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Ok sit back people, grab a beer or some wine, as this will be a long one!
So we arrived 20mins late due to an accident on the local motor way, so by the time we arrived the staff were already 1/3rd the way through the walk round and demonstration. We all were at a distance due to C-19 but they did cover some points I'd not seen clarified before.
Firstly the "Driver" is determined by the phone on the person who opens the Drivers Door. So if lets say you, your wife and son all have a google account and profile set up on the car, whoever's phone is in the pocket of the person that opens the Drivers Door is configured as the Driver - so seat positions, screen configuration, etc.. will be set up for them.
So now I want to have 3 phones in my one pocket and see what the car does!
Next we moved around back and got a look at the boot. It's seems ok for the class of the car, unfortunately we couldn't get close enough to have a good rummage around nor time, because it was running late and there was one guy going on about tow bars all the time, we got moved over to the test cars.
They had 8-10 cars, in various configurations. We had a look around the cars very quickly and based on the inside hanger lighting me and my wife concluded the following:-
Void - Looks the best.
Snow - Thankfully looks good!
Thunder - My wife turned around to be and said "damm we should have got that colour!" - I thought it was ok and what I expected.
Moon - I liked a lot but my wife wasn't so sure.
Midnight - Neither of us was impressed.
I don't recall seeing a Magnesium - but wait ... later we judged the cars outside in daylight!
We was given a Non-Performance Snow/Slate (as per my order) but with the 20" optional wheels (which I have not ordered) - I took special notice here as at least one person here has been asking about if anyone has tested this combo.
So we then get into the cars, I set my seat up and the mirrors why the guy try's to explain stuff to me ... but I've watched almost every vid on YouTube, plus read almost everything I can, so while trying not to be rude I was just getting on with playing with everything
- at least my wife was interested in what he was saying.
First impressions from the Driver Seat and all is good. Very good even! Yeah some cheap plastics low down, but then most mid-budget cars do this. The touch screen is fast and responsive ... maybe a touch too sensitive but I'm sure you would get used this after a little while.
I also found out that the Nappa Leather Seats are the only option where you can get Ventilated Front Seats. Something I missed when configuring my car ... not sure I could push the extra £4k but would have made the choice a lot harder ... I thought that none of them had that option. However on the drive it was 28deg outside but light grey clouds so no direct sun, the climate inside set to 20deg, I didn't feel hot under my bum/back as I do in other leather cars ... so not a problem! Which was a huge relief as I drove down in my Stinger which has Nappa Leather Seats and I have to them on level 2 cooling all the way there even with the climate at 20.5deg, so this was a worry for me ... lucky the fake leather isn't overly hot!
The Quality of the interior from the front as I mentioned is good. The design choice to use more fabric than soft fake leather/plastic things ... or more fake metal plastic strips was a very nice change. The Slate Weave material was odd to the touch as my brain was going "well that's not what leather feels like, but damm it looks like it". It's not as soft as leather but then it's not like plastic, fabric, or any other material I can recall touching anything similar I can use as an example. The important thing is that it feels nice to touch ... even if unusual.
The arm rest and 2nd cup holder ... yeah I checked it out ... either me or my wife will need to fight over that, as there is no way I'm giving up the arm rest. I wished too they hadn't used that Piano Black around the gear nob. Man that's going to get scratched .. I wish personally they had got ride of the gear select (use a stick shift or buttons) and used that for a 2nd Cup Holder or storage or something! I'm hoping soon after launch someone sells a wrap to over that Piano Black area. Same as the Tesla's! Why do car companies do it?
Phone Charging Area : I plonked my One Plus 8+ phone in there over the wireless charging recess. Either, you'll need an aftermarket solution of a rubber mat or something .. or a rubber case on your phone maybe? Because there is NO WAY that phone is staying in there. I don't think we had left the airbase and my phone was already side-wards. Only good point is that it is very slopped away from you and deep, so it won't be coming out of there ... it just won't ever stay in the wireless charging port without some help.
I can honestly say this is the biggest negative about this car ... it's like no one cared to design something practical and it was an afterthought, less than an after though ... where the rest of the car everything feels like it was designed that way - even if you don't like that design, at least you can see what they were aiming for.
