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We have been looking for a smaller car to serve as an around-town car. We drive a Lexus GX, which is very nice and has lots of features. We are spoiled. However, we don’t get good mileage; it just turned 50,000 miles. So, we thought a hybrid might be the choice for us.
However, I saw that Tesla had a deal for a Model 3: $1K down and $299 monthly for a 24-month lease*. It sounds like a good deal – of course, that car, while it is Tesla, is very generic—grey, black seats in a hot town, basic rims, and rear-wheel drive. Don’t get me wrong—those are not terrible features. You get a top-end e-car that is very serviceable for a very reasonable price.
If you want a bit of color, a color is a $1000 to $2000 upcharge. All-wheel drive is an upcharge – we likely don’t need all-wheel drive in Oro Valley, but we might travel to the high country. If you want white seats instead of all black, there is a $1,000 upcharge. All good features that make the vehicle stand out. Maybe in this political climate, standing out is not a good thing.
OK, still a good deal; let’s give it a thought!
We watched YouTube videos to better understand how to approach and use the car.
Tesla makes it easy to test drive their vehicles, from the low-end Model 3 to the high-end pickup. We took a mid-range Model Y for a 24-hour test, taking off after working with the Tesla representative to learn how to drive the car. The first challenge is regenerative braking. You ease up on the accelerator, and the vehicle begins to brake; the concept is that braking provides a bit of a charge to the battery, which can extend your driving range. Good idea! However, the process is not intuitive, requiring a learning process of feathering the accelerator to brake and stop at the proper time. By the end of the trip, this “feathering” process becomes more realistic. What happens when I get back in my Lexus?
The console is very impressive, offering many, many choices. We were ready for it — those YouTube videos. We are an Apple family, with literally all the Apple products; the screen and icons were not overwhelming with the many icons. The challenge was knowing which icon to select to achieve the action or the action we thought we wanted. It will be a learning process if we go with Tesla.
The Drive. Beyond the regenerative braking, the car accelerates faster than expected from an “electric” car. The car is very responsive; slightly modifying its direction causes it to go there. During the initial driving experience, I felt I had to pay more attention than normal—likely a good thing. The performance of the Tesla 3 was noticeably different from our Lexus GX, with a more immediate response to steering and acceleration.
I didn’t try Supervised Full-drive mode – I’m not ready for a self-directed vehicle.
Tomorrow, a Model 3. A smaller car costs $1K down and $299 a month.Our test drive to Mt. Lemon in the Tesla 3 was an exhilarating experience. Despite not fully understanding all the car’s electronics, I was able to navigate, monitor the battery details, and set a destination. The thrill of the drive was undeniable.
The Model 3 we tested was a rear-wheel drive with one electric motor versus the higher-rated dual motor. The rear wheel has better battery consumption and longer distances.
I was concerned that the rear wheel would not be as responsive as the all-wheel drive, but the drive up the mountain and back was a great experience. The Model 3 is very responsive and truly hugs the road on the many curves up the mountain.
We had 29% battery available for the return, 176 miles when we left. However, coming down the mountain proved even more responsive than the trip up. Thanks to regenerative braking, your foot never leaves the accelerator. You merely ease up on the accelerator, and the car brakes due to the regen braking, which produces a power increase to the battery. When we arrived at the dealership to return the vehicle, the battery percentage available was 31%, an increase of 2%, gained by regenerative braking down the mountain. Returning the car was simple, and we were impressed with the overall experience.
We asked ChatGPT many questions about Teslas, their pros and cons, and comparisons. Using the lease terms of $1000 down and $299 a month for 24 months, Chat GPT suggested five other EVs to compare. Some were similar in terms, but all suggested required 2 to 3 times more down payment; however, the monthly fee was generally the same or less. Those suggested for comparison by ChatGPT.
ChatGPT then compared each model suggested in a pro or con chart, comparing features, range, charging, durability, etc., to arrive at a 1 to 6 ranking, with one being the highest-rated.
The moment of truth arrived, and I must say, we fell in love with the Tesla Model 3. It’s responsiveness, acceleration, and overall ride quality were all top-notch. This car truly won me over.
And now, I have a red Tesla 3 parked in my garage, a sight that brings me immense joy every time I see it.
PS I am not political. I didn’t buy the car to protest or express my feelings toward Elon Musk or the current administration. If you are bothered by my purchase, keep it to yourself. If you feel I should have protested, Mr. Musk, tell others if doing so makes you feel better. Many retirement plans include Tesla stock as part of their program, which many rely on for the future. Tesla has many employees who are apolitical and go to work every day without feelings one way or the other. I genuinely do not understand the underlying motivation of the protesters, and I am not interested in learning their feelings. If my buying a Tesla bothers you, stop visiting the website.
If my Tesla is parked in public, the Sentry mode with all the cameras will be on, and you will be recorded approaching or damaging my vehicle as a protest. If you decide to protest by defacing my car, you will be reported to the authorities and prosecuted.
*The pricing shown was two weeks ago and has changed since.
