Tesla

TLDR: Wife and I transitioned 100% EV (24' MYLR and 21' M3LR) from two ten year old ICE cars in the last couple months. Total cost to transition was just $41,500 and we're saving $4,500 annually on electric vs. gas. Why doesn't everyone do this!?

Our Experience:

Just wanted to document my experience transitioning entirely to Tesla within the last two months.

Mid January, a deer stepped in front of my ICE. Wife and I are the types that tend to keep cars until the maintenance becomes a headache, and we both have been driving 8-9 year old cars that have been paid off for years, with a combined 350k miles between them. I knew the time was approaching with my car, but the deer expedited the process.

Model Y (new) - Long Range

I honestly had not been tracking daily prices of the cars, and hadn't looked at what theses were going for for about a year or more. In my head I was assuming we were going to be putting down 60-70k to get what we wanted. The reality was much different, than expectation. I started by building exactly what I wanted, and going into research mode on options (there really aren't too many things to consider, surprisingly at least to me):

- Reddit (thanks) helped me quickly realize we didn't need EAP or FSD

- Long Range: yes please

- Bigger ties look nice, but the moment I realized it reduced range (nope, no thanks)

- Color: I guess I don't mind paying for blue, I like blue (personal preference)

Then I found the 'inventory' tab, and noticed there were a lot of cars available. So I entered exactly what I built there, and saw I could get it sooner for $4,500 less. I don't consider myself impulsive. I bought it that night (ordered it?) I was driving the car 5 days later. $7,500 off the price from the point of sale discount from EV tax credit brought the total sale price down to the upper $30k's (wow! Half what I was expecting to pay, for a new car... I was in a good mood)

Extras

We did have to hire a guy (licensed Electrician) to install a 110 foot line from our sub panel to the garage to put the Wall Charger in the garage. We had the foresight to install it in a way where it could hit both sides of the garage (foreshadowing) although at the time we had no idea just 6 weeks later we would be getting another Tesla. Cost $2,250 (wall charger included)

Savings

It wasn't until the first week of driving the car (and a lot more research online - much of it here - THANK YOU!) that I started to realize just how much money I was saving from electric compared to gas. I live in Virginia, which already have a fairly low average cost per kWh... but my power company in particular charges just 9 cents per kWh, and when I changed to EV status with them, it dropped to 5 cents per kWh 11pm to 6am. I drive about 20k miles a year (mostly commuting) and much of that is winding 35mph roads that are fun to drive with beautiful scenery. I didn't realize two things when I bought the Model Y -- A) EV cars excel at savings when you're driving under 50MPH, and B) the regen breaking makes driving these roads SO much more enjoyable, safe, and efficient. The altitude change is minimal, but I'm averaging 210-220 Wh/mi after the first 15 miles of my commute every day... and hitting 190-200 on the way home for the same section. All while feeling like a kid in a goKart on these winding roads (deer, you got me here, but please please don't ruin this for me!)

I did the math, and I'm going to save $3,125 annually now that I'm driving this car (electric compared to gas) vs the premium gas my 2015 ICE vehicle was consuming prior.

This Model Y will pay for itself (become free) after 13 years... if I drove it that long.

Model 3 (used)

My wife and I decided that whoever drives furthest on a given day would take the MYLR. Reality is that she drives the kids around more, and so I found myself leaving the car with her any day she was going out regardless. I started to HATE (it's such a strong word, but I really did) driving the Ice car. Why so I feel like I can't accelerate, why am I hitting the break so hard? This doesn't feel safe!

My wife and I talked about how we would look at getting a second Tesla in a year or two, once we paid off the MYLR... but then it occurred to me to check used. I did a little research and found that the used Model 3's would qualify for the EV credit also, if I could find one under $25k... I though this might be impossible. How could anyone be selling a one for that cheap (unless it was a lemon). I did some research anyway, and discovered I wanted the LR (AWD) for Model 3, and ideally between the years 2021-2022 to get the credit but also get the updates made starting in 2021.

