Tesla Fanboy Journey

[CRAIG BROMLEY]

I ordered a Model S PLAID nearly 3 years ago after owning a Model S P90D for 7 happy years, but then in May that dreaded email came in cancelling all the right hand variants indefinitely ?‍​

So what was a fanboy to do, I hadn’t considered any other electric car and had little knowledge or interest in anything else? The model 3 and Y were software and production marvels but as common as butt holes and getting even more common.​

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So I have 4 friends who bang on relentlessly about their bloody Porsche cars whilst I’m desperately trying not to eye roll so bad I can actually see the back of my scull ?​

I wanted something special and exciting to drive so decided to test drive the Taycan Cross Turismo to see what the fuss was all about, mmm okay there might be something in this Porsche thing!​

The Tesla fanboy in me would have said it’s not as fast and has less range than my 7 year old car, but I’m realising that’s not everything, to be honest I’ve only launched the car about 10 times since I had it and I drive everywhere in chill mode as I work from home rarely travelling long distances anyway, so why should that be so important to my buying decisions? Turns out the Taycan is still extremely rapid but can actually corner and stop amazingly well too?​

Fast forward to yesterday and I bought the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo in Ice Grey which is due to arrive October I also put a deposit on the new 2024 refresh version too ?‍​

What a difference a couple of months makes​

Interested in your thoughts on a couple of the options I spec’d:​

1) Innodrive - Is it reliable on motorways? My old version (AP1) of Autopilot was solid on the motorway / dual carriageways but erratic on anything else?​

2) Rear wheel steering - Got this to assist parking in tight spots, does it help?​

3) Thermally insulated / privacy glass - Does it make much of a difference to the noise?​

? If you managed to get this far well done ?​

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[Poshfpg]

If it helps I have all 3 options although you'd need to drive back to back to compare.

1. Innodrive is excellent on motorways and solid on other roads although I tend to drive myself on single carriageway roads.
2. Yes, it feels as compact as our ID3 around town. If you are in tight parking spots a lot then the surround view and remote parking are useful. Now and again I have had to back it out of a space on the app when someone parked too close to for me to get in.
3. I have measured 64db at a GPS 145kmh in France if that helps at all and the cabin has been fine of late in 30c+ temps.

If ordering again all 3 would be on my essentials list but you will find people who insist they're all pointless and the money should be spent on PTV and PDCC. Each to their own but if you think you'd like the 3 listed I would imagine you'll appreciate them.

 

[whitex]

I switched out from a Model S with Ludicrous and Sport Plus Smart Air Suspension to a Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo. LOVE IT! Not perfect by any means, Taycan has some annoying bugs/features and lack of other features, some remind me of early Tesla days (have been driving Model S'es since 2013, my wife still drives one). If you optioned RAS, PDCC, it will ride so much more precisely than a Model S (and mine had the Sport+ Smart Air Suspension, which is definitely more sporty and precise than standard SAS on my wife's Model S). I went with the Turbo because the 4S felt a little underpowered on highways as compared to my Model S, but if you drive everywhere in Chill Mode, you'll be just fine (heck, you should have saved money and had 90D instead of the P90D). The other thing, which was the main reason I never bought a Plaid, is the stalkless yoke. Tesla started offering a rounded version recently, but it's still stalkless and now that your hands are not forced to be near the touch controls for blinkers or horn, it makes it even worse - so you might have just missed a bad experience there.

I was never a Tesla/Elon fanboy, nor am I a Porsche fanboy, I am an equal opportunist (buy whatever fits me best at the time, have owned many brands before, including Porsche), and I am very happy to have switched from Model S to Taycan. My wife will likely switch to the EQS or eTron, or maybe a Rivian, not sure yet. She actually prefers the softer suspension ride, but also still needs at least Model S trunk capacity, which is hard to come by, even the Taycan CT has less, but enough for me. My next car, I don't know, depends what will be available in a few years. For now, very happy with the Taycan CT (again, sans a few annoying issues like the door handles which only work right 65% of the time, or trunk which stops closing half way for no reason sometimes, or car unlocking itself right after locking, etc.).

As for your direct questions:

1. Have Innodrive, tried it on my 3,500 miles drive home from the dealer, don't like it. Adaptive cruise control and steering assist is ok, not as good as Tesla (not even AP1), but ok (different approach - while Tesla intends the driver to aid the AutoPilot, Porsche intends its ADAS to aid the driver). I would not spec Innodrive again.
2. Have RAS, love it, would definitely spec it again. Makes the car feel smaller than Model S, even though they are almost the same size. Useful for U-turns and tight parking lots.
3. Have thermally/noise insulated glass, love it - I enjoy driving in silence, one of the great benefits of the EV. My Taycan is way quieter than any of the 4 Model S's I've owned, or any loaner I have driven.

