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Tesla Converts? What has your experience been with your Taycan?

RainGuy

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I had a few people comment on my post about ordering a Taycan generalize about the differences between a Model S and the Taycan but I was hoping to get some real experience from those that have had a performance Model S and switched to the Taycan. I am coming from a 2012 P85+ and I know generally the fit and feel is night and day but what else can you say if you have also made the leap? Also how easy/hard is it to use your Tesla Charging unit at home with the Taycan? I have a Gen 2 and we are going to likely keep both Our old Model S and recent model 3 (teenager is becoming a driver sooner than the value of resale on my 2012 Model S). Please share your first hand thoughts! Thanks.
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Vision

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I have 3 ev's - model 3 performance, plaid and the turbo s. I would say each car has there strengthens. Can I honestly say the taycan is better than my tesla's?. No. Each car has a different purpose for me.

For charging I'm using the tesla charger with adapter. Works great.
 

fullmetalbaal

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I moved from 911 + Model 3 to a Taycan. My wife kept her Model X.

Fit and finish is better in the Porsche, suspension & steering is better, seats are better, looks are better.

But Tesla is surprisingly good at many other things that I have now been missing. I underestimated how much good software matters to me nowadays. Media, nav, communication is all much much better in the Tesla. The standard audio in a model 3 is better (IMHO of course) than the Bose in my Tayan.

The Taycan is not universally the better car in my experience. If I could "undo" my decision, 911 + Model 3 or Model S is a better idea.
 
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RainGuy

RainGuy

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I moved from 911 + Model 3 to a Taycan. My wife kept her Model X.

Fit and finish is better in the Porsche, suspension & steering is better, seats are better, looks are better.

But Tesla is surprisingly good at many other things that I have now been missing. I underestimated how much good software matters to me nowadays. Media, nav, communication is all much much better in the Tesla. The standard audio in a model 3 is better (IMHO of course) than the Bose in my Tayan.

The Taycan is not universally the better car in my experience. If I could "undo" my decision, 911 + Model 3 or Model S is a better idea.
WOAH. I am glad i asked. I am going to sit on this for a minute.. The spec'd out Taycan is almost 2x a brand new Model S with AP. Still leaves money for a recently new 911... Here i was juggling 3 cars and I may end up going to 5.
 

BjörnfromHamburg

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Hi
I owned all Tesla models since 2015, always Performance versions. Still have a MYP.

First: the whole software/ app integration is a lot more and often better developed at Tesla. Also the bigger display, even in the Model Y gives better oversight, especially with navigation. Also the Ryzen-architecture is smoother and quicker.
It stays a game-changer, not only towards Porsche.

I sometimes miss that integration in the Porsche, especially when travelling long-distance.
On the other hand, I don't need (and never use) around 70% of the Tesla gimmicks, so it doesn't bother me too much, not at all in normal urban daily driving.

The dashcam integration from Tesla yet, I do miss. It must be solved with Tequipment or after-market in the Taycan (which I did).
Still lacks the comfort through the app one has with Tesla.

The new Model S air-suspension is a big step forward, but the whole chassis-work is still miles away from the Taycan.

Also the drive-shaft issues, like on the Model X (new drive-shafts every 10 k km) and Model S are no issue on the Taycan.
The whole driving experience in the Taycan feels indestructible (I know it isn't), compared to Tesla.

All Model S still have the door-panels falling of and the interior quality does not live up to high quality expectations. In the Taycan, to me, it does, especially with leather package, HUD, Massage seats etc.

The Taycan feels like a tank, the Model S feels rather "light".

Driving high-speed on the Autobahn is another WORLD with the Taycan.
My every week ride to the coast has some high-speed curves, where the Model Y makes me go under 200 km/h because of instability.
The Taycan gives absolute confidence, even with 260 km/h.

The approach from Porsche, for example not to offer one-pedal drive was very easy to get used to, although I thought I would miss it. I don't.
Actually, I don't know, what to prefer.
It kind of is more fun in the Taycan.

Also the range-management in the Taycan is closer to reality and more reliable.

I love the looks of the Taycan and the emotions it gives me. I don't have those at all with the Tesla.

Last for today: charging speeds: With Tesla, charging stops on long-distance always are at least 30 min., often over 40.
The Taycan is a monster in fast-charging.
It has an amazing plateau and still decent speeds even at 75% soc. 25 min is already a very long stop. It's more like 15-20 min in average. And I have a pre face-lift.
With those charging speeds, high speed driving is more fun and makes more sense.

That's it for today from me.
 
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fullmetalbaal

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WOAH. I am glad i asked. I am going to sit on this for a minute.. The spec'd out Taycan is almost 2x a brand new Model S with AP. Still leaves money for a recently new 911... Here i was juggling 3 cars and I may end up going to 5.
If 911 + Tesla (3 or S), or even 911 + another non-Porsche EV is an option - I would take that option without a second thought.

Not to start a flame war with anybody who is in love with their Taycan, but to provide honest opinion to somebody who is still on the fence: The Taycan is not a particularly good Porsche (comparison point for me is a 911), and it's not a particularly good EV . I'm sure Porsche will eventually master this - but it's not right now.

Caveat: I'm not driving the refresh, but my main gripes have not been addressed at all AFAIK.
 

BjörnfromHamburg

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With the 911, you chose the Porsche that represents everything Porsche is, heritage, evolution, performance, prestige, brand-identity.
All that, a Taycan cannot have after hardly 5 years of existence, the same way a 911 does.
If I look at the position of the Taycan in the Porsche model line-up though, I clearly state: the Taycan is already a good Porsche.
 

