Tesla owners...should we get one?

[Adelle Dazeem]

Can I ask how your insurance costs are for all you Tesla owners. I have heard it is insanely expensive to insure them, almost negating the fuel cost savings for low mileage drivers.

We insure both of our M3s through Tesla and pay $170 a month - mine is $90 and DH's is $80.

 

[DLgal]

We insure both of our M3s through Tesla and pay $170 a month - mine is $90 and DH's is $80.

What is your coverage like?

 

[godisney14]

Though Tesla has the biggest network of any single owner, there are still far more quick charging locations compatible with the other formats.
There are 1042 Tesla charging stations nation wide.
There are 2600 Chademo locations
There are 2400 CCS locations.
Note that CCS has far more plugs than Chademo but at 200 fewer locations.

Oh and every last one of these choices is terrible for the long haul in comparison to the 168,000 gas stations there are.

Both CCS and Chademo locations only have at most 2 plugs on average.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I am way late, but I love love love my model 3! I sold my convertible Audi for my Tesla and was very nervous about saying goodbye to what I considered my dream car. While I miss having a convertible, I am so happy I got my Tesla. She is so quick and fun to drive. Yes, some of the alarms can be jarring. The first time I got the "hit the brakes, dummy" alarm I about peed my pants, but I'm used to it now. I'll even confess it has bailed me out a couple of times when I was just not paying close attention to traffic.

My husband also has a M3. He actually got his in the first wave of releases. He put down the deposit the first day they went on sale and waited patiently for 2 years for his car to finally be delivered. He loved is so much, he is the one who talked me into getting one for myself. He has the single motor dark gray and the standard wheels. I got the dual motor in white with the upgraded wheels. I tried to push him into getting me the performance model, but for all of those thousands more, it really wasn't worth it. We do have a Tesla charger installed in our garage so we can charge overnight easily. When we were going into the office, it was even better for my husband because they have free charging at his company.

I am in Silicon Valley so Teslas are probably the most common car you see on our streets. I remember in one of my Tesla FB groups, some guy was whining that he bought a Tesla to "be cool" with the ladies and he was upset that no one was impressed with his car. Teslas are a dime a dozen - no one is "impressed" with them anymore.

Haha...yes, I would imagine that Teslas would be very popular in the silicon valley. DH and I lived out there in the late 90s....makes sense. Around here in NJ, Teslas are increasingly common, especially since the 3, and now I'm seeing so many Ys on the road as well. DH has been interested since the 3, but we couldn't fit it in the driveway and didn't want to spend 80K on the X. The Y was the solution for us. We got the midnight silver metallic, with the upgraded black wheels. So far, so good.

We also got the charger installed. It's just very cool to be able to plug your car in for the night. The only alarm that I've encountered thus far is the one where a car is turning in front of you and perhaps I was accelerating instead of slowing down . It's only happed a couple of times. It did startle me the first time for sure. And you said it right, it's not just incredibly fast....it's "quick" off the line for sure. I'm having a ball with it.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

We insure both of our M3s through Tesla and pay $170 a month - mine is $90 and DH's is $80.

Please don't abreviate Model 3 to "M3." It confuses those of us that are into cars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3

 

[Nicolepa]

You can set up your own profile in the car with your preferences and change that option.

I do have my own profile. They no longer let you change that option.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I do have my own profile. They no longer let you change that option.

My husband just said the same thing. It’s not available.

 

[Nicolepa]

My husband just said the same thing. It’s not available.

You used to be able to turn it off. They recently changed it so you can no longer turn it off.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Please don't abreviate Model 3 to "M3." It confuses those of us that are into cars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3

Well, considering this is a TESLA thread, I will refer to my car as an M3.

 

[dvcgirl67]

You used to be able to turn it off. They recently changed it so you can no longer turn it off.

Right, he said they sort of quietly removed that option in the last month or so.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

You used to be able to turn it off. They recently changed it so you can no longer turn it off.

Oh wow - just had my husband look that up and it's not an option on the newer Teslas. That really sucks. I don't know why they would make that change. I hate the full regenerative braking. DH uses it and it gives me a headache.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

And you said it right, it's not just incredibly fast....it's "quick" off the line for sure. I'm having a ball with it.

Oh yes - I get the occasional genius who thinks they can beat me off the line in their BMW or muscle car. It's quite amusing.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

What is your coverage like?

It's a little higher because we are covered on each other's vehicles.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Also, the Tesla is missing some safety features that my CRV has. Like the cross camera alert that tells me if someone is driving to my right/left/behind me when backing out of a parking lot. I love that feature. Also, the Tesla doesn't tell you there is someone in your blind spot until you start changing lanes, my CRV tells me when I turn on my signal. Even my husband agrees that these two features are lacking.

The Tesla has cameras where you can see the traffic. The screen will tell you if there is a car next to you in traffic. The reverse camera shows a wide angle of what is behind you when backing out of a parking space. It does take some getting used to, but the safety features are there. They are just different than your current car. It took some time for me to get used to them as well.

 

[b2k1121]

Though Tesla has the biggest network of any single owner, there are still far more quick charging locations compatible with the other formats.
There are 1042 Tesla charging stations nation wide.
There are 2600 Chademo locations
There are 2400 CCS locations.
Note that CCS has far more plugs than Chademo but at 200 fewer locations.

Oh and every last one of these choices is terrible for the long haul in comparison to the 168,000 gas stations there are.