 

[WuffvonTrips]

Fast forward to yesterday and I bought the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo in Ice Grey which is due to arrive October I also put a deposit on the new 2024 refresh version too ?‍​

If you'll be selling the MY24 when you get the facelift, the depreciation will be painful (and October delivery from June order indicates a big drop in demand)- have you considered instead buying nearly new for now?

 

[CRAIG BROMLEY]

If you'll be selling the MY24 when you get the facelift, the depreciation will be painful (and October delivery from June order indicates a big drop in demand)- have you considered instead buying nearly new for now?

I did consider 2nd hand and had loads of conversations with many dealers, but alas I’m fussy and I never could get both the colour or min spec I wanted.
Yes the trade-in will sting for sure, but I may feel I don’t want the new version and just keep the 2023 car if it’s not worth the financial kick in the teeth.

My other train of thought was with delays from various new car component shortages cropping up all the time, the MY24 could end up being really delayed leaving me with a car with spec niggles that could then annoy me for a long time.

 

[whitex]

@CRAIG BROMLEY, have you considered Night Vision? I speced it on a whim, and while it didn't do what I wanted it to (give me extra vision in a snowstorm or heavy rain), it does warn about humans or animals you're about to collide with in the dark (even if you don't have it showing on the IC). So far it gave be a very useful warning about some moron dressed in black riding a bicycle with no lights or reflectors whatsoever in the middle of a highway at 3am. Other people have reported useful warnings about animals which saved them from collisions. The FLIR detected object will also be highlighted by the matrix headlights (sadly, everywhere in the world except for USA - we have headlights rules more ancient than our presidents, banning matrix headlights).

 

[GreenHornet]

Innodrive is meh. But ACC with Active Lanekeep Assist is nice to have on the highway.

 

[or1]

Congrats on choosing a Taycan! I had a Model S P85D Ludicrous for six years from 2015, recognize most of your thoughts.

You get good advice on your questions in the above, but I can give counterpoints. I admit I am not fond of almost-good autonomy to start with: rarely used AutoPilot in the Model S, tried InnoDrive and did not like how it braked and accelerated, so I skipped it. I am more relaxed and enjoyed driving myself than surveilling the car’s driving.

For other points, may I mention my Review after 10000 km thread started a couple of days ago? https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/gts-sport-turismo-review-after-10000-km.16182/

 

[Crick]

Rear wheel steering is an absolute joy: precision and tight turns. Excellent.
Thermally/noise-insulated glass: a must-have if you drive on the highway. It makes the Burmester worth every penny.
Innodrive: in the U.S., around San Francisco, daily driving works too well, dropping speed to posted construction speeds while the rest of the highway motors on. I ordered it anticipating longer, off-main highway drives where speed traps live. I've observed enough small-town speed straps in the U.S. I "checked all" when I ordered my Taycan. Innodrive is the only feature I don't use.

 

[daveo4EV]

Interested in your thoughts on a couple of the options I spec’d:
1) Innodrive - Is it reliable on motorways? My old version (AP1) of Autopilot was solid on the motorway / dual carriageways but erratic on anything else?
2) Rear wheel steering - Got this to assist parking in tight spots, does it help?
3) Thermally insulated / privacy glass - Does it make much of a difference to the noise?

same Journey - tesla victim since 2013 (5 Tesla's until 2020) - 2020 Taycan Turbo - Love it - pros/cons - better car than Tesla, but a less better EV than Tesla - trade off's but i like that the brakes don't suck and it's better made…

• Innodrive - meh - not as good as Tesla Autopilot - but ACC/ALK work ok when I want them to
  • but no there near Tesla's "quality" but Autopilot is dangerous and people rely on it too much
  • in my experience in North America Innodrive is too quick to slow down for real/imagined speed zone changes - I've had it disabled since purchase - and use ACC
  • Active Lane Keeping works ok but will disengage with no warning (chime) and can't follow roads I know for a fact my 2018 Model 3 Performance had no problems with…so "meh"
• RWS - yes it helps get it
• Glass is great - makes an already quiet car next level quiet…

welcome - you'll love it - but it's more an EV take from a traditional sports car company vs. a take on what a car should be from a software company - different pros/cons - there is no perfect.

Porsche makes a great car and a mediocre EV
Tesla makes a great EV and a mediocre car
Porsche is as good at mechanical engineering as Tesla is at software
Tesla is as good at mechanical engineering as Porsche is at doing software

the two companies have different focuses.