OK the DRIVE! We finally got there! So you put your foot on the break, select D, and just go ... no start / stop button. (The wife was impressed - lucky small things please her!)
Lets do the big one first ... the ride quality. I was expecting a Firm to Hard ride - I even said to the wife "hay we are on 20" wheels not the 19"'s we have ordered, so if a little too firm we should still be ok" as I know my wife; so hopefully I was preempting a niggle of hers. Well ... Nope ... nothing, not even a little moan from her!
The ride was really good! Yes it's firm, but even around town nothing beyond some sports cars out there.
Let me try and explain another way, this is a list of cars I've owned or driven for more than a few hours over the past 5 years, in order of smoothness while driving normally on roads at normal speeds.
Mercedes S Class - Like driving on clouds.
Lexus IS300
Kia Sorrento / VW Tiguan
Kia Stinger GTs
Audi S4
Jaguar F-Pace (with Adaptive Sports Suspension) / I-Pace (standard suspension - not air)
Audi RS 5
Jaguar F-Type - Like having rocks as springs!
Now I was expecting the P*2 to be more like the RS5 or maybe F-Pace. It's a lot closer imho to an Audi S4. However the faster you go the better it gets ... I have no idea why! It's bit like the F-Type in that regard ... it's like it wants you to go faster.
My Stinger is a great GT, smooth-ish on the motorways and not as annoying as my F-Pace (or my mates RS) around A/B roads. The Stinger doesn't handle around corners as well as the Audi's ... but then they don't drive as well day to day IMHO.
However on the motorway the P*2 felt better than my Stinger!! BETTER! and I had just arrived via the same roads! What voodoo was this?
Around town and county lanes the P*2 does feel more like an Audi S4 ... but some speed can fix that! We was doing 60mph down a country lane and my wife didn't see a pot hole coming up ... I braced being in the back now ... and ... .... well a little judder. I was expecting a full on BANG! But nope. I then noticed that the car feels less settled at low speeds, but once above 40/50mph it's hunkers down nicely and gives a decent ride.
So during my test drive I hit the throttle a lot ... yeah it's neck snapping fast ... you do feel the weight around bends but nothing over the top.
The one peddle driving took me a few junctions to get used, but withing 5min's I'd almost mastered it! I'll defiantly be leaving it in Standard regeneration for most drives. I did test LOW ... and that feels more like a normal cars engine breaking ... maybe a fraction more aggressive but minor differences. I'd probably switch to LOW on the motorways or even OFF, and let it coast a bit ... but 99% of the time I'd leave it in standard and get that regen.
There is one negative that I can sort out with more time setting up my seat / wheel position. I drive with my left leg very limp and towards the centre console. On every car I've owned it's normally my calf mussel that rests against the transmission tunnel and It's normally very comfortable. However in the P*2 my knee rests against the little hole they added for storage.
I lowered the seat and it was better but still not perfect, and if went higher it would rub on the underside of that large plastic bar to the right of the gear nob. If I honestly thought with a bit of time getting my seat in the right place wouldn't resolve this I would be cancelling my order. It would be a big deal for me if I didn't think I could resolve this - It was damm close on the drive, but we had little time and trying to do it on the move wasn't safe as I also needed to adjust the steering wheel as well.
Drive Conclusion: Impressed.
We stopped in a parking bay to have a quick rest and swap drivers if needed.
So I jumped out the drivers seat and joined my son in the back - even though I won't spend any time back there, it's always good to see the car from another perspective. My wife jumped in the front seat.
At this time we saw all the cars in daylight ......
Void - Still the best - but I still can't own one ... they never look clean.
Snow - Thankfully STILL looks good!
Thunder - My wife turned around to be and said " I take it back, it looks rubbish now" - I still thought it was nice and what I expected.
Moon - Ok might become my new 2nd Favourite ... however my wife now didn't like it still!
Midnight - Wife's vote! - her best looking car (now)!! My Vote ... it's a close 2nd behind Void ... joint with Moon. Does look good on the road.
So there you go ... 3 of these colours change dramatically depending on the light type and conditions (see some of this video's linked later in the thread!)
