Living with the Lucid Gravity: A Tesla Owner’s Journey

[borski]

I just can’t imagine a car that can’t do what the Tesla app does now.

… literally most cars.

 

[borski]

I started with Tesla in 2018. Bugs yeah, usually on something new and cutting edge. But I never failed to unlock my car instantly. Never.

Cool.

I just looked it up. Do you know how many years Lucid has been around. 18 years !!!

Incorrect. Atieva has been around. Lucid started much more recently (hence the name change) and now has a wholly different business than Atieva did, which produced batteries and motors for Formula E, among others. But building a mass-production car? That is a completely different thing.

This is not growing pains.

It literally is, whether you agree or not. It’s quite literally the definition of what people mean when they say “growing pains” as they refer to a growing business.

If Tesla was copying / catching up on tech they wouldn’t have had nearly as many bugs. They had bugs because they were creating evolving so many new things. And even the buggy versions are freaking amazing.

That is not how software works. You cannot “copy” software and have it be “bug-free,” any more than you can visit a restaurant and “copy” their food. You certainly can copy what it looks like, but making it taste the same, every time, to every patron, on every night… you can’t copy that.

Hate to break it to you, but every company goes through this, and your discovery that Lucid is going through it is not novel; and Tesla did not magically skip it, nor were they somehow more prone to it.

How is your Dashcam working?

Fine, on the gravity. You know, the car they promised it on. It was never promised for the Air, but I’m excited for when it arrives anyway.

I’ve upgraded my cars just to get a better audio system. Meaning they are really important to me. I keep reading Lucid has issues with the quality of the audio system. Is that new tech too?

You’re wrong. I disagree with the folks who don’t like the lucid sound system, because they want a crappy “smiley” curved EQ with lots of bass and lots of treble, and I like a flatter reproduction of the original artist’s intent.

So do they suck? No, they very much don’t. Might they suck to your ears? I can’t answer that for you.

It’s just weird.

Okay.

Tesla introduced the camera driver monitoring over the past few years. I’ve never had a single issue with it. Yet Lucid appears to.

Cool. I’ve never had an issue with mine. Those that have issues with theirs need to move their steering wheel down. That is the “issue.”

Phone key should be flawless

Okay. Mine is.

I’m not expecting farts to work.

Good.

The audio should be jaw dropping amazing. Is it?, I keep hearing it’s not.

It is.

Navigation should be flawless, doesn’t sound like it, but I do hear complaints on Teslas too, but as far as I know it uses Google Maps and you just can’t get much better than Google Maps IMHO.

Navigation is fine. It uses HERE, which not everyone loves, but it serves my and my wife’s purposes perfectly. We use it every day.

If you go to a lot of trailheads, CarPlay and Android Auto will serve your purposes better; good luck using CarPlay or Android Auto in a Tesla.

ETA is near perfect for me).

Me too.

Sending address from any app that supports locations to the car seems almost fundamental to me now. It’s such time saver / stress saver.

Cool. You’ve been able to do that with Lucid since 3 years ago or so.

If it was only the goodies on top, I don’t think you’d see lists like the OP has. OP sounds a lot like how I’d react and why I elected to not go with a Lucid (yet).

Okay.

With so many things you have trigger point, a point that something crosses the line. And once it does. You look for mow flaws. You looks for justifications of why your pissed. Why you didn’t see this coming. Why is others not seeing it as you are.

Dno, been over 3 years, plenty of bugs, still love the car. Ever find a perfect car? If so, buy it! And tell me what it is.

Like I know my new X might still get the vibration issue and rear tire inner wear. But that doesn’t cross the line for me.

It would for me. Driving is the most important feature of a car.

If FSD started failing on me and getting locked out of my car (which does happen) it might cross that line.

Wouldn’t care, since I stopped trusting FSD years ago when it tried to kill me a bunch.

BTW I’m out at breakfast with the puppies in the car and checking on them via my phone right now. That is luxury at its finest. It’s also fun to show off our puppies on the phone.

Cool.

I don’t use most of those either.

But the games and farts get kids attention. And kids gets the parents attention. “daddy when are we getting a Tesla like my friend Tommy has, it is so cool”. That’s why Tesla puts those things in.

I’m willing to make a monetary bet that near zero parents have bought a Tesla because “my kid’s friend Tommy has it and it farts.”

