I'm at 152,000 and recently test drove the new model 3. There wasn't a big enough difference for me to go back to having a car payment. Granted it was way better / smoother / better looking but I would rather invest that money then put it into a depreciating asset. I've owned mine outright a year after I bought it.
@@ironqqqRight now FSD is only worth it if you’re buying used. It typically only adds a 2-3k premium on used cars. You might be able to snag one with no premium off of a dealer that doesn’t know much about Teslas.
Boy do i agree with you about range. I regularly drive 175 miles from western to eastern Oregon. And then 175 miles back. I can easily make the entire trip one way but i often stop to charge. Use the bathroom, get or eat a snack, walk a bit. Add in FSD and what used to be a 3.5 hour slog has become a relaxed pleasure. For sure an hour to an hour and a half and i am ready to get out of the car.
It’s great to see you back. The car looks great and I don’t think that’s excessive degradation at all. I think it has many more miles left in it. 200,000 here you come.
the first 2 minutes got rid of any doubt i had about purchasing. Been looking at a lot of reviews and this one was really helpful. Thank you for the content!
@@Twoideas915 I get 212 miles at 80% charge witch is plenty for my needs I have a rear wheel drive standard range plus, I also charge at home which I hear is easier on the battery.At first I was worried about battery degradation, Now I dont even think about it.
@@vignesh7989 My goal is to hit 400,000 miles,to see if the motor and battery last as long as tesla says it should, so far I believe it ,it runs exactly the same as the day It was delivered. you would think it has 5 miles on it. unbelievable!
@@thecraftsmonkie8421 Super charging regularly can somewhat affect battery degradation, but the general consensus seems to be that the biggest impact to battery health is State of Charge (SoC). Keeping it the higher range of SoC will put more stress on the battery cells. That along with heat (the way they simulate 30 years of wear and tear is by increasing temperature drastically and then charging and discharging the battery; ain't nobody got 30 years to test).
I just traded my 2020 M3 LR with FSD for the Highland. Here is why. 1. Out of warrantee, labor costs for repairs are ridiculous. It cost over 400 dollars to replace a 59 dollar pedestrian warning speaker. 2. I was able to transfer my FSD to the new car. (8K value I paid 6500 for) The Highland is by far a much finer car than the original Model 3. Better ride, much quieter and all the internal refinements and a new warrantee. With my trade in, I paid 22K out of pocket for a brand-new model 3. My last reason for the trade up is that I am 81 years old, and I WANTED IT!!!!! I know, even with all of your add-ons, you won't be happy with trade in value but, if you have any out-of-pocket repair expense------------? I really appreciate your honest videos. Thanks
my 2014 honda crv lx alabaster silver the interior still looks brand new with 154,000 miles on it cloth seats no wear at all. some small dings on it but thats it never had any issues with the car. still has its rated range 336 city and 474 miles highway range.
I bought a 2022 Model Y and am retired. I plan on keeping it as long as I am alive. The road trips are so much more enjoyable with Tesla charging network, and stops every 2 or 3 hours. Just as you experienced, road trips are more enjoyable and safer.
My 2018 LR model 3 is at 70,000 miles and doing fine. No plans to sell it and regularly take it on road trips like 600 miles from Sacramento to Portland without a worry. My range now is between 285 - 290 miles but I rarely charge it over 85% for most uses. I put a steering wheel cover on years ago, sturdy floor mats and a few other minor touches but that's all. Your car looks very well maintained. Your plan to keep your model 3 makes sense to me. Thanks for the update.
Keep on driving your Model 3! I am taking delivery on a used Model 3 day after tomorrow and I am really excited. Thanks for your great videos- I learned a lot of useful information.
My wife loves her 2022 Model 3 LR dual motor, it’s her daily and she enjoys it. I recently asked her if we should upgrade to the new model 3 and she absolutely not. We will drive this car until the battery pack falls out and then put another battery pack. She also stated that she will never go back to gasoline powered vehicles. We charge at home with the occasional supercharger. I am also think of getting rid of my 2006 Honda Ridgeline with 220k miles but not sure what to get.
All of the EV trucks you listed have access to the Tesla Supercharger Network. The Ford F150 Lightning is a great truck, and super comfortable to road trip.
I agree wholeheartedly !! I just did my first really long road trip in July 2024. 400+ miles each way. It as so much nicer stopping occasionally to stretch, eat, bathroom break etc. At EVERY stop the car was ready to go before my wife and I were ready. I was not fatigued at the end of each day like with my gas car. The difference was stark! The week spent at my destination did require charging every few days. I’m not going back to gas!!
We have a 2018 M3 LR AWD with almost 100k miles. Max range 266 miles. We are so happy with the car we went and got another Model 3 this year. /Wave from another Tesla M3 owner in NorCal!
I totally agree with your assessment and with those you also agree. I have a 2019 SR M3 with about 44-45K miles. Like you no major issues. I recently did a battery health check using the service mode, Battery Health check. The result of that showed my battery is 86% battery health. I believe that still falls within the parameters of what is expected. The stops at about 1 - 1 and a half hours on road trips is about right. It gets me out of the car, time to stretch my legs, go to the bathroom or get a bite to eat is about what I would have done in my old ICE car. I paid mine off about 2 yrs ago and love not having a car payment. Again, like you and a few others I got FSD when they dropped the price for those of us who had Enhanced Autopilot and I couldn't be happier. I have made a few add-ons to my car like the forward display, swivel monitor, activated all six speakers, arm rest cover, center console wrap and trunk auto lift. You should have shown more to your interior enhancements as well. Many I did after watching your videos, So thanks for that. Keep up the good work, do a vid whenever you feel the need or have something significant to offer, we'll be here. Best of Luck.
I will never understand why electric cars are judged on their ability to go on long road trips when the overwhelming majority of people don't do that. According to the Dept. of Transportation the average person drives about 35 miles a day. That's it. It just bothers me that a product is being judged on activities that the vast majority of users rarely do.
2020 Model 3 DM LR… I’m at 4.75 years, 94k. Down 13%. I, too, do not notice the loss of range. Still road trip without worry with Tesla’s charging network. A perfect daily driver. No major issues. Happy with my decision.
87 year old that had my 2023 Tesla drive me 1300 miles 4 times this year to see my children and grandchildren. Each time I did less and less driving. This trip last week I figure I drove a total of 500 yards connecting to chargers. Used camp mode in rest areas with my dog once each way, brought his and my food and drink in the fridge. I think non Tesla's are a joke, to be honest with you.
