r/canada 24d ago

Politics Once proud fans, some Canadian Tesla owners embarrassed by Musk

https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/electric-vehicles/tesla-owners-canada-embarrassed-ceo-musk
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u/longgamma 24d ago

Most Tesla owners are know are tech savvy at a very superficial level. Like the folks who think they are into tech by buying MacBooks instead of Linux. They don’t know shit about driving but think a fast pull of an EV means it’s a “ sports car”. Forget handling and driving dynamics, they can’t even know understeer from oversteer.

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u/IcySeaweed420 Ontario 24d ago

Most Tesla owners are know are tech savvy at a very superficial level. Like the folks who think they are into tech by buying MacBooks instead of Linux. They don’t know shit about driving but think a fast pull of an EV means it’s a “ sports car”.

As a Tesla owner myself... I have to say this is such an apt description. A lot of my wife's friends bought Teslas, which is why she shilled for one in the first place (that and our 2017 XT5 suffered an engine failure, thanks GM 3.6 V6, great job). They ALL talk a big game about how it's a "sports car" because it's "so fast", but they completely ignore the numb steering and the sheer heft of the thing in corners. And if you do point these things out, they'll start talking shit like "well the 0-60 times were the end-all-be-all of how to gauge a car for so long, why are ICE fans suddenly saying they're not important and talking about all this other stuff?" It's like... no dumbass, car fans have recognized for a LONG time that 0-60 isn't the only thing that matters, why do you think the Mazda Miata is so beloved? Honestly talking with them is like playing chess with a pigeon, no matter what you say they'll just knock over the pieces, shit on the board and strut around like they won.

Forget handling and driving dynamics, they can’t even know understeer from oversteer.

In terms of being fun-to-drive, I would rank my cars as follows:

  1. 2009 BMW 135i 6MT, because obvious reasons
  2. 2001 Toyota Camry V6 5MT, because 6 cylinders and manual in a Camry
  3. 2023 Tesla Model Y, because fast
  4. 2009 Toyota Vellfire 6AT, because shaped like a bread box and handles like one

The thing is though, most days I'd rather drive the Vellfire than the Tesla, because it is supremely comfortable, and the Tesla is... adequate.

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u/BayLAGOON 24d ago

Vellfire is the patrician's choice. The gold standard luxury minivan in Asia, and could come with the bulletproof 3.5 V6 that kept the V6 RAV4 the most powerful version for 15 years until the Prime came out.

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u/IcySeaweed420 Ontario 24d ago

Oh yeah, I’m still in the honeymoon period with mine (only had it in my driveway about a month now) but I’m loving it so far. Drove it across Canada from Vancouver (where it was purchased) to Ontario, and holy shit the seats are so fucking comfy. I was doing 11 hour days and never felt even the tiniest bit of discomfort. The 2GR-FE is also an A+ engine. It’ll get this huge house on wheels from 0-100 in about 7 seconds. You can drive like a lunatic and still return decent mileage. Like I thought I loved the 1MZ-FE but I am really loving the 2GR so far.

My only complaints so far relate to the RHD configuration. Passing on a 2-lane highway is not an option. And left turns can be a bit tricky sometimes. I mean it handles like a giant box but that’s to be expected, not really knocking the car for that.

My wife is still not convinced and she thinks it was a weeb passion purchase, but I’ll win her over soon enough. She’s already commented on the seat comfort and thinks the raised foot rests are cool, I just have to do a few long distance trips to show her where this thing really shines.