The panel gaps and misalignment ive seen online for Teslas are still better than the general fit and finish issues that plague every single GM car I been in. Massive chunks of messy rubber foam, obvious joiners, bad internal panels...
Maybe Tesla is not as tight as BMW, but it is definitely better than GM.
> The Bolt isn't priced like a BMW though, while the Tesla is.
But only when you fudge the numbers by including FSD.
> The Bolt, with every bell and whistle selected, runs about $37,000, for comparison.
And still lacks an L2 charger, one comparable to the one included with the Model 3 costs another $1000. So for $38k you can get a vehicle that isn't quite as nice as the base Model 3 for a $3k premium.
The charger included with the bolt is 240V capable, though they don't really advertise it AFAIK.
> for $38k
MSRP on the Bolt is $31K. Historically they've routinely been available for under $25K. And you know what the Bolt has that the Tesla doesn't? CarPlay. And good windshield wiper controls. The Tesla has some upsides, for sure, I mostly enjoyed mine (primarily for it's speed, however). But at $25K vs $35K, I'd get the Bolt every time.
> But only when you fudge the numbers by including FSD.
I don't think this is fudging at all. Tesla's big selling point is the FSD package... and most people select it by default. FSD is nearly all Musk talks about.
In fact, I'd argue it's Tesla fudging the numbers by breaking FSD out into a separate line item, just so they can advertise a cheaper car knowing full well people expect to have FSD for that price.
Well, I stand corrected. My guess is the sticker price shocks people into not choosing it then. Most people I've spoken with equate Tesla with self driving...
It's notable the FSD survey had a peak in 2019 - perhaps 2020+ is impacted by covid related things (reduction of income, etc). Or, perhaps it's being influence by monthly stories of Tesla's driving into parked objects and the like.
Still, it was a tactic to break FSD into a separate line item so marketing could tell everyone the cars were cheaper than assumed.
Does Bolt have something equivalent to FSD? If not, why are you including it in the price comparison? Isn't the Bolt also dog slow compared to a Model 3? I'd also assume it's handling and suspension is markedly shitbox compared to any Tesla as well.
Somewhat, it has Super Cruise which is hands-free driving on highways. They're not trying to handle intersections, just the simpler long-haul kind of highway driving.
Exactly my point! It’s a shame that the bolt (a car of indiscriminate quality) has been so named as to cause this confusion with the volt, (a car of discriminate quality).
No. I've owned both. Tesla has quality problems that even GM doesn't have. They may have finally solved them on the Model 3 -- mine wasn't too bad, really, but definitely worse than any other car I've owned (and I've had several dozen).
My Model Y, delivered within the last few weeks, has no panel gaps (edit: the panel gaps, measured with an $8 tool at delivery, are within spec). It was delivered in perfect condition and is garage safe. I can even park next to other cars safely.
I test drove a M3P six months ago in Melbourne, and the panel gap quality of the two cars in the showroom was absolutely awful. I couldn't believe it. They were the refreshed model with the chrome delete, too.
Then my friend bought one, and it was as good as any other new car I've seen. It looked great.
I found that quite strange. Is it a roll of the dice based on where and when they're made, or would the demo models have come from a pool that were rejected for sale somehow?
There is a huge amount of variability. You just have to check the one you got before you sign for it and make sure it isn't one where everything is misaligned.
Demo models are likely earlier VINs where the manufacturing line was getting into its rhythm. Can’t say for sure of course, only the ground truth visible to me and what I hear from other Tesla owners.
China Gigafactory produced Teslas are typically higher quality than Fremont builds.
Yes but consider a non homeowners situation. How much would one have to pay for a parking permit? Add on to this the cost of switching registration (as is necessary in Cambridge, MA to get an on street permit). Model Y is untenable unless you’re making Draper cash! Volt on the other hand…
Your car has panel gaps, it's just a question of whether they're within spec. Most people who aren't either in the automotive industry or really big car buffs won't notice until it gets really bad.
I paid $53k (long range with a factory installed tow hitch). Average new car price is $41k, and I will save at least $5k over five years in fuel costs.