These are of course just mine and my wife's views, but both of us changed our opinion on at least 2 of the cars!
Back Seat. Ok all the positive stuff above has to be balanced a little right? Well yeah ... but before that my son's view on sitting in the back the whole trip.
The Headliner which is normally some soft cloth or in more expensive models suede (or fake suede). The P*2 is basically a really hard carpet. From the front seats or just generally looking about, it looks like a fabric cloth, but getting in / out of the rear you notice it's hollow, hard, and rough. Think of a landlord fitting carpet to some stairs in a block of flats - yeah it's like that.
In addition the plastic around the air vents in the back is the cheapest I've felt in any car for a long time, and while moving you'll probably put your fingers on the side to steady yourself so your thumb and finger can get the nob.
The rear arm rest is ok, but the cupholders while the same plastic as most cars, the little bits that stick out to hold your drinks in place are little tiny plastic flaps. I'm not saying they will break off ... but if they are the first to go with kids in the back don't be shocked.
The rear light are normally decent bright bulbs, so rear passengers can read at night while you drive. Now I couldn't test how bright they are or where they project the light ... and while the light itself feels high quality, I doubt very much it's going to do much due to location and angle. (I'm an electrical design engineer so I know a little about lights
)
More Negatives? Well no. That's it.
I'm 5'9" ... I fitted perfectly in the rear with knee and head room. My feet did fit under the seat in front, but not more than up to my ankle ... so you won't be stretching out back there. To be honest it about as good as to be expected for a car of this size. After the drive I didn't feel any discomfort but I suspect 2 hours back there and my old knees might be complaining a little. But then the rear is for kids and friends ... neither I care about that much
Seriously if you plan to carry 4 adults or 2+2 Teenagers then give it a test drive. If you are going from a Model X to a P*2 then there might be some complaints ... but if you are going from an I-Pace to a P*2 ... then I'd say it's on par with it, if a little better - always felt my feet were pushed together too much in the Jag.
One plus is the rear seats seem to sit higher up than the front one's ... so you actually get a decent view on the road ahead and not just a large headrest the whole trip - Also the Hey Google works from the rear! (Much to the annoyance of my wife
).
On the infotainment screen - it's what every reviewer has said. It's really good ... like really good. Yeah not as technical as Tesla, but then 100 times more user friendly.
Finally we tried a series of commands with Hey Google:-
HG play Michael Jackson - worked
HG play Ghostbusters - didn't work.
HG play Ghostbusters on Spotify - worked.
HG navigate to "XXXXXX" (postcode) - worked.
HG, delete navigation history - didn't work - this is because I used our house postcode in the above example and the wife wasn't happy!
HG, navigate to Blackpool - worked.
It then told us we would wouldn't make it on the current charge and gave us as large "+ ADD CHARGING STATION TO ROUTE" button to press, which we did. It then suggest 4 along the route. Nice ... I would have played more with it, but we had returned.
Overall I'm really impressed at it as an EV. It's shame that at the moment there is an EV extra cost as this car costs £10k more than my Kia Stinger GTS. Has the same 0-60, less top speed, less boot space, less rear space, and without question (and more importantly?) a lower quality interior. Yes the P*2 is very modem and nice to look at but the fabric's no mater how nice they are, don't match the Nappa Leather we have now, the Kia's plastic's feel the same, however the fake soft leather plastic on the Kia is looking old compared to the fresh fabrics in the P*2. So Overall 2-1 to Kia!
However, we both agreed on the way home, the extra £7k (due to government credit) cost over a new Kia, was a small price to pay for lower service costs, the lower fuel costs, and the fact it was better for the environment; and it wasn't like the the P*2 wasn't great .. it was! ... it just the Stinger has been such a good car to us and we will miss it dearly.
TLDR : It is a great EV with ton's of positives and only a few niggles.
p.s. Meet SA69-ev there, was great to meet you!
p.p.s. : if you read it all well done!
So we arrived 20mins late due to an accident on the local motor way, so by the time we arrived the staff were already 1/3rd the way through the walk round and demonstration. We all were at a distance due to C-19 but they did cover some points I'd not seen clarified before.
