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If you actually try driving one you may find it's not just for the show. They are a step function in responsiveness and almost a zen like driving experience. Be

If you actually try driving one you may find it's not just for the show. They are a step function in responsiveness and almost a zen like driving experience. Behaviourally the diametric opposite of a Prius. It's very very hard to go back to a fossil car after driving a Tesla.

_jal 6y ago
I so don't get it. I've driven them. They're fine, and sure, they're made for fun. But the purple prose you see about how orgasmic driving one is is bullshit. It is a car. It goes. Yay. If I had to drive to commute, I'd own a car, and likely spend more on it that I would for a pure utility vehicle. But I still wouldn't shell out for a Tesla any more than I would a Bentley - just so very not worth it to me. I'm not criticizing - I spend what looks like crazy money on things other people don't care about. To each their own. But there will always be a niche for those Priuses everyone likes to crap on - for people who just don't give a damn about car status games and just want to get from A to B.
- mft_ 6y ago
  Having recently acquired a model 3, I get where the previous poster is going. It’s the cumulative effect of lots of small details: no key, no unlocking the car, no turning it or starting an engine, no gears... then the smoothest quietest experience of any car I’ve owned (admittedly I’ve never been in a Rolls or similar) thanks to the drivetrain, all in a very calm, comfortable, minimal space. I think I’d describe it as having just the lowest cognitive burden of any car just about ever. It’s peaceful, I guess, when most cars aren’t.
- SEJeff 6y ago
  I will say that for long daily commutes, autopilot is worth the money. It was basically originally designed for Elon to drive around the cess pool that is Los Angeles's highway system so it is mostly flawless in stop and go highway traffic. On long (> 5 hour) commutes, I find that I'm less tense / weary when I drove much of the way on autopilot. Granted, it is still not 100% so I do stay attentive at all times, but it means that I can (for example) look around and behind me to keep good situational awareness while knowing I'm safe to do so.
  - bryanlarsen 6y ago
    Did a 3000km road trip (+3000km back) across Canada in a Tesla. Autopilot was a god-send when driving at night, I could focus most of my attention watching for moose, deer and coyotes. Charging was a non-issue, the battery lasts longer than my kids' bladder.
perardi 6y ago
I wrote a bit sloppily, and my comparison is imperfect. Teslas drive super well, in comparison to the miserable little penalty box of the Prius. I’m saying it’s more of a “street cred” issue, versus the actual driving merits.
szhu 6y ago
I've never owned a car but have driven plenty of cars from car shares (Zipcar, etc), rentals, and friends/family. Is it weird that I like the driving experience of a Prius the most out of all the cars I've tried? I've tried multiple Prius models too -- Prius C, standard Prius, and Prius V. They're all pretty good. Maybe it's because I'm not a car enthusiast. I don't care about acceleration; in fact, I try to minimize acceleration/deceleration when I drive, possibly a habit picked up from bicycling. However, I do care about a smooth ride (even a new Audi I rented stuttered as it shifted gears), and I care about the car not making a ton of noise when I haven't gone onto the road yet. I'd also like to not have to dance between the pedals when going uphill. Hybrid and electric cars categorically do these things well and every single gas car I've driven does not. Anyway, driving a Prius does not feel the opposite of a "zen like driving experience" to me. I know I'm not a car enthusiast. I'm just surprised that almost everyone here seems to be one.
- mrtnmcc 6y ago
  That's a very interesting observation about what you're looking for in a car. The laggy slow acceleration of a Prius--while smooth--really bothers me, but I could imagine some seeing it as a plus. For me, in a Prius I feel unable to trust the vehicle to go where I need if anything requires a responsive reaction. The Tesla is so responsive, you feel very connected to the vehicle. If you want to suddenly be in some spot in the road you will be there that moment without thinking.

_jal 6y ago

I so don't get it. I've driven them. They're fine, and sure, they're made for fun. But the purple prose you see about how orgasmic driving one is is bullshit. It is a car. It goes. Yay. If I had to drive to commute, I'd own a car, and likely spend more on it that I would for a pure utility vehicle. But I still wouldn't shell out for a Tesla any more than I would a Bentley - just so very not worth it to me. I'm not criticizing - I spend what looks like crazy money on things other people don't care about. To each their own. But there will always be a niche for those Priuses everyone likes to crap on - for people who just don't give a damn about car status games and just want to get from A to B.

mft_ 6y ago
Having recently acquired a model 3, I get where the previous poster is going. It’s the cumulative effect of lots of small details: no key, no unlocking the car, no turning it or starting an engine, no gears... then the smoothest quietest experience of any car I’ve owned (admittedly I’ve never been in a Rolls or similar) thanks to the drivetrain, all in a very calm, comfortable, minimal space. I think I’d describe it as having just the lowest cognitive burden of any car just about ever. It’s peaceful, I guess, when most cars aren’t.
SEJeff 6y ago
I will say that for long daily commutes, autopilot is worth the money. It was basically originally designed for Elon to drive around the cess pool that is Los Angeles's highway system so it is mostly flawless in stop and go highway traffic. On long (> 5 hour) commutes, I find that I'm less tense / weary when I drove much of the way on autopilot. Granted, it is still not 100% so I do stay attentive at all times, but it means that I can (for example) look around and behind me to keep good situational awareness while knowing I'm safe to do so.
- bryanlarsen 6y ago
  Did a 3000km road trip (+3000km back) across Canada in a Tesla. Autopilot was a god-send when driving at night, I could focus most of my attention watching for moose, deer and coyotes. Charging was a non-issue, the battery lasts longer than my kids' bladder.

perardi 6y ago

I wrote a bit sloppily, and my comparison is imperfect. Teslas drive super well, in comparison to the miserable little penalty box of the Prius. I’m saying it’s more of a “street cred” issue, versus the actual driving merits.

szhu 6y ago

I've never owned a car but have driven plenty of cars from car shares (Zipcar, etc), rentals, and friends/family. Is it weird that I like the driving experience of a Prius the most out of all the cars I've tried? I've tried multiple Prius models too -- Prius C, standard Prius, and Prius V. They're all pretty good. Maybe it's because I'm not a car enthusiast. I don't care about acceleration; in fact, I try to minimize acceleration/deceleration when I drive, possibly a habit picked up from bicycling. However, I do care about a smooth ride (even a new Audi I rented stuttered as it shifted gears), and I care about the car not making a ton of noise when I haven't gone onto the road yet. I'd also like to not have to dance between the pedals when going uphill. Hybrid and electric cars categorically do these things well and every single gas car I've driven does not. Anyway, driving a Prius does not feel the opposite of a "zen like driving experience" to me. I know I'm not a car enthusiast. I'm just surprised that almost everyone here seems to be one.

mrtnmcc 6y ago
That's a very interesting observation about what you're looking for in a car. The laggy slow acceleration of a Prius--while smooth--really bothers me, but I could imagine some seeing it as a plus. For me, in a Prius I feel unable to trust the vehicle to go where I need if anything requires a responsive reaction. The Tesla is so responsive, you feel very connected to the vehicle. If you want to suddenly be in some spot in the road you will be there that moment without thinking.