Hi everyone, I am seriously considering purchasing a 2021 P!. I test drove the car and loved it. However, after lurking around in this forum, I am becoming concerned due due to what seems to be quite a few owners with reliability issues. Since there are about 200 or so P1 cars in the US, it seems that the problems might plague many of the the cars, but of course I might be wrong. I would love to hear from current owners if they would purchase the P1 again after their ownership experience, and also if any of you are worried about long time, post warranty ownership. Thank you in advance!
Considering a Polestar 1 purchase
orys
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
Joined
·
2,746 Posts
Only thing I can think of would be poor value vs a volt. Volt was a great phev
Joined
·
203 Posts
I agree. The Volt was a good PHEV and the ELR was just a nicer version - I see nothing wrong with either one. I picked up my 2016 ELR used and drove it for 4 years without issue, and only paid $30k for it with 22k miles. I wouldn't have paid full retail price when new ($95k), but it was a great deal used!
I am also a P1 owner and have put about 5000 miles on it in a couple months. Purchased one of the few remaining new cars and do not regret it yet (ha). Discounts are massive for lightly used examples so the entry price is less of a barrier now too.
As to rationality, buying a car like this may be an emotional decision, but I would argue most personal-use car buyers are influenced heavily by emotion.
It really is a beautiful car and I have very much enjoyed driving it. I was looking for a GT and nothing on the market is quite like it from any brand at any price -stylish, fast, quiet, very comfortable, all-wheel drive, hybrid, practical for a two+two (though the rear sears are for very short people only). I get compliments very often and like that a new brand has no "baggage" associated with it like other storied marques.
Not sure where you live, but my other "daily driver" is a Miata that I drive in all weather conditions (read: snow) and the P1 should be even easier to drive during winter.
The biggest ownership concerns for me are (1) the long-term reliability of the fiendishly complex powertrain and (2) that the nearest service center is hundreds of miles away.
If you only drive a few thousand miles a year then practically any car would be fine and you should get what you want!
Sorry didn't mean to offend you. Perhaps it was a good car for its era. I do recall test driving it and it was certainly quirky
Joined
·
203 Posts
Not offended at all - just curious why you said what you said.Sorry didn't mean to offend you. Perhaps it was a good car for its era. I do recall test driving it and it was certainly quirky
Joined
·
5 Posts
I’ve had mine for about two months and do not regret a single second. Mine is a 2021 launch edition with all of the options except the tow hitch. When I bought it, it had 7300 miles, and had not had any software updates, and it was perfectly fine. I’ve sent updated the software, added the performance, software upgrade, and have had zero issues with it. The only thing I would even think about being a negative is I’ve had to reboot the infotainment system a couple of times. I lost GPS once and the radio stopped working once.
Joined
·
5 Posts
Disregard everything I said. L O L. Mine is a Polestar 2 and I should have read your entire post.
Joined
·
46 Posts
When I bought my Alfa Romeo Milano (brand new 87 purchased in 90 after sitting under wraps in the back of a dealership for all those years) I was warned, and people told me I was crazy. Maybe I was and still am. But I loved that car and it was a hell of a thrill to drive, wish I still had it. My purchase was strictly thrill and guts based, great driving car with high Italian style, reliable no, but I looked forward to driving it every time I saw it in the driveway through the window. The P1 is in the same category in my eyes, it's old technology, it sucks gas and electricity and there definitely are some downsides to any mixed drivetrain early design transportation. But the styling is impressive, somewhat retro but with that refined Swedish aesthetic. I sat in one at the dealer where I got my P2 and for a few minutes I had serious regrets about getting the P2 instead of springing for the P1. You only live once, if the P1 rings your bells get it, it is truly one of a kind and you will unquestionably turn heads. But save some bucks to get a backup vehicle, odds are that at some point you will need it. I hope you are purchasing through a Volvo/Polestar dealer (you will need their support down the line so build a relationship), how many miles? The one I sat in barely had 12K miles. The most important things to keep in mind are; to have realistic expectations on what it is and how you will use it, and make double sure that your significant other is completely on board with the purchase and knows of all the possible downfalls. I tell you this from experience, because you definitely don't want that becoming an issue further down the line. All in or all out
Thank you for your great input! I agree and the only live once motto. I am looking at two - one has about 2k miles (midnight), the other is matte black with 200 miles and a full term warranty as it was never sold. The matte black has some weird issue with the drivers seat - the seat bolster looks like it has water damage as the leather is totally stretched out and loose. The midnight will be bought sight unseen. I did test drive the matte black one.
