Tesla test drive. Thoughts

[dave_s13]

dhutch said:

LHRFlightman said:

Canon_Fodder said:

FeelingLucky said:

, what's not to like?

£50,000 price tag?

£34,500?

I can see it happening for us.

The prospect of out of warranty repair costs scares me a bit. But there are plenty of mainstream ICE cars that can and do throw up major issues that present themselves to the second owner, BMWs timing chain issue being one. Diesals, even a boggo DFP swap or injector clean isn't free.

With a BMW (or whatever) though you can at least rely on an independent or specialist garage to be capable of fixing the issue.

I'm considering a used (out of warranty) Tesla to replace our ageing nissan leaf but if it went wrong you are a bit stuffed and it'll likely need to go back to Tesla, and cost about a million pounds. I think the mitigating factor to that is that you'd expect any niggles to have been sorted out in warranty by this stage and really, EV's are pretty simple things; they don't actually need servicing, which tells you a lot.

I'm giving it another 6 months but currently I'm 50/50 between a Model 3 and a BMW 440i Gran Coupe...I need something with at least a nod to practicality.

[OutInTheShed]

dave_s13 said:

With a BMW (or whatever) though you can at least rely on an independent or specialist garage to be capable of fixing the issue.

I'm considering a used (out of warranty) Tesla to replace our ageing nissan leaf but if it went wrong you are a bit stuffed and it'll likely need to go back to Tesla, and cost about a million pounds. I think the mitigating factor to that is that you'd expect any niggles to have been sorted out in warranty by this stage and really, EV's are pretty simple things; they don't actually need servicing, which tells you a lot.

I'm giving it another 6 months but currently I'm 50/50 between a Model 3 and a BMW 440i Gran Coupe...I need something with at least a nod to practicality.

Actually, I think EVs are quite complex things.
There is a lot of electronics around the battery management system.
A lot of software/firmware.

How many software updates does a Tesla get?

[paradigital]

dave_s13 said:

With a BMW (or whatever) though you can at least rely on an independent or specialist garage to be capable of fixing the issue.

I'm considering a used (out of warranty) Tesla to replace our ageing nissan leaf but if it went wrong you are a bit stuffed and it'll likely need to go back to Tesla, and cost about a million pounds. I think the mitigating factor to that is that you'd expect any niggles to have been sorted out in warranty by this stage and really, EV's are pretty simple things; they don't actually need servicing, which tells you a lot.

I'm giving it another 6 months but currently I'm 50/50 between a Model 3 and a BMW 440i Gran Coupe...I need something with at least a nod to practicality.

As someone with a Model 3 Performance and a 440i, I’d personally sway to the Model 3 for every occasion bar driving for the fun of driving. The Model 3 does everything the 440i does, only cheaper to run, easier to maintain, better control of preconditioning and other aspects of the car. The 440i is however more fun when pressing on.

If I could only have one of them? The 440i would be sold.

[dave_s13]

paradigital said:

As someone with a Model 3 Performance and a 440i, I’d personally sway to the Model 3 for every occasion bar driving for the fun of driving. The Model 3 does everything the 440i does, only cheaper to run, easier to maintain, better control of preconditioning and other aspects of the car. The 440i is however more fun when pressing on.

If I could only have one of them? The 440i would be sold.

Interesting, cheers.

I really need a go in model 3.

[DodgyGeezer]

my issue with the 3 is the boot opening space - or lack of it. My Challenger has a bigger opening, it does make a difference, a 3 with a hatch would have been (nearly) perfect

[paradigital]

DodgyGeezer said:

my issue with the 3 is the boot opening space - or lack of it. My Challenger has a bigger opening, it does make a difference, a 3 with a hatch would have been (nearly) perfect

But the 3 is a saloon, not a hatch.

Fortunately I don’t have a need for load-lugging (we’ve got the Passat GTE PHEV for that), so load space isn’t that important so long as it’ll swallow a few suitcases.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

DodgyGeezer said:

a 3 with a hatch would have been (nearly) perfect

That'll be a Model Y then.

[Register1]

Discombobulate said:

Register1 said:

Every day is different, depends where she goes.
Normally to work and back, (50 miles) she will average 220 watts per mile,she is no speedster, always in chill.
so looking at 4 miles per 1 KwH.
On the Octopus intelligent, thats 10 pence per unit.
So 10 pence for 4 miles.

Cheap as chips to run.

The real cost is actually more than 10p kWh thanks to the higher price you have to pay during the day to offset the night rate. I am on OI 10p/42p but heavyish daytime user so average 30p. Few people get below 23p kWh average looking at other threads. Mind you 23p for 10 miles is still cheap.

With us both being out from early morning until 17:30, our higher rate electricity usage is very low.
Perhaps as low as 10% of our total usage.
We are "quids in " on OI.
.

Edited by Register1 on Monday 6th February 19:10

[RichA35]

CharlieAlphaMike said:

That'll be a Model Y then.

But it’s not, I agree a 3 with a hatch would be ideal and I would already have one. The Y is a fair bit bigger and higher.

[DodgyGeezer]

CharlieAlphaMike said:

DodgyGeezer said:

a 3 with a hatch would have been (nearly) perfect

That'll be a Model Y then.

which is what we ended up getting - and is pretty much the main reason for it

[dave_s13]

RichA35 said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

That'll be a Model Y then.