Just 18 hours after I started this search, I bought a used Model 3. I found exactly what I wanted... a 2021 Model 3, white/white, with 26k miles on it, drove great, clean history, one owner, flawless paint still, acceleration boost, all weather floor mats, for $24,800 ($20,800 after EV credit). Taxes, processing and fees took this total cost up to around $23,000.

Conclusion

I'm confused (genuinely) why everyone isn't switching to Tesla. I have to be careful saying this (though I think it often) around others. I mean, to be clear I was in the dark just a few months ago too. But we just converted to 100% Tesla (EV) in a matter of two months. We were driving two old ICE cars each with over 150k miles on them... sold them for $19,000 total. And converted our house (garage) to EV charging, and bought a 2024 Model Y Long Range, and 2021 Model 3 Long Range all for a combined $60k - the net result... we transitioned from 10 year old ICE cars, to 100% EV (Tesla) with two very young and new cars that will last us another 10 years or longer... all for $41,500ish when factoring in cost of new cars (electric wall charger) and reducing it by what we sold the ICE cars for. We will be saving roughly $4,500 annually on energy (electric compared to Gas). This is a no brainer. Why isn't everyone doing it!!?

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Maybe sharing this with someone you know who is on the fence about EV transition can help give them a nudge :) We are so happy we did.

Edit - Insurance:

We have USAA for insurance provider. I was concerned at first hearing other stories on here about difficulty with rates, but our transition to these new Tesla vehicles was very smooth and didn't move out insurance rates up much at all. The monthly rate we were paying on our previous cars combined was $218, and our monthly rate for coverage on the two newer Tesla's is just $278 a month combined. Not bad for the 30,000 annual miles we report driving. The one hidden fee that will sting a little more, is that Virginia has a pretty high property tax due annually on vehicles based on their price. I'm already seeing signs that the county is going to estimate the value of our cars higher than we paid for them, and I think we're going to see roughly an extra $1,200 more in property taxes combined due annually, but we can live with that, all else considered.

[Edit] Opinions of Friends and Family

Based on some discussion in the comments, adding my thoughts on this topic:

I've run into a few friends and family with very strong opinions against Tesla who have voiced them since we bought... I pose some thoughts/questions to them that go a bit like this:

"Why do you have such a strong opinion against a very specific car/brand?"

"Have you asked yourself why and where that came from?"

"I can't think of a car or car company I dislike enough to talk down about just because someone else bought it recently."

-- if they engage after posing this series of questions/thoughts, I'll often leave them with my opinion that:

"competitors and politics may have a vested interest in making you believe what you do" "are you aware you've been manipulated into having such a visceral view towards what is simply a car and car company. Do you think that's healthy?"

That usually doesn't play well (they get defensive or angry) but at least I think it leaves them with something to think about...\

That said, the vast majority of friends and family love hearing our thoughts on Tesla and are thinking of getting an EV soon, even more so after hearing about our experience. I just posted the above, because we certainly see a few people with extremely strong opinions against Tesla, ready to express them the moment they learned we bought one. It's fascinating really... where that comes from.

edits: adding TLDR to top and fixing some typos

Please stop calling the model 3 an M3. It's very confusing.

That is all.

Hi, I am from Germany and new to the US.

On Friday a Tesla cut me off on the bike lane and I could not stop in time so the front of my bike got pushed in. The Tesla tried to get away, but I caught them at the next light and got their insurance and license plate (that's what 911 told me to do).

I have no car and thus no car insure, but everyone tells me I should file the insurance claim against my own insurance. I tried to call the Tesla insurance but their robot has no option to claim if you are not the insured person. Does anyone know how that works?

Thank you

I see comment after comment complaining about the depreciation of used Ys. I hear this because I just sold a performance Y for less than I owed on it after 4 years of payments. Painful.

