Tesla Model Y

Tesla Sandyford phoned me today as a follow up on my test drive last week. Told them I was likely going to place order for Model Y RWD but would like to drive it first,( car I test drove was MY LR AWD). He said he will fit me in for a test drive tomorrow morning on the RWD.

Tesla model Y seems very well price for standard range. This will surely be more popular than the model 3.

Surely model 3 will be discounted

Jaysus, my bad, sorry 'bout that.

I'm loving the site more and more. A fortnight ago I found out I was wannabe middle class. Now I realise I'm part of the undiscerning horde 🙂. Where will my voyage of self-discovery take me to next?

I asked this on test drive last week. Was told it comes with a granny cable and a type 2 cable.

Neil B in the IT mustn’t have gotten any freebies when he did his test drive.

https://www.irishtimes.com/motors/review/2023/01/11/teslas-model-y-is-fast-its-roomy-and-it-goes-an-impressively-long-way-then-the-problems-start/

Not only that but no ads from Tesla in their paper either.

Has anyone looked at issues like this, and any thoughts on it?

I’ve seen a few You Tube videos where the car just dies while driving on the motorway.

Nope, mine shows €54,263 (white seats) doesn't show the grant the price breakdown but states "Includes Vehicle Registra+on Tax of € 4,078.82 Includes SEAI Grant of € 5,000.00" in the notes

You should have an option to edit your order so you can change to Blue.

Adding the tow bar beforehand would presumably mean you'd lose the grant so better to get it installed afterwards.

https://www.irishtimes.com/motors/review/2023/01/11/teslas-model-y-is-fast-its-roomy-and-it-goes-an-impressively-long-way-then-the-problems-start/

Unfortunately, from here on in, the Model Y’s case starts to fall apart somewhat. First of all, there’s the quality issue. Tesla’s, shall we say, variable quality levels have been long noted. Buying a Tesla is rather like buying an old Alfa Romeo. You might get a good one that performs faultlessly and provides reliable transport for years to come. Equally, you might not…

While nothing actually went wrong with our test car, the lack of underlying quality in the cabin was very obvious. With each bump or lump in the road that we drove over, the cabin rattled and clattered as if we were carrying around a bag full of used spray paint cans. It was not edifying, and it was certainly not appropriate for a car wearing a €66,000 price tag. For reference, an identically priced Ford Mustang Mach-E exhibited not a single cabin rattle nor squeak when we tested it recently

Some of the fault for those cabin rattles must be levelled at the ride quality. Compared to rivals, the Model Y is noticeably firm on its springs, but it would not feel excessively so were the damping better. Again, comparing it to the Ford, the Mach-E is similarly firm but its damping and suspension control is much better, so you feel that the vehicle moves as a piece when reacting to bumps.

The rest of the dynamic package is equally poor. Unlike the Model 3 saloon, with which the Model Y shares a chassis, this SUV feels perched up and somewhat shopping-trolley-like in corners. The steering is artificial in feel and overgeared, so that small movements translate into sudden responses.

Even in “Chill” mode, the response to the accelerator is just as jerky. It is not a comfortable car to drive. Nor is it refined – even without the cabin rattles, there’s significant tyre roar and wind noise at a motorway cruise. You notice it most when you slow down and realise just how high you had the stereo turned up. A Hyundai Ioniq 5 or VW ID.5 is far quieter inside.

The lack of underlying quality in the cabin was very obvious

There’s also the question of the autopilot, which is, in spite of the name, nothing of the sort – it’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping steering, and you have to very much watch it like a hawk. To be blunt, I never felt safe using the system. The steering control has an inconsistent response, which can see it firmly hold you in lane or suddenly releasing control in response to what felt like very little pressure on the steering wheel. The acceleration and distance kept from vehicles in front didn’t feel confidence-inspiring either. Rivals certainly offer better calibrated systems.

Speaking of rivals, I feel that the Model Y’s overall performance indicates that what we’ve expected for some time has come to pass – that Tesla’s so-called “legacy carmaker” rivals have caught up and passed it out. Musk’s company still has a lead when it comes to battery performance and charging, but as a car the Model Y has now decidedly slipped behind similarly priced rivals such as the Mustang Mach-E, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the VW ID.5 and ID.Buzz. It simply doesn’t have the quality levels to compete at the price level it’s being pitched

There’s an extra 117 litres of space in the “frunk” under the bonnet

If Elon Musk can unhitch himself from his current social media debacle and refocus his unquestionably large brain on Tesla, perhaps that gap could be made up and even overtaken once again. Either way, Tesla needs to grow up as a carmaker. It needs to stop being part of its owner’s personality cult and instead focus on making cars that are of as high quality as its rivals.