My wife test drive a standard Model Y and 3 last weekend. She loved the performance but didnt love the rest of the car. I dont want to bash the brand because I admire what Tesla is doing and their innovative methods. But from one car guy to another.....there are other EV options that might peak your interest. They are very exciting to drive....and the motors do make noise. It does take skill to get the max performance from them as well. A good driver will learn the traction limits and be able to apply just the right amount of throttle to get maximum grip and acceleration without spinning the tires. Tires dont last long though because the very high torque at low speeds is hard on the compound. But quite fun still. A strong EV can be a driver's car just as much as any internal combustion engine car can.
I am going to purchase my 3rd EV next week. I shopped around and did try the Tesla models but they aren't for me. There is more to a car than just being quick. If straight line performance is all that mattered then I would be a Challenger or Cuda kind of guy. To me, "performance" is acceleration, braking, handling, style, comfort etc. Which is why we like Pontiac models because they think the same way when they built the GTO and Firebirds.
It is only a matter of time before EVs become mainstream. They are superior in almost every way compared to an ICE vehicle. I decided my next EV will be the Mustang Mach E Premium AWD Standard range. I dont want the extended range battery because it makes the car heavier and that affects performance (acceleration, handling etc). Range anxiety is something that affects new adopters mostly. Those of us that have lived with an EV for a while realize that 200-250 miles of range is plenty.
I really liked the Jaguar I-Pace First Edition. Pricey but very very nice and fast. Many dealers are offering about $20k off MSRP so that gets it closer to my budget but still about $18k more than the Mach E. Another nice choice is Polestar 2 (Volvo subsidiary). That thing is pretty cool and also very fast.
Battery life is not an issue as long as the model you choose has thermal management system with liquid or gas cooling. Air cooled batteries will degrade but liquid cooled batteries will likely last the life of the vehicle as Tesla has proven. The Model S has been in circulation for almost a decade and even the early models are still going strong. EV batteries will have a second or third life in other applications so they will be recycled for certain. They remain valuable even when the vehicle eventually wears out so there isnt much environmental concern about the batteries ending up in landfills.
Hopefully late next year the Rivian truck will be available. I will gladly sell my RAII convertible to buy one of those things and hopefully still have quite a nice sum left over. I guess we will see what happens. I like the deuce but I dont really enjoy driving it that much because it gives me anxiety to pull it out of the garage. Kinda sucks because they are meant to be driven...
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