I never have range anxiety with out model Yp. I do notice however when my wife drives the Tesla down to our favorite beach place with the kids, (about a 120nm) she uses a lot less energy than I do going the same distance. How weird? Not really she has the patience to drive on chill mode and I don’t. We have not had to have the transfer case fluid, the differentials, 10 speed 10R80 transmission, engine air filter, engine oil, engine oil filter as we had to do in the past. We have not had to make arrangements to drop the car off at the ford dealer for a day and half to get the service work done. This has been such a relief ! But I just remembered typing this that I need to replace the windshield wipers as it is coming into the rainy season. Although we do use rainx, the Service intervals of the Ford used to be a reminder to do other things. The problem we have with owning a Tesla is that I would feel guilty about going to the gas station to use their free air compressor to top off the tires. So we bought a roll around compressor. That’s it. Owning a Tesla is so simple.
I appreciated your honest review of cars; it would be great if professional channels could be as straightforward. As a loyal Tesla fan, I hope to buy one within the next couple of years.
I'm glad she spoke of the higher insurance costs. Probably would be good to take into account the terrible resale value also before committing to an EV. I was going to get an EV last year but the market is too unstable and costs are all over the place and changing quite a bit year by year, seems that electricity tier rates are on the rise next which will bring EV home charging closer to ICE fuels costs in some years. Tesla's are all too fast to ever see decent insurance costs. I would gladly accept one with a governed acceleration if Tesla came out with one. Like a Model 3 trim offered that did 0-60 in 8 seconds. My current SUV does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and that still throws me back in the seat and I pass people in seconds when needed on the highway. That would probably knock off $50 a month in insurance based on the demographic it would attract.
I have the standard range 2023 M3. Picked it up in January 2024. Have over 20k miles on it. Drove it from East Coast to AZ. 2 round trips. Plus a trip to Star Base for #4 launch. So lots of long distance. Charging every 2-3 hours. Getting used to letting it get to 20 % or less and only charging enough to get to the next charger... After that charging was something I looked forward to. Taking frequent breaks makes driving 850 to 900 miles a day back to back for 3 days much easier. The breaks make it a much more enjoyable drive. Vs with an ICE car trying to drive 6-8 hours without a break. Tesla trip planning software works very well. I could see having to charge going from Austin to Boca Chica could feel a little annoying. So serious road trips are better with the more frequent stops. Also helps to realize that when supercharging at hotels, the hotels expect you to come inside to use the lobby restrooms. I prefer charging at a well stocked convenience store/ gas station or truck stop. Vs a restaurant, or hotel. Typical charge times on the trip 15-30 minutes. Time for a restroom break, cold drink and maybe a sandwich. Shout out to Buc-ees, awesome brisket. Also charging at a gas station means there's support for things like washing windows. Check tire pressure (?) No need to check oil.(LOL) Often car was done charging before i was done with the stop. So don't let range scare you compared to ice car. Let the Tesla software take care of you.
I so agree, I run mine down below 10% for a big fat charging curve, but to each his own! Another thing I like to do is book hotels with free lvl 2 charging that way I don’t have to charge at the end/ beginning of the day… usually I set it to 90% or more for that first charge of the day…
Appreciate your honest opinion. At 73 yrs old my wife bought a new 2022 like yours but paid 10,000 more than you did. We take a lot of trips once going 4000 mi.s to the Grand Canyon and back. We had no problems charging since we would stop every three hours to charge and use a restroom or eat or get a motel room. We did the entire trip in a little less than 7 days.
Thanks for posting this. You have to want one. There’s no need for anyone to hate on EV or ICE. Get what works for you and stop judging others. You are you. Good job.
Thats exactly my thoughts on the matter - there are far too many haters out there - just enjoy what you drive, no matter what fuel source it has...! And smile, life is short so just enjoy it while you can :)
I suppose a person might hate ICE bc it poisons the air. I knew a young soldier who bought a jeep and took it off road with a friend. They got stuck and decided to wait till morning to go get help. In the night they ran the engine to stay warm. One died that night the other was severely brain damaged… But that’s extreme, more day to day is the health problems associated with ICE pollution which are well documented.
Ellie, You have a metallic blue wrap on your car. Metallic paint is the highest end paint the automakers use, and to think it comes from a plastic wrap is something that blows the mind. What a great job they did. Also, thanks for your honest review! 🙂
Cadillacs routinely held more than a gallon of washer fluid. That way when the reservoir was down to a quart, you could still add the whole new gallon of fluid. And didn't have to do it often.
Much older than you, we enjoy the brief break to walk around for 20 minutes, no need to attend charging. I requested in my settings for the automatic trip charge planner about 2 hours, although with a 300-mile range, it could be much less frequent. Our speed limits are 55 and 70 which produce the Tesla range prediction. Our normal home charging, at 80% of the time, eliminated ICE car gas station trips and stops, and no oil changes, it really adds up the time savings.
I'm using an old electric dryer outlet to get level 2 charging from my mobile connector. Charges great. I did have to buy a $35 adapter to fit the older outlet (which also sets the amps appropriately) and $95 extension cable so I could charge from my driveway. Super convenient. Note: I was lucky my dryer outlet wasn't being used since I have a gas dryer. If it was being used their are smart adapters which allow the dryer to take priority when in use and allow the Tesla to use when the not dryer is not in use.
My nephew who has a "lead foot" and typically goes 80 in a 55 zone complains of reduced range on road trips. It is a lifestyle and social pressure thing that fast is cool. Since Teslas are so quick it is hard for him to resist punching it. I've shown him how I can get to the same 279 mile destination without stopping to charge for only 5 more minutes total. Maintaining his driving style is too important for him.
Maybe spending a few days in the county jail will slow him down. Around here if you get caught doing 20 miles over the speed limit its a mandatory arrest until you post bail. If you get busted on a Friday/holiday weekend you could spend 4 days in lockup before a judge can see you. All this is before you post bail or pay the fine.
I’ve had my model Y for two and a half years and it’s been parked outside as I don’t have a garage. I got permission from my landlord to install a NEMA 1450 plug on the side of the house and it charges in about 3 to 6 hours depending on SOC. I never had range anxiety and I have taken a few long road trips with it. I will never buy an ICE car again.
In europe, a lot of research has shown that, for people that do not drive long distances regularly/professionally ( ie more than twice a week), the max attention span for driving safely is about 2 hours. Statistics show that accidents happen more frequently when people drive longer periods. So most national road safety and car associations advise people to take a break every two hours when going on a road trip. Aside from that I need a restroom break and a drink or something to eat after 2 hours of driving, even when I was driving longer distances for work. And most EVs should be able to make a 2,5-3 hour trip, assuming charging stations are available (range 200-240 miles, speed 80 mph).
You only need that many breaks if you drive slowly. At 100 - 130 mph no breaks needed, but below, yes. EV make you drive slowly and break often, so that’s consistent at least ;)
I did not even noticed it. What she did to her face blocked me completely. Why would anyone paint the face like going to war, or filming a horror movie?
I was able to move my existing 240v dryer outlet to the outside of my house about $50 for a outdoor box and receptacle. Its a night and day difference over the 120v "trickle charge", about 7X faster, and I'm only charging @ 24 amps, a proper wall charger charges @ 48 amps. But it's unnecessary cuz 240V @ 24A will easily charge overnight. So I'm generally adding about 50% capacity from 30% to 80% cutoff in 7 hours or 22 miles per an hour. Thx for another awesome video Ellie. ❤
I got Toni the Tesla about the same time as you. We have done 37,000km and driven across Australia 4 times on long long road trips. I love the colour of your wrap! Keep up the great videos!
At 48 years old with no accidents, tickets or any insurance claims ever in my life insurance should have been super cheap on my Model Y. It was not. State Farm was the cheapest I could find at $120. Geico was about $210.
@@kennethprocak5176 Don't know about that. My State Farm agent said there was a discount due to the autopilot system. He said their high premium was due to the cost of repairing a Tesla and the $500 deductible I wanted.
Everyone is different, but I find road trips in my Tesla to be great. I’ve had my Model X for almost 8 years and have over 98,000 miles on it. I have driven it across the country a couple times and made many more trips of around 1,000 miles. Yes, it definitely takes longer, but between autopilot and the frequent charging rest stops, I arrive at my destination much more fresh and relaxed than I ever did with an ICE car, not stressed at all. My advice for potential road-trippers is to embrace the journey, plan for the extra time, and enjoy the trip.
It’s a different mindset, AP/FSD allow you to look around slightly more at scenery and really relax as you mentioned. I don’t think ppl understand how much of a game changer this is. Hopefully we’ll get lvl 3 soon and be able to watch movies, nap, or play games while road tripping.
