Are we Really Really Saving Money owning a Tesla?

[SeanM]

Hello,

I have had my Model-3 past one year and enjoying every single time I sit in it (at times I just try to "find" reasons just so I can drive it).

But, every time I plug it to charge, this question comes in to my mind, in the long run "Are we REALLY REALLY SAVING MONEY owning a Tesla??"

Because, between Sentry mode, cabin temperature maintenance... and other miles-sapping activities that we might just not be aware of, my Model-3 tends to lose around 3-5 miles per 24 hours... give or take a couple of miles... WHETHER I DRIVE MY CAR OR NOT. That's serious loss of miles/charge, just with the car sitting out there in my garage.

What are your (unbiased) thoughts?

 

[shtstrrer]

Probably not going to get unbiased thoughts.

 

[StanMI]

Subscribed, just to see others thoughts.

 

[Glamisduner]

Hello,

I have had my Model-3 past one year and enjoying every single time I sit in it (at times I just try to "find" reasons just so I can drive it).

But, every time I plug it to charge, this question comes in to my mind, in the long run "Are we REALLY REALLY SAVING MONEY owning a Tesla??"

Because, between Sentry mode, cabin temperature maintenance... and other miles-sapping activities that we might just not be aware of, my Model-3 tends to lose around 3-5 miles per 24 hours... give or take a couple of miles... WHETHER I DRIVE MY CAR OR NOT. That's serious loss of miles/charge, just with the car sitting out there in my garage.

What are your (unbiased) thoughts?

Maybe in the long run, but over all for sure no. It will take allot of fuel and rebates to cover the 75k I paid for it before mods.
Saving money over buying a gas car with similar performance? Well probably.

 

[run-the-joules]

I didn't buy the car to save money, I bought the car to keep from going full Falling Down in traffic.

Since I bought a $60k (plus government greed levy) car and had my insurance cost go up dramatically afterwards, though, it's a net negative financially.

 

[lupend88]

Thats ~1% of the battery, yes you're still saving money

 

[BZM3]

i mean - i dont pay for gas and my apartment building has a free to use charger. my lease is 485 per month for tesla (same i was quoted for 3 series BMWs and Audi A4s etc). minus roughly 150 a month for gas. effectively i pay 330 a month to lease the car. so maybe unless i leased a honda civic with 15,000 miles a year, yes i am saving money.

 

[640k]

What are your (unbiased) thoughts?

use one of those calculators? honestly i don't understand your question? are you questioning the idea that because you're drawing power, and that draw costs money, that there's little exposed cost savings?

there's always cost of ownership for any vehicle. your fuel source is different because you draw from your electrical. you can negate that in many ways, but you're still paying for fuel.

i'm really confused by your post.

 

[-DA3]

I love the TECH and the tank up via the SUN concept!

 

[Nels]

...but think of all the time you save by not going to gas stations and pumping gas (assuming you charge at home and don't have to wait at a Supercharger )

 

[run-the-joules]

...but think of all the time you save by not going to gas stations and pumping gas (assuming you charge at home and don't have to wait at a Supercharger )

THAT is the important thing. Time.

 

[640k]

...but think of all the time you save by not going to gas stations and pumping gas (assuming you charge at home and don't have to wait at a Supercharger )

oh don't start cross-posting THAT OTHER thread in here!!

 

[ecarfan]

my Model-3 tends to lose around 3-5 miles per 24 hours... give or take a couple of miles... WHETHER I DRIVE MY CAR OR NOT. That's serious loss of miles/charge, just with the car sitting out there in my garage.

Calculate your cost, based on what you pay per kWh to charge (home or work?) of those 3-5 miles/day and then decide if that is important to you.

I suspect you will find that it is pennies per day of charge loss.

 

[flynnstone]

I have solar at home so my cost to charge is virtually nothing.

Time is money, and the Tesla affords me the ability to travel in the HOV/carpool lane with only a single person, cutting my commute in half.

Registration in AZ is $150 for 5 years.

These 3 things are enough for me to justify the expense of the car.

 

[focher]

In a like-for-like comparison to a comparable ICE, the Tesla has a lower cost of ownership.

That 3-5 miles costs about 30-50 cents in the most expensive electricity areas.

 

[ZOMGVTEK]

I'd be curious to see how many people on here purchased a 3 with the intent to save money. I don't see how that makes a lot of sense. It's a moderately expensive vehicle, with a less than stellar track record for reliability. Buying a 10 year old Honda or Toyota, and doing maintenance yourself sounds a lot more sensible if saving money is the goal. The cost savings there are extremely significant. The #1 cost owning a new Model 3 is likely to be depreciation, not the fuel cost. Basically the same story as any new car. But if you wanted to ONLY drive a new car that was always under warranty, AND you compared it to a semi-luxury car, I don't see how it would end up behind for most everyone.

Personally, I don't really care if it cost 10x more than an ICE car per mile, I think its a better car.

 

[ChadS]

I too don't really get the question. Of course owning a Tesla, like any car costs more than not owning a car; so you must mean compared to something else - but nobody can give you a reasonable answer unless you tell us what you are comparing it to (and how much you drive).

If you are just worried about the cost of Sentry and Cabin Overheat, you can turn them off.

 

[DirtyT3sla]

As far as the car overall, of course not. These cars are very expensive.

In terms of fuel specifically, yes, it's still much cheaper.

And as for solar...when you include the cost of the panels, your fuel is WAY more expensive than mine lol

 

[justsomeguy]

In my case.. overall? No. Here in BC the much more expensive insurance negates any gas savings I'd have.

Car maintenance on my old honda was pretty much negligible ($50 in oil twice a year) the entire time I owned it.

 

[640k]

I'd be curious to see how many people on here purchased a 3 with the intent to save money. I don't see how that makes a lot of sense. It's a moderately expensive vehicle, with a less than stellar track record for reliability. Buying a 10 year old Honda or Toyota, and doing maintenance yourself sounds a lot more sensible if saving money is the goal. The cost savings there are extremely significant. The #1 cost owning a new Model 3 is likely to be depreciation, not the fuel cost. Basically the same story as any new car. But if you wanted to ONLY drive a new car that was always under warranty, AND you compared it to a semi-luxury car, I don't see how it would end up behind for most everyone.

Personally, I don't really care if it cost 10x more than an ICE car per mile, I think its a better car.

if you're in the market for a new vehicle, the TCO can be significantly less than a comparable vehicle. used will always be a better financial value than new, no matter what you buy.