RE: Tesla Model X | PH Used Buying Guide

[MrGTI6]

My boss has the saloon version of this and I made the mistake of taking it down to the shops during my lunch break a couple of weeks ago because it was blocking my car in.

It got me to the shops OK, but when I was about to head back it went into "Transport Mode" and wouldn't move over walking pace. Then the screen shut down and it said it was doing an update. During this time, it began to rain and the sunroof was open. The only way to close it is through the screen which was unavailable during the update, so the interior got drenched.

About half an hour later, the update finished. After that, it was still in "Transport Mode" and had to be recovered.

Apparently this isn't the first time it's been dragged onto a low loader.

I've bought plenty of rubbish over the years, believe me, but I wouldn't touch one of these with a barge pole.

[wilkij1975]

So if I read this right, it will cost you £81 to charge (150kw at £0.54 per kw) to get 170 quoted miles?? That’s a huge amount for a pathetic amount of range.

If I put £81 worth of diesel in my car, I get around 500 miles. Why would anyone buy one?? I get that home charging will be peanuts in comparison but as someone who travels for work, I couldn’t afford that or the time to recharge it.

[Orangecurry]

gangzoom said:

Our 2017 75D X is aging pretty well. It's our family hack car, does everything from tip runs, daily school duties to pan European road trips with 6 people+luggage on board.

We have 'free for life' charging on the car when using Tesla Superchargers, so all the holiday road trips are essentially done for 'free'.

Servicing has only been done once in 70k, new brakes pads/discs at around 45k. Otherwise changing the pollen filter is a 5 minute DIY job I do every 2 years. Tires last around 15k per set, as always price points vary depending on brand.

For a 6 seater SUV that does 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and can carry the literal kitchen sink, overall running costs are just ridiculously cheap. The article is right on price of entry been the main issue, which on the used market is now getting resolved.

Ultimately for me, a car has to be good to drive regardless of anything else, and despite all the stuff banded around about Tesla, and unnecessary stuff Musk gets up to, the X is a very competent family car that feels as at home winding up/down Trollstigen as seeking out mythical family spaces whilst been stalked by XC90s at the local supermarket.

Just for fun - let's look at the numbers the other way around.

I bought a 3.0R Spec.B Subaru Legacy Estate in 2012, 2nd hand. So that's a 'boxer' flat-six petrol. I do all my servicing, and keep a spreadsheet. We've done 90k miles, including the Alps and various other pan European trips.
Purchase, service and consumables (incl tyres) is currently at roughly 10k GBP
Road tax for ten years (it's a pre-2006) let's call that 3k GBP
Insurance (I presume you pay on an electric vehicle) we should discount as there are too many variables.
Fuel - at average 30mpg for 90k miles with Tesco 99RON over the previous ten years? Keep the maths simple would 1.20 GBP ppl be ok? That's 16k GBP?

...........so 30k in total in 10 years.... how does that compare with the cost and residuals on the Tesla?

Oh and the Subaru is probably one of the best all-round real-world-carry-things drivers car ever; goes round corners, small on the outside, large on the inside (two-double-fridge freezer size in the back), and low-weight, so I trust that's a given.

Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of an electric car.... just not a heavy battery powered one.

[Nomme de Plum]

Water Fairy said:

Each to their own but to me these look awful inside and out. That's subjective of course but personally for a family do-it-all I need to know I can do 500 miles at a go with nothing but 5 minute top up and leg stretch. As for towing the caravan.....................

So you drive 9 or 10 hours with only a 5 minute break.

Amazing.

Do you anaesthetise you family during this trip?

[Nomme de Plum]

Orangecurry said:

Just for fun - let's look at the numbers the other way around.

I bought a 3.0R Spec.B Subaru Legacy Estate in 2012, 2nd hand. So that's a 'boxer' flat-six petrol. I do all my servicing, and keep a spreadsheet. We've done 90k miles, including the Alps and various other pan European trips.
Purchase, service and consumables (incl tyres) is currently at roughly 10k GBP
Road tax for ten years (it's a pre-2006) let's call that 3k GBP
Insurance (I presume you pay on an electric vehicle) we should discount as there are too many variables.
Fuel - at average 30mpg for 90k miles with Tesco 99RON over the previous ten years? Keep the maths simple would 1.20 GBP ppl be ok? That's 16k GBP?

...........so 30k in total in 10 years.... how does that compare with the cost and residuals on the Tesla?