I've had my 23 MYLR for a year now and just paid for my tags which were $1050... that's right, for two little 2025 stickers. When I registered it last year it cost me almost $5000, pretty much giving the Federal tax incentive to my state. Nebraska may be cheap to buy a house but their taxes are out of control. Love my Tesla though and great video Ellie.
*You know you can write a chunk of your car payments off if not all of it since you do use it to promote your business and as part of your business. Talk to your CPA but I use to prepare people taxes for everything they can write off legally.* *When you travel for your business to do interviews and such, the food, the trip, etc... everything's a write off. Just save all your receipt by month, days and year so you can find them easily when you need to for tax day.*
Yup, America doesn't have as many deductibles as some countries but that's pretty much universal everywhere, it's a business tool and at least 50% should be claimable. Same as her phone, internet, PC, laptop and other stuff. Not sure about the US but here they could even claim part of the rent as a room is being used as a studio, same with power.
@@marvindebot3264 *We have all that as well. I'm hoping she has a CPA who's in the know. Lots of CPA only care about their own paycheck at the end of day and don't take the time to learn all the things home businesses, small businesses, etc. can take advantage of. It changes every year. Have to stay on top of it.*
@@radicalrick9587 One thing you see a lot here is a company brand on work clothing shorts, longs and skirts because to claim laundry expenses the clothing must have a company mark on it so the back pocket on men's and the waistband on a skirt will often have the company name embroidered on it so the wearer can claim. It's only about 200 bucks (120 ish USD) a year but it all counts.
@@radicalrick9587 It depends. I key all my auto expenses to a specific business reason (travel to/from a mtg for example). So as you said she's good if she is shooting video at the destination or going to meeting. 50% off at tax time. But if she is buying groceries, I doubt the IRS cares about her branding on the car. Of course, HMMV.
@@jackeppington6488 *It doesn't matter what the IRS cares about; it's a legal write-off if you are using your car for business and advertising. The IRS wants to instill fear in people, but seriously, they are full of themselves and lose most of their cases against people who seriously challenge them. When you win, you have to sign a NDA not to brag about your victory or they will come after you for that. You have to realize that over 80% of what we are being taxed on is illegal. But people are scared to death to challenge the IRS. Most don't have the knowledge or the finances to take them on. I know of a person who bought a $250,000 Miami Vice-like boat to entertain his clients and had huge business advertising on the side of the boat as well. The IRS took him to court, trying to claim he couldn't write that off. The IRS lost since it was 100% legal for him to do so. Believe it or not, the IRS is nothing but a big bully that loves to pick on the little guys and take their lunch money illegally. In case you didn't know, there are laws on what the IRS can and cannot tax people and businesses on. The IRS ignores these laws, of course.*
Glad I could help! I improvised what I would say but the gist is simple... Tesla, good for local drive, bad for road trip, low maintenance, amazing with a garage, super pretty car that drives fast :P
Trickle charging is the best way to charge regular car batteries. I'm not familiar with Tesla's lithium-iom batteries but google says trickle charging is better for their long term health and lifespan. 😊
The data shows that is not the case for Tesla batteries. Due to the makeup of the battery chemistry and the advanced battery management system slow charging is not necessary to reduce degradation.
@@DrTed3 With all due respect, this sounds like something a salesperson would say. I've been working on automobiles for over 50 years. That does not make me smarter or better than the next tech. It does however give me a wait and see attitude when it comes to performance claims. Not saying you're wrong. Just saying...
@@yoursoulisforever Sorry, not a salesperson, but I do rely on data to form opinions and make decisions. So far, the data (if correct) backs up my assertion. "A new report from Recurrent, which has access to data from over 12,500 Tesla vehicles in the US through its software service, now shows clearly that there’s little to no difference in battery degradation between frequent fast charging and rare fast charging." You can Google Tesla battery longevity and supercharging.
Lithium batteries have long been happy with a 1C rate. (Full charge in 1 hour. Well, slightly longer). This was true of Li-Po and Li-Ion for RC cars and planes 20+ years ago. The requirement is a "smart" charger. A cell balancer. And battery pack cooling while charging (and using). The latter being less possible in an RC. But included with a Tesla. Heat kills these batteries. And heat is generated by charging. Teslas have a pack cooler.
@@TheJustinJ Interesting but I would think a charger that fast-charges and cools a battery pack would cost more than a trickle charger and also require more electricity (for cooling). I have a conventional charging station in my shop. I have horses and rotate the batteries on the fence every few days for 13 years. Yeah call me stupid but I'm old and set in my ways. I do use some lithium-ion batteries though and they are amazing. My big charger will charge a battery fast but because I do not need fast, I use the little trickle charger. When you're old, slow is good. Lol For what it's worth, this is from Google, top of page: Slow charging is more favorable for lithium batteries' long-term health and lifespan. The slower charging process minimizes heat generation and reduces battery stress, helping maintain its capacity and overall performance over time.
Great and honest review. My daughter has a goal to have one someday -- but not now as a college student. Her $5500 Honda that gets 36mpg for now is just fine... and honestly her father here is happier knowing no issues in the deep cold with that car. But when she graduates -- she likes what you bought!
I have the model Y 2024. Already have 10k plus miles on it. Love it. We have the wall charger so it doesn’t take long to charge and yes if you go on long road trips and hammer it you do need to charge at more stops. But typically we only take 15 to 20 min to charge at a supercharger.
Another great video Ellie! I don’t own a Tesla yet, but you brought up some pitfalls that I need to consider before I buy one, especially about having a garage to store one. A friend from work has Tesla solar panels, and a powerwall, and never pays to charge his Tesla or heat/cool his house
Good review. Though pro-Tesla myself I recently purchased a used Prius, partly over range concerns since my art career takes me all across Texas. It's nice to know I've got 450 miles in the tank when I leave town, and I can have another 450 in fifteen minutes when I have to refuel. Being on the vanguard of the future comes with trade-offs. That's why we should honor pioneers like you, Ellie.
Driving a used car is much better for the environment than buying a new electric car. I’d love a Tesla but my next car will be a used one. Maybe a used Tesla.
@jayrudo6280 , In fact, the ecological footprint of manufacture was a part of my thought process. So too, though, was reliability in the face of factors like pollution from lubricating oils, engine coolants, etc. Priuses, despite early teething troubles, are among the most reliable vehicles of any kind. That alone vastly reduces the fleet's ecological footprint. AND they get about fifty miles per gallon. Thus, both Toyota's and Tesla's approaches to the future of transportation are vital net goods. Tesla is American leadership for the ultimate goal. Toyota is practical in-betweening, necessary to bridging a path to that future.
Ha Ha I agree. The first time I had to add washer fluid, it seemed like such a hassle as I had to go buy another jug as mine was almost empty, and then pour it in. Then I remembered all the other ICE car maintenance, oil changes etc. that I used to do and made me laugh.
Very nice review! Glad you still like your car. 🙂 But, you know, you didn't mention safety and you didn't mention the feeling one gets from having surround camera awareness. To me, that is a very big deal when driving a Tesla. (The "nag" seldom bothers me - I'm trained by family and friends to appreciate backseat drivers.) It is the software (and Internet connectivity) that distinguishes a Tesla from other BEVs - from electric golf carts to electric super-cars from other manufacturers.
The color is great! Tesla's a great, I have a 2021 M3 and 2023 MY. We charge at home (I did have an electrician install 14-50 NEMA) and only supercharge 2% of the time. Please don't complain about registration cost....try paying reg in CA (I think I paid over $1200 for both cars). TBH, we don't have issues with charging time.
I agree with you. I like to drive and really don’t use the full self driving. However, I disagree with you on road trips my Tesla model Y is a little over two years old and I have 60,000 miles. I’ve put on it. I’ve taken it all over the place super charged it with no issue. I also have been using a regular wall outlet to charge my Tesla at home
Ellie I don’t understand why you had to stop every 2hrs on your road trip? You should be able to get three hours at a go… For me I like to put AP or FSD on and chill. I feel much more relaxed after “driving” all day with driver assistance on. One pro tip is to look at the charging station up the road after you charge and stretch to the furthest one even if it means you slow down 5mph to improve efficiency. This also means skipping a station usually and cuts down on stops. The worst thing you can do is stopping every time you hit 30-40% bc you’ll charge fast for a shorter amount of time. Instead run it down below 10% and you’ll get very fast charging for longer. It’s pretty easy to titrate your remaining charge by adjusting your speed.
Thank you for the 1 year review! 🤠 Have you done a roadtrip in a Tesla you were not driving like with Joe Tegtmeyer or Dr. KIA?? Did you have the same "distance driving" issues when riding with them?🤔
So, two days to 'trickle' charge. Seems like a nice option for someone that doesn't drive much or a longer commute. I have also seen where the batteries degrade over time and it costs as much to replace the battery as it does another car. So, for most people, by the time you pay off the car loan you may need to replace the battery or get a new car.