 

[Tighlines]

I ordered a Model S PLAID nearly 3 years ago after owning a Model S P90D for 7 happy years, but then in May that dreaded email came in cancelling all the right hand variants indefinitely ?‍​

So what was a fanboy to do, I hadn’t considered any other electric car and had little knowledge or interest in anything else? The model 3 and Y were software and production marvels but as common as butt holes and getting even more common.​

​

So I have 4 friends who bang on relentlessly about their bloody Porsche cars whilst I’m desperately trying not to eye roll so bad I can actually see the back of my scull ?​

I wanted something special and exciting to drive so decided to test drive the Taycan Cross Turismo to see what the fuss was all about, mmm okay there might be something in this Porsche thing!​

The Tesla fanboy in me would have said it’s not as fast and has less range than my 7 year old car, but I’m realising that’s not everything, to be honest I’ve only launched the car about 10 times since I had it and I drive everywhere in chill mode as I work from home rarely travelling long distances anyway, so why should that be so important to my buying decisions? Turns out the Taycan is still extremely rapid but can actually corner and stop amazingly well too?​

Fast forward to yesterday and I bought the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo in Ice Grey which is due to arrive October I also put a deposit on the new 2024 refresh version too ?‍​

What a difference a couple of months makes​

Interested in your thoughts on a couple of the options I spec’d:​

1) Innodrive - Is it reliable on motorways? My old version (AP1) of Autopilot was solid on the motorway / dual carriageways but erratic on anything else?​

2) Rear wheel steering - Got this to assist parking in tight spots, does it help?​

3) Thermally insulated / privacy glass - Does it make much of a difference to the noise?​

? If you managed to get this far well done ?​

​

Well your taste is impeccable, your car looks exactly like mine ?.

A good friend of mine is a tesla fanboy with a plaid and I am hoping to do a direct comparison soon, so I'll look forward to your comparison. Although, I believe the only thing they will have in common is the price tag. Two completely different philosophies is what an EV should be.

 

[DanK]

BTW, range-wise… our 2015 P90DL (v1 battery pack) only rates at 230mi fully charged now - and I've never hit close to what it rates. My Turbo shows 265mi and it seems to actually hold to its mileage.

I feel like Innodrive is pretty close to AP1. Lane holding isn't as good but the "symbiotic steering" is much more pleasant to use.

RWS and insulated glass are game changers coming from an S.

We still have the S, wife drives it and loves it. I traded my '18 M3P+ with FSD and I couldn't be happier. Only things I miss are the "bong" when the light turns green in case I'm distracted and an app that actually works.

(pedantic note: we don't charge either to 100%… 80% normally. Full ratings are by using Math. And we use a dino car for long trips.)

 

[CRAIG BROMLEY]

Well your taste is empecable, your car looks exactly like mine ?.

A good friend of mine is a tesla fanboy with a plaid and I am hoping to do a direct comparison soon, so I'll look forward to your comparison. Although, I believe the only thing they will have in common is the price tag. Two completely different philosophies is what an EV should be.

Oh yes that a beut, can't wait!

 

[CRAIG BROMLEY]

BTW, range-wise… our 2015 P90DL (v1 battery pack) only rates at 230mi fully charged now - and I've never hit close to what it rates. My Turbo shows 265mi and it seems to actually hold to its mileage.

I feel like Innodrive is pretty close to AP1. Lane holding isn't as good but the "symbiotic steering" is much more pleasant to use.

RWS and insulated glass are game changers coming from an S.

We still have the S, wife drives it and loves it. I traded my '18 M3P+ with FSD and I couldn't be happier. Only things I miss are the "bong" when the light turns green in case I'm distracted and an app that actually works.

(pedantic note: we don't charge either to 100%… 80% normally. Full ratings are by using Math. And we use a dino car for long trips.)

Yeah I was worried about the Porsche range because I assumed is was as unreliable as the estimate on my P90D, but everyone seems to suggest it's pretty accurate. On the TYPICAL setting my Tesla was down to 232 miles at 100% after 7 years so maybe the Taycan will actually be a tad more?

 

[whitex]

Yeah I was worried about the Porsche range because I assumed is was as unreliable as the estimate on my P90D, but everyone seems to suggest it's pretty accurate. On the TYPICAL setting my Tesla was down to 232 miles at 100% after 7 years so maybe the Taycan will actually be a tad more?

Taycan guesstimator seems relaively accurate to me (way better than any of my 4 Tesla Model S) when in the same climate, however from experience, when traveling across different climate zones (I drove the Taycan home from the dealer in SC to WA in the middle of February), the estimates were not very accurate.

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