Tested to be same range or same KWh? The guess-o-meter is based on rated EPA range and should not change no matter how much degradation. Do you actually get that range? If you use Tesla's built in navigation, then it should give you a good estimate based on current information about car and the route.
@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 "The guess-o-meter is based on rated EPA range and should not change no matter how much degradation." This is incorrect unless I misundertand you and my 4.37 value is the "EPA" number that does not change. The rated range shown on a 100% charge will drop as the battery degrades. New the LR RWD car was calculating the rated range as 4.37 miles per kWh available: 74.3 X 4.37 = 324.7 miles. If FTG is showing around 260 miles of range today his pack is probably reporting around 60 kWh of available energy. 60 x 4.37 = 262.2. There is also a buffer below zero that degrades. It starts at 3.5 kWh. The total energy of these packs was 77.8 kWh when new.
Degradation isn’t really an issue. Most people would be completely fine with a 2014 Model S that still gets 160 miles of range. The real problem is the risk that you get in your car one morning and the BMS nukes your battery because it detected one bad cell. A lot of people would struggle to scrimp together the $14k for a new battery pack.
My 2015 MS85D is at 227,000 Miles and 87% battery .. still looks and drives as new. I honestly thought I’d have sold / worn it out by now .. but it is perfect .. so I keep driving it. Feels like I’m driving it for free now.
My sentiments EXACTLY! I have owned my 2020 MS, LR, DM, FSD for over four years…Battery still charges to 100% …..Thank you for this “chat”….And I also plan on keeping my Model S for many, many years..
To me the chrome delete depends on the paint color. For white like yours, black trim looks better, but I actually prefer the chrome on the gray and black.
So funny! I literally thought to myself. I have not seen a video from you in a while. I wanted to see if you still had your car and how you liked it. I searched and found this 2 week old video! Great review! Planning to keep my 2020 M3 LR AWD for 15 + years. Maybe forever! I baby it and it’s doing great at 43k miles. When you’re ready for a truck, I recommend the Cybertruck unless you don’t like the look. It’s incredible and will only get cheaper and better in the coming years most likely. There’s also going to be CyberCabs an app hail away in a few years. This will heavily influence the way everyone views car ownership.
Last year we added a model Y to transfer FSD from the 2018 model 3. We still have the 3 with 105K miles. Probably 80% done supercharging as we always enjoyed our road trips. I honestly can’t tell you what the battery capacity is now as it really doesn’t make a difference either for road tripping or around town. Superchargers are everywhere now so there is hardly a second thought about taking a drive and keeping up with traffic (usually 85mph). Early road trippers know what I’m talking about!
Superchargers are everywhere? You must live in CA. I think in all of Beaufort county, there are two and both on Hilton head island. The whole Charleston area has two. This is a big problem in most parts of the country. When I went to San Diego, there were tons of them, but most places, you would have to drive at least 30 mins out of the way.
I agree with you're comment on not having a car payment! Frees up so much money. After I paid off my Volt, next version will be a full EV. But, for now greatest phev ever, covers every day commute + kicks over to gas on long trips. Congrats on paying off yours!
# Wow I can’t believe the similarities I’m not sure what year you said your car was, but mine is a 2018 bright red with chrome (which I love) long range all wheel drive. I live in the state of Maine so I know all about cold weather driving. I have approximately 108,000 miles on this car And it has performed flawlessly. I too have gone back-and-forth as to whether to get rid of the car, but I recently came to the decision that I will never sell this car as I can’t believe how sharp it looks and how much I love it. My daily driver is a 2023 model Y, which, after going through the same analysis as you’re going through with pick up truck, Decided to get a nice utility trailer and that would be my truck bed and if I ever do pull a camper, which I have, it comes in easily under the 3500 mile weight limit for the model Y. Having said all that, in the end, we decided to camp in our model Y and have turned that into a very enjoyable road trip camper end of itself(including two small dogs). I did take a vantage of transferring FSD from my red card to my model Y, 2023, because I too did not want to give up the advantage that I had only paid $3000 to get that originally. All in all, you are absolutely smart, and your analysis is spot on and mirrors my own experience of road trips, mileage, durability, and love for Tesla. I have come to the conclusion having driven the Rivian and the F150 and other vehicles that nothing comes close to the overall technological lead. The Tesla has I have driven nothing but Teslas since 2018 and will never go back :-)
Hey OP. another Maine--ee--ack here who just bought a used 2020 "03". This is an upgrade from a Kia Niro BEV. And the Tesla is worlds away better than the Kia!
Thank you for sharing, I think 265 miles is still adequate for most of use cases. If I were you I will keep that car and drive until its usable range (let’s just say 70%) of total range drop below daily average millage. It will become must less useful if its range drops below 100 miles. We usually keep our car between 15 to 20 yrs before moving on to new car so we don’t really care much about resale value.
Oldest car I ever had from new was a BMW 3 series which I owned for four years purchased in 2016. By year 2 I thought it was an eyesore and extremely boring. 2 years later I despised it with great passion. Everything else on the road was more modern. I happened to get a model just before a refresh came out with apple car play , larger modern screens, and a host of other electronic stuff. So, it was actually closer to the 2007 model and really felt like it. One of the best days ever was getting rid of it and picking up a model 3. You can have a 2019 model 3 and you dont feel like your car is dated. The 2019 still keeps up brilliantly with the brand new model 3's.
The Nicest thing about Any Car is NO Payments ! Nice Video ! I'm looking forward to Refreshed model Y, hopefully by next Year I Will have enough money Saved to Buy one in CASH !
It's wonderful to hear about your enthusiasm for the Model 3. Sharing firsthand experiences is invaluable for prospective owners. Long-term insights provide a practical perspective beyond initial impressions. May your journey with the Model 3 be filled with continued satisfaction and enjoyment. My goal is to keep my 2024 M3P with FSD on a long-term basis if I can avoid any temptation to upgrade on the future model s refresh.
Apparently, at least previously, engines on the Tesla S could needed to be replaced after 124,000 miles. so there was some type of fault with the engine or engines. maybe the fault was detected by vibrations that shouldn't be there
I spent a lot of time in the driver seat (even when not driving and my driver seat is super worn down) Its very shiny and I can see the heating coil outline on the seats. Instead of buying a new car I'm probably going to just replace all the worn parts on the inside. It'll cost about the same as 2 car payments.