But it’s not, I agree a 3 with a hatch would be ideal and I would already have one. The Y is a fair bit bigger and higher.

Yeah. I don't see the Y and being a 3 with a hatch, bigger, higher up, significantly more expensive etc. The 3 with a hatch would be a perfect car for those of us with kids and a dog.

[RichA35]

DodgyGeezer said:

which is what we ended up getting - and is pretty much the main reason for it

It’s also what I will end up getting, purely for the hatch.

[off_again]

OutInTheShed said:

Actually, I think EVs are quite complex things.
There is a lot of electronics around the battery management system.
A lot of software/firmware.

Yes, but Tesla overall has been shown to be reliable on the critical parts. Other bits, not so much, as all of the consumer reliability surveys show that its the niggles that annoy. Door handles, windows, fixtures and fittings. But the really expensive bits seem to be solid and reliable. There is starting to be a bit of a booming third-party market now though - parts, replacements, upgrades and so on.

But the warranty is where it at though. Make sure you either get one or the Tesla warranty is transferred over. Not sure what the maximum is now, but for peace of mind, its worth it. Not having to have the specter of a 20k battery replacement is worth it. Though fully expect that there will be a booming market for third-party repairs to complex things like batteries in the next 3-5 years. Starting now and I know of at least 3 specialized places that will fix your battery pack for a fraction of the costs of a new one. Takes time though, but once the warranty runs out, there will be third-parties to handle the repairs.

OutInTheShed said:

How many software updates does a Tesla get?

Quite a few - the major updates have slowed down a bit, but expect to get updates relatively regularly from what I have seen. Fixes to the rain sensors, heated steering wheel (if it has it) and so on. There was a big UI update a year ago (I think?) and then they had to fix a few things from there, but overall its the one thing that Tesla seems to have got right also - releases rarely brick the car!

[CharlieAlphaMike]

dave_s13 said:

RichA35 said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

That'll be a Model Y then.

But it’s not, I agree a 3 with a hatch would be ideal and I would already have one. The Y is a fair bit bigger and higher.

Yeah. I don't see the Y and being a 3 with a hatch, bigger, higher up, significantly more expensive etc. The 3 with a hatch would be a perfect car for those of us with kids and a dog.

The Model Y is essentially a Model 3 under the skin. Agreed, the Model Y is bigger and taller but if you need more space, that's what you get. I guess it's all about compromise.

Ok, it might be difficult to put the dog in the boot of a Model 3 but it be difficult to do that in any saloon car. And there's no less room for passengers than you'll get in a Model Y. Even the headroom in a Model 3 is acceptable for adults and so it's fine for kids. Split/fold flat rear seats in the Model 3 are great too if you need that little extra load space.

As for the Model Y being 'significantly' more expensive. Is £2K extra 'significant' on a car with a starting price just short of £45K?

[gangzoom]

dave_s13 said:

I'm considering a used (out of warranty) Tesla to replace our ageing nissan leaf but if it went wrong you are a bit stuffed and it'll likely need to go back to Tesla, and cost about a million pounds.

Our X has been out of the factory warranty for 18 months now, surprisingly OK. I did need to get the PTC repaired, local garage did it for cheaper than Tesla, the repair included opening the DC DC converter and changing a fuse.

The only thing that requires a dealer vist would be a dead traction battery, that's runs our in 2025 so I've got a couple of years yet.

[dave_s13]

CharlieAlphaMike said:

As for the Model Y being 'significantly' more expensive. Is £2K extra 'significant' on a car with a starting price just short of £45K?

I'd be buying used, there's at least 20k between the cheapest Y / S...obvs because the Y is much newer and not had time to depreciate yet.

[Michael_B]

DodgyGeezer said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

DodgyGeezer said:

a 3 with a hatch would have been (nearly) perfect

That'll be a Model Y then.

which is what we ended up getting - and is pretty much the main reason for it

I have both at the moment, sharing one set of plates, but will be moving the Model 3 on to a colleague later this month. The Y is much more suited to our needs but wasn’t available when I needed a new car in November 2020.

[Discombobulate]

Register1 said:

With us both being out from early morning until 17:30, our higher rate electricity usage is very low.
Perhaps as low as 10% of our total usage.
We are "quids in " on OI.
.

Edited by Register1 on Monday 6th February 19:10

Perfect!

[off_again]

dave_s13 said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

As for the Model Y being 'significantly' more expensive. Is £2K extra 'significant' on a car with a starting price just short of £45K?

I'd be buying used, there's at least 20k between the cheapest Y / S...obvs because the Y is much newer and not had time to depreciate yet.

This is where my in depth knowledge of Tesla's is weak, but didnt the 3 get an upgrade on the battery after a few years? And the Y got it from the beginning? And did the Y get another upgrade for the ones built in Austin? Comparing an early 3 to a later Y isnt quite a fair comparison, even though they are built on the same platform.

Anyone know the details that would cover the delta?

[wyson]

LHRFlightman said:

£34,500?

Newer builds are much improved. Watch some Munro Live teardowns. The car looks the same, but the construction methods underneath are massively different.

Personally, I wouldn’t want an early batch of any Tesla having seen the teardowns. They were winging it and those cars would have been considered engineering or production shakedown samples by larger manufacturers that would end up crushed.

Edited by wyson on Tuesday 7th February 02:13