New owners need to learn much in order to safely drive a Tesla. Please consider making more videos with your father about every thing in the Tesla User Manual. That he knows so little about Teslas helps your viewers to more easily understand what they need to know about owning a Tesla. It also helps that you communicate so well and honestly, and that your father is such a great and thoughtful guy with whom you have a wonderful relationship.
You are correct that it would be nice to not have oil changes. One other motivator that has me looking at Tesla is that my current car recently came up needing engine coolant replacement. Something else that I wouldn't see with a Tesla. Now, because the infrastructure isn't built in the places I am likely to go, I will be keeping my PHEV for those trips.
I just bought my model 3 a few months ago. I had installed the wall charger before I bought the car so I wouldn't have to worry about using Superchargers. My car has been great for driving around town. I did take it on one extended road trip, which was a major hassle because of the frequent stops to recharge and the fact that I had to drive an hour out of my way because of access to Superchargers along the way. So, the car is great for city driving, maybe not so great for road trips.
Since I'm retired and not floating in money for that monthly payment and related insurance, I think I'll stay with my ICE machine. Plus, my ICE is payed for and gets driven only about 6 hours per month now. Good review, Ellie. 😀
Keep in mind that you do NOT need to charge up all the way each time you charge up on a trip. All you need to do is charge up >enough< so that you can get to where you will need your next food/pee break. Once you get your food go and sit in the car and eat or plug in the car and go to the restaurant which are almost always not too far away, and once you get done eating you SHOULD have enough charge to get to your next pit/food/etc stop. Again, you do NOT need to charge up anymore than what you will need to get to your next stop. I would get like a 20% buffer BECAUSE the world isn't flat. You and the car will be going up and down in elevation and you need to make sure you have enough charge to take that into account. It RARE for me to worry about range but when I do it is because my wife and I sometimes like to go places that are off the beaten track and we have to account for that and during THOSE trips we charge up all the way, "just in case" based on how far we will be to any superchargers or home or Tesla destination chargers at hotels, etc., which usually let you charge up and pay the normal rate which is a LOT LOT LOT, did I mention a LOT(?) less than gas or diesel. Maintenance is changing the tires (when needed), changing the windshield wipers, and filling up windshield water fluid and if you want, want, washing the car. Seriously, that is really the only maintenance that I've done on my Tesla which has about 25,000 miles on it since I bought it a couple years ago. There is no motor with pistons going up and down so there is no oil to change. There are no spark plugs to change. There is nothing to tune up. Do you "tune up" your hair dryer or other electric appliances? NO! Do you need to do any maintenance on your electric appliances other than cleaning them? NO! Well, you do NOT need to do more than what I listed. And if you take care of your car the batteries and motors should EASILY last 200,000 miles. That's not a joke. Is Tesla Full Self Driving ("FSD") worth it? We paid $10,000 for it when we bought our Tesla. On road trips it is great but you really don't need to buy FSD for that because *most* of what you get with FSD you get for free. Not everything but most. FSD does NOT drive like me on back roads. It drives WAY too far to the right in lanes so that it goes over drains and literally is about a foot from curbs and then has to go around parked cars. WHY Elon? It is also WAY too slow when getting to intersections where it needs to stop. WHY Elon? The car SHOULD be looking before it gets to intersections and since computers can do literally trillions of "thoughts" per second, why does it take more than half a second for it to figure out if there is something in the way and is it its turn to go or not? It should be half a second TOTAL when getting to intersections and then GOING right away instead of driving like a 15 year old who's never driven before. Once they get those fixed, "some day", then FSD will be totally worth it. Also, eventually my wife and/or I will not be able to drive ourselves to doctors appointments, etc., which is part of the reason why I paid for FSD. That will be 10 or 20 years from now so Tesla should have all that fixed so you can have it drive you somewhere, then go park itself by itself. Then come and pick you up where you are, wherever that may be (as long as a car can get there) and then drive you to your next spot. So I bought the future but on backroads I mostly ended up taking over. On freeways and highways I mostly let it drive WITH me paying attention in case I need to take over, which is almost never on highways and freeways. Why did I buy an electric car? It is because I HATED going to gas stations. Everything else is gravy. I am literally GIDDY about not having to go to gas stations anymore. Yes, on trips I have to go to charging stations but do they smell? No. And charging up an electric car is a LOT, like 1/3rd to 1/4th the price of filling up with gas. I think I paid $17 last time to fill it up for about 200 miles of range at a supercharger during peak hours. So off hours it would have cost me less. Does that happen with gas stations? No. Anyway, we either stop and get fast food on trips and then eat while the car is charging. OR we plug in the car and go nearby to a restaurant and eat and by the time we are done eating, eating normally, the car will be done and we can go as long as we normally would for our next pit stop/time to eat, whatever it is. Am I glad that I bought a Tesla? YES! YES! YES! Am I glad that I bought FSD? For highways and freeways maybe. For backroads it isn't there yet BECAUSE it drives WAY TO FAR in the right side of the lane and it is SLOW, SLOW, SLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW at intersections. OH MY GOD my dead grandmother get through intersections faster if she had to pull to a stop and get moving again and she was over 100 when she died.
Insurance on Tesla varies greatly by your driving score, record, age, and location. In Florida, Geico is nearly double what Progressive is for EV insurance. So it varies a lot.
Thank you for being honest about needing to Supercharge every 2 hours when driving fast on the freeway. We just got a Ford C-max hybrid. It gets 500 miles from a 13 gallon gas tank. Full coverage is less than $150 per month. Cars like Ford Maverick, Chrysler Pacifica, as well as Civic, Rav-4 and Prius are all similar price per mile when figuring in higher insurance, tire, and purchase price for a Tesla. Paying $300/month for a M3 is common as the only quote in the many states who lack Tesla insurance. Whether we EV nerds like it or not, cost & use case are still legit barriers for many families. Good on Tesla for even attempting to do insurance.
Great honest review. Although I would still take my Tesla on a road trip, it is easier with an ICE car. There’s always a trade off with EV’s and ICE cars. I do recommend getting the refreshed Model 3. Definitely test drive one. Drive safe ⚡️😎
I also have a M3LR and I have no problems with roadtrips. I am averaging 16K miles/year. I love that the car does most of the driving. The sound system is great for road trips. The ability to watch videos in the car is also nice, but usually don't have any time to sit in the car while supercharging, since restroom breaks, snacks, and drinks use up most of the time.
If you have an electric dryer in that rental, a matching cord can be attached to the wall charger, for 30 amps or so at 220 or 240V. It is clear that another doubling of range is needed to allay range anxiety for real.We don't often start at full (unlike gas cars) or drive near empty (ditto.)
The existing wires can be used to provide 230@20 amp for a double charge rate. I new outlet and breaker will be needed. A full charge should be completed overnight.
I save $6000 a year charging at home and driving my model Y. It’s great. Of the 100 000 km in the past 2-1/2 years, we did no long road trips. Scheduled departure is awesome for regular work days.
Very much this opinion. You have to take a look at your lifestyle and what you use your vehicle for. If you're going to be doing alot of road tripping, an EV is not going to be an ideal solution. It'll get the job done, but expect the trip to take alot longer than you anticipate.. I absolutely love my Standard Range.. it has done wonders for a daily commuter..
Ellie, thank you for your review! I own a MYLR and really like mine. As far as road trips, I like the stops to stretch my legs and just relax for a bit. One option, assuming your route has the Superchargers to support it, is to just charge to 50% and then charge again at 10%. This limits the time you are charging, but does mean more frequent stops. Yes, the lack of required maintenance is awesome! I did not my tires rotated a few months ago; Tesla did it as a mobile service for me. Also, I had a switch on the front driver’s seat go bad; that was mobile service as well.
I pick up my model 3 Performance on Thursday so I'm very much looking forward to hearing about your experiences a year later this will be my first electric car so it's going to be a learning curve
If you had a key you could have punctured the washer fluid foil. The charging aspect is one reason that I predict that EVs will never get over 20% market share in the USA in a free market.
Range will at least double for new EVs over the next five years (prediction). It is also quite possible, although less certain, that charging time will also get much faster. Together, that should pretty much deal with the range issue. Until then, those who have not experienced EV travel will still resist, although if they made the plunge most would be fine.
Great review. Could have got a used one on Hertz for 25 ish. When I did a fuel savings comparison in my use case when I get a Tesla I will save about 2700 a year, enough to pay for a used Model 3.
Thumbs up for an honest review. Its good to see someone also point out the bad/indifferent parts of owning a Tesla, rather than the 'everything is rainbows' reviews you get from fanboys. Good job on this one.
