Is getting a Tesla worth it?

[butter]

Recently, I started to see a lot of Tesla cars in my city. Do people buy it just because they think it is cool or does it really worth it?

[abc3643]

The proper answer to this question is "It depends."

I'm sorry if that's not helpful, but the answer really depends on all sorts of life circumstances and desires.

For instance, ...

1. Do you own your home?

If yes, then you can install a charger there. However, then you need to ask yourself which kind of charger you can get. A normal basic charger ("Level I", I believe) means your car will "fill-up" overnight - several hours, at least. A supercharger ("Level II", I believe) will fill-up the car much quicker. There are even faster chargers on the horizon. However, you may not be able to have these better chargers because they require higher voltage. So, if you want a supercharger, then your home needs to have access to 220 V like some heavy duty appliances require.

If not, then you need to worry about where the nearest charger is and your access to that charger (since other EV owners will need or want it too).

Also, if you own your home, do you have solar or wind power for power generation for your home or would you even consider getting separate solar just for charging your car? If so, then that's fantastic because charging your car is then free (other than paying off the loan for the solar or wind generation). And, if that system is "off-grid" or can be isolated from the grid, then you never have to worry about a power outage. (Even with solar/wind, if you are connected to the grid, that's problematic when there's a power outage because to repair the grid there needs to be no power going to it, so your solar/wind needs to be off, so to speak.)

By the way, Tesla also sells solar for home power generation and special battery units called "Powerbanks". With these, these are giant batteries that are recharged from the grid or your solar/wind system and can be used to quickly charge your car or to run your home in the event of a grid outage.

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2. Do you live in a cold climate?

If yes, then you need to keep in mind that battery range decreases in the cold, so you will need to charge more often.

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4. Will you be using this vehicle for cruising long distances or around town like a commuter car?

If cruising, then you need to plan your trips more meticulously. First, you'll need to identify charging locations along the way. (Fortunately, this is becoming easier every year as more charging stations are being created.) Second, you need to factor in recharging time. To "fill-up" an ICE (internal combustion engine) car or truck takes minutes. An EV will take longer especially depending on the nature of the charger.

If you are using this as a commuter or second car, then it shouldn't be a problem and an EV with 250+ miles of range is likely good enough for about a week.

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5. What will you be hauling in your vehicle?

If just people and groceries and smaller things like normal cars, then you are probably fine with an EV.

If you want to haul more, then, for a Tesla, you will need a larger vehicle like the Model X or Model Y or perhaps even the "Cybertruck", I think it's called.

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Those are just some questions to think about. I didn't even mention other vehicle brands. Teslas WERE very expensive, but have come down in price because of market pressure. DO NOT get any autopilot shit; that technology is fatally flawed, "fatal" being the operative word. It's overpriced and a death sentence waiting to happen. It NEVER should have been brought to market.

There are a lot of plusses to EVs too. They ARE better for the environment - at least where global warming is concerned. The Wall Street Journal did an excellent analysis on this about 2 years ago. Also, the nature of vehicle problems is different - and less expensive. You won't need to worry about your transmission. You won't need to worry about belts. You won't need to worry about oil changes. You won't need to worry about the volatility of the price of oil and the long gas lines that we had in the 1970s and are likely to have again at some point.

You will have to worry about getting a new battery at some point, but batteries are coming down in price and eventually will be standardized. That's important because if a battery is no longer manufactured, if you need a new battery, then they have to salvage one and that can be very expensive. In the future, eventually, "gas stations" will simply enable cars to swap batteries. In other words, you drive into the station and, in minutes, swap out your depleted battery with a fully-charged battery. Think of it like changing propane tanks for your outdoor gas grill. But, I want to be clear, we are not there yet, so we still rely on charging stations for at least another 15 years in my estimate.

ANY QUESTIONS?

[parlance]

It's a bad economic investment. It's also a bad investment in your freedom of movement. For example if you drive the typical 14,263 miles a year over the life of the car that a typical American might, then when you compare mid range utility costs for residential electric you maybe save $2,000 on fuel costs over a standard gas sub-compact commuter car over the entire life of the vehicle, but spend maybe $20,000 more to acquire the lowest end Tesla. If you use charging stations then you will end up paying more for fuel over the life of the vehicle and waste a ton of time sitting in parking lots. Time is money... Additionally your insurance rates are higher due to it being a more expensive vehicle. So financially you lose big. In the terms of freedom and convince you lose even bigger. Tesla is just an image thing, for people that want to project that image. At the end of the day you're just running on coal rather than oil. So to the informed, the image you project is that you're a low IQ person that is bad with money and over concerned with image, but it might impress dumb people if those are the circles you run in.

[experience]

Teslas, those sleek chariots of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, are more than just cars; they're a statement. A statement that says, "Yes, I too can silently accelerate from 0 to 60 faster than it took you to read this sentence." But let's break it down a bit, shall we?

The Pros:

Environmentally Friendly: Driving a Tesla means you're cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, which is like giving Mother Nature a big, warm hug.

Savings on Fuel: Kiss those trips to the gas station goodbye and say hello to charging at home or at a Supercharger station.

Performance: Teslas are known for their impressive acceleration and top-notch performance. It's like having the sports car experience without the gas-guzzling guilt.

Technology and Autopilot: With a Tesla, you're basically driving a computer on wheels.

The tech inside is as cutting-edge as it gets, and features like Autopilot could make your commute a breeze.

The Cons:

Upfront Costs: The price tag can be a bit eye-watering. Even with potential savings on fuel and maintenance, the initial investment is hefty.

Charging Infrastructure: Depending on where you live, charging stations might not be as plentiful as gas stations, which could lead to what experts call "range anxiety."

Repair and Maintenance: While generally lower than gas cars, when things do go wrong, repairs can be pricey due to specialized parts and fewer qualified mechanics.

Model Consistency: With Tesla frequently updating models and features, some owners might feel their vehicles become outdated more quickly than traditional cars.

If you're keen on cutting-edge technology, care about environmental impact, and can stomach the upfront costs, then a Tesla might just be your automotive soulmate. However, if you're more concerned about the initial investment and the practicality of charging, it might be worth pumping the brakes to consider your options.

[EmmaMary]

Save your money and buy a Reliant Robin instead.

[EmmaMary]

Thank you for the MHO.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

It might be worth it to some & but worthless to others during a power failure but if you were to buy one don’t forget to buy a gas generator too.

[jamesgoldman]

Bad, 90% of cars under 5 years old are leased so no comeback on the driver if it goes wrong

I have a friend who rents exotic cars, he looked at buying one, you can't even change a flat on the Tesla

[Drewtate]

No. Unless you can wipe your butt with hundred dollar bills

[genericname85]

naw. that's pretty much the iphone of evs. i prefer getting more money for my buck instead of just buying the popular name brand.

[Nikki1989]

Not till the price comes way down.

[Kykiono1]

They look really cool i think yes