No rush. I’ll wait in the car.
Twenty minutes later . . .
“Thanks, babe. Can we nip to Mandy’s? I need to borrow some shoes.”
Yeah, sure.
Ten minutes later . . .
“Can we stop to get some Prosecco on the way?”
Yeah, sure.
“Aww, thanks babe. You really love me don’t you?”
He does. But while he’s waiting he loves playing Atari computer games in his Tesla even more. Simply pop the Model 3 in Park and use the steering wheel to play all your Eighties favourites on the turbo-powered touchscreen.
You’ll find classics including Missile Command, Asteroids, Millipede, Super Breakout, Beach Buggy Racing 2 and more.
Suddenly, hanging around for your missus or getting stuck in a two-hour jam on the M62 isn’t so much of a ball ache when your car doubles as an arcade on wheels. And that’s just the latest over-the-air software update sent free to Tesla owners, everywhere.
Press the “Emissions Testing Mode” and the car FARTS like a whoopee cushion when indicating left or right. SANTA mode automatically plays Christmas tunes and jingles when you turn.
And this one’s for you, Stan Collymore. ROMANCE mode with its roaring log fire, warm heating and soppy love songs for a bit of in-car how’s your father. More sensibly, there’s a DOG mode which keeps the cabin at a set temperature to stop pets getting fried in the summer.
But strip away all that icing and you are still left with a beautiful gem of a car that’s fast, minimalist, roomy and, of course, electric. We’ve had to wait three years for the “smaller, more affordable” Model 3 to arrive on these shores in right-hand drive. But it was worth it.
It’s still not quite the “$35,000 people’s Tesla” Elon Musk promised but at the new lower price of £37,000, it’s not far off. Finance starts at £395.
The full name for this base car is Standard Range Plus, which means it is rear-wheel drive and has a 50kWh battery that will do 258 miles between charges.
The Long Range 75kWh version at £46,000 is all-wheel drive, faster, and has a 348-mile range. But for another £3k, you’ll want the top spec Performance that minces a Porsche. It’ll do 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds and keep on pushing up to 162mph.
Here’s what else you need to know. The Model 3 has no key. You open it with a hotel-style door card. Or via your smartphone.
MOST READ IN MOTORS
There’s no instrument panel behind the steering wheel, either. Or buttons. Except for the hazard lights in the roof. Everything else — speedo, satnav, air con and so on — is on the 15in touchscreen.
I’d personally want head-up display which projects speed and satnav on to the windscreen in front of you. It’s better than having to look down and left to check how fast you’re going. And the ride comfort isn’t brilliant. It needs more suspension travel and better damping.
That said, the Model 3 is easily my favourite Tesla. I’ll go further, it’s probably my favourite electric car, full stop. If the Yanks can ship them here quick enough and keep chipping away at the price, it’s game on.
Key Facts
TESLA MODEL 3
Price: £37,340 (incl plug-in grant)
Battery: 50kWh
0-60mph: 5.3secs
Top speed: 140mph
Range: 258miles
C02: 0g/km
Out: Now
Tesla’s new ‘dog mode’ means you can safely lock your pooch in the car on a hot day without opening a window
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk