BTW my 2018 model 3's software was rough and unstable for about its first year. At this point Tesla had been shipping the model s for six years. In that sense, Lucid is currently doing better.
I also bought my Model 3 in 2018. I heard tons about cars delivered in rough shape — the car buying checklist was vital for Tesla buyers back then (that has not changed, BTW). I plunked down my deposit and hoped against all hope for a decent car. My car was delivered with minor cosmetic stuff (e.g., slight panel misalignments) I did not care about (and never had fixed). I counted myself as very lucky and happily drove on to become a contented Tesla owner.
However, there were lots of bumps on that road. The Tesla Model 3 software was choppy when I first bought my car. Random crashes. Stuff not working until a reboot or two. While those things improved over time, I remember lots of teeth gnashing on the Tesla boards. “The updates are too damn slow.” “The updates aren’t good enough.” Sentry mode is great, but that came a long while after I bought my M3. I never bought the self-driving package (I didn’t want to beta test something that could kill me), but I admit being entirely unimpressed when Tesla went to vision/cameras in later cars and jacked the price up for their janky “autopilot” software by more than 1,000% (I think it is even more than that now).
While the Tesla mobile service has been great, there is ZERO customer service otherwise. No one ever bends over backwards at Tesla to help with anything. Recently, I had an issue with a dying 12v. Tesla’s response was absurdly inept — no batteries, don’t know when they’re going to get them, don’t call them they’ll call you. And these responses were with weeks of inoperative car functions and a potential bricking eminent! After an accident, I discovered that basic Tesla parts would take months to get. No one ever knows when things will happen. And no one at Tesla seemed sympathetic to the fact that owners actually need to know when things will happen.
My M3 battery pack had a very hard time with the cold. The range I lost during that first harsh winter never came back. Given that I had bought the medium range M3, losing significant range meant the car became a whole lot less useful. And I live in a place where if you drive in any direction more than 20 minutes, all you can see are corn fields. Yet Tesla shrugged its shoulders and suggested I call back when I lose more than 20% of range!
When I recently got into the market for an upgrade, I got in line for a Model S. But then I thought about all of the above and told myself “Nope.” I withdrew from the queue and kissed my small deposit goodbye. I instead ordered a Lucid Air GT.
I waited six long months. I now slide into my massaging, heated seats, effortlessly accelerate at will, look at the beautiful and flawless lines of my GT, think about the 460 miles or so of effective range, corner, pass, and lane change with wicked ease, and I tell myself “Yep.” I have had software hiccups, sound drops, dashboard crashes. I chuckle because I have done this software dance before. And if my Tesla experience is any guide, all of these issues will improve. And in the meantime, I will have a smoother ride, a more comfortable interior, and all the fun of driving a well designed car!
Each and every one of us should follow the “you do you” thing. But for those who again and again rail against Lucid and continue to scream the virtues of Tesla on this board, I ask — why bother with all the back and forth? Say your thing. Then go in peace. [Removed the last phrase — it was too much like “F___ off.” That was not my intention!]
. I'd buy a sports-car-sized Lucid. I understand the SUV is next, but still...