I agree with you 100%, i bought 2021 model 3 brand new drove 65000 miles in two years excellent car zero $ for maintenance, trade the car for model x got it in 2024 January, drove from MA to CA and back excellent car no issues with changing and maintenance , I think the battery last easily up to 200kto 300k, and more, I stick with Tesla.
[chants] Cy-ber-truck! Cy-ber-truck! 😁 Have a couple Model 3s and recently picked up a Cybertruck. The Cybertruck is definitely a unique and awesome ride. Planning to keep the 3s for around town driving and for the kids to use when the ICE cars conk out.
Might be too late for your steering wheel, but if you stay on top of cleaning it, it won't get shiny. Get some leather cleaner and a soft horse hair brush and microfiber towels and go to work on it. just be careful that no water drips into any of the switches...perhaps cover them with a rag.
You should cycle the battery to 100% a few times over 2 weeks. You'll likely get a lot more back sounds like your pack is out of balance to be 265 miles.
@@NotOscarFlores it’s always a good idea to drive the car down to under 20%, let it sit overnight, and then charge it up to 100% a couple of times in the morning after the car sleeps. That allows the battery management system to recalibrate. The percentage or mileage shown on the screen is usually off, especially if you don’t drive a lot and use a good percentage of your battery all the time. I thought I was losing range after the first month, but it was because my car sat between 60 and 80% most of the time and it was showing a much lower range that I actually had. I just do this a few days ago and gained 10 more miles. I hadn’t really lost them, but the display was just showing an inaccurate amount.
Awesome, honest review! Thanks for sharing. Please include, in your next video, what you have had to spend on it in regards to regular maintenance. We recently purchased a Honda CRV Hybrid (2024) with all bells and whistles (roughly 60k CAD) for my wife. Prior to that, though, I was trying to convince her to buy a Tesla. She wouldn't even test drive one. Living with someone closed-minded can be a chore sometimes lol. As soon as we pay that off, It will be my turn. I want a Model 3, but I don't know, maybe it will be a Cybertruck - the caveat here is that although my wife has agreed to that, it would have to include a big trailer because we love camping haha
Nice video! My 2018 LR RWD has a little over half the mileage yours has...and yes, I have the shiny steering wheel. I really noticed it yesterday when I test drove a new Performance Model 3. I really, really like it and may pull the trigger soon. But as you mentioned, I kind of like the idea of having a truck. The new Chevy Silverado is very cool, but not cheap. I have been wrestling with the idea of upgrading to the AWD or Performance model for quite some time now, so I envy you having come to a decision to keep your car.
If your steering wheel is shiny from oils and sun exposure, try cleaning it with Turtle Wax Interior Cleaner. It’ll help remove the shine and bring it back to original condition.
Excellent video as always! I was a bit concerned as it had been 3+ weeks since last one. Your experience at 120,000+ miles gives me confidence that my Model 3 (2022 LR) will continue to perform for a long time (currently 30k miles). Curious how well your Evbase spoiler has held up over time. Any gaps or wear showing? I have one arriving in a couple of days and look forward to the install and sportier look.
I have 212,000 miles. Your car has a long life ahead. My battery also does 265 miles. Interesting. I just drove from California to Utah and back and completely agree with your roadtripping assessment. It works just fine. I think the car would have to go 400 miles for it be make a noticeable difference.
I bought my 2022 Model 3 in December 2021. I have 73,000 miles on it now. It's been on very many road trips. Ive really never had a serious charging issue, but my wife is sometimes reluctant to strike out on back roads due to range anxiety. I also miss a pickup. I'm disappointed Rivian dropped the pickup from their R2 lineup. There's a sentiment that EPA rule changes killed the small pickup market, driving small pickups to a larger footprint. Seems like an opening in the market for electric with x5 to x8 MPGE numbers. Maybe someone will bring it to market someday. Simone's Truckla was on the right track. 8-)
No dents or other damage in mine yet *knocks on wood* I wrapped the entire car in PPF which I think it's worth it if you plan to keep the car for over 6 years
Great video! However, I wish you would have talked about your maintenance experience. Your ownership experience is very similar to my 2018 M3LRD. Most expensive car every owned but worth every cent. Been cross country round trip in mid-winter five times without an issue. Sixth cross country trip planned for this December, WA State to Ft. Myers, FL. for the third time. With 113K miles, my indicated range is about 270 miles, and Service Menu - Battery Health Test indicated 82%. It has been a great car and like you I will continue to drive it until it has a major accident/failure, or if I can enlist it into a Robotaxi fleet, at which time I'd buy a new one.
17:57 I tow a small utility trailer with my 2019 Model 3. It tows more confidently than my Acura MDX. Its absurd that the Model 3 isnt "cleared" to tow things here in the US. My mom used to tow a 1200 lb pop-up camper with an 80hp 1977 Ford Fiesta with brakes the size of a 50 cent piece and did it great for 7 years and over 144k miles. The Model 3 tows great, just gets about 50% range, so plan for that.
I travel most of the month every month for work and when I get behind the wheel of our model, my performance always amazed at what a good car it is how nice it is to drive. No it’s not a sports car although it does accelerate like a lower price sports car but it certainly does not pull 1.2 Gs in corners. However, overall driving experience, one pedal driving it’s just a great car to drive.
Hi, Last winter you did an episode regarding the severe cold temps up north after a major winter storm. Wondering if you might do a similar episode regarding battery fires after exposure to salt water. I live on the southeast coast of Florida (lucky to have been spared from the three hurricanes FL has experienced this year). Some of the FL news reports (and on UA-cam as well), have shown spontaneous fires breaking out if EV's encounter salt water flooding. While I can avoid the flooding (most of the time), I worry about salt corrosion building over time living in this environment. I've had my Model Y for three years and I love it. I've always parked in my garage, but after seeing videos of two houses burning down because the car caught fire in their garage, I'm starting to think I might have to make her an "outdoor cat" now. Appreciate any advice or thoughts for us coastal folks! Thanks!
Let's hope as battery prices continue to drop some company will make replacement battery packs for these cars to bring them back over 300 miles for a reasonable amount.
You can't count on the guess-o-meter to calculate degredation accurately. 15 % degredation sounds little on the high side. Also degredation isn't linear. You get more degredation at first and it levels off as it ages.