That’s not why Tesla puts those things in. They put them in because Elon likes playful and childish things. I’m not even saying it’s bad. But it’s certainly not part of some “grand plan to sell more cars.”

But I do use Netflix occasionally and love it. I don’t charge on the road often.

Cool. Coming to Gravity soon too, as you may have seen in various ads and videos.

It’s fine for you to like your Tesla. But I don’t want to drive a Tesla. I’m glad you like yours. If Lucid had built a Tesla, I would not be here because I’d have bought an Audi.

So it’s fine you think Lucid is behind. We have different priorities, clearly. By my count, Lucid is very far ahead of Tesla, and recent sales seem to show that too.

But it’s fine. Enjoy your Tesla. Genuinely. Have a good time.

 

[TahoeMichael]

seat heaters today in California? Did you move to southern tip of Argentina?


Terrible idea. It is the very first model of a very new and small company with only one (semi) established model. What did you expect?

There seem to be quite a few geezers here, including me. I don't know how important the age of the person is when you're deciding to recommend or not. Judging from the conversation on this forum, whether someone is a person who likes gadgets, or is a real driving enthusiast, might be the best factors to consider.

 

[socktucker]

Fine, on the gravity. You know, the car they promised it on. It was never promised for the Air, but I’m excited for when it arrives anyway.

We are getting dashcams? That’s cool!

 

[socktucker]

There seem to be quite a few geezers here, including me. I don't know how important the age of the person is when you're deciding to recommend or not. Judging from the conversation on this forum, whether someone is a person who likes gadgets, or is a real driving enthusiast, might be the best factors to consider.

I’m 45, love fast cars, love EVs and luxury sedans. I was disappointed with my Tesla. I am mostly happy with the Lucid Air. My gawd its fast and it handles great.

Having said that…i think I’m one jiujitsu injury away from not being able to get in and out of this thing it is low

 

[Elfin]

The Gravity Dream Edition that I picked up on Wed has had no problem recognizing the FOB, presenting door handles, opening doors, or shifting into gear except once when I had sat car a while and the I had to nudge the key to wake it so I could shift into gear… thats it… came with latest sw. So far so good on most of the issues others have had. Have not needed to double open the frunk… works fine on first push. Drove home using Dream Drive Pro and found it to work very well. So far so good.

You're really tempting fate with this post. I'm very curious if you end up having a service center visit in the first year, reading this forum it seems like most people will (though maybe it's a biased sample. I should try bookmarking the I'm taking delivery posts and doing a survey)

 

[TahoeMichael]

I agree with you on that point.

But when we’re talking about issues like the key not working, the doors not unlocking when you approach, the fob not responding when you press it, the navigation failing to function properly, or the passenger airbag constantly turning on and off while someone is seated — these are critical features.

These aren’t cutting-edge or niche requests. They’re fundamental functions that Tesla — and hundreds of other automakers — have been doing for years. Many of these features are industry standards that drivers already take for granted.

I’m not saying Lucid can never make mistakes. What I am saying is that mistakes in such basic, well-established features are difficult to accept. These are things every other brand has already solved and refined long ago, and Lucid shouldn’t be stumbling on them.

I get what you're doing, and it's not bugging me the way it seems to bug other's here. But I really don't agree with this post from you. I have a Toyota Highlander in my garage, a brand which has an excellent reputation for quality. And yet I find the nav system to be terrible, and almost never use it. I rely on my phone instead. That wouldn't stop me from recommending a Highlander to someone, as on balance it's a great car. For example, it has a full sized spare tire that can be put on any of the wheels of the SUV and get you going again. Should I rant and rail at Tesla and Lucid for not having spare tires in any of their vehicles, when hundreds of other automakers have figured that out? I think it's incorrect to paint Lucid as having a uniquely terrible navigation system. I was sitting in a Gravity this afternoon and played with routing a trip from Millbrae to Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake City, both routes I'm very familiar with. It seemed to do a good job, showing reasonable routes. As a number of verified owners here report that navigation works for them, I'm inclined to suspect that Lucid is doing as well or better than many other car manufacturers. I suspect that Google Maps, being best in class, may often do a better job. But that's a far cry from saying that hundreds of other automakers are doing better than Lucid in this regard.

 

[borski]

You're really tempting fate with this post. I'm very curious if you end up having a service center visit in the first year, reading this forum it seems like most people will (though maybe it's a biased sample. I should try bookmarking the I'm taking delivery posts and doing a survey)

We've been down this road. On average, most cars are fine (after some time; who knows, in the early days), and some have problems. Internet forums lean negative because people don't show up to say 'got car, it's great, love it.' They just drive.