Firstly the "Driver" is determined by the phone on the person who opens the Drivers Door. So if lets say you, your wife and son all have a google account and profile set up on the car, whoever's phone is in the pocket of the person that opens the Drivers Door is configured as the Driver - so seat positions, screen configuration, etc.. will be set up for them.
So now I want to have 3 phones in my one pocket and see what the car does!
Next we moved around back and got a look at the boot. It's seems ok for the class of the car, unfortunately we couldn't get close enough to have a good rummage around nor time, because it was running late and there was one guy going on about tow bars all the time, we got moved over to the test cars.
They had 8-10 cars, in various configurations. We had a look around the cars very quickly and based on the inside hanger lighting me and my wife concluded the following:-
Void - Looks the best.
Snow - Thankfully looks good!
Thunder - My wife turned around to be and said "damm we should have got that colour!" - I thought it was ok and what I expected.
Moon - I liked a lot but my wife wasn't so sure.
Midnight - Neither of us was impressed.
I don't recall seeing a Magnesium - but wait ... later we judged the cars outside in daylight!
We was given a Non-Performance Snow/Slate (as per my order) but with the 20" optional wheels (which I have not ordered) - I took special notice here as at least one person here has been asking about if anyone has tested this combo.
So we then get into the cars, I set my seat up and the mirrors why the guy try's to explain stuff to me ... but I've watched almost every vid on YouTube, plus read almost everything I can, so while trying not to be rude I was just getting on with playing with everything
First impressions from the Driver Seat and all is good. Very good even! Yeah some cheap plastics low down, but then most mid-budget cars do this. The touch screen is fast and responsive ... maybe a touch too sensitive but I'm sure you would get used this after a little while.
I also found out that the Nappa Leather Seats are the only option where you can get Ventilated Front Seats. Something I missed when configuring my car ... not sure I could push the extra £4k but would have made the choice a lot harder ... I thought that none of them had that option. However on the drive it was 28deg outside but light grey clouds so no direct sun, the climate inside set to 20deg, I didn't feel hot under my bum/back as I do in other leather cars ... so not a problem! Which was a huge relief as I drove down in my Stinger which has Nappa Leather Seats and I have to them on level 2 cooling all the way there even with the climate at 20.5deg, so this was a worry for me ... lucky the fake leather isn't overly hot!
The Quality of the interior from the front as I mentioned is good. The design choice to use more fabric than soft fake leather/plastic things ... or more fake metal plastic strips was a very nice change. The Slate Weave material was odd to the touch as my brain was going "well that's not what leather feels like, but damm it looks like it". It's not as soft as leather but then it's not like plastic, fabric, or any other material I can recall touching anything similar I can use as an example. The important thing is that it feels nice to touch ... even if unusual.
The arm rest and 2nd cup holder ... yeah I checked it out ... either me or my wife will need to fight over that, as there is no way I'm giving up the arm rest. I wished too they hadn't used that Piano Black around the gear nob. Man that's going to get scratched .. I wish personally they had got ride of the gear select (use a stick shift or buttons) and used that for a 2nd Cup Holder or storage or something! I'm hoping soon after launch someone sells a wrap to over that Piano Black area. Same as the Tesla's! Why do car companies do it?
Phone Charging Area : I plonked my One Plus 8+ phone in there over the wireless charging recess. Either, you'll need an aftermarket solution of a rubber mat or something .. or a rubber case on your phone maybe? Because there is NO WAY that phone is staying in there. I don't think we had left the airbase and my phone was already side-wards. Only good point is that it is very slopped away from you and deep, so it won't be coming out of there ... it just won't ever stay in the wireless charging port without some help.
I can honestly say this is the biggest negative about this car ... it's like no one cared to design something practical and it was an afterthought, less than an after though ... where the rest of the car everything feels like it was designed that way - even if you don't like that design, at least you can see what they were aiming for.
OK the DRIVE! We finally got there! So you put your foot on the break, select D, and just go ... no start / stop button. (The wife was impressed - lucky small things please her!)