I have among the last of the Model 3 LR RWD drive cars made in 2019 when it returned briefly. Will probably never sell it either. Once my wife wears out her Bolt (she's at 85K) she can drive the 3 and we'll upgrade to another long-distance trip car. I bop around town in a Nissan Leaf. We only have 35K on our car but we've taken it on multiple 2-3,000 mile road trips. According to ScanMyTesla we're at 49% L3 charging due to road trips. My car also showed 325 miles when new. I don't like to drive more than 90 mins before stopping to charge for my health. I seldom charge more than 70% when road tripping and go down to ~30% which is also battery friendly. The rated range is fluctuating a bit depending on the SOC (I could use some BMS balancing charges) but around 303 miles.
Maybe you talked about this and I missed it. Have you needed any maintenance / repairs? I know you had to rotate/change the tires, change the air filters, and maybe have some fluids changed out. Was that it?
I think part of what you are seeing might not be degradation, but the car learning how you drive and changing range accordingly. Also as you know it will get less range when really hot or really cold outside. Here in central Texas we see our range drop significantly during really hot weather, over 105 degrees. We are at 2 years and over 30,000 miles on our LFP RWD M3, and we have zero intent to ever sell it. If we were to not keep it for some reason, I would give it to my daughter and we would have another Tesla.
Model s owner here I bought a 3.5years old model 3 new heat pump black trim sr+ with 164k miles! Ex company car was driven 260 miles/day. Drives like new interior looks new! Unbelievable!
Also, I wouldn't recommend getting a Y with the intent to tow. There's some really dumb limitations due to the 16v battery in the Y that means trailers can't get 12v power, so anything you tow needs to be able to self power the brakes. I think lights shouldn't be a problem up to a point. I had gotten the Y for towing but it's just not really ideal for that. R1T or Lightning or CT (if you like your car getting egged) would be much better.
I think there should be something that you can cover the scratches more or less Carnauba wax maybe or furniture wax? unless there is something specific for the interior of cars
Your steering wheel is leather they went to vegan awhile back. That’s why it looks different. It probably just needs a good wipe down from accumulated hand oils. The glove compartment scuffs should be an easy fix too with a number of interior rejuvenation products. And yes keep that car until the wheels come off and build some wealth!
still beats 90% of other cars on the road for most of objective/comparable parameters - keep it going! 👍 We are so happy with our 2019 M3 DM that we thought on buying another one! Then we realize that the new model is made in China...
@@GuiGabois that's right: Europe... as far I know, all M3´s sold here (now) come from Shangai. Lucky you, US guys... in the meantime I keep hold of my '19!
Similar thoughts on my 2019 Model 3 with 100k miles. It will go to family when I'm done with it, but I will have to evaluate over the next few years when that happens. Also looking at trucks but more strongly considering a Y. We got a 2024 for my wife and it is an improvement in many ways. The first real time I noticed the degradation on the 3 was a vacation this year when we took both cars for an 8 hour trip - the 3 needed to charge much longer and deeper than the Y. I doubt I would have noticed otherwise. I'd really like to see Tesla embrace V2L on the rest of their lineup beyond the Cybertruck before I'd consider a Y over any of the EV trucks though.
Keep it. I drive my 2020 Y on a 1/4 mile gravel road daily and it's been fine (aside from the cosmetic rock chips). I'm at 90k miles, should I do a video of the white interior at 100k and show how it holds up to 3 kids?
Just private party sold our 2019 Model RWD M3 for $18K with 85K miles on it. Still had 91% of battery capacity. The buyer went through KeySavvy and got the $4000 tax rebate. Used the money to take advantage of 1.99% financing and FSD transfer to a new 2024 Model Y. Yes, a continuing car payment, the same amount I might add, but also a better equipped Model Y with newer hardware and a better ride.
I have the same car 2018 performance and extended distamcepaid off as well and mnot any money spent (Not much) I do not habe your milage but I'm keeping it!
I'm at 152,000 and recently test drove the new model 3. There wasn't a big enough difference for me to go back to having a car payment. Granted it was way better / smoother / better looking but I would rather invest that money then put it into a depreciating asset.
I've owned mine outright a year after I bought it.
You should get FSD, this way it would be an appreciating asset 😮
@@ironqqq
Elon is that you?
@@ironqqq lol I already have it and I don't think it will ever be an appreciating asset
@@ironqqqRight now FSD is only worth it if you’re buying used. It typically only adds a 2-3k premium on used cars. You might be able to snag one with no premium off of a dealer that doesn’t know much about Teslas.
Wise
Boy do i agree with you about range. I regularly drive 175 miles from western to eastern Oregon. And then 175 miles back. I can easily make the entire trip one way but i often stop to charge. Use the bathroom, get or eat a snack, walk a bit. Add in FSD and what used to be a 3.5 hour slog has become a relaxed pleasure. For sure an hour to an hour and a half and i am ready to get out of the car.
exactly people just dont understand. YET!!!!!
My wife's car also just hit 120,000 miles on it. Hasn't had a single issue yet! 😎
m3?
@@haiping0918 Yes
@@teslasnek Isn't that rare for a BMW?
@@TisforTech given the context of the video being commented on, I assumed he meant "Model 3"
How many miles do you have at full battery
It’s great to see you back. The car looks great and I don’t think that’s excessive degradation at all. I think it has many more miles left in it. 200,000 here you come.
the first 2 minutes got rid of any doubt i had about purchasing. Been looking at a lot of reviews and this one was really helpful. Thank you for the content!
Great job, I have a 2021 model 3 with 67,000 miles and have had 0 issues with it. I also plan on keeping it a very very long time!!!
Same how is the battery
@@Twoideas915 I get 212 miles at 80% charge witch is plenty for my needs I have a rear wheel drive standard range plus, I also charge at home which I hear is easier on the battery.At first I was worried about battery degradation, Now I dont even think about it.
how many miles do you plan to keep it until?
@@vignesh7989 My goal is to hit 400,000 miles,to see if the motor and battery last as long as tesla says it should, so far I believe it ,it runs exactly the same as the day It was delivered. you would think it has 5 miles on it. unbelievable!