Oh and the Subaru is probably one of the best all-round real-world-carry-things drivers car ever; goes round corners, small on the outside, large on the inside (two-double-fridge freezer size in the back), and low-weight, so I trust that's a given.

Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of an electric car.... just not a heavy battery powered one.

Running an old car is generally a cheaper form of motoring. However, over and above tyres brakes etc other bits do eventually wear out.

So comparing an old ICE with a newish EV doesn't really work.

I would not get too hung up on weight as electric cars have regenerative braking which negates some the power required to accelerate that additional weight. Additionally the weight is low down.

[Mr E]

wilkij1975 said:

So if I read this right, it will cost you £81 to charge (150kw at £0.54 per kw) to get 170 quoted miles?? That’s a huge amount for a pathetic amount of range.

You are not reading it right.

[EK993]

Just traded in my 5 year, 50k mile X. Best daily car I have owned by far. As has been said before, ridiculously low running costs. Changed tires once, and that’s it. No other servicing.

Have been so impressed with Tesla that I swapped it for a Model Y performance.

[Orangecurry]

Nomme de Plum said:

Running an old car is generally a cheaper form of motoring. However, over and above tyres brakes etc other bits do eventually wear out.

So comparing an old ICE with a newish EV doesn't really work.

I'm comparing ownership cost, so it does work. This is a 'driver' forum. The driving experience is at the top of the list, not the age of the car.

Nomme de Plum said:

I would not get too hung up on weight as electric cars have regenerative braking which negates some the power required to accelerate that additional weight. Additionally the weight is low down.

Ooooh no darling. Colin Chapman said it best - increasing power makes you faster on the straights. Reducing weigh makes you faster everywhere.

Weight is everything.

[Water Fairy]

Nomme de Plum said:

Water Fairy said:

Each to their own but to me these look awful inside and out. That's subjective of course but personally for a family do-it-all I need to know I can do 500 miles at a go with nothing but 5 minute top up and leg stretch. As for towing the caravan.....................

So you drive 9 or 10 hours with only a 5 minute break.

Amazing.

Do you anaesthetise you family during this trip?

Not sure where you get that idea from.

I said 500 miles with 5 minute stops. And I did't specify how many stops did I?

[biggbn]

Water Fairy said:

Each to their own but to me these look awful inside and out. That's subjective of course but personally for a family do-it-all I need to know I can do 500 miles at a go with nothing but 5 minute top up and leg stretch. As for towing the caravan.....................

Pretty simple then, an EV at this time isn't for you. Nothing wrong with that. In the same way you wouldn't buy an old Land Rover as a limousine and you wouldn't take a 911 off road, you buy the kind of car that suits your needs and lifestyle.

[biggbn]

biggbn said:

gangzoom said:

Our 2017 75D X is aging pretty well. It's our family hack car, does everything from tip runs, daily school duties to pan European road trips with 6 people+luggage on board.

Loads of warranty issues in the first 3 year of ownership, but since than its been surprisingly OK interms of out of warranty repairs.

We have 'free for life' charging on the car when using Tesla Superchargers, so all the holiday road trips are essentially done for 'free'.

Servicing has only been done once in 70k, new brakes pads/discs at around 45k. Otherwise changing the pollen filter is a 5 minute DIY job I do every 2 years. Tires last around 15k per set, as always price points vary depending on brand.

For a 6 seater SUV that does 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and can carry the literal kitchen sink, overall running costs are just ridiculously cheap. The article is right on price of entry been the main issue, which on the used market is now getting resolved.

I've entertained the idea of changing to a brand new X when ever they get released for sale in the UK, but the brand new car is essentially the same as ours but with a bigger battery. Given we've done 71k+ miles all over Europe with no worries about range in ours, paying ££££££ for mainly more range seems like not the best way to spend £50k+ required for a change. Add in the fact we'll end up having to pay for Supercharging, our 75D is likely to stay with us till it literally falls apart.

Ultimately for me, a car has to be good to drive regardless of anything else, and despite all the stuff banded around about Tesla, and unnecessary stuff Musk gets up to, the X is a very competent family car that feels as at home winding up/down Trollstigen as seeking out mythical family spaces whilst been stalked by XC90s at the local supermarket.

Am not sure I would buy another used X, but that's because our one feels like part of the family now, versus just another car to change/swap every few years. An emotional connection with an white electric people carrier........I didn't see it coming!!