Haha, that acting on the intro was on point. I was convinced L-Beans was thoroughly irate. I can't believe it's already been a year, seems just like yesterday L-Bean was always saying that she wasn't a Tesla owner yet.
Hard to believe it is already a year. Seems like yesterday when I was watching your videos about the wrap. I love my 2019 Model 3 too. I've taken it on a few road trips and have actually enjoyed the EV road trip experience. You need to plan more than an ICE vehicle and it is better if you can travel distances within the range of the car each day and make sure you stay in accommodation with a charger (often free).
We got our Long Range Model Y last September, also here in the Austin area- but actually, the State of Texas does have a rebate! However, it is extremely limited to about 3000 EVs. So the program, when it reopened last October, was full after less than a week, iirc- but we were fortunate to get a $2500 Rebate from the State of Texas to add to our $7500 Federal Tax Credit. We also did the Tesla car insurance for the first month, but went with Geico after that ( but we also bundled our home insurance, which helped). And- LOL- we also keep forgetting to turn on the AC before we get into it- but in our case, I will blame our aging brains :-0
I am giving you an honest feedback for your honest review. I generally enjoy your videos on SpaceX. Although EV charging with a Tesla is not for everyone who is going on long distances, people who have a lot of experience traveling to many places in the United States, generally conclude that the Superchargers work well; although you have to stop longer in some cases, most of the time people use the restroom, get some food, stretch their legs and are charged with little or no delay. My daughter, wife and I have enjoyed the long distance Tesla trips with the fast and easily accessible charging stations. We are usually making sure that we don’t take too long because the charging will be done before we get back to our Tesla. There are millions of people who effectively travel long distances, even when they are by themselves, with superchargers. I know that the fastest chargers are not everywhere, so you need to plan for this. To reiterate, long distance travel in a Tesla is not for everyone. Albeit, you present as having relatively little experience in traveling long distances in a Tesla. You had a particularly difficult trip that will probably remain in your mind for the rest of your life. Please know that I do in general respect you, and what is included in your videos. My belief is is that your best videos are on SpaceX because you interview experts who are willing to explain in detail fascinating subjects about outer space, and rocketry in general. Zack and Jessie from Now You Know have been driving Tesla’s for many years, and have done many extensive travels in them; they indicate that traveling in a Tesla on long-distance trips is an effective way to go long distances in the United States. Best regards to you and your channel!
We wanted to dip our toes in the Electric car world on the cheap so we just bought a used 2016 Nissan Leaf & we love it. A change for 2024 is that you can take the Federal EV Tax credit up front & the dealer will deduct the full amount right off the purchase price. The great thing about a lot of used EV's is that there usually is not a lot of miles on them because they are typically only used for short work commutes so no chance to really rack up the miles.
Good To Know! Nice Finish On The Car. I Think That This Auto Is A Good One For Senior Citizens We Drive Less Miles And Not Too Far From The Home Base. To Me Battery Energy Density The Weight Of The Batteries And The Batteries Susceptibility To Cold And Hot Temperatures Are The Great Pitfalls To The EVs!!! My Opinion. By The Way I Love Your Way Your Channel Covers Space X, Good Work!
I’m happy they don’t use the safety score in California. I get false collision warnings anytime I turn on my road if there is a car parked on the shoulder. Also the hits for driving after 11pm is ridiculous, I work nights! So pretty much a hit every day.
Road trips have been great in my Y .. we stop about every 3 to 4 hours, going 69mph. Each charge only 20 minutes. Insurance is only $70 per month in my state. Plus, when you do have to charge, 20 minutes using your phone while charging is nothing, most people are on their phone/couch 4 hours a day. I don't get the complaints about 20 minutes, 2 times per week to charge for apartment dwellers.
When running errands in hot weather, I turn on Keep (hit the temp and Keep is on the right on the popup), and it keeps the car nice and cool as I run around. In 92° in the sun for an hour it uses 1-2%.
I love my FSD in my 2019 Model S. It's been very interesting to see the evolution of the software. Its quirkiness is always improving. I'm a a former pilot since the 70's and have owned my own planes, all with autopilot. Tesla without FSD in my opinion is not only a bad investment but is a quite necessary option. I use it on every drive. but to do need to alway pay attention. I don't have range anxiety because I have learned to plan ahead. Just like running out of gas, running out of charge is a problem. 65,000 miles later I still love taking it skiing every year a few time. I one consider buying one, I would recommend finding that person that can give you more than a demo drive from a showroom. Find a driver that is very savvy with the FSD. Thanks Ellie, I've been a follower for years. PS have your boyfriend to but you a funnel.
And like aircraft autopilot, the supervisor can exercise some amount of control. I set my travels to minimum lane changes and non-auto speed setting, and manage both lane choice and speed like a pilot would heading, altitude, air speed, etc.
Word of caution with those 19” look wheel covers of you leased your car and/or care about the appearance of the wheels. I had them on my wheels for about eight months. Over time they will start sanding the paint off the lip of the wheels. Taking them off frequently to clean behind the inner edge of the cover is not a good long term approach as the locking tabs weaken and break over time. And i did apply the foam padding to the inner lip of the covers.
Having to charge every 2 hours doesn’t seem too bad. You can do an 8 hour trip and only have to charge 3 times. Even in an ice car depending on what type, you will have to stop at least 2 times during that stint. I’m 47 and have only driven halfway across the country once and that’s when I was moving. That not something people do often.
Tesla is definitely a very cool car to drive however, I love not having a car payment way too much. I now pay cash for older Toyota Sienna's (not older than 2004, abt. $4000 cash) because they haul quite a bit and I usually get well over 300,000 miles on them plus they are cheap to insure. Have to admit though... I'm jealous. Nice car!
I use FSD when driving on the highway in my Model Y. I find that I am not quite as tired as I used to be when I arrive at my destination since I let the Tesla do most of the work of lane changes, speed control and navigation. However, the nag is a pain I try to avoid by keeping a constant slight turning pressure on the steering wheel. That does increase the fatigue of a long trip, however. The newest version of FSD is a great leap backward. I had intervention after intervention and quite a few cases where it just shut off on my last trip. I hope real, honest-to-goodness FSD arrives soon. I'm 81 and I bought the Model Y to drive me around when my reflexes become too poor for me to drive myself!
Expensive! So basically all the "savings" went back into their pockets because of the insurance? It's so thoughtful of them. Elon is crushing the people who carry him.
I never have range anxiety with out model Yp. I do notice however when my wife drives the Tesla down to our favorite beach place with the kids, (about a 120nm) she uses a lot less energy than I do going the same distance. How weird? Not really she has the patience to drive on chill mode and I don’t.
We have not had to have the transfer case fluid, the differentials, 10 speed 10R80 transmission, engine air filter, engine oil, engine oil filter as we had to do in the past. We have not had to make arrangements to drop the car off at the ford dealer for a day and half to get the service work done. This has been such a relief ! But I just remembered typing this that I need to replace the windshield wipers as it is coming into the rainy season. Although we do use rainx, the Service intervals of the Ford used to be a reminder to do other things.
The problem we have with owning a Tesla is that I would feel guilty about going to the gas station to use their free air compressor to top off the tires. So we bought a roll around compressor. That’s it. Owning a Tesla is so simple.
I appreciated your honest review of cars; it would be great if professional channels could be as straightforward. As a loyal Tesla fan, I hope to buy one within the next couple of years.
You wont be disappointed my friend!!
I was hoping the same ... but .. i have been thinking that maybe, the robotaxi will make owning a car redundant. so maybe get one ASAP .. !!
The used car market for Tesla is starting to grow, thats an option as well. I just got a 2020, for $10k+ less
I don't think you will regret it.
I'm glad she spoke of the higher insurance costs. Probably would be good to take into account the terrible resale value also before committing to an EV. I was going to get an EV last year but the market is too unstable and costs are all over the place and changing quite a bit year by year, seems that electricity tier rates are on the rise next which will bring EV home charging closer to ICE fuels costs in some years. Tesla's are all too fast to ever see decent insurance costs. I would gladly accept one with a governed acceleration if Tesla came out with one. Like a Model 3 trim offered that did 0-60 in 8 seconds. My current SUV does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and that still throws me back in the seat and I pass people in seconds when needed on the highway. That would probably knock off $50 a month in insurance based on the demographic it would attract.
"Is this in the right hole?", you do know the humor level of your audience so well 🤣
Yes but a double entendre shouldn't be repeated, subtlety is the key.
@@marvindebot3264Ellie, has never been at risk, of being accused of being subtle… It’s part of her charm 😂🎉
🤔😁😅🤣
Good line. She knows. Still, well played.