People show up when they have problems.

I don't have any stats (just like you), but my guess would be most vehicles are fine, minus the obvious known things (center console pinched wire, which future deliveries won't have to worry about, for example).

My car has had one service visit, all for a bunch of random trim things from delivery, plus the second keyfob. It is about to have a second 5-minute visit for the keyfob update.

 

[TahoeMichael]

Yeah I know and I also gave you a hard time because these are new cars and you should expect some bugs right??

but then...

today, the finish of the HVAC buttons on my 2 week old Lucid Air started chipping off. I search this forum and what do you know, its been an issue for years

COME ON LUCID

so add "peeling HVAC controls" to your list please

This kind of stuff is part of why a lot of quality rankings put most EVs way down the list compared to ICE vehicles from the major manufacturers. Building flawless mass produced vehicles is hard. I do wish that organizations like JD Powers would rank minor flaws like chipping HVAC button finish lower than major problems that prevent you from getting where you need to go.

 

[borski]

I get what you're doing, and it's not bugging me the way it seems to bug other's here. But I really don't agree with this post from you. I have a Toyota Highlander in my garage, a brand which has an excellent reputation for quality. And yet I find the nav system to be terrible, and almost never use it. I rely on my phone instead. That wouldn't stop me from recommending a Highlander to someone, as on balance it's a great car. For example, it has a full sized spare tire that can be put on any of the wheels of the SUV and get you going again. Should I rant and rail at Tesla and Lucid for not having spare tires in any of their vehicles, when hundreds of other automakers have figured that out? I think it's incorrect to paint Lucid as having a uniquely terrible navigation system. I was sitting in a Gravity this afternoon and played with routing a trip from Millbrae to Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake City, both routes I'm very familiar with. It seemed to do a good job, showing reasonable routes. As a number of verified owners here report that navigation works for them, I'm inclined to suspect that Lucid is doing as well or better than many other car manufacturers. I suspect that Google Maps, being best in class, may often do a better job. But that's a far cry from saying that hundreds of other automakers are doing better than Lucid in this regard.

Exactly.

 

[TahoeMichael]

I’m 45, love fast cars, love EVs and luxury sedans. I was disappointed with my Tesla. I am mostly happy with the Lucid Air. My gawd its fast and it handles great.

Having said that…i think I’m one jiujitsu injury away from not being able to get in and out of this thing it is low

Yeah, I test drove an Air, and the entry is really low. Just one reason why I've ordered a Gravity instead. But if you're practicing jujitsu, you're probably better able to deal with it than most people here.

 

[prgarg]

The Gravity Dream Edition that I picked up on Wed has had no problem recognizing the FOB, presenting door handles, opening doors, or shifting into gear except once when I had sat car a while and the I had to nudge the key to wake it so I could shift into gear… thats it… came with latest sw. So far so good on most of the issues others have had. Have not needed to double open the frunk… works fine on first push. Drove home using Dream Drive Pro and found it to work very well. So far so good.

Sounds like you picked up a GDE Unicorn Edition

 

[Xminus6]

I started with Tesla in 2018. Bugs yeah, usually on something new and cutting edge. But I never failed to unlock my car instantly. Never.

Then you're fortunate. I've had Teslas since 2014 until now. I have had occasions where the car wouldn't wake when I approached. It didn't happen often but it has happened. Over 11 years of Tesla ownership over 4 cars you'll see a lot of bugs. My Y doesn't really have any issues now but the MCU and AP hardware are sort of deprecated. So I assume they're not trying to build too much new functionality into my car now.

 

[TahoeMichael]

You're really tempting fate with this post. I'm very curious if you end up having a service center visit in the first year, reading this forum it seems like most people will (though maybe it's a biased sample. I should try bookmarking the I'm taking delivery posts and doing a survey)

I think the forum is great for understanding the range of problems that can occur, and what (if anything) resolves them. But it's really bad for understanding how frequent problems are. There's a very small set of people posting about the problems they're having with their Gravity. I'm tempted to believe that most people who are picking up their Gravity are happy enough with it that they don't feel the need to come and complain.