Joined
·
203 Posts
Be careful with the "new" statement. They said the same about mine with 4 miles, but when I got the paperwork, it said used.
I called and said WTF? You advertised and stated it was new, but the paperwork said used...
They gave me a story about having to purchase it from the mfg., but it was never registered. I asked when the warranty started, and they told me 2022. I said the the full factory warranty has already lost ~1.5 years.
I said that is false advertisement and fraud. We argued about it for a bit and I told them I wasn't going to purchase the vehicle unless they gave me a warranty for 8 years that covered the HV batteries - which they did.
They ended up knocking another few thousand off the price and included a bumper-to-bumper full warranty for 8 more years.
I called and said WTF? You advertised and stated it was new, but the paperwork said used...
They gave me a story about having to purchase it from the mfg., but it was never registered. I asked when the warranty started, and they told me 2022. I said the the full factory warranty has already lost ~1.5 years.
I said that is false advertisement and fraud. We argued about it for a bit and I told them I wasn't going to purchase the vehicle unless they gave me a warranty for 8 years that covered the HV batteries - which they did.
They ended up knocking another few thousand off the price and included a bumper-to-bumper full warranty for 8 more years.
Joined
·
67 Posts
I've had mine fast approaching 3 years now (January 2021) and still love getting into it every day (except when I get another CEL - hopefully the bad ones are gone with the battery recall). I am not worried about the engine mechanicals, as they never get used. I am back up to 235 mpg (from 214 because I got the stale fuel notice and had to use the engine to burn some gas). If I guess, the engine may have less than 250 miles on it, definitely less than 500 miles, and the car just passed 10k the other day (about 5000 per year, given COVID and the time in the shop). She has an XC90 T6, so the same basic engine, with 70k miles with no real problems.
Fun seeing what I can get into it and not need to get her XC90. I keep a beach towel in the trunk to protect the passenger seat. 55-gallon barrel to use with the dust collector in the woodshop has been one of the more interesting pieces lately. I also filled the car completely when I got boxes and rolls of bubbles when I sold off the stereo system.
While RJOC sold his ELR, I still have mine for when the 1 goes into the shop. They don't have a loaner I would want (except a corporate-owned 1 has been sitting around the Volvo dealer for months now - may try and finagle that if mine has to go in and it is still there). So, it sits under cover in the driveway. It is at 40K miles and over 325 mpg lifetime, though it is on gas a lot lately as it does not get used very much, so it always has stale fuel. Mine is a 2014 I got in January 2018 for $33k.
Obviously, I am into PHEV concept coupes, having both of them.
Fun seeing what I can get into it and not need to get her XC90. I keep a beach towel in the trunk to protect the passenger seat. 55-gallon barrel to use with the dust collector in the woodshop has been one of the more interesting pieces lately. I also filled the car completely when I got boxes and rolls of bubbles when I sold off the stereo system.
While RJOC sold his ELR, I still have mine for when the 1 goes into the shop. They don't have a loaner I would want (except a corporate-owned 1 has been sitting around the Volvo dealer for months now - may try and finagle that if mine has to go in and it is still there). So, it sits under cover in the driveway. It is at 40K miles and over 325 mpg lifetime, though it is on gas a lot lately as it does not get used very much, so it always has stale fuel. Mine is a 2014 I got in January 2018 for $33k.
Obviously, I am into PHEV concept coupes, having both of them.
Thanks for the comments. Interesting to hear - how much time exactly has it been at service? Is this pretty much normal? Coming from a Lexus I am worried.
It seems that it is pretty normal and in fact expected for the P1 to be out of commission for extended time periods. Is this pretty common you think?
Joined
·
67 Posts
It has had 3 longer periods in a shop. I got the car on January 3 or 4, 2021. The first was in April 2021 and was about a month, but 2 weeks of that was transit time between LA and Houston, when LA was the closest Space/service. That was when the problem with a module not behaving correctly during charging periods and running down the 12V battery was discovered (confirmed?). The patch for that one came down a few months later. Second time was 6 weeks in Austin for the first time with the cell imbalance. That was in October 2021. Not really sure how diligent Austin was in getting work done, but they had the first round where they loaded in magic calibration software and drove the car for 3 or so full charge/discharge cycles. That failed, so then they had to remove the battery, open it up and do the cells individually on the bench. There was apparently some delay while a needed tool was shipped from somewhere. The third was the second occurrence of the cell imbalance. That one was 3 months here in Houston, starting in early September 2022. We skipped the driving it around, as that didn't work the first time anyway. Lots of things were done, balancing on the bench (did not work this time), replacing cells, getting new cells for bad cells, getting a new control module (the one that does the actual analog cell voltage and current driving and monitoring), finally mixing and matching new and old cells to get something that worked. Finally got done December 2.
