SOLD my new Tesla Model 3! 6 weeks/6,000 miles final review of my Long Range “Highland”.

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It’s time to wave goodbye to my “new” 2024 Tesla Model 3 Long Range highland. Why? Well time to move on to other cars and review lots of other things as I also put them to daily use racking up miles and picking apart what’s good and what’s bad.
So after covering early 6,000 miles in approx 6 weeks it’s time to sell it on and tell you what I lived about it and what I think could be improved. It’s a superb EV, but some other cars do have features or functions the Tesla doesn’t….

Stay subscribed for more car reviews and real world practicality and range tests coming soon.

Ps.. there’s also the Tesla Model 3 Performance around the corner… 😙

Thanks for watching.

Richard Symons
R Symons LTD "RSEV"
EV Specialist based in New Milton, Hampshire on the South Coast near Southampton and Bournemouth
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[anatoly.ivanov]

Wait, so 20 minutes to tell us that the reason is _not_ the car but the idea of switching to a new car every 2 months? 😮

[constantcolorlandscapes]

Tesla does slow down when the speed limit changes..you just need to set the "max speed over speed limit"..I usually set it for 5 MPH over speed limits. Tesla needs: 1) same exterior door-handles as model S/X with lighting, 2) Heads-up display, 3) Same muted turn signal as ID4 (as you indicate), and 4) allow driver to temporarily drive without turning off autopilot (as you indicate).

[AB]

I took delivery of my reengineered M3 LR last month, first EV, I absolutely love it!!! The minimalism and tech are amazing. I love stalkless design, acceleration is amazing, it's quiet, very comfortable. It puts a smile on me every time I get in the car.
United States

[nathan-clark]

Timestamps below.

Note: Richard’s points are more nuanced than “good”/“bad” but he does break up the video roughly as listed:

Positives
1:24 - Ride, refinement, suspension
1:58 - Efficiency & mileage
3:00 - Headlights
3:47 - Storage, boot/frunk
4:13 - Interior - Rear screen
5:20 - Interior - front, center console, seats, lighting
7:09 - Supercharger network, software and maps
9:55 - Phone Key

Negatives
10:55 - Door Handles
11:48 - Rain sensors / auto-wipers
12:37 - Lack of stalks*
14:24 - Autopilot, EAP & FSD

Other:
17:08 - Efficiency summary
17:55 - Wrap up


*Richard’s concerns seemingly solved

[kiwijonowilson]

I don't have highland currently (and probably won't upgrade, for now at least, as I really prefer the stalks). Love the car but as far as negatives go (as of today):
1. Phantom braking - good news is I have not had a full on emergency brake for a few months now (maybe improved?) but while on adaptive cruise control I do get the car unnecessarily slowing down sometimes and so I find I have my foot hovering near the accelerator to compensate sometimes. Sometimes it seems to be caused by shadows and sometimes its due to opposing traffic it thinks are too close perhaps.
2. Wipers. Although maybe slightly improved recently?
3. Unnecessary loud beeping when I put the wheels over road edge markings (with narrow roads in NZ its pretty common to use all of the road). It doesn't always do it but when it does it gives you a fright (in fact I have now turned down warnings volume which has helped but undermines the intent of the warnings).

[dannywooly]

I have the previous model 3 and the lack of indicator stalk is making me pause, on the motorway it would be fine but roundabouts when is reversed on the other side of the wheel how did you find that?

[mamba]

That’s a fantastic idea! With so many car reviewers 100% reliant on car makers for their job you can’t help but question their impartiality.
I hope revenue from YouTube more than makes up for any loss on buying/selling as you really have the potential to grow as i know there’s lots of people like me that are a bit tired of car reviewers.

[ericn]

Richard always has the best and most comprehensive reviews and he is the only reviewer that talks about headlight performance. Great job Richard!

[alanmann]

hi Richard what`s your thought's on an i-Pace 2021 onwards as a useable family car?

[OldSkoolDJFX]

I’ve had a model 3 for a few weeks and absolutely love it! I came from and estate car and can easily get the same amount of a stuff in my Tesla. The only issue I’ve had is the driver seat bolster has lost it stitching. I’ve contacted Tesla and it looks like they are going to sort it!

[antoinepageau]

Software version V11.1 2024.3.15 Auto-wipers fixed! I know i couldn't believe it either, but using FSD V12 now in all conditions, they worked perfectly (or at least as good as traditional auto-wipers) .

