Kilometres travelled
25,000 - 50,000 km
Did you buy this car new or used?
New
How much did you pay? (including all on-road costs)
62600
What were your needs when you bought this car? Has it fulfilled those needs?
The purchase of the Tesla was less of a need and more of a want. I recognised that the drive towards reducing emissions was not going to be optional and if I was going to make a change, it may as well be as far forward as I could technology wise. In that respect, it 100% fulfilled my need/want in that it is a zero emissions vehicle. At the same time, I also accept that its manufacture is not zero carbon, but no vehicles were on offer that were zero emissions and carbon neutral in manufacture. In terms of my motoring needs, it met all of my requirements for safety, comfort, performance and completely overdelivered on running costs due to the fact that there are a number of free chargers available at this point in time and maintenance costs on Tesla vehicles are incredibly low (pretty much tyres and windscreen washer fluid for the foreseeable future). Because it is a BEV, range per charge was a major decision factor and it is well known that Tesla vehicles are still ahead of the pack for efficiency.
What were your initial thoughts about the car? Tell us why it appealed to you.
Being a bit of a technology nerd, I was always fascinated with Tesla vehicles and their technological advancement. I was also attracted by the overall clean and sporty look of the car and its impressive performance and efficiency, which translates into great range for its battery capacity.
What have you discovered since owning the car?
I soon learned that range anxiety is a real thing and had to learn to plan journeys based on differing range performance under different driving conditions. The claimed range of all BEV's is very much idealised for marketing purposes. I knew this going in, so it was not a shock and I had realistic expectations. Being an early adopter, I have found advantages (clean car rebate, free charging) and disadvantages ( EV ownership growing more rapidly that charging infrastructure, resulting in wait times for charging). As far as driving the Tesla is concerned, it is a learning experience on its own, but is quite intuitive and didn't take long. I had fortunately had a bit of experience driving BEV's so It was not too much of a culture shock. Owning and driving the car for more than 25,000 Km has reinforced to me that the original purchase decision was the correct one.
What do you like/dislike about the car?
Like: I have not been disappointed by the technological advancement of the Tesla, which was its main attraction for me. I like the "autopilot", which I primarily just use for its adaptive cruise control features, rather than any other self-drive features. I find it superior to any other cruise control system I have tried, especially in heavy traffic. One never needs to use the accelerator or brakes, just steer. I also very much like the "phone key" tech, where my phone is my key. I simply open the door (unlocks automatically), get in and select drive (no stop/start button). On stopping, simply select Park, get out and walk away. The car will self-lock. Other things I like are: low maintenance, cheap running, comfortable, handles well and plenty of power to get out of trouble. The camera system is excellent. Dislike: I don't actively dislike anything, but niggles include: No driver's dashboard or heads-up display. Sometimes it can be distracting to make adjustments on the central screen while driving. However, I should also point out that the Tesla does have the option of using voice commands. I find that the rearward vision is quite poor, simply down to the body design. I find the flush door handles, which are very good for aerodynamics, are a bit fiddly when you have your hands full. It is also a bit disconcerting that the car has no spare wheel or any means of overcoming a puncture, other that ringing the roadside assist number.
Any other comments on the car?
I have loved driving the Tesla for the past 15 months and don't see myself changing back to an ICE vehicle. The decision to pay a bit extra for the Tesla versus a cheaper entry level BEV has left me with no regrets. It is well built and finished and has been 100% reliable and consistent. I experienced only one issue since new with remote connectivity via mobile phone and this was quickly traced to a faulty sim card which was replaced promptly.
Reliability
5
Features/technology
5
Performance/economy
5
Value for money
4
Overall rating
5
Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?
Yes
Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?
I would buy it again because I am now firmly in the BEV camp and I believe the Tesla Model 3 represents the best value for money when considering all factors including: Price, range, efficiency, technology, driving experience, running costs.