[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52221354938_357e02f351_c_d.jpg[/thumb]

[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52217348153_4d43393be7_c_d.jpg[/thumb]

[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52221337331_6f316dce53_c_d.jpg[/thumb]

Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 9th April 06:20

But...but....you can't drive 500 miles in one go....and you can't find chargers when you want them...and these are soulless, boring cars....and they have loads of issues..... well done man, car sounds brilliant, keep on keepin' on!!!

I can see my prediction was uncannily accurate....

[Nomme de Plum]

Orangecurry said:

Ooooh no darling. Colin Chapman said it best - increasing power makes you faster on the straights. Reducing weigh makes you faster everywhere.

Weight is everything.

Back in the 70s i had an S1 Elan and several decades later a 380bhp Honda engined Exige S1 (837kg with fluids) that i built so understand completely the weight thing. My little Peugeot 205Gti was pretty spectacular too and only about 750kg.

All kind of irrelevant now though as you won't find many family BMw 3, 4 5 series or Merc C or E class under 1500kg.

Try the Taycan you will be pleasantly surprised. Quick around Dusfold too.

[Nomme de Plum]

Water Fairy said:

Nomme de Plum said:

Water Fairy said:

Each to their own but to me these look awful inside and out. That's subjective of course but personally for a family do-it-all I need to know I can do 500 miles at a go with nothing but 5 minute top up and leg stretch. As for towing the caravan.....................

So you drive 9 or 10 hours with only a 5 minute break.

Amazing.

Do you anaesthetise you family during this trip?

Not sure where you get that idea from.

I said 500 miles with 5 minute stops. And I did't specify how many stops did I?

You actually didn't you said:

"I can do 500 miles at a go with nothing but 5 minute top up and leg stretch."


Copied adverbatim from your post.

Singular not plural.

[Pooh]

wilkij1975 said:

So if I read this right, it will cost you £81 to charge (150kw at £0.54 per kw) to get 170 quoted miles?? That’s a huge amount for a pathetic amount of range.

If I put £81 worth of diesel in my car, I get around 500 miles. Why would anyone buy one?? I get that home charging will be peanuts in comparison but as someone who travels for work, I couldn’t afford that or the time to recharge it.

The charging cost is wrong, the standard cost of a Tela supercharger is 40 pence per KWH and you don't need 150KW to do 170 miles.

[Nomme de Plum]

biggbn said:

I can see my prediction was uncannily accurate....

Yes. As if by magic.

[FlukePlay]

@Gangzoom, thanks for the real world reviews.

Out of interest, can you share more info about the pan European trips?

Just to get an idea of practicalities in driving long distances, range, frequency of stops/charging, time to charge, availability of chargers.

[Nomme de Plum]

wilkij1975 said:

So if I read this right, it will cost you £81 to charge (150kw at £0.54 per kw) to get 170 quoted miles?? That’s a huge amount for a pathetic amount of range.

If I put £81 worth of diesel in my car, I get around 500 miles. Why would anyone buy one?? I get that home charging will be peanuts in comparison but as someone who travels for work, I couldn’t afford that or the time to recharge it.

Depending on the EV they tend to do between 2.8 - a little over 4 miles per kw so let's say 3 to be conservative

So 170 miles is 57 kw not 150.

[Crezza1]

Drove up from Kent to North Wales last week.and saw 2 breakdowns on the way up both of them Tesla's on the hard shoulder being put onto a low loader's.EV anxiety is going to be a frequent phrase in the future in the UK.

[Mr E]

Nomme de Plum said:

Depending on the EV they tend to do between 2.8 - a little over 4 miles per kw so let's say 3 to be conservative

So 170 miles is 57 kw not 150.

Say 60kw to make the maths easy. At 50p per KWh, that’s £30.

A 10p per kWh overnight, that’s £6. Or ~4 ppm.

[Nomme de Plum]

Crezza1 said:

Drove up from Kent to North Wales last week.and saw 2 breakdowns on the way up both of them Tesla's on the hard shoulder being put onto a low loader's.EV anxiety is going to be a frequent phrase in the future in the UK.

Unless you stopped to ascertain the reason for the breakdowns your post informs nothing. What about all of the other EV manufacturers. Perhaps their EVs are more reliable? Pure speculation of course.

It isn't that unusual to see a stranded vehicle or two over that kind of distance.