We all know why you’re here…😂
I have the standard range 2023 M3. Picked it up in January 2024. Have over 20k miles on it. Drove it from East Coast to AZ. 2 round trips. Plus a trip to Star Base for #4 launch. So lots of long distance. Charging every 2-3 hours. Getting used to letting it get to 20 % or less and only charging enough to get to the next charger... After that charging was something I looked forward to. Taking frequent breaks makes driving 850 to 900 miles a day back to back for 3 days much easier. The breaks make it a much more enjoyable drive. Vs with an ICE car trying to drive 6-8 hours without a break. Tesla trip planning software works very well. I could see having to charge going from Austin to Boca Chica could feel a little annoying. So serious road trips are better with the more frequent stops. Also helps to realize that when supercharging at hotels, the hotels expect you to come inside to use the lobby restrooms.
I prefer charging at a well stocked convenience store/ gas station or truck stop. Vs a restaurant, or hotel. Typical charge times on the trip 15-30 minutes. Time for a restroom break, cold drink and maybe a sandwich. Shout out to Buc-ees, awesome brisket. Also charging at a gas station means there's support for things like washing windows. Check tire pressure (?) No need to check oil.(LOL)
Often car was done charging before i was done with the stop. So don't let range scare you compared to ice car. Let the Tesla software take care of you.
I so agree, I run mine down below 10% for a big fat charging curve, but to each his own!
Another thing I like to do is book hotels with free lvl 2 charging that way I don’t have to charge at the end/ beginning of the day… usually I set it to 90% or more for that first charge of the day…
These are my favorite videos of yours ---- real life experience is always more important than hype. Thank you!
Appreciate your honest opinion. At 73 yrs old my wife bought a new 2022 like yours but paid 10,000 more than you did. We take a lot of trips once going 4000 mi.s to the Grand Canyon and back. We had no problems charging since we would stop every three hours to charge and use a restroom or eat or get a motel room. We did the entire trip in a little less than 7 days.
Thanks for posting this. You have to want one. There’s no need for anyone to hate on EV or ICE. Get what works for you and stop judging others. You are you. Good job.
Thats exactly my thoughts on the matter - there are far too many haters out there - just enjoy what you drive, no matter what fuel source it has...! And smile, life is short so just enjoy it while you can :)
@@simonscofield8825exactly. I drive a new Corvette but would love to add a Plaid to my stable. Have fun no matter your price point.
I suppose a person might hate ICE bc it poisons the air.
I knew a young soldier who bought a jeep and took it off road with a friend. They got stuck and decided to wait till morning to go get help. In the night they ran the engine to stay warm. One died that night the other was severely brain damaged…
But that’s extreme, more day to day is the health problems associated with ICE pollution which are well documented.
Anyone that hates either has fear in them. The only thing I fear are hungry polar bears.
@@Cello69.or mommas
Ellie, You have a metallic blue wrap on your car. Metallic paint is the highest end paint the automakers use, and to think it comes from a plastic wrap is something that blows the mind. What a great job they did. Also, thanks for your honest review! 🙂
Cadillacs routinely held more than a gallon of washer fluid. That way when the reservoir was down to a quart, you could still add the whole new gallon of fluid. And didn't have to do it often.
My Ford and Buick only hold half a gallon each. Top off both; still some left over. Annoying that they can't have a bigger reservoir.
If filling up your windshield washer tank is all you have to worry about, than life is sweet!🤣🤣🤣
My GMC Terrain and Chevy Silverado each take a gallon
GMC Sierra >1.25 gallons from empty-empty.
Much older than you, we enjoy the brief break to walk around for 20 minutes, no need to attend charging. I requested in my settings for the automatic trip charge planner about 2 hours, although with a 300-mile range, it could be much less frequent. Our speed limits are 55 and 70 which produce the Tesla range prediction.
Our normal home charging, at 80% of the time, eliminated ICE car gas station trips and stops, and no oil changes, it really adds up the time savings.
I'm using an old electric dryer outlet to get level 2 charging from my mobile connector. Charges great. I did have to buy a $35 adapter to fit the older outlet (which also sets the amps appropriately) and $95 extension cable so I could charge from my driveway. Super convenient.
Note: I was lucky my dryer outlet wasn't being used since I have a gas dryer. If it was being used their are smart adapters which allow the dryer to take priority when in use and allow the Tesla to use when the not dryer is not in use.
My nephew who has a "lead foot" and typically goes 80 in a 55 zone complains of reduced range on road trips. It is a lifestyle and social pressure thing that fast is cool. Since Teslas are so quick it is hard for him to resist punching it.
I've shown him how I can get to the same 279 mile destination without stopping to charge for only 5 more minutes total. Maintaining his driving style is too important for him.
Maybe spending a few days in the county jail will slow him down. Around here if you get caught doing 20 miles over the speed limit its a mandatory arrest until you post bail. If you get busted on a Friday/holiday weekend you could spend 4 days in lockup before a judge can see you. All this is before you post bail or pay the fine.
It's not wise for your nephew to think everyone drives as good him. Many people are bad drivers and have no business driving fast
@@lashlarue59 20mph over in NY is easy to get reduced to a parking ticket.
I’ve had my model Y for two and a half years and it’s been parked outside as I don’t have a garage. I got permission from my landlord to install a NEMA 1450 plug on the side of the house and it charges in about 3 to 6 hours depending on SOC. I never had range anxiety and I have taken a few long road trips with it. I will never buy an ICE car again.
Thanks for the honest review Ellie. Your Model 3 is great branding for your channel.
In europe, a lot of research has shown that, for people that do not drive long distances regularly/professionally ( ie more than twice a week), the max attention span for driving safely is about 2 hours. Statistics show that accidents happen more frequently when people drive longer periods. So most national road safety and car associations advise people to take a break every two hours when going on a road trip.
Aside from that I need a restroom break and a drink or something to eat after 2 hours of driving, even when I was driving longer distances for work. And most EVs should be able to make a 2,5-3 hour trip, assuming charging stations are available (range 200-240 miles, speed 80 mph).
Yep my sentiments exactly, regular stops improves your concentration and we all need the call of nature!!
You only need that many breaks if you drive slowly. At 100 - 130 mph no breaks needed, but below, yes. EV make you drive slowly and break often, so that’s consistent at least ;)
In Europe, Wonder if you can drive 2 hours at Autobon Speeds. What’s the range going 200Km/H, am sure a performance could sustain 300Km/H
I’ve found that on long trips one potty stop per state is about right, and 16 hours per day unless I’m within another 3-4 hours of my destination.
Of course, once FSD is unsupervised, that goes away. It will be safe long before it will be legal, I predict.
Those socks though... Killed me 🤣
I did not even noticed it.
What she did to her face blocked me completely.
Why would anyone paint the face like going to war, or filming a horror movie?
This is the best, most honest report I've ever seen. Mahalo nui loa Ellie!
I was able to move my existing 240v dryer outlet to the outside of my house about $50 for a outdoor box and receptacle. Its a night and day difference over the 120v "trickle charge", about 7X faster, and I'm only charging @ 24 amps, a proper wall charger charges @ 48 amps. But it's unnecessary cuz 240V @ 24A will easily charge overnight. So I'm generally adding about 50% capacity from 30% to 80% cutoff in 7 hours or 22 miles per an hour.
Thx for another awesome video Ellie. ❤
I got Toni the Tesla about the same time as you. We have done 37,000km and driven across Australia 4 times on long long road trips. I love the colour of your wrap!
Keep up the great videos!
One other cost in Texas is a $200 annual fee, since electric cars don't use gas (and paying a fuel tax)
Wisconsin is 100$ for electric and hybrid 75$
She mentioned that
wait, you get an EV or hybrid and have to pay an additional tax because you don't use fuel?
@@mmgoodwings3981 Road maintenance is subsidized by gas taxes. EVs don't pay these taxes obviously but they use the same roads
Bill Gov for difference between 10 cents per mile in TX for actual miles at 30 miles per gallon. I am, good luck
Entertaining and Informative. You hit the 2 most important points.
Always helpful to get honest reviews., so many die hard tesla owners are just not realistic with their ownership reviews.
At 48 years old with no accidents, tickets or any insurance claims ever in my life insurance should have been super cheap on my Model Y. It was not. State Farm was the cheapest I could find at $120. Geico was about $210.
Insurance companies are risk evasive, as performance increases so does the premium cost. The auto pilot system doesn’t help either.
@@kennethprocak5176 Don't know about that. My State Farm agent said there was a discount due to the autopilot system. He said their high premium was due to the cost of repairing a Tesla and the $500 deductible I wanted.
The badging you added to the lower front doors is tasteful. Very well done.
Everyone is different, but I find road trips in my Tesla to be great. I’ve had my Model X for almost 8 years and have over 98,000 miles on it. I have driven it across the country a couple times and made many more trips of around 1,000 miles. Yes, it definitely takes longer, but between autopilot and the frequent charging rest stops, I arrive at my destination much more fresh and relaxed than I ever did with an ICE car, not stressed at all. My advice for potential road-trippers is to embrace the journey, plan for the extra time, and enjoy the trip.