@@thecraftsmonkie8421 Super charging regularly can somewhat affect battery degradation, but the general consensus seems to be that the biggest impact to battery health is State of Charge (SoC). Keeping it the higher range of SoC will put more stress on the battery cells. That along with heat (the way they simulate 30 years of wear and tear is by increasing temperature drastically and then charging and discharging the battery; ain't nobody got 30 years to test).
I just traded my 2020 M3 LR with FSD for the Highland. Here is why. 1. Out of warrantee, labor costs for repairs are ridiculous. It cost over 400 dollars to replace a 59 dollar pedestrian warning speaker. 2. I was able to transfer my FSD to the new car. (8K value I paid 6500 for) The Highland is by far a much finer car than the original Model 3. Better ride, much quieter and all the internal refinements and a new warrantee. With my trade in, I paid 22K out of pocket for a brand-new model 3. My last reason for the trade up is that I am 81 years old, and I WANTED IT!!!!! I know, even with all of your add-ons, you won't be happy with trade in value but, if you have any out-of-pocket repair expense------------? I really appreciate your honest videos. Thanks
Good for you sir!
Enjoy your new ride
my 2014 honda crv lx alabaster silver the interior still looks brand new with 154,000 miles on it cloth seats no wear at all. some small dings on it but thats it never had any issues with the car. still has its rated range 336 city and 474 miles highway range.
@@billybobbob3003you have a gas car apples to oranges 😂
Enjoy in good health!! You deserve it! 🫶
@@LaSirene23 electric cars the driver is sitting inside a microwave tons and tons of electromagnetic radiation worse to the driver is happening.
Frugal Tesla Guy - Doesn't sell perfectly working car. Color me surprised lol
I bought a 2022 Model Y and am retired. I plan on keeping it as long as I am alive. The road trips are so much more enjoyable with Tesla charging network, and stops every 2 or 3 hours. Just as you experienced, road trips are more enjoyable and safer.
The best car payment is NO car payment! Well done Frugal Tesla Guy. I'm saving for my used 2022 TM3. Thank you for your videos.
My 2018 LR model 3 is at 70,000 miles and doing fine. No plans to sell it and regularly take it on road trips like 600 miles from Sacramento to Portland without a worry. My range now is between 285 - 290 miles but I rarely charge it over 85% for most uses. I put a steering wheel cover on years ago, sturdy floor mats and a few other minor touches but that's all. Your car looks very well maintained. Your plan to keep your model 3 makes sense to me. Thanks for the update.
I have followed you through the years. You were a key player in my buying a Model 3 two years ago…and like you, I am still love my car. Thank you🙏
Keep on driving your Model 3! I am taking delivery on a used Model 3 day after tomorrow and I am really excited. Thanks for your great videos- I learned a lot of useful information.
I am so pleased to see you back.
Good for you! Keep that car as long as possible! It will be great to see how many miles you can rack up. Congrats on no car payment!
Dang... I'm glad i watched your vid. I realized i paid off my M3 Long Range same as yours but the bank never sent me the title!
This feels like one of those empowering sermons, the way information is delivered here, good job!
My wife loves her 2022 Model 3 LR dual motor, it’s her daily and she enjoys it. I recently asked her if we should upgrade to the new model 3 and she absolutely not. We will drive this car until the battery pack falls out and then put another battery pack. She also stated that she will never go back to gasoline powered vehicles. We charge at home with the occasional supercharger. I am also think of getting rid of my 2006 Honda Ridgeline with 220k miles but not sure what to get.
I think a Rivian T is in your future! 😉
All of the EV trucks you listed have access to the Tesla Supercharger Network. The Ford F150 Lightning is a great truck, and super comfortable to road trip.
I agree wholeheartedly !! I just did my first really long road trip in July 2024. 400+ miles each way. It as so much nicer stopping occasionally to stretch, eat, bathroom break etc. At EVERY stop the car was ready to go before my wife and I were ready. I was not fatigued at the end of each day like with my gas car. The difference was stark! The week spent at my destination did require charging every few days. I’m not going back to gas!!
We have a 2018 M3 LR AWD with almost 100k miles. Max range 266 miles. We are so happy with the car we went and got another Model 3 this year. /Wave from another Tesla M3 owner in NorCal!
I totally agree with your assessment and with those you also agree. I have a 2019 SR M3 with about 44-45K miles. Like you no major issues. I recently did a battery health check using the service mode, Battery Health check. The result of that showed my battery is 86% battery health. I believe that still falls within the parameters of what is expected. The stops at about 1 - 1 and a half hours on road trips is about right. It gets me out of the car, time to stretch my legs, go to the bathroom or get a bite to eat is about what I would have done in my old ICE car. I paid mine off about 2 yrs ago and love not having a car payment. Again, like you and a few others I got FSD when they dropped the price for those of us who had Enhanced Autopilot and I couldn't be happier. I have made a few add-ons to my car like the forward display, swivel monitor, activated all six speakers, arm rest cover, center console wrap and trunk auto lift. You should have shown more to your interior enhancements as well. Many I did after watching your videos, So thanks for that.
Keep up the good work, do a vid whenever you feel the need or have something significant to offer, we'll be here. Best of Luck.
I like this guy, seems very honest, transparent and down to earth.
I will never understand why electric cars are judged on their ability to go on long road trips when the overwhelming majority of people don't do that. According to the Dept. of Transportation the average person drives about 35 miles a day. That's it. It just bothers me that a product is being judged on activities that the vast majority of users rarely do.
2020 Model 3 DM LR… I’m at 4.75 years, 94k. Down 13%. I, too, do not notice the loss of range. Still road trip without worry with Tesla’s charging network. A perfect daily driver. No major issues. Happy with my decision.
87 year old that had my 2023 Tesla drive me 1300 miles 4 times this year to see my children and grandchildren. Each time I did less and less driving. This trip last week I figure I drove a total of 500 yards connecting to chargers. Used camp mode in rest areas with my dog once each way, brought his and my food and drink in the fridge. I think non Tesla's are a joke, to be honest with you.
My 2018 model 3 RWD with 152k miles is still at 290 miles at 100%. I've gone on a ton of road trips too. I feel pretty lucky.
Tested to be same range or same KWh? The guess-o-meter is based on rated EPA range and should not change no matter how much degradation. Do you actually get that range? If you use Tesla's built in navigation, then it should give you a good estimate based on current information about car and the route.