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If 911 + Tesla (3 or S), or even 911 + another non-Porsche EV is an option - I would take that option without a second thought.

Not to start a flame war with anybody who is in love with their Taycan, but to provide honest opinion to somebody who is still on the fence: The Taycan is not a particularly good Porsche (comparison point for me is a 911), and it's not a particularly good EV . I'm sure Porsche will eventually master this - but it's not right now.

Caveat: I'm not driving the refresh, but my main gripes have not been addressed at all AFAIK.
I hear you, when comparing a 911 to all other models, those Porsches are either too fat or have the engine in the wrong place.

You prioritize software (UX/UI/nav functions etc) in EVs. Model 3 is a shit car, but much better infotainment. My parents often leave their 2022 Model X and Lucid Air GT for weeks at a time, but I find myself mainly driving the Taycan. It's hard to argue that it isn't the better car. I mean, the fit and finish is better in the Porsche, suspension & steering is better, seats are better, looks are better. Oh wait.... :p
 


fullmetalbaal

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I hear you, when comparing a 911 to all other models, those Porsches are either too fat or have the engine in the wrong place.

You prioritize software (UX/UI/nav functions etc) in EVs. Model 3 is a shit car, but much better infotainment. My parents often leave their 2022 Model X and Lucid Air GT for weeks at a time, but I find myself mainly driving the Taycan. It's hard to argue that it isn't the better car. I mean, the fit and finish is better in the Porsche, suspension & steering is better, seats are better, looks are better. Oh wait.... :p
I wasn't saying necessarily model 3. (Personally I think calling the refreshed model3 a shit car is writing it off too quickly, but to each their own). Go for BMW ev -those are better at the software than the Porsche is. Or Rivian. or Lucid. Taycan software is a shit show.
 

Watchesandburgers

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I upgraded from a 2013 Model S to my Taycan GTS. I was a Tesla fanboy for many years and wanted to upgrade to a new Model S (likely the LR, not Plaid). I drove it, and the interior was nicer than my 2013, but the autopilot visualizations in the gauge cluster were too video-game like for me. It was very distracting during normal driving. Handling was fine. The stalk-less life would take getting used to, but that's OK.

I then drove the Lucid Air and loved it. Better ergonomics compared to the Tesla. Better use of space. Better looks. Better materials. For roughly the same price or slightly more. But their buying experience left me cold and I ended up cancelling my order.

Drove the Taycan and was emotionally moved. This was a Porsche! The driving experience, handling, interior quality are miles above the Tesla Model S. I have no regrets spending the extra money to get the Taycan. The biggest drawback is the software experience. The Taycan J1 UI is slow (improved in J1.1 cars), and Apple CarPlay is nice, but doesn't extend to the gauge cluster screen. No OTA updates to fix issues or adjust car settings like Tesla or Lucid. That's a let down, for sure, but the driving experience is SO worth it. Also, the range figures in the car are much more accurate than the guess-o-meter in the Tesla.

Charging is a non-issue. I have the ChargePoint home charger and was able to charge the Taycan and the Model S (with an adapter). Many here have the Tesla wall charger and use it successfully with an adapter as well. Both ChargePoint and Tesla units are well-reviewed online, etc., so no worries there.

Hope that helps.
 

mystermykee

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I wasn't saying necessarily model 3. (Personally I think calling the refreshed model3 a shit car is writing it off too quickly, but to each their own). Go for BMW ev -those are better at the software than the Porsche is. Or Rivian. or Lucid. Taycan software is a shit show.
I've test driven the refreshed model 3, and it's much better than the first gen-great for someone who likes good infotainment software and could care less about how it actually drives. It still doesn't drive as well as the worst Porsche ever made (might I say a 986??). But it seems what you're looking for in a car, or what makes a good car, a good car, Porsche doesn't do well in the Taycan.
 

fullmetalbaal

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I've test driven the refreshed model 3, and it's much better than the first gen-great for someone who likes good infotainment software and could care less about how it actually drives. It still doesn't drive as well as the worst Porsche ever made (might I say a 986??). But it seems what you're looking for in a car, or what makes a good car, a good car, Porsche doesn't do well in the Taycan.
It doesn't drive like a Porsche, but it's also no longer worlds away from other cars that folks don't mind driving. But my point is less about the Model 3, and more about the Porsche.
If you're hung up about the Model 3, replace it with a Ioniq 5 N.

I think that's really the best option right now: a real drivers car like the 911 + an acceptable EV that's a good daily driver.
 

WasserGKuehlt

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It doesn't drive like a Porsche [..]

I think that's really the best option right now: a real drivers car like the 911 + an acceptable EV that's a good daily driver.
Naw, why settle for “acceptable” or “good”; the best option is obviously a real driver’s car like the 911, and a real driver’s daily EV - like the Taycan.
 

fullmetalbaal

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Naw, why settle for “acceptable” or “good”; the best option is obviously a real driver’s car like the 911, and a real driver’s daily EV - like the Taycan.
The Taycan comes with some real trade-offs that don't make it a clear #1 as a daily driver - even outside of budget considerations, there's a number of convenience/capability aspects where it's substantially behind. (Porsche has done almost zero to close the gap via OTA over the last 3 years, so I don't expect this to change either). And on the sports car side, it's further away from the 911 than I expected.

Loaded Taycan
vs
911 + daily Taycan
vs
911 + Ioniq 5N or Model 3/S or BMW + delta in cash

I would pick door number three. (and be tempted to stick the delta in cash into a better 911)
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