quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

Now I need to learn about charging as someone said it’s not just plug it in and charge till 100%

Any suggestions on good videos explaining charging procedures/techniques for battery longevity?

I have a Cadillac LYRIQ EV. Charging is pretty much just plug it in and don't worry about it, the pre-set defaults are pretty reasonable, although you can easily change them if you have a specific reason to do so.

I would expect the Tesla to be even more automated, in terms of "plug it in and leave it alone."

^^^
Correct. Charging at your home is done through your Tesla app. When using a Tesla Supercharger and the navigation system the car will tell you not only where to charge along your route but for how long to charge.
I’m not sure about third party chargers as I don’t use them.

Usually you want to keep your charge between 20% and 80%.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:

Usually you want to keep your charge between 20% and 80%.

The LYRIQ is pre-set to 80% cut-off, but it's easy enough to go into the Charge menu and change that.

My Level 2 home charger is an Emporia; the charge rate is initially defaulted to 40 amps, but can be adjusted in the Emporia app.

I bought the level 2 charger from Tesla to have installed at my home. It can charge up to 60 amps and that’s what I had my electrician wire it for. I figured as time passes EV’s will be able to accept higher amperage home chargers.

quote:

Maybe I'll trade in my '18 Accord for a used M3

This slang is sacrilege and must be stopped.

friend bought a Model 3 a year or so ago to replace an aging Audi,

he had a few minor problems that a Ranger was able to address at his home or workplace (Ranger is apparently a mobile Tesla repair guy)

he uses a standard 110 drop cord at home, (old condo, he says too expensive to upgrade the electrical per his provider) and has a TEsla charger at his Mom's place (he ends up there most weekends)

he drives from just south of Baltimore to Silver Springs each day for work, plans his drive around where super charger stations are to 'top off'

IIRC his energy usage is equivalent to 55 or 60 MPG

Nevermind answered my own question

I've been tempted by some used offers as well, similar to what Black92LX is referring to. While under warranty they seem like a pretty good deal, but what about when the warranty is up? Do these retain any resale value or is it $20k out the window at that point?

^^^^^^^^^
I don’t see a Model 3 being worth much in 5 years.
I am OK with that at this point for a novelty toy which is what this would be for me honestly.
But with a number of benefits.

I mean heck. People buy cars every single day that depreciate $10k and more the second they drive them off the lots.

I paid $40k for our Suburban 6 years ago it’s now worth like $15k
So $25k in depreciation in 6 years

I buy this for sub $20k and in six years it’s worth zero. And I promise you I have spent way more in gas, maintenance, and repairs over the last 6 years on this Suburban than I would even come close to on the Tesla.
So it is really no different then other vehicles.

quote:

Originally posted by condition1:
I've been tempted by some used offers as well, similar to what Black92LX is referring to. While under warranty they seem like a pretty good deal, but what about when the warranty is up? Do these retain any resale value or is it $20k out the window at that point?

I’m not sure how long of a timeframe you’re talking about but not many $20k cars are worth much 4 or 5 years down the road. At $20k with a warranty you’re not taking much of a risk and there are already companies that offer used but still good batteries for them.

Most of the battery issues were with the very early model S. Since that’s been fixed the reliability of them over 200,000 miles is certainly better than an ICE motor and transmission. The first million mile Model S just happened fairly recently so I wouldn’t worry about it. Just make sure they plug in the battery and show you the health of it. If it’s over 80% then you can get a supplemental insurance coverage on the battery. I wouldn’t do it but you can if you want.

Coincidentally I'm in a similar situation as Black, in that my current vehicle is a 2018 Tundra that I bought new and am thinking of keeping for the long haul. With that in mind the idea of picking up another car to cut down a little on mileage and wear and tear has crossed my mind.

Admittedly, also like Black, I'm tossing around a Tesla since it would have some practical value, but mainly as a novelty to dip my toes in the EV world.

I'm not sure I agree that "not many $20k cars are worth much 4 or 5 years down the road". I could pick up a nice Accord or Camry and with the 4-5k miles I'd most likely drive it a year probably still be able to sell it for 60-70% of what I paid. Obviously some depreciation, but certainly not to zero. The appeal is there, but the idea of it being worth nothing after 4-5 years does sting a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by condition1:
Coincidentally I'm in a similar situation as Black, in that my current vehicle is a 2018 Tundra that I bought new and am thinking of keeping for the long haul. With that in mind the idea of picking up another car to cut down a little on mileage and wear and tear has crossed my mind.

Admittedly, also like Black, I'm tossing around a Tesla since it would have some practical value, but mainly as a novelty to dip my toes in the EV world.