@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 It's guess-o-meter, real world is much less
@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 "The guess-o-meter is based on rated EPA range and should not change no matter how much degradation." This is incorrect unless I misundertand you and my 4.37 value is the "EPA" number that does not change. The rated range shown on a 100% charge will drop as the battery degrades. New the LR RWD car was calculating the rated range as 4.37 miles per kWh available: 74.3 X 4.37 = 324.7 miles. If FTG is showing around 260 miles of range today his pack is probably reporting around 60 kWh of available energy. 60 x 4.37 = 262.2. There is also a buffer below zero that degrades. It starts at 3.5 kWh. The total energy of these packs was 77.8 kWh when new.
Degradation isn’t really an issue. Most people would be completely fine with a 2014 Model S that still gets 160 miles of range. The real problem is the risk that you get in your car one morning and the BMS nukes your battery because it detected one bad cell. A lot of people would struggle to scrimp together the $14k for a new battery pack.
That’s what I like to hear. How often do u supercharge?
My 2015 MS85D is at 227,000 Miles and 87% battery .. still looks and drives as new. I honestly thought I’d have sold / worn it out by now .. but it is perfect .. so I keep driving it. Feels like I’m driving it for free now.
My sentiments EXACTLY! I have owned my 2020 MS, LR, DM, FSD for over four years…Battery still charges to 100% …..Thank you for this “chat”….And I also plan on keeping my Model S for many, many years..
Thanks for the great review. I appreciate your recommendation to look at battery% rather than miles range.
First time watcher...I genuinely enjoyed this content. New sub now
Thank you for your honest information. I plan to buy or lease a model 3 towards the end of this year.
First Tesla UA-camr I found. Thank you for the journey. Made it my dream car hopefully one day soon
To me the chrome delete depends on the paint color. For white like yours, black trim looks better, but I actually prefer the chrome on the gray and black.
Chromium is terrible for the environment which is a major reason why pretty much all car makers have been moving away from chrome parts.
@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 Then the question is; is 'chrome' a catch all word { beer or soap] for another shiny metal
So funny! I literally thought to myself. I have not seen a video from you in a while. I wanted to see if you still had your car and how you liked it. I searched and found this 2 week old video! Great review! Planning to keep my 2020 M3 LR AWD for 15 + years. Maybe forever! I baby it and it’s doing great at 43k miles. When you’re ready for a truck, I recommend the Cybertruck unless you don’t like the look. It’s incredible and will only get cheaper and better in the coming years most likely. There’s also going to be CyberCabs an app hail away in a few years. This will heavily influence the way everyone views car ownership.
2021 tesla model 3 here. No car payment. Loving it.
Last year we added a model Y to transfer FSD from the 2018 model 3. We still have the 3 with 105K miles. Probably 80% done supercharging as we always enjoyed our road trips. I honestly can’t tell you what the battery capacity is now as it really doesn’t make a difference either for road tripping or around town. Superchargers are everywhere now so there is hardly a second thought about taking a drive and keeping up with traffic (usually 85mph). Early road trippers know what I’m talking about!
Superchargers are everywhere? You must live in CA. I think in all of Beaufort county, there are two and both on Hilton head island. The whole Charleston area has two. This is a big problem in most parts of the country. When I went to San Diego, there were tons of them, but most places, you would have to drive at least 30 mins out of the way.
Awesome! Have 124k miles on my 2017 model S. Still doing very well. Plan on keeping it a long time.
I agree with you're comment on not having a car payment! Frees up so much money. After I paid off my Volt, next version will be a full EV. But, for now greatest phev ever, covers every day commute + kicks over to gas on long trips. Congrats on paying off yours!
# Wow I can’t believe the similarities
I’m not sure what year you said your car was, but mine is a 2018 bright red with chrome (which I love) long range all wheel drive. I live in the state of Maine so I know all about cold weather driving. I have approximately 108,000 miles on this car And it has performed flawlessly. I too have gone back-and-forth as to whether to get rid of the car, but I recently came to the decision that I will never sell this car as I can’t believe how sharp it looks and how much I love it. My daily driver is a 2023 model Y, which, after going through the same analysis as you’re going through with pick up truck, Decided to get a nice utility trailer and that would be my truck bed and if I ever do pull a camper, which I have, it comes in easily under the 3500 mile weight limit for the model Y. Having said all that, in the end, we decided to camp in our model Y and have turned that into a very enjoyable road trip camper end of itself(including two small dogs). I did take a vantage of transferring FSD from my red card to my model Y, 2023, because I too did not want to give up the advantage that I had only paid $3000 to get that originally. All in all, you are absolutely smart, and your analysis is spot on and mirrors my own experience of road trips, mileage, durability, and love for Tesla. I have come to the conclusion having driven the Rivian and the F150 and other vehicles that nothing comes close to the overall technological lead. The Tesla has I have driven nothing but Teslas since 2018 and will never go back :-)
Hey OP. another Maine--ee--ack here who just bought a used 2020 "03". This is an upgrade from a Kia Niro BEV. And the Tesla is worlds away better than the Kia!
Thank you for sharing, I think 265 miles is still adequate for most of use cases. If I were you I will keep that car and drive until its usable range (let’s just say 70%) of total range drop below daily average millage. It will become must less useful if its range drops below 100 miles. We usually keep our car between 15 to 20 yrs before moving on to new car so we don’t really care much about resale value.
As always, great content and I really like your style of communicating. Thank you! Bruce in Aiken, South Carolina
I have a 2019 I put on Turo. I got the car with 79xxx miles for $16k. It’s worth keeping Mike.
Good video. Mine is 2018 same as yours and Im keeping it too
Oldest car I ever had from new was a BMW 3 series which I owned for four years purchased in 2016. By year 2 I thought it was an eyesore and extremely boring. 2 years later I despised it with great passion. Everything else on the road was more modern. I happened to get a model just before a refresh came out with apple car play , larger modern screens, and a host of other electronic stuff. So, it was actually closer to the 2007 model and really felt like it. One of the best days ever was getting rid of it and picking up a model 3. You can have a 2019 model 3 and you dont feel like your car is dated. The 2019 still keeps up brilliantly with the brand new model 3's.
The Nicest thing about Any Car is NO Payments ! Nice Video ! I'm looking forward to Refreshed model Y, hopefully by next Year I Will have enough money Saved to Buy one in CASH !
