I don’t buy on features myself because quite frankly every damn car I’ve hired or bought which has anything other than basic features is chock full of bugs and has to be fixed every two minutes. Auto companies just can’t and shouldn’t write any high level software at all and low level embedded stuff is even pretty awful. They just can’t support it properly. Tesla are a notable exception to this as in they actually offer OTA updates to their vehicles but the general rule is a big stinking thumbs down.

I mean the worst of this is the Range Rover I hired for a wedding to drive the bride in. Headlights gave out due to an electrical problem with CANbus when I was driving it back to the hire return. Just give me some fuses, switches and relays thanks.

My iPhone has 100x better navigation, media and communications support than anything else I’ve used. So I just slave it to the car with BT. I don’t even use CarPlay because bugs (Ford, Land Rover, Citroen in particular).

Keep the software and hardware separate and keep the hardware simple.

I think you are simply from a different breed of drivers. I assume you also wrench on those cars?

I also bet on simplicity, both because it's much cheaper, and because it gives me less trouble. Fuses, switches and relays, as you say.

I simply don't trust a company who already has my money to maintain a software package on wheels, and I just don't trust software in general.

Used Model S's I'd agree with you. The new ones where you're apparently going to need to drive with a yoke, and without a turn signal stalk or wiper controls outside of the touchscreen... not so much. Tesla has a great electric powertrain and charging network; I just wish they'd stick to that and leave off all the nonsense. (See also, falcon wing doors, and air vents you need to adjust via a touch screen menu.)

The interior of any Tesla is light years behind a BMW/Merc/Audi. My wife recently got an x7 and even my Grand Cherokee seems nicer in some ways than a Tesla.

For the price of a Tesla you should be getting so much more inside especially at the S/X price level. Compared to the Mercs and BMWs I looked at a Tesla was more comparable to a nice Honda.

You need to compare like to like. Yes, the finish in Mercs and BMWs is better, but you're also comparing an ICE to an EV.

Look at what BMW offers for an EV. The i3, at $44k base. The i3 is basically a midlevel compact sedan. The Model 3, which you can get for $4k cheaper, is a way better deal IMHO.

What's particularly lacking in the MS interior? Very comfortable, leather all round, heated and adjustable seats. Best infotainment/nav system hands down, glass panoramic roof, and a very clean look.