It’s a different mindset, AP/FSD allow you to look around slightly more at scenery and really relax as you mentioned. I don’t think ppl understand how much of a game changer this is.
Hopefully we’ll get lvl 3 soon and be able to watch movies, nap, or play games while road tripping.
The era of SpaceX...and its amazing products
Tesla is a different company LOL
I love that you do not troll or click-bait your audience on Starliner.
I've had my 23 MYLR for a year now and just paid for my tags which were $1050... that's right, for two little 2025 stickers. When I registered it last year it cost me almost $5000, pretty much giving the Federal tax incentive to my state. Nebraska may be cheap to buy a house but their taxes are out of control. Love my Tesla though and great video Ellie.
Oof, Not even like that in CA. Sympathies.
This is one of your best videos yet. Thank you 🙏
*You know you can write a chunk of your car payments off if not all of it since you do use it to promote your business and as part of your business. Talk to your CPA but I use to prepare people taxes for everything they can write off legally.* *When you travel for your business to do interviews and such, the food, the trip, etc... everything's a write off. Just save all your receipt by month, days and year so you can find them easily when you need to for tax day.*
Yup, America doesn't have as many deductibles as some countries but that's pretty much universal everywhere, it's a business tool and at least 50% should be claimable. Same as her phone, internet, PC, laptop and other stuff. Not sure about the US but here they could even claim part of the rent as a room is being used as a studio, same with power.
@@marvindebot3264 *We have all that as well. I'm hoping she has a CPA who's in the know. Lots of CPA only care about their own paycheck at the end of day and don't take the time to learn all the things home businesses, small businesses, etc. can take advantage of. It changes every year. Have to stay on top of it.*
@@radicalrick9587 One thing you see a lot here is a company brand on work clothing shorts, longs and skirts because to claim laundry expenses the clothing must have a company mark on it so the back pocket on men's and the waistband on a skirt will often have the company name embroidered on it so the wearer can claim. It's only about 200 bucks (120 ish USD) a year but it all counts.
@@radicalrick9587 It depends. I key all my auto expenses to a specific business reason (travel to/from a mtg for example). So as you said she's good if she is shooting video at the destination or going to meeting. 50% off at tax time. But if she is buying groceries, I doubt the IRS cares about her branding on the car. Of course, HMMV.
@@jackeppington6488 *It doesn't matter what the IRS cares about; it's a legal write-off if you are using your car for business and advertising. The IRS wants to instill fear in people, but seriously, they are full of themselves and lose most of their cases against people who seriously challenge them. When you win, you have to sign a NDA not to brag about your victory or they will come after you for that. You have to realize that over 80% of what we are being taxed on is illegal. But people are scared to death to challenge the IRS. Most don't have the knowledge or the finances to take them on. I know of a person who bought a $250,000 Miami Vice-like boat to entertain his clients and had huge business advertising on the side of the boat as well. The IRS took him to court, trying to claim he couldn't write that off. The IRS lost since it was 100% legal for him to do so. Believe it or not, the IRS is nothing but a big bully that loves to pick on the little guys and take their lunch money illegally. In case you didn't know, there are laws on what the IRS can and cannot tax people and businesses on. The IRS ignores these laws, of course.*
Ellie you’re correct about the trickle
charger !!
For most people it’s all you need !
This helped alot. Tbh this felt like the most genuine review ever. Ive been researching for a whole year!
Glad I could help! I improvised what I would say but the gist is simple...
Tesla, good for local drive, bad for road trip, low maintenance, amazing with a garage, super pretty car that drives fast :P
Thanks Ellie.
Trickle charging is the best way to charge regular car batteries. I'm not familiar with Tesla's lithium-iom batteries but google says trickle charging is better for their long term health and lifespan. 😊
The data shows that is not the case for Tesla batteries. Due to the makeup of the battery chemistry and the advanced battery management system slow charging is not necessary to reduce degradation.
@@DrTed3 With all due respect, this sounds like something a salesperson would say. I've been working on automobiles for over 50 years. That does not make me smarter or better than the next tech. It does however give me a wait and see attitude when it comes to performance claims. Not saying you're wrong. Just saying...
@@yoursoulisforever Sorry, not a salesperson, but I do rely on data to form opinions and make decisions. So far, the data (if correct) backs up my assertion. "A new report from Recurrent, which has access to data from over 12,500 Tesla vehicles in the US through its software service, now shows clearly that there’s little to no difference in battery degradation between frequent fast charging and rare fast charging." You can Google Tesla battery longevity and supercharging.
Lithium batteries have long been happy with a 1C rate. (Full charge in 1 hour. Well, slightly longer).
This was true of Li-Po and Li-Ion for RC cars and planes 20+ years ago. The requirement is a "smart" charger. A cell balancer. And battery pack cooling while charging (and using). The latter being less possible in an RC. But included with a Tesla. Heat kills these batteries. And heat is generated by charging. Teslas have a pack cooler.
@@TheJustinJ Interesting but I would think a charger that fast-charges and cools a battery pack would cost more than a trickle charger and also require more electricity (for cooling). I have a conventional charging station in my shop. I have horses and rotate the batteries on the fence every few days for 13 years. Yeah call me stupid but I'm old and set in my ways. I do use some lithium-ion batteries though and they are amazing. My big charger will charge a battery fast but because I do not need fast, I use the little trickle charger. When you're old, slow is good. Lol For what it's worth, this is from Google, top of page: Slow charging is more favorable for lithium batteries' long-term health and lifespan. The slower charging process minimizes heat generation and reduces battery stress, helping maintain its capacity and overall performance over time.
Great and honest review. My daughter has a goal to have one someday -- but not now as a college student. Her $5500 Honda that gets 36mpg for now is just fine... and honestly her father here is happier knowing no issues in the deep cold with that car. But when she graduates -- she likes what you bought!
I have the model Y 2024. Already have 10k plus miles on it. Love it. We have the wall charger so it doesn’t take long to charge and yes if you go on long road trips and hammer it you do need to charge at more stops. But typically we only take 15 to 20 min to charge at a supercharger.
Another great video Ellie! I don’t own a Tesla yet, but you brought up some pitfalls that I need to consider before I buy one, especially about having a garage to store one. A friend from work has Tesla solar panels, and a powerwall, and never pays to charge his Tesla or heat/cool his house
Good review.
Though pro-Tesla myself I recently purchased a used Prius, partly over range concerns since my art career takes me all across Texas.
It's nice to know I've got 450 miles in the tank when I leave town, and I can have another 450 in fifteen minutes when I have to refuel.
Being on the vanguard of the future comes with trade-offs. That's why we should honor pioneers like you, Ellie.
Driving a used car is much better for the environment than buying a new electric car. I’d love a Tesla but my next car will be a used one. Maybe a used Tesla.
@jayrudo6280 , In fact, the ecological footprint of manufacture was a part of my thought process. So too, though, was reliability in the face of factors like pollution from lubricating oils, engine coolants, etc. Priuses, despite early teething troubles, are among the most reliable vehicles of any kind. That alone vastly reduces the fleet's ecological footprint. AND they get about fifty miles per gallon. Thus, both Toyota's and Tesla's approaches to the future of transportation are vital net goods. Tesla is American leadership for the ultimate goal. Toyota is practical in-betweening, necessary to bridging a path to that future.
Really love your wrap and your enthusiasm 🙂
Have my fourth Tesla now, the 2024 3PH, in the red color.
Now I am at home!
A beautiful car for a beautiful woman!
I think she is so horrible 😂😂
Ha Ha I agree. The first time I had to add washer fluid, it seemed like such a hassle as I had to go buy another jug as mine was almost empty, and then pour it in. Then I remembered all the other ICE car maintenance, oil changes etc. that I used to do and made me laugh.
Thanks for the good honest review. I agree on liking to not have to stop on a trip.
Very nice review! Glad you still like your car. 🙂 But, you know, you didn't mention safety and you didn't mention the feeling one gets from having surround camera awareness. To me, that is a very big deal when driving a Tesla. (The "nag" seldom bothers me - I'm trained by family and friends to appreciate backseat drivers.) It is the software (and Internet connectivity) that distinguishes a Tesla from other BEVs - from electric golf carts to electric super-cars from other manufacturers.
The color is great! Tesla's a great, I have a 2021 M3 and 2023 MY. We charge at home (I did have an electrician install 14-50 NEMA) and only supercharge 2% of the time. Please don't complain about registration cost....try paying reg in CA (I think I paid over $1200 for both cars). TBH, we don't have issues with charging time.
Love the car color.
This is a very sober & honest review!
Nice review...thanks for sharing...