Then there was the 2 weeks for the battery recall, but we were on vacation while that was done. Another week after that when a brake pad chunked when I picked it up from the battery recall. 12V battery was only a day.
So, two things from all of this. One, times are shorter for Volvo standard items (12V battery, which was in stock). Brake pads replaced and rotors turned (did both front wheels to be safe) was just a week (pads came in fast). High voltage battery cells are a different story. Learning curve for Polestar and limited parts. Second, from everyone on the forum and what I hear elsewhere, my experience is far from normal, toward the worst case. One other person on the forum has also had long resolution recurring problems, bad module that was hard to trace down, but Polestar worked hard to get it fixed, flying in techs and the like. Plus, my car is an early car. Much of this will have been fixed on the later cars. Corporate has been great with all of my problems and my local mechanic is awesome. Most owners have not had anything like these problems, just wonderful, trouble-free cars.
As I have noted elsewhere, we are basically driving prototypes, so some problems can be expected. Probably fewer problems than the car I would replace it with if I had to, a ListerBell STR (Stratos replica) ListerBell STR.
So don't let my battery cell problems dissuade from getting an absolutely beautiful and special car. People still walk up every few days and ask what it is and say how great it looks. You don't get that with too many cars.
Then there was the 2 weeks for the battery recall, but we were on vacation while that was done. Another week after that when a brake pad chunked when I picked it up from the battery recall. 12V battery was only a day.
So, two things from all of this. One, times are shorter for Volvo standard items (12V battery, which was in stock). Brake pads replaced and rotors turned (did both front wheels to be safe) was just a week (pads came in fast). High voltage battery cells are a different story. Learning curve for Polestar and limited parts. Second, from everyone on the forum and what I hear elsewhere, my experience is far from normal, toward the worst case. One other person on the forum has also had long resolution recurring problems, bad module that was hard to trace down, but Polestar worked hard to get it fixed, flying in techs and the like. Plus, my car is an early car. Much of this will have been fixed on the later cars. Corporate has been great with all of my problems and my local mechanic is awesome. Most owners have not had anything like these problems, just wonderful, trouble-free cars.
As I have noted elsewhere, we are basically driving prototypes, so some problems can be expected. Probably fewer problems than the car I would replace it with if I had to, a ListerBell STR (Stratos replica) ListerBell STR.
So don't let my battery cell problems dissuade from getting an absolutely beautiful and special car. People still walk up every few days and ask what it is and say how great it looks. You don't get that with too many cars.
Wow I admire your patience but agree that if one considers this to be a prototype it just comes with the territory. It’s nice to hear how helpful polestar have been. Have they provided you with a loaner with those long intervals?
I am looking at two cars - one far away from me that has been driven for 2 years has roughly 2k miles) and the other very close to me that’s never been registered. That one looks like water leaked onto the drivers seat and damaged to leather that is now wrinkled. It isn’t clear to me why they haven’t addressed it, and I am wondering if the car is actually ready for delivery in terms of fixing all those early gremlins since it’s been sitting around for 2 years. I don’t feel the dealership is being totally transparent with me but perhaps I am just overly paranoid
Joined
·
67 Posts
They have always offered a loaner, but I turn them down as they are always 4 doors of some type. When I get in most 4 doors and get the seat adjusted correctly, turning my head to left gives me a great view of the B pillar. Some of the people here are lucky enough to have a service center with a 1 as a loner. Not here (unless I can get them to keep the corporate one). So, I have my 2 door car that was paid off a long time ago (okay, when I got it) and has a relatively low insurance premium.
Bought my P*1 from Polestar Princeton fall of 2021 and have no regrets. I love it. Had the battery recall done. My family has been driving Volvos since the 80s. If you can afford it and live near a Polestar dealer for service, do it if you love how it drives. Ask for forgiveness from the better half later! Haha, JK.
Joined
·
22 Posts
I have 13k miles on my P1. It is a great car, so much so that I have considered buying a second. Easy daily driver, stupid fast and a great true G.T. car. I enjoy every trip and try to do at least one 1300 mile road trip each year, just a fantastic driver.
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