 

[RandomDesign]

I think the forum is great for understanding the range of problems that can occur, and what (if anything) resolves them. But it's really bad for understanding how frequent problems are. There's a very small set of people posting about the problems they're having with their Gravity. I'm tempted to believe that most people who are picking up their Gravity are happy enough with it that they don't feel the need to come and complain.

This pretty much holds true with any consumer product or service. The happy customers are mostly a silent majority.

 

[mswlogo]

I get what you're doing, and it's not bugging me the way it seems to bug other's here. But I really don't agree with this post from you. I have a Toyota Highlander in my garage, a brand which has an excellent reputation for quality. And yet I find the nav system to be terrible, and almost never use it. I rely on my phone instead. That wouldn't stop me from recommending a Highlander to someone, as on balance it's a great car. For example, it has a full sized spare tire that can be put on any of the wheels of the SUV and get you going again. Should I rant and rail at Tesla and Lucid for not having spare tires in any of their vehicles, when hundreds of other automakers have figured that out? I think it's incorrect to paint Lucid as having a uniquely terrible navigation system. I was sitting in a Gravity this afternoon and played with routing a trip from Millbrae to Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake City, both routes I'm very familiar with. It seemed to do a good job, showing reasonable routes. As a number of verified owners here report that navigation works for them, I'm inclined to suspect that Lucid is doing as well or better than many other car manufacturers. I suspect that Google Maps, being best in class, may often do a better job. But that's a far cry from saying that hundreds of other automakers are doing better than Lucid in this regard.

Navigation not working on a “connected electric car” that will drive itself and a gigantic screens is like having a computer that can’t connect to the internet. You can just copy files to it on usb stick right?

It has to factor in charging stops, elevation changes even weather, traffic.

It would be an absolute disaster if Navigation wasn’t extremely good on my car.

It’s not like the old days where you get new maps once a year and no traffic. I never used those Nav systems either. Nav HAS to work on these cars. You are wasting a ton of money on them.

I have Nav running every minute because it’s driving the car.

 

[TahoeMichael]

I did. I just got my 4th after canceling the Lucid. I’m just agreeing with OP on some points.

It’s very odd that Lucid is so cutting edge in one aspect and so far behind on others.

Is it odd, really? I've never owned a Tesla, but I have plenty of friends who bought one. I've driven the S and X from the early years. Tesla's hardware was extremely mediocre, and arguably that's still true today. They focused on software, and are the clear leader in that regard. Lucid seems to have focused on hardware, and Rawlinson admitted last year that they needed to build up their software team. It seems to me that Lucid is as far ahead of Tesla in hardware as Tesla is ahead in software. Personally, the hardware in the Gravity makes it a much more attractive purchase than an X. Partly because the X hardware will not evolve, but the Lucid software will.

That said, Borski is right: people need to make a decision that prioritizes the decision factors that matter most to them. If Tesla's strengths please you, and their weaknesses don't bother you, than drive a Tesla. Before my mother died she used to say "it wouldn't do for us all to be alike."

 

[borski]

i think I’m one jiujitsu injury away from not being able to get in and out of this thing it is low

Where do you train? How long?

I train at Serao Academy in Mountain View (though it's been a while)

 

[TahoeMichael]

That's why I want a Lucid with the software and reliability of a Tesla.
I know some people will say Teslas are unreliable but I think it's mainly the S/X that are garbage. My Model 3 has only been to the service center once in 100k miles 7 years and that was for stuff they should have caught if they did pre-delivery inspection (it sounds like Lucid also doesn't do real PDI.)
This forum is saving me a lot of money and hassle. I'll just keep my car until it breaks or the perfect car gets released (Lucid Earth? BMW iX3?)

If you have a car that is meeting your essential needs, the smart thing is always to just keep driving it. Buying new cars is a very expensive hobby.

 

[borski]

Navigation not working on a “connected electric car” that will drive itself and a gigantic screens is like having a computer that can’t connect to the internet. You can just copy files to it on usb stick right?

It has to factor in charging stops, elevation changes even weather, traffic.

It would be an absolute disaster if Navigation wasn’t extremely good on my car.

It’s not like the old days where you get new maps once a year and no traffic. I never used those Nav systems either. Nav HAS to work on these cars. You are wasting a ton of money on them.

I have Nav running every minute because it’s driving the car.

What are you even talking about? Last I checked, neither the Tesla nor the Lucid "drives itself." And if you think Teslas "drive themselves," without your input or supervision, then we have nothing left to discuss, as we fundamentally do not agree on what a fact is.