Video or it didn’t happen 
1 Like
My wife is thinking of ordering a Model 3, as the Canadian Fed’s just put an extra $5,000 rebate on top of the existing $5,000 provincial rebate we get for living on the hippy Pacific side.
@PaulRix - how do you like it still? Did you bother with the ‘Full Self Drive’ package? How’s it lasting with wear and tear etc?
2 Likes
I love it. I have just over 9000 miles on it now. Apart from having some panel alignment adjustments done, all has been great. Panel alignment was a problem with a lot of Model 3’s built last summer, but new build cars are a lot better in this regard. I have a childish grin on my face every time I drive it. 
The way they packaged the various auto-pilot features was a bit different when I purchased mine. I have what was called Enhanced Auto-Pilot. So, I get Traffic Aware Cruise Control, Navigate on Auto-pilot, self steering (highway only), automatic parking, but not the Full Self Driving, which is not available yet, but evidently close. I have to admit I don’t use the autopilot modes all that much. It does allow you to have better SA in many circumstances, because you can keep your head on a swivel, but I absolutely don’t trust it at this point. Like an autopilot on an airplane, you have to know when to use the automation, and just as importantly, when to get rid of it.
The cool thing with Tesla’s is that new features and improvements are being added quite frequently via over the air updates. Since getting the car at the end of September, they have added features such as Navigate on Autopilot mode, Dashcam using the Autopilot’s cameras (front, left and right), Sentry mode, which is a car alarm of sorts, that also activates the car’s cameras. They also unleashed an extra 5% of power to the motor(s), giving small, but noticeable boost in acceleration.
At 9000 miles, my tires still look good. There really isn’t anything to maintain. Brakes will last a lot longer than on a normal vehicle, because mostly you are using regenerative braking when you take your foot off the accelerator (it takes a little time to get used to).
I should add that my wife loves it too.
Feel free to send any questions you might have in my direction.
6 Likes
Thanks @PaulRix, great info!
Did you get a wall connector or any special hook-up in the garage for charging?
1 Like
Lol not content with getting everyone to buy virtual planes and scenery and hotas gear, Paul is now hawking Teslas lol
6 Likes
Out of curiosity, how’s the infrastructure there for level 2 chargers, and what are the charge fees looking like?
1 Like
You are welcome! You can buy a wall charger for about $500 (US) plus installation. The car comes with a mobile charger which can be hooked up to various types of power socket, even a standard 115V if you are desparate.
A regular power outlet will just give you 5 miles per hour of charge. The Tesla Wall Charger gives a little over 40 miles per hour of charge. I had an Electrician install a NEMA 14-30 240V socket in my garage. That gives me 30 miles per hour of charge which is pretty decent. Basically I start each day with a full tank of electrons 
.
5 Likes
To be honest, I would have to look up that info. For local driving, I have plenty of charge to get through the day. If I am going farther afield, I would plan on using the Super Charger network, which I have done on a couple of occasions. Super charging typically costs double per KWH than you would pay at home, but most people only need to use them occasionally.
Here is a map of regular EV charging locations in the Austin area…
This of course doesn’t include Tesla’s network. I am lucky in that there is a Tesla destination charger available at the back of the hangar where I work, which is free to use.
4 Likes
How does the Squirrel feel about having to do all that pedaling under the hood?
I’m just hating because I cant afford one. Got to sit in one in Sweden. I was immediately impressed. Its unlike any car I have Ever been in. Two years later Stockholm was chock full of Teslas. They are everywhere. All those people cant be buying them because they hate them… The style is just impressive. Now Mr Tesla make one that looks like an Opal GT.
4 Likes
Price is definitely an issue that they are working on. The Model S and X are out of reach for most people I think. The Model 3 is within reach of a wider demographic but it is still more than the majority of people would be willing to pay for a car.
I could have stretched to the base model S without autopilot and reduced range, but at that point you have to ask if it is worth it. My Model 3 came in at a good bit less than the base Model S.
I have no doubt that in, lets say 10 years, electric vehicles will be common, with longer range and priced at a point that most people would find attractive.
2 Likes
Exactly what I was going to say. I would have been SERIOUSLY interested in a Model 3 over my 2019 Honda Accord Sport 2.0 6 speed manual, but at almost double the cost it just wasn’t going to happen.
This is the problem with all EV’s right now. You can get a really nice, fuel efficient car for much less than an EV. If you make your purchasing decision based purely on financial considerations, a gas powered car is far more accessible. The flip side to that though is that if you keep the EV for a long time, you will end up saving money. There is very little maintenance to do - no oil changes, no filter changes, very few moving parts to go wrong. You also don’t have to buy gas/diesel (charging at home is much cheaper).
Elon Musk recently said that the expected battery life for the Model three is in excess of 350,000 miles and that a replacement pack will be in the region of $7K. How many cars are still on the road with over 350,000 miles on the clock? At the rate I drive (about 15000 miles per year) it would take just over 23 years to reach 350000. I’ll be 70 years old at that point! Of course, Elon’s statements are always 100% correct and never optimistic . Still, even if the battery life is 2/3rds of what he says it still is impressive.
So, the initial outlay is substantially more than a regular car, but over time that swings in the other direction. In the not too distant future, we will have the benefits mentioned above but without the larger initial outlay.
3 Likes
Yeah the price is problematic, especially in countries where there is no help by the government.
IIRC one of the reasons why the Teslas and similar cars are very common in Norway for example is that they are massively cheaper, like 50% or so.
The electric cars that have the same size as my current car (2012 Honda Jazz Hybrid) cost in excess of 40,000€ (so almost double the price) and then many require renting the battery, too, for 50€ per month. Which is more than I spend on fuel right now.
So as much as I want to have an electric car, it just isn’t worth it for me. Yet.
I hope that the next generation will be available when my car nears the end of its life.
Better go ahead and order one now- powers that be in several locations are trying to make it as painful as possible to buy one in the nearish future.
Yeah. Sure am glad I got my solar setup on my house all those years ago while the federal and state incentives were still there.
I don’t think I need an 80K car though. I about had a stroke when I paid $27K for my Subaru.
1 Like
Are we talking about the Dealership Cartel? They seem hell bent on keeping Tesla out of Texas. We just recently squashed an attempt by them to ban Tesla from having their own Service Centers in the State. Evidently they argue that the franchise business model protects the consumer from the greedy car manufacturer. My experience with franchise dealers is that they are in it purely for themselves.
1 Like
If you go to this website, we have an (admittedly very simple) calculator that can show savings based on miles driven and gas prices.
Just sayin’.
1 Like
Not in this case. There are two bills floating around in our state house that would penalize EV owners with significantly higher registration fees and property tax rates, and there are others being “written” in about a dozen other state legislatures as well.
The dealers, well, that’s another rant altogether.
1 Like
There is precisely one new Tesla available within 200k from me and it costs $179k or something ridic. Haha.