I recently joined and this forum and have been reading through a lot of posts to find the info I am looking for to help regarding a potential purchasing decision of a Tesla. At this point I am leaning toward either a MS, MX or MY (performance). For the MS or MX, I am fine with the long range model.
My first choice at this point would be the long range MS. It covers almost all my key criteria except one.
* Over 300 mile range at 70-80 mph. All electric drivetrain
* Carry 4 large adults comfortably, 5 as needed
* Quick acceleration (less than 4 seconds 0-60)
* Hatchback
* A fair amount of storage
* Tow a jetski and trailer, less than 1000 pounds total, 2-3 times a month, less than a 30 mile round trip. Use a hitch mounted bike carrier to carry to ebikes weighing about 100 pounds + 40 pounds for the hitch
The trailer towing is my concern with the MS. It doesn’t look like Tesla rated it for any towing capability but I’ve seen quite a few with hitches. So it looks like it will to it. I just have some concerns regarding the unibody. I would think the drivetrain should be fine since it is used in the MX. I guess a bigger worry is about warranty issues. So curious if anyone has had any issues going in for service with a hitch mounted on their cars or had any warranty claims denied because of a hitch. I would likely go with an Ecohitch as they’ve been great on other cars.
That is probably the only reason I am considering either the MX or MY. If warranty will be an issue, then maybe safer to go with one of them. I am concerned about the rear doors on the MX as it seems overly complicated and I plan on having whatever I buy for at least 5 years or more. So longevity and reliability are issues of concern for me. That is something that sort of gives me pause about Tesla in general. I had put a deposit on an M3 the first day they were available to order years ago and when I saw how crappy they were put together in person, I canceled my order even after waiting about 18 months. I am hoping they are better across the boar now.
I can’t really see buying the MX over the MY. I road in a 3 and the ride was pretty rough. I assume the Y will be similar and even worse with the performance upgrade. The base MY wouldn’t meet my performance criteria. It also felt a bit cramped in the back when I sat in one so it might not be a good option but I don’t want to spend more than necessary to get what I want.
The other concern I have is some of the paintwork seems very hit or miss across all the models. I’ve seen a lot of stone chips on the MS’s near me but I am not sure what years they were. They seemed far worse than a car that is my daily driver with 100k miles on it. Is paint an issue across all the models? Or worse on some? What is the best way to approach it if new, have it ceramic coated or PPF film everywhere you can?
Another very big concern I have is the air conditioning. I don’t really have to worry about cold weather but I live in a hot and humid area. Daytime temps in the summer are mid to upper 90’s minimum and always high humidity. How do the AC systems cope? Are the 2021 models any better for the MS and MX? Our local Tesla store isn’t doing test drives so I can’t easily check for myself. I don't want to be sweating even if it does reduce range a bit. We have an electric Ford and even in Las Vegas at 105+ degrees it kept the car literally chilly inside.
Are the headlights pretty good for night driving on backroads? The ones I saw on the road seem to have sort of a streaked beam pattern. I drive a lot at night and good headlights for the rain and backroads are a big plus.
How has the overall reliability been? Any weak spots in the 2019 and later models? I am really leaning toward the 2021 refreshed models as I am not in a rush to buy one but if I found a good 2019 or later, I might consider it.
I think the MX just gets me more weight and less performance at a 10k premium for functionality I will use infrequently over the MS. The MY gives me the towing I need occasionally but might be less comfortable and ride worse. To be honest I hate the idea of only a center screen. I prefer my info to be in front of my eyes or at least in my main line of sight. I appreciate any other feedback would be helpful choosing between the models. I am definitely leaning toward Tesla as there aren't many options to consider. The Taycan could be an option but the range is too low and I can't ever see it being able to tow a trailer. Of course an option is the MS or the Taycan and buy something like a beater just to tow to the water.
My first choice at this point would be the long range MS. It covers almost all my key criteria except one.
* Over 300 mile range at 70-80 mph. All electric drivetrain
* Carry 4 large adults comfortably, 5 as needed
* Quick acceleration (less than 4 seconds 0-60)
* Hatchback
* A fair amount of storage
* Tow a jetski and trailer, less than 1000 pounds total, 2-3 times a month, less than a 30 mile round trip. Use a hitch mounted bike carrier to carry to ebikes weighing about 100 pounds + 40 pounds for the hitch
The trailer towing is my concern with the MS. It doesn’t look like Tesla rated it for any towing capability but I’ve seen quite a few with hitches. So it looks like it will to it. I just have some concerns regarding the unibody. I would think the drivetrain should be fine since it is used in the MX. I guess a bigger worry is about warranty issues. So curious if anyone has had any issues going in for service with a hitch mounted on their cars or had any warranty claims denied because of a hitch. I would likely go with an Ecohitch as they’ve been great on other cars.
That is probably the only reason I am considering either the MX or MY. If warranty will be an issue, then maybe safer to go with one of them. I am concerned about the rear doors on the MX as it seems overly complicated and I plan on having whatever I buy for at least 5 years or more. So longevity and reliability are issues of concern for me. That is something that sort of gives me pause about Tesla in general. I had put a deposit on an M3 the first day they were available to order years ago and when I saw how crappy they were put together in person, I canceled my order even after waiting about 18 months. I am hoping they are better across the boar now.
I can’t really see buying the MX over the MY. I road in a 3 and the ride was pretty rough. I assume the Y will be similar and even worse with the performance upgrade. The base MY wouldn’t meet my performance criteria. It also felt a bit cramped in the back when I sat in one so it might not be a good option but I don’t want to spend more than necessary to get what I want.
The other concern I have is some of the paintwork seems very hit or miss across all the models. I’ve seen a lot of stone chips on the MS’s near me but I am not sure what years they were. They seemed far worse than a car that is my daily driver with 100k miles on it. Is paint an issue across all the models? Or worse on some? What is the best way to approach it if new, have it ceramic coated or PPF film everywhere you can?
Another very big concern I have is the air conditioning. I don’t really have to worry about cold weather but I live in a hot and humid area. Daytime temps in the summer are mid to upper 90’s minimum and always high humidity. How do the AC systems cope? Are the 2021 models any better for the MS and MX? Our local Tesla store isn’t doing test drives so I can’t easily check for myself. I don't want to be sweating even if it does reduce range a bit. We have an electric Ford and even in Las Vegas at 105+ degrees it kept the car literally chilly inside.
Are the headlights pretty good for night driving on backroads? The ones I saw on the road seem to have sort of a streaked beam pattern. I drive a lot at night and good headlights for the rain and backroads are a big plus.
How has the overall reliability been? Any weak spots in the 2019 and later models? I am really leaning toward the 2021 refreshed models as I am not in a rush to buy one but if I found a good 2019 or later, I might consider it.
I think the MX just gets me more weight and less performance at a 10k premium for functionality I will use infrequently over the MS. The MY gives me the towing I need occasionally but might be less comfortable and ride worse. To be honest I hate the idea of only a center screen. I prefer my info to be in front of my eyes or at least in my main line of sight. I appreciate any other feedback would be helpful choosing between the models. I am definitely leaning toward Tesla as there aren't many options to consider. The Taycan could be an option but the range is too low and I can't ever see it being able to tow a trailer. Of course an option is the MS or the Taycan and buy something like a beater just to tow to the water.