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I just bought an 2018 Audi A4 ($47k) and my wife just bought a Model 3 ($54k). I previously owned an S4 which (roughly $56k). I also test drove a few 4-series B
by mdeeks 8y ago
I just bought an 2018 Audi A4 ($47k) and my wife just bought a Model 3 ($54k). I previously owned an S4 which (roughly $56k). I also test drove a few 4-series BMWs and few random Mercedes in the same price range.
TL;DR: I would take the Model 3 any day at that price. I have buyers remorse.
Drive feel:
The Model 3 is an absolute joy to drive and I would take it any day over either of my Audis and over any of the BMWs or Mercedes. Every gas car feels laggy now and they are kind of ruined for me. I drive my wife's car at every opportunity now even though I have a 3 week old Audi in my garage.
Autopilot makes gridlock traffic no longer a big deal. This is pretty huge and I hated driving my Audi long distance to Tahoe over July 4th weekend in traffic. I do NOT trust it with anything beyond gridlock traffic though. Not even for merges.
Interior:
The Model 3 seats are super comfy but the whole interior feels budget and I really hope you like minimalism because its extremely minimal and borderline cheap. BMW/Audi/Mercedes: I hope you like BUTTONS EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYTHING (I certainly don't). The interior feels much more premium than the Model 3 though.
Side note: Why does a tachometer still exist as a massive dial taking up most of your dash? I doubt 98% of people ever look at it.
The interface:
While significantly improved from my 2015 S4, the A4 UI is still an atrocity. Bluetooth is still awful and it auto plays whatever the hell happened to be running on my iPhone last. Lack of a touch screen (except BMW) is surprisingly frustrating now that I've used one.
The central display in the Model 3 is incredible and I love almost everything about it. Who needs bluetooth when you have Google Maps and high quality streaming audio over an incredible sounding sound system? I rarely even WANT to connect my phone.
Random:
The keyless unlock for the Model 3 is amazing as long as it actually works with your phone. My wife's Pixel XL works about 50% of the time and it makes it infuriating. PLEASE GIVE US A KEYFOB, TESLA
I can turn on the AC remotely on a hot day! The Model 3 is cold by the time we get in! There are so many delights with this car and that goes a long way.
- ironjunkie 8y agoThanks for your report! Looks like I might be overvaluing the fun factor of an Audi S4 compared to a Model 3. I'm also wondering if the feel of an electrical engine is a personal thing? I have heard from one of my friend owning a Motel 3 that they are not a huge fan of the Electrical feel compared to a Manual gas car.
- mdeeks 8y agoI definitely miss the sound of the engine. It is incredibly satisfying. But the feeling of instantly being thrown back into your seat and have buttery smooth acceleration the whole way (no gear shifting) feels amazing. My S4 was definitely fast and I had a great time driving it, but the feel of the Model 3 is much more satisfying. It feels like a missile. Everyone who we have let drive it or let sit in it has been shocked. I'm sure there is a personal preference (my coworker will never give up a gas engine) but I think the majority who drive it and slam on the accelerator will probably agree.
- ironjunkie 8y agoThe issue is also that most of the automatic gearboxes on gas cars are garbage and are responsible for that lagging feeling when you want to accelerate. If you drive a fully manual car, you are already way closer to a real acceleration. That being said a smooth acceleration without the downtime needed for a gear shift must be quite an experience. I need to try that.
- mdeeks 8y agoIf you're the kind of person who drives a manual by choice I have a feeling you won't be sold on it. If you're a lover of traditional cars and their feel, then it'll be a culture shock. The Model 3 doesn't have to be everything to everybody though! (Just to most people if they want to succeed) Give it a shot though, you may be surprised. Hopefully you can actually find one to test drive.
- jeffffff 8y agohave you driven any recent bmw with an automatic? the zf 8 transmissions are really nice and faster than the manual versions. dct equipped cars have also been faster than the manual versions for years. the only reason to drive a manual anymore is because you like shifting.
- dragontamer 8y ago
- smogcutter 8y ago> The keyless unlock for the Model 3 is amazing as long as it actually works with your phone. My wife's Pixel XL works about 50% of the time and it makes it infuriating. PLEASE GIVE US A KEYFOB, TESLA Wait, really? If your phone is broken or out of batteries, are you locked out of the car?
- TrainedMonkey 8y agoYou also get 2 RFID cards that can open/start the car.
- mdeeks 8y agoNo, it comes with two credit card "keys" that you keep in your wallet. They are RFID and you brush them next to the door or center console to unlock and start. Think of them like traditional manual keys.
- smogcutter 8y agoAh, gotcha. That makes a lot more sense.
- gamblor956 8y agoBMW/Audi/Mercedes: I hope you like BUTTONS EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYTHING That sounds awesome! It means I can do something without having to look away from the road. I don't have to actively context-switch whatever I'm thinking about to navigate on a touch panel. Whatever these guys are doing, it sounds so much better than dealing with glare and non-responsivity issues.
- mdeeks 8y agoThe context switch isn't bad (admittedly it is more). The touch panel has almost everything you would want to do commonly in only two taps. Navigation: The cognitive load is very high on both vehicles. Using dials and buttons on my Audi is really hard and the maps are loaded with random icons and its a bit harder to parse where I'm supposed to turn next. The voice directions work really well on the Model 3 since I assume it just pipes it to Google Maps. My Audi is terrible unless it is "home" or something obvious it wont misunderstand. AC/Heat: I have to look down for both cars. In my Audi, the physical buttons for the fan have digital displays for the speed and temp. So I have to look and read anyway. Music: There are next/previous and volume buttons on the wheel in the Model 3. No different than my Audi. Tapping the giant screen is definitely easier than tapping on my tiny iPhone screen like I currently do in my Audi.
- senatorobama 8y agoHow do you afford that?
- mdeeks 8y agoI'm in my late 30s, worked in the tech industry since 1998, have no student debt (I didn't go to college), and married into a home :)
- senatorobama 8y agoLucky...