I'm not sure I agree that "not many $20k cars are worth much 4 or 5 years down the road". I could pick up a nice Accord or Camry and with the 4-5k miles I'd most likely drive it a year probably still be able to sell it for 60-70% of what I paid. Obviously some depreciation, but certainly not to zero. The appeal is there, but the idea of it being worth nothing after 4-5 years does sting a bit.

A used $20k used car in 4-5 years with another 20-25,000 miles on it will probably lose half its value so let’s say it’s worth $10k. That Tesla will probably worth about the same maybe more because you can actually check the real health of the battery. Either way $10k isn’t much in the car world. Certainly the difference between the two isn’t going to be much. That’s not even taking into account the maintenance and fuel savings.

You can lease a new Model 3 for $299 with $3K down, that's $13,764 for a new car with full warranty coverage including initial lease payment.

So if you buy used, if the net cost of owning after three years is less than the $13k it makes sense, if not, lease a new one and get the full warranty.

^^^^^^^^^^^
That is for a Long Range RWD. I am looking at Long Range AWD.
That lease is $540 a month after fees and taxes for 36 months and $4900 down
540x36+4900=$24,300 for 3 years.

I am under $20k for 5 years (minimum under warranty) and then the unknown number of years till the battery calls it a day.

quote:

Originally posted by condition1:
I'm not sure I agree that "not many $20k cars are worth much 4 or 5 years down the road". I could pick up a nice Accord or Camry and with the 4-5k miles I'd most likely drive it a year probably still be able to sell it for 60-70% of what I paid. Obviously some depreciation, but certainly not to zero. The appeal is there, but the idea of it being worth nothing after 4-5 years does sting a bit.

You really think you could pick up 3 year old Accord or Camry with 50-60k miles on it for $20k, drive it for 5 years, adding about 25k miles, and get $14k for it?

You also shouldn't take "worth nothing" too literally.

$2000-5000 isn't much in the car world. I just gave away 3 cars each worth about that because it wasn't worth the trouble to get them running and trying to find a buyer. The folks I gave them to, were willing to fix them up...and were willing to help me on projects where they had skill sets that I didn't.

If it takes more to fix a car than it is worth, it is often considered to be worth "nothing"

One trouble with buying an EV now is the same as when deciding when to buy a new computer. The ones available now will be "obsolete" in 2-3 years. Oh, they'll work fine, but the new ones will be so much better you'll have buyers' remorse.

EV battery technology is very much in flux (sic), and solid state batteries supposedly just a few years down the road will be more efficient, safer, offer longer range, etc. That means the market value of a current Tesla will be lower than we expect now.

Might be good argument for leasing, actually.

^^^^^^^^^
I currently drive a 2014 Tundra which equates to 2005 technology of all the other manufacturers and am perfectly content.
As long as I can get to and from and play some music from my phone I am good.
So I am not too worried about tech being up to date.
I also use a iPhone SE and am looking at a MacBook and am looking at 2020 vintage.

Y’all had me worried about insurance rates!
Looking to replace the wife’s vehicle here so I had the insurance lady run the following:
2022 Lincoln Navigator L
2022 Chevrolet Suburban Premier
2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
all to have the same coverage that we have on our vehicles now.

Navigator - $115 a month
Suburban - $95 a month
Tesla - $85 a month

Not too shabby. With the way some of y’all were talking expected it to be much more.
Now, I am all in!!!!!!
However my wife not so much at the moment. So we shall see.

I'm late to the party but I'll tell you its a hell of a lot of fun to drive even the standard 3. I love that car. I charge off the 110 on the side of my garage and you can hit a supercharger if you need fast range. Recently I dropped the battery level to 50% and we typically use about 5% for daily tasks.

Its all the things I love about cars without the gas bill. My insurance rates were also not bad considering its new.

We test drove a Model Y this Sunday, interesting process, zero interaction with Sales Creatures, no "can I help you" "how much you want to pay".

The facility closest is the main place for work on Teslas, when you pull in and there are over 50 sitting there waiting on parts, cars left in the aisle you have to dodge to get to parking it's not a great start. Nonetheless, Chevy/Ford et all have stacks of cars needing work, they just don't put them next to the Demo fleet.

It's all done online, set up a 1hr demo, they called and asked, "would you like 4 hours" sure, so we had it long enough to drive around, use a supercharger, and I got it for a quick romp on the throttle, that is excellent.

Bad things, well the leaning curve, there are no knobs or switches and you have to spend 15 minutes of the initial drive just finding the mirror settings, where the AC setting are, not a big issue, once you have it down it's easier.

Car was better than I thought hearing all the talk about poor quality, of course time will tell.

The demos come with supervised FSD, and it works very well, although I'm not dropping $8K for it, it's cool, but not that ($8K) great...

Link to UToob Short I made

For some reason I can't get a utoob short to populate properly, but there is a link.