Lets do the big one first ... the ride quality. I was expecting a Firm to Hard ride - I even said to the wife "hay we are on 20" wheels not the 19"'s we have ordered, so if a little too firm we should still be ok" as I know my wife; so hopefully I was preempting a niggle of hers. Well ... Nope ... nothing, not even a little moan from her!
The ride was really good! Yes it's firm, but even around town nothing beyond some sports cars out there.
Let me try and explain another way, this is a list of cars I've owned or driven for more than a few hours over the past 5 years, in order of smoothness while driving normally on roads at normal speeds.
Mercedes S Class - Like driving on clouds.
Lexus IS300
Kia Sorrento / VW Tiguan
Kia Stinger GTs
Audi S4
Jaguar F-Pace (with Adaptive Sports Suspension) / I-Pace (standard suspension - not air)
Audi RS 5
Jaguar F-Type - Like having rocks as springs!
Now I was expecting the P*2 to be more like the RS5 or maybe F-Pace. It's a lot closer imho to an Audi S4. However the faster you go the better it gets ... I have no idea why! It's bit like the F-Type in that regard ... it's like it wants you to go faster.
My Stinger is a great GT, smooth-ish on the motorways and not as annoying as my F-Pace (or my mates RS) around A/B roads. The Stinger doesn't handle around corners as well as the Audi's ... but then they don't drive as well day to day IMHO.
However on the motorway the P*2 felt better than my Stinger!! BETTER! and I had just arrived via the same roads! What voodoo was this?
Around town and county lanes the P*2 does feel more like an Audi S4 ... but some speed can fix that! We was doing 60mph down a country lane and my wife didn't see a pot hole coming up ... I braced being in the back now ... and ... .... well a little judder. I was expecting a full on BANG! But nope. I then noticed that the car feels less settled at low speeds, but once above 40/50mph it's hunkers down nicely and gives a decent ride.
So during my test drive I hit the throttle a lot ... yeah it's neck snapping fast ... you do feel the weight around bends but nothing over the top.
The one peddle driving took me a few junctions to get used, but withing 5min's I'd almost mastered it! I'll defiantly be leaving it in Standard regeneration for most drives. I did test LOW ... and that feels more like a normal cars engine breaking ... maybe a fraction more aggressive but minor differences. I'd probably switch to LOW on the motorways or even OFF, and let it coast a bit ... but 99% of the time I'd leave it in standard and get that regen.
There is one negative that I can sort out with more time setting up my seat / wheel position. I drive with my left leg very limp and towards the centre console. On every car I've owned it's normally my calf mussel that rests against the transmission tunnel and It's normally very comfortable. However in the P*2 my knee rests against the little hole they added for storage.
I lowered the seat and it was better but still not perfect, and if went higher it would rub on the underside of that large plastic bar to the right of the gear nob. If I honestly thought with a bit of time getting my seat in the right place wouldn't resolve this I would be cancelling my order. It would be a big deal for me if I didn't think I could resolve this - It was damm close on the drive, but we had little time and trying to do it on the move wasn't safe as I also needed to adjust the steering wheel as well.
Drive Conclusion: Impressed.
We stopped in a parking bay to have a quick rest and swap drivers if needed.
So I jumped out the drivers seat and joined my son in the back - even though I won't spend any time back there, it's always good to see the car from another perspective. My wife jumped in the front seat.
At this time we saw all the cars in daylight ......
Void - Still the best - but I still can't own one ... they never look clean.
Snow - Thankfully STILL looks good!
Thunder - My wife turned around to be and said " I take it back, it looks rubbish now" - I still thought it was nice and what I expected.
Moon - Ok might become my new 2nd Favourite ... however my wife now didn't like it still!
Midnight - Wife's vote! - her best looking car (now)!! My Vote ... it's a close 2nd behind Void ... joint with Moon. Does look good on the road.
So there you go ... 3 of these colours change dramatically depending on the light type and conditions (see some of this video's linked later in the thread!)
These are of course just mine and my wife's views, but both of us changed our opinion on at least 2 of the cars!
Back Seat. Ok all the positive stuff above has to be balanced a little right? Well yeah ... but before that my son's view on sitting in the back the whole trip.