I agree with you. I like to drive and really don’t use the full self driving. However, I disagree with you on road trips my Tesla model Y is a little over two years old and I have 60,000 miles. I’ve put on it. I’ve taken it all over the place super charged it with no issue. I also have been using a regular wall outlet to charge my Tesla at home
Ellie I don’t understand why you had to stop every 2hrs on your road trip? You should be able to get three hours at a go…
For me I like to put AP or FSD on and chill. I feel much more relaxed after “driving” all day with driver assistance on.
One pro tip is to look at the charging station up the road after you charge and stretch to the furthest one even if it means you slow down 5mph to improve efficiency. This also means skipping a station usually and cuts down on stops.
The worst thing you can do is stopping every time you hit 30-40% bc you’ll charge fast for a shorter amount of time. Instead run it down below 10% and you’ll get very fast charging for longer.
It’s pretty easy to titrate your remaining charge by adjusting your speed.
Thanks for an honest review!
Oh I did not see you there!! I just love that
so magnificent car color, and so nice to see and hear you ☺
Thank you for the 1 year review! 🤠
Have you done a roadtrip in a Tesla you were not driving like with Joe Tegtmeyer or Dr. KIA?? Did you have the same "distance driving" issues when riding with them?🤔
So, two days to 'trickle' charge. Seems like a nice option for someone that doesn't drive much or a longer commute. I have also seen where the batteries degrade over time and it costs as much to replace the battery as it does another car. So, for most people, by the time you pay off the car loan you may need to replace the battery or get a new car.
New owners need to learn much in order to safely drive a Tesla. Please consider making more videos with your father about every thing in the Tesla User Manual. That he knows so little about Teslas helps your viewers to more easily understand what they need to know about owning a Tesla. It also helps that you communicate so well and honestly, and that your father is such a great and thoughtful guy with whom you have a wonderful relationship.
You are correct that it would be nice to not have oil changes.
One other motivator that has me looking at Tesla is that my current car recently came up needing engine coolant replacement. Something else that I wouldn't see with a Tesla.
Now, because the infrastructure isn't built in the places I am likely to go, I will be keeping my PHEV for those trips.
Not to mention exhaust systems, including stolen cats, head gaskets, oil leaks, coolant leaks, . . .
I just bought my model 3 a few months ago. I had installed the wall charger before I bought the car so I wouldn't have to worry about using Superchargers. My car has been great for driving around town. I did take it on one extended road trip, which was a major hassle because of the frequent stops to recharge and the fact that I had to drive an hour out of my way because of access to Superchargers along the way. So, the car is great for city driving, maybe not so great for road trips.
Thanks for sharing
I feel the exact same way!!!
Registration in Nevada was over 1 thousand when new in 2020 for my Y, this year, 4 years later, it’s $800….😢….
Since I'm retired and not floating in money for that monthly payment and related insurance, I think I'll stay with my ICE machine. Plus, my ICE is payed for and gets driven only about 6 hours per month now. Good review, Ellie. 😀
Keep in mind that you do NOT need to charge up all the way each time you charge up on a trip. All you need to do is charge up >enough< so that you can get to where you will need your next food/pee break. Once you get your food go and sit in the car and eat or plug in the car and go to the restaurant which are almost always not too far away, and once you get done eating you SHOULD have enough charge to get to your next pit/food/etc stop.
Again, you do NOT need to charge up anymore than what you will need to get to your next stop. I would get like a 20% buffer BECAUSE the world isn't flat. You and the car will be going up and down in elevation and you need to make sure you have enough charge to take that into account.
It RARE for me to worry about range but when I do it is because my wife and I sometimes like to go places that are off the beaten track and we have to account for that and during THOSE trips we charge up all the way, "just in case" based on how far we will be to any superchargers or home or Tesla destination chargers at hotels, etc., which usually let you charge up and pay the normal rate which is a LOT LOT LOT, did I mention a LOT(?) less than gas or diesel.
Maintenance is changing the tires (when needed), changing the windshield wipers, and filling up windshield water fluid and if you want, want, washing the car. Seriously, that is really the only maintenance that I've done on my Tesla which has about 25,000 miles on it since I bought it a couple years ago.
There is no motor with pistons going up and down so there is no oil to change. There are no spark plugs to change. There is nothing to tune up. Do you "tune up" your hair dryer or other electric appliances? NO! Do you need to do any maintenance on your electric appliances other than cleaning them? NO! Well, you do NOT need to do more than what I listed. And if you take care of your car the batteries and motors should EASILY last 200,000 miles. That's not a joke.
Is Tesla Full Self Driving ("FSD") worth it? We paid $10,000 for it when we bought our Tesla. On road trips it is great but you really don't need to buy FSD for that because *most* of what you get with FSD you get for free. Not everything but most.
FSD does NOT drive like me on back roads. It drives WAY too far to the right in lanes so that it goes over drains and literally is about a foot from curbs and then has to go around parked cars. WHY Elon? It is also WAY too slow when getting to intersections where it needs to stop. WHY Elon?
The car SHOULD be looking before it gets to intersections and since computers can do literally trillions of "thoughts" per second, why does it take more than half a second for it to figure out if there is something in the way and is it its turn to go or not? It should be half a second TOTAL when getting to intersections and then GOING right away instead of driving like a 15 year old who's never driven before.
Once they get those fixed, "some day", then FSD will be totally worth it. Also, eventually my wife and/or I will not be able to drive ourselves to doctors appointments, etc., which is part of the reason why I paid for FSD. That will be 10 or 20 years from now so Tesla should have all that fixed so you can have it drive you somewhere, then go park itself by itself. Then come and pick you up where you are, wherever that may be (as long as a car can get there) and then drive you to your next spot. So I bought the future but on backroads I mostly ended up taking over. On freeways and highways I mostly let it drive WITH me paying attention in case I need to take over, which is almost never on highways and freeways.
Why did I buy an electric car? It is because I HATED going to gas stations. Everything else is gravy. I am literally GIDDY about not having to go to gas stations anymore. Yes, on trips I have to go to charging stations but do they smell? No. And charging up an electric car is a LOT, like 1/3rd to 1/4th the price of filling up with gas. I think I paid $17 last time to fill it up for about 200 miles of range at a supercharger during peak hours. So off hours it would have cost me less. Does that happen with gas stations? No.
Anyway, we either stop and get fast food on trips and then eat while the car is charging. OR we plug in the car and go nearby to a restaurant and eat and by the time we are done eating, eating normally, the car will be done and we can go as long as we normally would for our next pit stop/time to eat, whatever it is.
Am I glad that I bought a Tesla? YES! YES! YES!
Am I glad that I bought FSD? For highways and freeways maybe. For backroads it isn't there yet BECAUSE it drives WAY TO FAR in the right side of the lane and it is SLOW, SLOW, SLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW at intersections. OH MY GOD my dead grandmother get through intersections faster if she had to pull to a stop and get moving again and she was over 100 when she died.
Insurance on Tesla varies greatly by your driving score, record, age, and location. In Florida, Geico is nearly double what Progressive is for EV insurance. So it varies a lot.
Thank you for being honest about needing to Supercharge every 2 hours when driving fast on the freeway. We just got a Ford C-max hybrid. It gets 500 miles from a 13 gallon gas tank. Full coverage is less than $150 per month. Cars like Ford Maverick, Chrysler Pacifica, as well as Civic, Rav-4 and Prius are all similar price per mile when figuring in higher insurance, tire, and purchase price for a Tesla. Paying $300/month for a M3 is common as the only quote in the many states who lack Tesla insurance. Whether we EV nerds like it or not, cost & use case are still legit barriers for many families. Good on Tesla for even attempting to do insurance.
Great honest review. Although I would still take my Tesla on a road trip, it is easier with an ICE car. There’s always a trade off with EV’s and ICE cars. I do recommend getting the refreshed Model 3. Definitely test drive one. Drive safe ⚡️😎
I also have a M3LR and I have no problems with roadtrips. I am averaging 16K miles/year. I love that the car does most of the driving. The sound system is great for road trips. The ability to watch videos in the car is also nice, but usually don't have any time to sit in the car while supercharging, since restroom breaks, snacks, and drinks use up most of the time.
If you have an electric dryer in that rental, a matching cord can be attached to the wall charger, for 30 amps or so at 220 or 240V. It is clear that another doubling of range is needed to allay range anxiety for real.We don't often start at full (unlike gas cars) or drive near empty (ditto.)
The wrap you chose is amazing! I wish you all the best.
The existing wires can be used to provide 230@20 amp for a double charge rate.
I new outlet and breaker will be needed.
A full charge should be completed overnight.
I love that when it says low, it's take a whole gallon!
I save $6000 a year charging at home and driving my model Y. It’s great. Of the 100 000 km in the past 2-1/2 years, we did no long road trips. Scheduled departure is awesome for regular work days.
