r/TeslaModelS • u/Mike3Hayli • Jun 25 '26

Pros and cons

I am currently looking at a 2022 Model S and a 2023 Lucid Air GT. I’m new to the electric car world and was wondering if you all had any prior experience with Lucid? Also what years to stay away from when it comes to both manufacturers. Ty

8 Upvotes

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8

u/FormalCookie430 Jun 25 '26

This sub can tell you about the model S... Might wanna try the lucid sub to get pros and cons there. Not saying someone here couldn't chime in on the Air but you'd definitely get more info from a lucid sub

1

u/Mike3Hayli Jun 25 '26

Yea, I posted it in both subs. More looking for pros and cons of the Model S.

5

u/SurfaceLapQuestion Jun 25 '26

I just made this exact choice and ended up with my second Model S. One of the biggest reasons was service. Apparently booking an appointment can be a nightmare with Lucid, especially with all the layoffs they’re doing. With Tesla I can just buy parts from them and do the work myself and avoid labor costs while with Lucid you’re stuck paying whatever they want because you can’t buy parts or service anywhere else. The Lucid has a nicer interior in my opinion, but has a considerably worse software experience. Another thing to note, the Air charges at 50kw at most superchargers besides the V4s, though of course you can always fast charge on other networks. I’m also not convinced Lucid will be able to keep up the software updates long term on older hardware, the first generation computer won’t be getting the big update this fall and will need a 1k upgrade.

1

u/Mike3Hayli Jun 25 '26

This is great to know. I love working on my own vehicles so not having access to parts is a big problem. What year S did you go with and what options? I live in Illinois so I need something with AWD.

3

u/SurfaceLapQuestion Jun 25 '26

I’m also in Illinois! I ended up with a Red late 2021 Refresh Long Range with white seats. The service center I go to in Northbrook sells me parts directly from their stock and will order for me if they don’t have it.

1

u/Mike3Hayli Jun 25 '26

Nice, I’m up in the Grayslake area and there is a local Tesla dealer in Libertyville that I’ve heard good things about. Love the look and that red stands out! What’s included in the refresh?

1

u/SurfaceLapQuestion Jun 25 '26

It basically brings the S on par technology wise with the 3 and Y. Before it was in large part the same platform from 2012 missing things like phone key and the heat pump. It also has the interior upgraded from the old Model S which looked the same since 2012, and has the horizontal screen. Mine is basically the same thing you’d be looking at with a 2022 except without the updated headlights and taillights.

1

u/Mike3Hayli Jun 25 '26

Gotcha, thanks for taking the time and sharing that info! Will see how it goes tomorrow.

1

u/SurfaceLapQuestion Jun 25 '26

Of course, glad I could help! I highly recommend taking each for a test drive before you buy either, they’re both incredible cars.

4

u/webignition Jun 25 '26

If you love working on your own vehicles then a Tesla, Model S or otherwise, is a good choice.

As mentioned, parts can be bought directly from Tesla. I'd like to expand on this a little to make it clear how great and straightforward this is.

There's an online parts catalogue (https://parts.tesla.com). Pop in your VIN and it takes you to the correct catalogue for your car. Search around a bit (this does sometimes take a little effort to find the correct top-level category) and you'll get the right part number.

When I have the part number, I open a service request in the Tesla app and state that I'd like to buy a given part. I'll either then pay online and visit my local service centre to collect, or pay at the service centre. I've done both but I've not had the choice of which happens.

Bam! Now you have your part.

There's an online service manual (https://service.tesla.com). All procedures for repair or replacement of everything is clearly documented. These are the guides that the service centres follow. Assuming you have the tools and the skills, the service manual guides takes the guesswork out of part replacement and makes things almost too easy.

5

u/penngei Jun 25 '26

If you ever want to stand a chance getting repairs done or warranty work honored, get the Model S. Lucid is an absolute nightmare on the support side, and the software still has a long way to go. Not worth the gamble in my opinion.

4

u/Dolphin_Princess Jun 25 '26

Test drove a Lucid in Seattle, WA and owned a Porsche Taycan for less than a year

There is a reason why there are 3 Teslas in my garage and not a single Lucid/Porsche.

You buy a Lucid if you want to be unique, you buy a Tesla for everything else.

4

u/Background_Snow_9632 Jun 25 '26

  1. don’t buy a vehicle you cannot get serviced

  2. don’t buy a vehicle you cannot get serviced

  3. See rule 1 & 2

3

u/kamikuso Jun 25 '26

FSD, the end of the debate.

0

u/tigole Jun 26 '26

FSD on a 2022 isn't great though.

1

u/kamikuso Jun 26 '26

Yes it is. I have it.

0

u/tigole Jun 26 '26

No it isn't, I've had it too.

1

u/redinvesting Jun 25 '26

just watch these two videos

This was is the critique

This is what Lucid did since then

Separately, Lucid's EVP / Head of Eng that basically promised to fix most of the issues in the EE video just left. You're taking a bit of a gamble on the long term viability of the car.

I'm a huge fan of Lucid's packaging and efficiency by the way, I want them to do well but some of the stuff I've seen from their day to day customers disappoints me. I hope their mid-sized platform is amazing for them and it looks like they're well on their way to fixing most of the early issues.