Its very nice video sharing your 6 years experience 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Over 150k on my 2022 tesla model 3 so far no problems. Looking forward to another 100k ❤
It's wonderful to hear about your enthusiasm for the Model 3. Sharing firsthand experiences is invaluable for prospective owners. Long-term insights provide a practical perspective beyond initial impressions. May your journey with the Model 3 be filled with continued satisfaction and enjoyment. My goal is to keep my 2024 M3P with FSD on a long-term basis if I can avoid any temptation to upgrade on the future model s refresh.
Apparently, at least previously, engines on the Tesla S could needed to be replaced after 124,000 miles. so there was some type of fault with the engine or engines. maybe the fault was detected by vibrations that shouldn't be there
Great review! How did i you get the auto frunk?
I spent a lot of time in the driver seat (even when not driving and my driver seat is super worn down) Its very shiny and I can see the heating coil outline on the seats.
Instead of buying a new car I'm probably going to just replace all the worn parts on the inside. It'll cost about the same as 2 car payments.
I agree with you 100%, i bought 2021 model 3 brand new drove 65000 miles in two years excellent car zero $ for maintenance, trade the car for model x got it in 2024 January, drove from MA to CA and back excellent car no issues with changing and maintenance , I think the battery last easily up to 200kto 300k, and more, I stick with Tesla.
[chants] Cy-ber-truck! Cy-ber-truck! 😁
Have a couple Model 3s and recently picked up a Cybertruck. The Cybertruck is definitely a unique and awesome ride. Planning to keep the 3s for around town driving and for the kids to use when the ICE cars conk out.
Might be too late for your steering wheel, but if you stay on top of cleaning it, it won't get shiny. Get some leather cleaner and a soft horse hair brush and microfiber towels and go to work on it. just be careful that no water drips into any of the switches...perhaps cover them with a rag.
You should cycle the battery to 100% a few times over 2 weeks. You'll likely get a lot more back sounds like your pack is out of balance to be 265 miles.
Im also at 260 miles, more information on this?
@@NotOscarFlores it’s always a good idea to drive the car down to under 20%, let it sit overnight, and then charge it up to 100% a couple of times in the morning after the car sleeps.
That allows the battery management system to recalibrate. The percentage or mileage shown on the screen is usually off, especially if you don’t drive a lot and use a good percentage of your battery all the time.
I thought I was losing range after the first month, but it was because my car sat between 60 and 80% most of the time and it was showing a much lower range that I actually had.
I just do this a few days ago and gained 10 more miles. I hadn’t really lost them, but the display was just showing an inaccurate amount.
Awesome, honest review! Thanks for sharing. Please include, in your next video, what you have had to spend on it in regards to regular maintenance. We recently purchased a Honda CRV Hybrid (2024) with all bells and whistles (roughly 60k CAD) for my wife. Prior to that, though, I was trying to convince her to buy a Tesla. She wouldn't even test drive one. Living with someone closed-minded can be a chore sometimes lol. As soon as we pay that off, It will be my turn. I want a Model 3, but I don't know, maybe it will be a Cybertruck - the caveat here is that although my wife has agreed to that, it would have to include a big trailer because we love camping haha
Nice video….keep the car 🙂👍
Nice video! My 2018 LR RWD has a little over half the mileage yours has...and yes, I have the shiny steering wheel. I really noticed it yesterday when I test drove a new Performance Model 3. I really, really like it and may pull the trigger soon. But as you mentioned, I kind of like the idea of having a truck. The new Chevy Silverado is very cool, but not cheap. I have been wrestling with the idea of upgrading to the AWD or Performance model for quite some time now, so I envy you having come to a decision to keep your car.
If your steering wheel is shiny from oils and sun exposure, try cleaning it with Turtle Wax Interior Cleaner. It’ll help remove the shine and bring it back to original condition.
Great video, keep up the good work.
Excellent video as always! I was a bit concerned as it had been 3+ weeks since last one. Your experience at 120,000+ miles gives me confidence that my Model 3 (2022 LR) will continue to perform for a long time (currently 30k miles). Curious how well your Evbase spoiler has held up over time. Any gaps or wear showing? I have one arriving in a couple of days and look forward to the install and sportier look.
Ceramic coat it before installing it
Thanks Mike for the video...glad to see the Model 3 is holding up.
I have 212,000 miles. Your car has a long life ahead. My battery also does 265 miles. Interesting. I just drove from California to Utah and back and completely agree with your roadtripping assessment. It works just fine. I think the car would have to go 400 miles for it be make a noticeable difference.
I bought my 2022 Model 3 in December 2021. I have 73,000 miles on it now. It's been on very many road trips. Ive really never had a serious charging issue, but my wife is sometimes reluctant to strike out on back roads due to range anxiety.
I also miss a pickup. I'm disappointed Rivian dropped the pickup from their R2 lineup.
There's a sentiment that EPA rule changes killed the small pickup market, driving small pickups to a larger footprint. Seems like an opening in the market for electric with x5 to x8 MPGE numbers. Maybe someone will bring it to market someday. Simone's Truckla was on the right track. 8-)
The engine can break before the battery breaks. And It is well said that it can be detected by type of vibrations that should not be there
No dents or other damage in mine yet *knocks on wood*
I wrapped the entire car in PPF which I think it's worth it if you plan to keep the car for over 6 years
No it's not worth it.
Damn.. That’s a lot of miles! Just a 170,000 miles to go bro!
Welcome back. Miss your video. I would say keep the car.
I clean my letter with a Lysol wipes followed by damp micro fiber cloth and finish with letter protector wipes. So clean, wipe, protect. No shine.
Great video! However, I wish you would have talked about your maintenance experience. Your ownership experience is very similar to my 2018 M3LRD. Most expensive car every owned but worth every cent. Been cross country round trip in mid-winter five times without an issue. Sixth cross country trip planned for this December, WA State to Ft. Myers, FL. for the third time.
With 113K miles, my indicated range is about 270 miles, and Service Menu - Battery Health Test indicated 82%. It has been a great car and like you I will continue to drive it until it has a major accident/failure, or if I can enlist it into a Robotaxi fleet, at which time I'd buy a new one.
Keep the car. I regret trading in my 2020 M3P with only 35k miles on it. I got a new 2024 M3P but I still wish I had kept the older car too!
