In almost three years of driving since we received our Tesla Model 3 on October 22, 2019, my wife and I are still as happy with it. My mileage has just reached 75,000 miles. For the entire two years and nine months, we have been anticipating the ultra-smooth, quiet, rocket-like acceleration as well as several software updates that have culminated in Full Self Driving (Beta). We have made numerous round journeys from Wisconsin to Utah as well as a coast-to-coast drive from North Carolina to California. No Supercharger was ever full or out of order during all that driving. Tesla immediately charges your credit card after you plug in. We can now go the same 500 miles per day as we could in our gas vehicles.
UPDATING COSTS At 50,000 miles, my entire warranty expired.
At 100,000 miles, my battery and drive system’s warranty will expire in another 25,000 miles.
I haven’t paid attention to the constant Car Shield promotion to purchase an extended warranty. I’m going bare because I expect the simplicity of electric driving to result in lower maintenance expenses than the complexity of a gasoline engine system and gearbox. In order to maintain the health of my battery, I have also taken precautions by keeping the state of charge of my battery as close to 20% to 80% as possible. About an hour before big journeys, I charge to 90%, but I’ve never charged to 100%.
One noisy front suspension joint that I had to replace was covered by the warranty. Tires and wheel alignment have been regular maintenance expenses for me. My alignment is currently flawless, according to Tesla’s measurements of 5 mm on each of my four tires. They advised against rotating the tires. Due to the large weight of the automobile and possibly my acceleration demonstrations to friends and family, I’m on my third set of tires. Tires cost me $1,143.37, and I paid $480 in total for two wheel alignments. My unbranded $565.44 Kenda Vezda tires have 25,000 miles on them and still have 5 mm of tread. The equivalent of the original equipment Michelin tires would cost well over $1,000. My second-hand tires have outlasted the original equipment tires and worked just as well when they were brand new. The road noise has increased as the tires have gotten older. At this point, it is rather bothersome. This would be true of any tire, so I doubt the original equipment tires’ one inch of foam will make much of a difference.
My first non-warranty repair just happened. Over the past year, I had seen a warning for a loss of power and a strict 60 mph speed limit a few times. When I took my car in for glass replacement a few weeks ago in Minneapolis, I mentioned it to the service personnel there. They enquired as to the precise moment of the occurrence and made a $503.50 replacement offer for the rear Superbottle. I believe it controls the battery’s and the motor’s temperature. I think the Octovalve has taken its place on more recent Model 3s.
In my garage, at 32 amps and 28 miles per hour, I complete 95% of my L2 charging. When other drivers spend $5 a gallon for gas, I estimate my fuel costs to be roughly a quarter of that.
FULL AUTOMATIC DRIVER (BETA) I lost access to FSD (Beta) after 200 days of use when my wife and I experienced five forced disengagements and my privileges were suspended.
On November 23, 2021, I downloaded FSD (Beta), and for the next 206 days, until it was revoked, I drove every day while compulsively using versions V10.5, V10.8, V10.10, V10.11.2.1, and V10.12.2. With a subsequent software release, Tesla has promised to reinstate my privileges, but I’m not holding my breath.
I bought the car and spent $6,000 on FSD. It allows me to automatically navigate, pass slower vehicles on highways with limited access, change lanes when I turn my turn signal on, and stop at stoplights and stop signs. Additionally, FSD (Beta) used to automatically drive my car from my starting position (in front of my house or the Walmart parking lot) to any location I chose or entered into my GPS from my starting point on city streets. I used to be able to leave the steering wheel, the accelerator, and the brakes in the car, and it would drive me the 18 miles on a hilly road with two hairpin turns up and down Big Cottonwood to the Brighton Ski Resort in Utah, where I teach. Now it will still do that, but it no longer successfully negotiates the steep turns in rotaries or the hairpin twists like it did with FSD Beta.
The majority of low-traffic trips could be completed by FSD (Beta) without any assistance if you were patient and there was no other traffic. Additionally, it handled 4-way stop signs remarkably well and performed very well at stoplights.
When there was cross traffic or a car was following you at stop signs and rotaries, you would need to take action. You didn’t need to touch the steering wheel, but you did need to give the system a small push on the accelerator when it was acting too cautiously or timidly.
Unlike the standard autosteer that comes with every Tesla, FSD (Beta) would also give me autosteer on any single-lane road, not just ones with painted lines. In Northern Wisconsin, where there are numerous unmarked roads, this was especially helpful.
IF MY TESLA MODEL 3 CAN ACCOMPLISH THE ROLE OF A FULL SIZE F-150 PICKUP TRUCK My Model 3 can function as a considerably larger vehicle thanks to a third-party receiver, a tow bar or bike rack, and a sizable trailer.
With a sizable trailer, you can use your Model 3 to tow a 3000 kg ski boat (see below) or haul 812 feet of professional-size wallboard in addition to the golf cart that is seen above. You can haul a hefty boat out of the water with ease thanks to the dual-motor drive’s 363 horsepower because you won’t even notice it.
You can transport two decent-sized mountain e-bikes if you have a sturdy tray-style bike rack placed in your receiver. Unfortunately, the bikes’ significantly increased aerodynamic drag significantly limits range, but since my dual-motor Model 3 has a nominal range of 310 miles and Tesla Superchargers are often spaced every 100 miles or fewer, I can still ride comfortably cross-country.
Please share your views if you have any knowledge of Teslas with excessive mileage.
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