However, Tesla is aggressively lowering prices on new ones. They SAID for YEARS that they were going to try and do this, to make EVs more available to the masses. A NEW performance Y is fully $10k less now than it was when I bought mine. That is in the midst of all this inflation! This is incredible on Tesla’s part when the rest of the auto industry is raising prices like crazy. I just priced a Tacoma at over 50k! For a dang Tacoma.

So it’s part of Tesla’s plan that new prices keep dropping. I just bought an entry level highland 3 for about 40k, but don’t we all know that Tesla wants that to be $25k? I will pay for it later in depreciation.

This is the cost of being an early adopter. We should expect this to be an issue until Tesla hits the $25k car.

Good news is their cars are simultaneously getting better AND cheaper. I like my new entry level 3 better than my old performance Y. With $250/ month less of a payment.

(Yes there are other contributing factors but this is a major one.)

I’ve seen a few posts comparing the two auto makers so I figure why not share. I got a great deal on a 2024 R1S (private party sale) that I couldn’t say no. I moved over from Tesla Y Performance only because I can’t stand the pricing structure that directly follows EM’s mood swings. (We also wanted a larger car. So it was either the X, or the R1S.) I’m so happy to be done with that car! Comparing the two daily driving, for me: +Rivian is quieter, feels more solid and is way more luxury. +R’s throttle response is better mapped. The Tesla is more touchy and it’s harder to casually speed up instead of having a startling acceleration. Tesla isn’t horrible, I just find R to be better. You can still go stupid fast, but Sunday drive style is easier. +Suspension settings are amazing to me in the R. Soft is actually a very comfortable ride. Firm feels more sporty than the T did any day. +Residual value: while no one knows how EVs will do long term, I have much more faith in Rivian not completely-screwing their existing customers to get new customers.

=interfaces are about equal. I think Tesla has the upper hand on simplicity and one or two touch controls. But appearance and settings go to R.

-T wins the tech features. Self driving is better (It’s glitchy. And that ghost braking crap it does is ridiculous on any highway). Features like Summon are good, I just never found myself needing to use them. -Charging network T wins hands down. If I regularly drove a lot of miles, I’d have to stick with the T. Simply easier, faster, and more available.

TL;DR- Rivian is a luxury vehicle with a battery for an engine. Tesla is a tech-geek’s computer that is able to drive down the road.

• Security researchers used a $169 Flipper Zero device and a Wi-Fi development board to obtain a driver's credentials, break into a Tesla Model 3, and drive away.

• They demonstrated how cybercriminals could access Tesla accounts, generate a 'digital key,' and unlock a victim's car despite two-factor authentication.

• The hack involved broadcasting a fake Tesla login page through a public Wi-Fi network, tricking victims into sharing their login credentials.

• The exploit allowed hackers to remotely control the victim's car without alerting the owner, showcasing significant security vulnerabilities in EVs.

• The researchers recommended mandatory key card authentication and real-time notifications for Tesla owners to enhance security.

Source:

If you walk into it once, that's on me. If you walk into it twice, that's on you. If you walk into it a third time and kick me from the game, you need re-education training on how to recognize danger.

I just bought a pristine condition 2023 Model 3 for 26.8K with 4.2K Miles from a used car dealership and I absolutely love the car. However, I found out through checking the Telsa App today that all the warranties were voided. The car dealership advertised it as a gently used car with a clean title and even went through all of the warranty that the Tesla had left on it.

When I called Tesla support to check, the service rep said that apparently even though the car has a clean title, it was involved in a "minor" accident that caused the warranty to be voided. The dealership has told me that they were not aware of the warranties being voided and even said that they would be willing to renegotiate the car price.

Has anyone else experienced this before? Are car dealerships legally required to disclose if a warranty on a car has been voided?

Is it even worth it to renegotiate for the car at a lower price point or should I just try to get another tesla from a different seller?