10,000 Miles and Six Months
Picked up my Black Model 3 with 19” wheels on New Years Eve 2017. I have a lower Vin # 16XX. The car is now six months old and I have 10,000 miles on it. Before this I drove a 2014 Model S which now has 89,000 miles on it and my wife drives (and Loves) it.
I drive one of the busiest freeways in the United States five days a week. It is a 100 mile commute. Some of you may drive more every day, most will drive less. I never have range anxiety as I charge to 90% at night. The car starts charging at midnight and is fully ready to go early in the am.
I have not been to a gas station since late December. If I had an ICE that had a MPG range of 30, I would have bought 334 gallons of gas. At roughly $3.50 for gas, that would have been $1,169 in gas plus 28 trips to the gas station (4-1/2 trips per month). What is the cost saving of those trips to the station?
I am able (with stickers bought from the DMV) travel in the carpool lanes and use the 91 express lanes. That combination saves me at least an hour a day in my overall commute. What is the cost saving of that time?
I would have needed at least one oil change (probably two) if I were driving an ICE car. What is the cost savings in that? I have had the tires rotated once but I would have needed to do that in an ICE car too. While the tires were being rotated, I checked the brakes, they still look brand new.
I was lucky to pick up the car New years Eve as I have been able to already use the $7,500 tax benefit. Also, the California rebate of $2,500 certainly makes a great car even better.
One thing that seems to rarely get mentioned is personal safety for yourselves and others in your car. From Tesla’s past history and from pictures of wrecks so far, it seems that you (and those others) are safer riding in your car than other cars on the road.
The ride is a bit stiffer than the S but I like it, I am reminded that it handles more like a sports sedan than a luxury cruiser. The seats are great, I arrive feeling much more relaxed than in other cars that I have driven.
I feel the overall view out the front is exceptional and that the acceleration is still the “Tesla Grin” that got me to change all those years ago. The radio is awesome, even for an ol guy that had better hearing years ago. Play “All Right Now” by Free with the bass all the way up at volume and feel another heartbeat.
The touchpad becomes second nature quickly. Lane assist is good, not great yet. I use it every day, it helps reduce the tension of stop and go traffic. Advanced Cruise Control is exceptional, it “senses” things a number of times before I do. Lane change assist is a bit odd but I never like to change lanes on a freeway too often anyway.
If you are on the fence or having second thoughts, I hope the above helps reassure you that you are indeed making the right choice. I get asked all the time, model 3 or S? Brand new, it’s a S every time. A new 3 VS. my 2014 S? Tough choice but I would pick the new 3.
I drive one of the busiest freeways in the United States five days a week. It is a 100 mile commute. Some of you may drive more every day, most will drive less. I never have range anxiety as I charge to 90% at night. The car starts charging at midnight and is fully ready to go early in the am.
I have not been to a gas station since late December. If I had an ICE that had a MPG range of 30, I would have bought 334 gallons of gas. At roughly $3.50 for gas, that would have been $1,169 in gas plus 28 trips to the gas station (4-1/2 trips per month). What is the cost saving of those trips to the station?
I am able (with stickers bought from the DMV) travel in the carpool lanes and use the 91 express lanes. That combination saves me at least an hour a day in my overall commute. What is the cost saving of that time?
I would have needed at least one oil change (probably two) if I were driving an ICE car. What is the cost savings in that? I have had the tires rotated once but I would have needed to do that in an ICE car too. While the tires were being rotated, I checked the brakes, they still look brand new.
I was lucky to pick up the car New years Eve as I have been able to already use the $7,500 tax benefit. Also, the California rebate of $2,500 certainly makes a great car even better.
One thing that seems to rarely get mentioned is personal safety for yourselves and others in your car. From Tesla’s past history and from pictures of wrecks so far, it seems that you (and those others) are safer riding in your car than other cars on the road.
The ride is a bit stiffer than the S but I like it, I am reminded that it handles more like a sports sedan than a luxury cruiser. The seats are great, I arrive feeling much more relaxed than in other cars that I have driven.
I feel the overall view out the front is exceptional and that the acceleration is still the “Tesla Grin” that got me to change all those years ago. The radio is awesome, even for an ol guy that had better hearing years ago. Play “All Right Now” by Free with the bass all the way up at volume and feel another heartbeat.
The touchpad becomes second nature quickly. Lane assist is good, not great yet. I use it every day, it helps reduce the tension of stop and go traffic. Advanced Cruise Control is exceptional, it “senses” things a number of times before I do. Lane change assist is a bit odd but I never like to change lanes on a freeway too often anyway.
If you are on the fence or having second thoughts, I hope the above helps reassure you that you are indeed making the right choice. I get asked all the time, model 3 or S? Brand new, it’s a S every time. A new 3 VS. my 2014 S? Tough choice but I would pick the new 3.
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Comments
Coming from an ICE, two months, 5000 miles. Saved 227 gallons of gas @3.50 = $794.50, plus 14 trips to the gas station and one oil change. Only save a minute or two on my commute with the stickers (I go the opposite way from traffic), but I have 1000% more grinning time during my commute. Never going back to ICE.
That needs to be set to music... SOON.
you'll know paradise
you'll never ever go back
to Texas Tea and ICE
OR
Once you experience a Model 3
you'll see life is as simple as 1, 2, 3
you'll truly abhor going back to an ICE
it's really nothing other than a roll of the dice
Thanks for the good review.
"Never going back to ICE
Gonna drive my Model 3 forever
Gonna try and make up for the times
I stopped for gas..."
"Never going back to ICE
Gonna drive my Model 3 a LOT more than thrice
Gonna stop burning gas... it's really a sin!
In no time at all will be sporting said grin"
I stopped for gas..."
Never, nevermore will we buy gas for an ICE since we sold them.
I haven’t figured out how much electricity i use with the model 3. Wondering if I’m saving anything.
I haven’t figured out how much electricity i use with the model 3. Wondering if I’m saving anything.
Why stop and wait to charge to save $3? Plug in every night and never have to wait.
When I drive by a gas station, I sometimes think about pulling over, opening the charge port, taking the gas dispenser thingy (what’re they called again?—those smelly things with a nozzle that dispenses liquid evil I mean), and just standing there scratching my head and looking confused. Then I remember that gas stations are terrible places from my distant past and grin as I drive by.
Oh, I second that. OP’s story is good stuff, but I was hoping your gas station episode led somewhere entertaining. I imagined the gas attendant’s eyes pop out as you apparently ice your ICE (see what I did there?). Regardless, what a 2018 turn of phrase you used: “bag of ice to cool my beer chest in the frunk.” That would be a totally unintelligible combination of words 7 years ago. It reads more like you suffered some sort of remedy for a bizarre, alcohol-induced thoracic injury.
So on a scale of 1-100, with the Flintstones being at 10 (they had the wheel and rudimentary personal vehicles, but no mass transit), and the Jetson's are at 90 (speedy, non-polluting mass transit, but no Holodeck or Krell technology, either of which negates the desire to ever leave your house), where are we at right now?
Thanks for all the kind words!
I forgot one more thing (I am sure there is more to come). The glass roof is SO COOL. I sometimes forget about it but that is what makes it cool. It is the roof, yet it's noticed only when I look up. So far, even in some 100 degree heat, it has been no issue as far as making the car too hot.