Very much this opinion. You have to take a look at your lifestyle and what you use your vehicle for. If you're going to be doing alot of road tripping, an EV is not going to be an ideal solution. It'll get the job done, but expect the trip to take alot longer than you anticipate..
I absolutely love my Standard Range.. it has done wonders for a daily commuter..
Ellie, thank you for your review! I own a MYLR and really like mine. As far as road trips, I like the stops to stretch my legs and just relax for a bit. One option, assuming your route has the Superchargers to support it, is to just charge to 50% and then charge again at 10%. This limits the time you are charging, but does mean more frequent stops. Yes, the lack of required maintenance is awesome! I did not my tires rotated a few months ago; Tesla did it as a mobile service for me. Also, I had a switch on the front driver’s seat go bad; that was mobile service as well.
I pick up my model 3 Performance on Thursday so I'm very much looking forward to hearing about your experiences a year later this will be my first electric car so it's going to be a learning curve
Ellie, nothing is perfect. I'm a very big Tesla bull. But I really like you honesty !
If you had a key you could have punctured the washer fluid foil. The charging aspect is one reason that I predict that EVs will never get over 20% market share in the USA in a free market.
Range will at least double for new EVs over the next five years (prediction). It is also quite possible, although less certain, that charging time will also get much faster. Together, that should pretty much deal with the range issue. Until then, those who have not experienced EV travel will still resist, although if they made the plunge most would be fine.
I've had mine over 3 years now with no problems, would never go back to a gas guzzler;)
Great review. Could have got a used one on Hertz for 25 ish. When I did a fuel savings comparison in my use case when I get a Tesla I will save about 2700 a year, enough to pay for a used Model 3.
Thumbs up for an honest review. Its good to see someone also point out the bad/indifferent parts of owning a Tesla, rather than the 'everything is rainbows' reviews you get from fanboys. Good job on this one.
Haha, that acting on the intro was on point. I was convinced L-Beans was thoroughly irate. I can't believe it's already been a year, seems just like yesterday L-Bean was always saying that she wasn't a Tesla owner yet.
Hard to believe it is already a year. Seems like yesterday when I was watching your videos about the wrap. I love my 2019 Model 3 too. I've taken it on a few road trips and have actually enjoyed the EV road trip experience. You need to plan more than an ICE vehicle and it is better if you can travel distances within the range of the car each day and make sure you stay in accommodation with a charger (often free).
We got our Long Range Model Y last September, also here in the Austin area- but actually, the State of Texas does have a rebate! However, it is extremely limited to about 3000 EVs. So the program, when it reopened last October, was full after less than a week, iirc- but we were fortunate to get a $2500 Rebate from the State of Texas to add to our $7500 Federal Tax Credit. We also did the Tesla car insurance for the first month, but went with Geico after that ( but we also bundled our home insurance, which helped). And- LOL- we also keep forgetting to turn on the AC before we get into it- but in our case, I will blame our aging brains :-0
*the wrap looks amazing*
I am giving you an honest feedback for your honest review.
I generally enjoy your videos on SpaceX. Although EV charging with a Tesla is not for everyone who is going on long distances, people who have a lot of experience traveling to many places in the United States, generally conclude that the Superchargers work well; although you have to stop longer in some cases, most of the time people use the restroom, get some food, stretch their legs and are charged with little or no delay. My daughter, wife and I have enjoyed the long distance Tesla trips with the fast and easily accessible charging stations. We are usually making sure that we don’t take too long because the charging will be done before we get back to our Tesla.
There are millions of people who effectively travel long distances, even when they are by themselves, with superchargers. I know that the fastest chargers are not everywhere, so you need to plan for this. To reiterate, long distance travel in a Tesla is not for everyone. Albeit, you present as having relatively little experience in traveling long distances in a Tesla. You had a particularly difficult trip that will probably remain in your mind for the rest of your life. Please know that I do in general respect you, and what is included in your videos. My belief is is that your best videos are on SpaceX because you interview experts who are willing to explain in detail fascinating subjects about outer space, and rocketry in general.
Zack and Jessie from Now You Know have been driving Tesla’s for many years, and have done many extensive travels in them; they indicate that traveling in a Tesla on long-distance trips is an effective way to go long distances in the United States. Best regards to you and your channel!
We wanted to dip our toes in the Electric car world on the cheap so we just bought a used 2016 Nissan Leaf & we love it. A change for 2024 is that you can take the Federal EV Tax credit up front & the dealer will deduct the full amount right off the purchase price. The great thing about a lot of used EV's is that there usually is not a lot of miles on them because they are typically only used for short work commutes so no chance to really rack up the miles.
Good To Know! Nice Finish On The Car. I Think That This Auto Is A Good One For Senior Citizens We Drive Less Miles And Not Too Far From The Home Base. To Me Battery Energy Density The Weight Of The Batteries And The Batteries Susceptibility To Cold And Hot Temperatures Are The Great Pitfalls To The EVs!!! My Opinion. By The Way I Love Your Way Your Channel Covers Space X, Good Work!
Love the color ❤
I’m happy they don’t use the safety score in California. I get false collision warnings anytime I turn on my road if there is a car parked on the shoulder. Also the hits for driving after 11pm is ridiculous, I work nights! So pretty much a hit every day.
Yeah, that one is almost clueless about how people really live. And how empty the roads tend to be after 11, even on the highways.
State Farm has Tesla-friendly insurance rates.
Road trips have been great in my Y .. we stop about every 3 to 4 hours, going 69mph. Each charge only 20 minutes. Insurance is only $70 per month in my state. Plus, when you do have to charge, 20 minutes using your phone while charging is nothing, most people are on their phone/couch 4 hours a day. I don't get the complaints about 20 minutes, 2 times per week to charge for apartment dwellers.
When running errands in hot weather, I turn on Keep (hit the temp and Keep is on the right on the popup), and it keeps the car nice and cool as I run around. In 92° in the sun for an hour it uses 1-2%.
I love my FSD in my 2019 Model S. It's been very interesting to see the evolution of the software. Its quirkiness is always improving. I'm a a former pilot since the 70's and have owned my own planes, all with autopilot. Tesla without FSD in my opinion is not only a bad investment but is a quite necessary option. I use it on every drive. but to do need to alway pay attention. I don't have range anxiety because I have learned to plan ahead. Just like running out of gas, running out of charge is a problem. 65,000 miles later I still love taking it skiing every year a few time. I one consider buying one, I would recommend finding that person that can give you more than a demo drive from a showroom. Find a driver that is very savvy with the FSD. Thanks Ellie, I've been a follower for years. PS have your boyfriend to but you a funnel.
And like aircraft autopilot, the supervisor can exercise some amount of control. I set my travels to minimum lane changes and non-auto speed setting, and manage both lane choice and speed like a pilot would heading, altitude, air speed, etc.
Word of caution with those 19” look wheel covers of you leased your car and/or care about the appearance of the wheels. I had them on my wheels for about eight months. Over time they will start sanding the paint off the lip of the wheels. Taking them off frequently to clean behind the inner edge of the cover is not a good long term approach as the locking tabs weaken and break over time. And i did apply the foam padding to the inner lip of the covers.
Having to charge every 2 hours doesn’t seem too bad. You can do an 8 hour trip and only have to charge 3 times. Even in an ice car depending on what type, you will have to stop at least 2 times during that stint. I’m 47 and have only driven halfway across the country once and that’s when I was moving. That not something people do often.
Daisy Dukes
Size: L
Tesla is definitely a very cool car to drive however, I love not having a car payment way too much. I now pay cash for older Toyota Sienna's (not older than 2004, abt. $4000 cash) because they haul quite a bit and I usually get well over 300,000 miles on them plus they are cheap to insure. Have to admit though... I'm jealous. Nice car!
Like the review ...just note that the one time a year oil change does takeless time compre to waiting at a charger.
It is a lot easier to merge as well, you can match speed much quicker.
Now that's an honest review. Thank you. I love the color.
Thanks for watching!
I use FSD when driving on the highway in my Model Y. I find that I am not quite as tired as I used to be when I arrive at my destination since I let the Tesla do most of the work of lane changes, speed control and navigation. However, the nag is a pain I try to avoid by keeping a constant slight turning pressure on the steering wheel. That does increase the fatigue of a long trip, however. The newest version of FSD is a great leap backward. I had intervention after intervention and quite a few cases where it just shut off on my last trip. I hope real, honest-to-goodness FSD arrives soon. I'm 81 and I bought the Model Y to drive me around when my reflexes become too poor for me to drive myself!
Agreed FSD has some quirks
Expensive! So basically all the "savings" went back into their pockets because of the insurance? It's so thoughtful of them. Elon is crushing the people who carry him.