- Loves the Glass Roof
- Loves the fact he can sit in the seats without his booster. He is 138cm so technically doesn't need one, but in our Stinger his hip to knee length is about 2" short to sit comfortably.
- Loves the rear charging points and seat heaters (even though he has both of these currently!)
- Loves the large Screen - wants to know when Netflix's can be added so we can watch while charging / waiting.
- Loves the car ... nagged me all the way home why we have to wait until November for it - I dared not say "because your mother is stubborn and wanted a tow bar!"
The Headliner which is normally some soft cloth or in more expensive models suede (or fake suede). The P*2 is basically a really hard carpet. From the front seats or just generally looking about, it looks like a fabric cloth, but getting in / out of the rear you notice it's hollow, hard, and rough. Think of a landlord fitting carpet to some stairs in a block of flats - yeah it's like that.
In addition the plastic around the air vents in the back is the cheapest I've felt in any car for a long time, and while moving you'll probably put your fingers on the side to steady yourself so your thumb and finger can get the nob.
The rear arm rest is ok, but the cupholders while the same plastic as most cars, the little bits that stick out to hold your drinks in place are little tiny plastic flaps. I'm not saying they will break off ... but if they are the first to go with kids in the back don't be shocked.
The rear light are normally decent bright bulbs, so rear passengers can read at night while you drive. Now I couldn't test how bright they are or where they project the light ... and while the light itself feels high quality, I doubt very much it's going to do much due to location and angle. (I'm an electrical design engineer so I know a little about lights
More Negatives? Well no. That's it.
I'm 5'9" ... I fitted perfectly in the rear with knee and head room. My feet did fit under the seat in front, but not more than up to my ankle ... so you won't be stretching out back there. To be honest it about as good as to be expected for a car of this size. After the drive I didn't feel any discomfort but I suspect 2 hours back there and my old knees might be complaining a little. But then the rear is for kids and friends ... neither I care about that much
Seriously if you plan to carry 4 adults or 2+2 Teenagers then give it a test drive. If you are going from a Model X to a P*2 then there might be some complaints ... but if you are going from an I-Pace to a P*2 ... then I'd say it's on par with it, if a little better - always felt my feet were pushed together too much in the Jag.
One plus is the rear seats seem to sit higher up than the front one's ... so you actually get a decent view on the road ahead and not just a large headrest the whole trip - Also the Hey Google works from the rear! (Much to the annoyance of my wife
On the infotainment screen - it's what every reviewer has said. It's really good ... like really good. Yeah not as technical as Tesla, but then 100 times more user friendly.
Finally we tried a series of commands with Hey Google:-
HG play Michael Jackson - worked
HG play Ghostbusters - didn't work.
HG play Ghostbusters on Spotify - worked.
HG navigate to "XXXXXX" (postcode) - worked.
HG, delete navigation history - didn't work - this is because I used our house postcode in the above example and the wife wasn't happy!
HG, navigate to Blackpool - worked.
It then told us we would wouldn't make it on the current charge and gave us as large "+ ADD CHARGING STATION TO ROUTE" button to press, which we did. It then suggest 4 along the route. Nice ... I would have played more with it, but we had returned.
Overall I'm really impressed at it as an EV. It's shame that at the moment there is an EV extra cost as this car costs £10k more than my Kia Stinger GTS. Has the same 0-60, less top speed, less boot space, less rear space, and without question (and more importantly?) a lower quality interior. Yes the P*2 is very modem and nice to look at but the fabric's no mater how nice they are, don't match the Nappa Leather we have now, the Kia's plastic's feel the same, however the fake soft leather plastic on the Kia is looking old compared to the fresh fabrics in the P*2. So Overall 2-1 to Kia!
However, we both agreed on the way home, the extra £7k (due to government credit) cost over a new Kia, was a small price to pay for lower service costs, the lower fuel costs, and the fact it was better for the environment; and it wasn't like the the P*2 wasn't great .. it was! ... it just the Stinger has been such a good car to us and we will miss it dearly.
TLDR : It is a great EV with ton's of positives and only a few niggles.
p.s. Meet SA69-ev there, was great to meet you!
p.p.s. : if you read it all well done!
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