[recklessrogue]

Really enjoyed the Highland content and excited at the prospect of you having a different car regularly as it will give us a good look at many options. You mentioned even trying some on the cheaper end and I for one would love to see you using 10-20k car for a week or two and show that they can deal with a lot of use from family use to long drives - I loved your "cheap EV" challenge you did and actually bought an Ioniq 28 last year because of it.

[TTRoadzter]

Autopilot adjust to speed limit change. My car does it since new in 2021. You can also add an increase in speed or percentage, like speed limit + 8 km/h or speed limit + 10%. Its an option to turn on in the autopilot menu and it stays on indefinitely until changed.

[hakis]

How would you compare the ride comfort and noise levels comapred to a Model S (pre refresh), raven perhaps?

[t]

Good video. In last few years I’ve driven either as primary driver or long term loaners and will rank by category below a 2020 Model Y LR, ‘22 Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD Limited, 2019 Audi e-tron Prestige, and now a highland Tesla Model 3 RWD (owned), and a ‘24 Audi Q4 e-tron Premium Plus and Volvo C40 (long term loaners).

Comfort in descending order: 1. ‘19 e-tron Prestige. The infinitely adjustable seats, massage, etc and serene quiet in the vehicle, closing panoramic sunroof, rear window shades, makes it one of the most luxurious vehicles on the road. 2. ‘24 Model 3 RWD, Tied 2. Ioniq 5 Limited - although lack of adjustable seat bolstering was a pain given that the bolstering doesn’t hold me in place for that car’s speed - but softer suspension over bumps makes up for that somewhat. 4. ‘20 Tesla Model Y - seats are great. Suspension is way too tight, even with smallest diameter wheels, and you feel every minor bump on the road very harshly (I know this has been improved in later Model Ys). 5. Volvo C40 - comfortable interior dogs, but handles both corners and bumps on road really poorly. 6. Audi Q4 e-tron - internal trim is so plasticky and hard, it’s impossible to get your elbows comfortable when you don’t have both on the steering wheel. Very hard and cheap plastics all around. I can’t even imagine what the ID3 is like.

Performance in descending order: 1. ‘24 Model 3 RWD - yes, on paper it’s slower. 0-60 is 5.8s. But the way it handles and the way it feels around corners more than makes up for that. 2. ‘20 Model Y LR (with $2k performance add on) - very quick in a straight line, but take a corner, and it feels its weight. 3. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited - insanely quick until you get to a corner. 4. Audi Q4 e-tron - not that quick, but feels quick, and steering is nice and tight. Good balance of handling and performance. 5. ‘19 e-tron- this is not a performance car. It’s a luxury car. But when you need sheer speed, you can get more than enough. 6. Volvo C40 - just feels quick, but so clumsy in corners, that I don’t want to drive it quickly.

Safety: 1. ‘19 e-tron - best adaptive cruise and lane keep assist of the bunch. Never had phantom braking or anything similar. Just relaxed cruising as you said you experience in the ID3. 2. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited - HDA2 system works really well. 3. ‘24 Model 3 RWD - wow, Tesla’s autopilot and FSD has come a very long way since ‘22 when I had the Model Y. Really impressive. Tied 4. Volvo C40 and Audi Q4. 6. ‘20 Model Y LR - I had an exceptionally poor experience with this. Phantom braking happened every day at least twice a day mid highway driving and came so close to causing accidents, that this is ultimately why I sold it. I believe modern Model Ys don’t have the issue anywhere near as bad, and that even mine was an anomaly.

[EvEvangelist]

Awwww! Hoping the motivation was to own the new M3 Performance !

[Chop]

Will be great to get your opinion on FSD supervised v12.3. I use 99% of the time stateside in Midwest & very rarely have any interventions. It sometimes is too cautious, but makes sense at this point to be that way.

[David-xhyt]

I have a M3 and you are right about the rain sensor. I actually think the upgrade has been worse than before. It comes on when it’s not raining and I think it’s due to tree branches that are hanging over roads and when it does rain it hesitates to operate and I have to hit the washer button all the time so I can see out the window while it catches up.

[moreliberty]

16:00 It's a shame that the UK Tesla owners do not (yet) have access to FSD Beta (Supervised FSD), and as a result, you simply do not see the progress that is being made on the autonomy front. But you should really watch the many videos from US Tesla owners that show the capabilities of FSD.

[buzzpedrotti]

At what average freeway speed do you get 4.5 m/kWh? Thanks.

Also, what kind of terrain, ?