catch up relatively fast. I am looking forward to seeing what Mercedes and Lexus come out with to beat Tesla.

 

It's contagious! I notice my preferred dealer has not broken out hybrids into their own category separate from cars & trucks.