ARRIVAL OCTOBER 2019
DEPARTURE SEPTEMBER 2021
We ordered a long-term Tesla Model 3 for one primary reason: to be able to report on using Tesla's Full Self-Driving software over time. Well, the joke's on us, because after we spent $6000 on that option (the price is now double that) in 2019, our car came and went without ever getting it. Paying for an option we didn't receive is definitely a first, one of many when it came to the Model 3. Had we instead invested that money in Tesla stock, we could've cashed out with as much as $150,000. Another new experience was being alerted via a mobile app that our car had a catastrophic breakdown while parked. Other than that biggie, which required a new $2500 rear-motor assembly that was replaced under warranty, our car had no major mechanical issues. After coming to terms with the minimalist interior and lack of gauge-cluster display in front of the driver, we generally liked the Model 3. It's quick, reasonably spacious, and comfortable if a bit noisy over the road.
This was only our second long-term EV ever. The previous one was a Model S five years ago, back when Tesla service was white glove and Supercharging was free. A lot has changed since then, and today there's much more noise about EVs as well as bold claims about the cost (or lack thereof) of charging and service. What follows is a series of things to know regarding both Tesla and EV ownership before you decide to take the plunge.
EFFICIENCY IS EXTREMELY VARIABLE
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Car and Driver.
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This story is from the May 2022 edition of Car and Driver.
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Fleeting Thoughts
Updates and hot takes on the vehicles fortunate enough to spend 40,000 miles with C/D's editors.
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Tick, Tick, Boom
Tesla Model 3 Performance HIGHS: Nauseatingly quick, airy cabin with great visibility, genuine value. LOWS: Off-putting user interface, inescapable clinical feeling, austere interior design.
Black Ops
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Pay to Play
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Man-o'-War
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Manthey Racing HIGHS: A clinic on proper steering response, 9000 rpm of sonic glory, more grip is good. LOWS: A mirror full of wing, upgrades useful only on track, quiet only when it's off.
Low-Pro Hero
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Back in Tune
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Hurricane Force
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Good Vibrations
No one has to guess what's under the hood of the Ferrari 12Cilindri.