17:57 I tow a small utility trailer with my 2019 Model 3. It tows more confidently than my Acura MDX. Its absurd that the Model 3 isnt "cleared" to tow things here in the US. My mom used to tow a 1200 lb pop-up camper with an 80hp 1977 Ford Fiesta with brakes the size of a 50 cent piece and did it great for 7 years and over 144k miles. The Model 3 tows great, just gets about 50% range, so plan for that.
Good to hear.
I travel most of the month every month for work and when I get behind the wheel of our model, my performance always amazed at what a good car it is how nice it is to drive. No it’s not a sports car although it does accelerate like a lower price sports car but it certainly does not pull 1.2 Gs in corners. However, overall driving experience, one pedal driving it’s just a great car to drive.
Hi, Last winter you did an episode regarding the severe cold temps up north after a major winter storm. Wondering if you might do a similar episode regarding battery fires after exposure to salt water. I live on the southeast coast of Florida (lucky to have been spared from the three hurricanes FL has experienced this year). Some of the FL news reports (and on UA-cam as well), have shown spontaneous fires breaking out if EV's encounter salt water flooding. While I can avoid the flooding (most of the time), I worry about salt corrosion building over time living in this environment. I've had my Model Y for three years and I love it. I've always parked in my garage, but after seeing videos of two houses burning down because the car caught fire in their garage, I'm starting to think I might have to make her an "outdoor cat" now. Appreciate any advice or thoughts for us coastal folks! Thanks!
Good move! It’s nice not having a car payment.
I would do exactly what youre doing...keep the car. Its fantastic.
Let's hope as battery prices continue to drop some company will make replacement battery packs for these cars to bring them back over 300 miles for a reasonable amount.
You can't count on the guess-o-meter to calculate degredation accurately. 15 % degredation sounds little on the high side.
Also degredation isn't linear. You get more degredation at first and it levels off as it ages.
I have among the last of the Model 3 LR RWD drive cars made in 2019 when it returned briefly. Will probably never sell it either. Once my wife wears out her Bolt (she's at 85K) she can drive the 3 and we'll upgrade to another long-distance trip car. I bop around town in a Nissan Leaf. We only have 35K on our car but we've taken it on multiple 2-3,000 mile road trips. According to ScanMyTesla we're at 49% L3 charging due to road trips. My car also showed 325 miles when new. I don't like to drive more than 90 mins before stopping to charge for my health. I seldom charge more than 70% when road tripping and go down to ~30% which is also battery friendly. The rated range is fluctuating a bit depending on the SOC (I could use some BMS balancing charges) but around 303 miles.
Congratulations🎉, it feels good to pay off your vehicle
My steering wheel is the same but after cleaning it properly it seemed to go back to normal and feels totally different in the hands
Maybe you talked about this and I missed it. Have you needed any maintenance / repairs? I know you had to rotate/change the tires, change the air filters, and maybe have some fluids changed out. Was that it?
My Model S is a 2018 and still a great car. :)
I think part of what you are seeing might not be degradation, but the car learning how you drive and changing range accordingly. Also as you know it will get less range when really hot or really cold outside. Here in central Texas we see our range drop significantly during really hot weather, over 105 degrees. We are at 2 years and over 30,000 miles on our LFP RWD M3, and we have zero intent to ever sell it. If we were to not keep it for some reason, I would give it to my daughter and we would have another Tesla.
Keep it. Great review.
Model s owner here I bought a 3.5years old model 3 new heat pump black trim sr+ with 164k miles! Ex company car was driven 260 miles/day.
Drives like new interior looks new! Unbelievable!
Also, I wouldn't recommend getting a Y with the intent to tow. There's some really dumb limitations due to the 16v battery in the Y that means trailers can't get 12v power, so anything you tow needs to be able to self power the brakes. I think lights shouldn't be a problem up to a point.
I had gotten the Y for towing but it's just not really ideal for that. R1T or Lightning or CT (if you like your car getting egged) would be much better.
How long have you used the auto frunk? Would you recommend it?
I think there should be something that you can cover the scratches more or less Carnauba wax maybe or furniture wax? unless there is something specific for the interior of cars
Your steering wheel is leather they went to vegan awhile back. That’s why it looks different. It probably just needs a good wipe down from accumulated hand oils. The glove compartment scuffs should be an easy fix too with a number of interior rejuvenation products. And yes keep that car until the wheels come off and build some wealth!
still beats 90% of other cars on the road for most of objective/comparable parameters - keep it going! 👍
We are so happy with our 2019 M3 DM that we thought on buying another one! Then we realize that the new model is made in China...
You must live outside the US then? 2024 US Model 3's are US made.
But China made Tesla’s are the best one. China>Berlin>USA. USA made are the worst.
@@GuiGabois that's right: Europe... as far I know, all M3´s sold here (now) come from Shangai. Lucky you, US guys... in the meantime I keep hold of my '19!
I pretty much don't like purchasing made in China products, if possible.
But the Chinese Tesla cars have a much better built quality.
@@josefmarchesi8704 No, they really don't. They may be better but not by much. That's proven in many reviews.
Similar thoughts on my 2019 Model 3 with 100k miles. It will go to family when I'm done with it, but I will have to evaluate over the next few years when that happens. Also looking at trucks but more strongly considering a Y. We got a 2024 for my wife and it is an improvement in many ways. The first real time I noticed the degradation on the 3 was a vacation this year when we took both cars for an 8 hour trip - the 3 needed to charge much longer and deeper than the Y. I doubt I would have noticed otherwise. I'd really like to see Tesla embrace V2L on the rest of their lineup beyond the Cybertruck before I'd consider a Y over any of the EV trucks though.
how many sets of tires did you go through?
Keep it. I drive my 2020 Y on a 1/4 mile gravel road daily and it's been fine (aside from the cosmetic rock chips). I'm at 90k miles, should I do a video of the white interior at 100k and show how it holds up to 3 kids?
What is that device you have behind the steering wheel?
Just private party sold our 2019 Model RWD M3 for $18K with 85K miles on it. Still had 91% of battery capacity. The buyer went through KeySavvy and got the $4000 tax rebate. Used the money to take advantage of 1.99% financing and FSD transfer to a new 2024 Model Y. Yes, a continuing car payment, the same amount I might add, but also a better equipped Model Y with newer hardware and a better ride.
It's a fantastic car, in my opinion.
I have the same car 2018 performance and extended distamcepaid off as well and mnot any money spent (Not much) I do not habe your milage but I'm keeping it!