Electric is still inconvenient for the long haul. 40 minutes isn't a little longer than 5 minutes. And further, those 40 minute stops come more often in an electric car. Still further, in many areas, though most of the chargers are near a freeway, they may be 15-30 minutes round trip off the freeway you're on near some other freeway. And if one of your stops happen to be one of those, you've just spent 15 extra minutes getting there, 30 minutes to charge plus 15 back. And though that planning that is done for you is getting better, it is still not fool proof and diversions from plan happen. The bottom line is a gas powered car in 8 hours of driving is a couple of hours ahead of an electric on the road. And when I get to the hotel, I don't have to worry if all the destination chargers that take all night to charge you up are being used. And what's worse is out west, often times if I want to take the scenic route, Electric either can't do it in some cases because the infrastructure isn't there or it requires diversions back to the main arteries for charging further taking more time.

Right, if time spent on the road trip is in the only consideration. If the most important factor for me was how long it takes to get somewhere, I wouldn't be taking a road trip in the first place, I would just fly. For me, if I'm taking a road trip, the journey would be part of the vacation and in that case I'd rather be driving a Tesla because I would enjoy the stops rather than worrying about losing time.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Right, if time spent on the road trip is in the only consideration. If the most important factor for me was how long it takes to get somewhere, I wouldn't be taking a road trip in the first place, I would just fly. For me, if I'm taking a road trip, the journey would be part of the vacation and in that case I'd rather be driving a Tesla because I would enjoy the stops rather than worrying about losing time.

Enjoying the stops on a roady means stopping at things to enjoy. Standing around a Kroger parking lot for an hour isn't my idea of stopping to smell the roses. And that is the cold hard reality. Most of these Superchargers aren't in stop and smell the roses locations. And they're not really within walking distance of any attractions either. And not having to stop and charge up means I could just as easily use those extra two hours to stop at more places to genuinely enjoy as I could to simply make time. So not only is gas better over the long haul for making time, it's better for stopping and smelling the roses.
And there is no magic Tesla 1,000 mile range battery that can be charged in 30 seconds coming any time soon.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Most of these Superchargers aren't in stop and smell the roses locations. And they're not really within walking distance of any attractions either.

Do tell me how many superchargers you have visited since you don't own a Tesla...

When we take our Tesla down to Southern California, we always stop in San Luis Obispo. The charger is at the Madonna Inn. I love wandering around that place. It's so pretty and so unusual. We sometimes have conversations with other Tesla owners about their car experiences as well. Most chargers are in areas that have restaurants to grab a bite or use the bathroom, possibly stores to wander around, but it's just good to take a break and stretch your legs. They aren't all like that, but I can't think of any super charger that I have stopped at that I didn't have something to do. Yes, it is more convenient to "gas up" and go, but for me, the benefits of driving my Tesla more than make up for driving a gas guzzler.

 

[b2k1121]

Enjoying the stops on a roady means stopping at things to enjoy. Standing around a Kroger parking lot for an hour isn't my idea of stopping to smell the roses. And that is the cold hard reality. Most of these Superchargers aren't in stop and smell the roses locations. And they're not really within walking distance of any attractions either. And not having to stop and charge up means I could just as easily use those extra two hours to stop at more places to genuinely enjoy as I could to simply make time. So not only is gas better over the long haul for making time, it's better for stopping and smelling the roses.
And there is no magic Tesla 1,000 mile range battery that can be charged in 30 seconds coming any time soon.

I’m not talking about seeing attractions. If I’m going on a road trip I’m probably bringing my dog and now I’ll have 20 minutes to walk with her and stretch my legs. I will enjoy that time, it doesn’t have to be a tourist spot for me to enjoy what I’m doing. If the weather is bad I’ll watch an episode of a Netflix show or something on Youtube or play a game. I have time to get something to eat that isn’t a gas station hot dog or chips. Like I said, if I’m on a road trip I’m not in a rush and I will undoubtably enjoy it more in a Tesla and it’s not even close. Others will disagree because they have different objectives and that’s fine.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I’m not talking about seeing attractions. If I’m going on a road trip I’m probably bringing my dog and now I’ll have 20 minutes to walk with her and stretch my legs. I will enjoy that time, it doesn’t have to be a tourist spot for me to enjoy what I’m doing. If the weather is bad I’ll watch an episode of a Netflix show or something on Youtube or play a game. I have time to get something to eat that isn’t a gas station hot dog or chips. Like I said, if I’m on a road trip I’m not in a rush and I will undoubtably enjoy it more in a Tesla and it’s not even close. Others will disagree because they have different objectives and that’s fine.

I don't see us doing super long road trips like we did twenty years ago, but we're like you.....if we're "road tripping".....we're not in a rush. I definitely do know people who are "rush-rush-rush" when they take a road trip, so I could see that bothering them.

 

[Nicolepa]

The Tesla has cameras where you can see the traffic. The screen will tell you if there is a car next to you in traffic. The reverse camera shows a wide angle of what is behind you when backing out of a parking space. It does take some getting used to, but the safety features are there. They are just different than your current car. It took some time for me to get used to them as well.

That is the other thing I don't like. I feel like I am constantly taking my eyes of the road to look at the screen. The lack of sound and having to LOOK at the cameras is a step down for safety, even my husband agrees. My car has the cameras and the sound. It was not as much of an issue in Seattle but here in Dallas people do not stop in parking lots. Ever. You can be 1/2 way out of your parking space and they are still going to go. Having the alert is great, having to keep looking at the camera, not great.