Wife caved! Question for Michiganders and others from cold climates.

[t0ddly]

1st post be gentle

My wife caved in front of my father in law and is letting me buy her an M3 SR+ for my 50th birthday! Yea that sentence does not make a ton of sense but hey - I gotta chose my battles.

I am very excited just to have one in the garage and drive occasionally. I just texted the news to the delivery specialist that I have been talking to and he said he would call me in the morning.

A couple questions if I may...

Question 1 with pretext: I am in Michigan and the wife needs a reliable car for work as a visiting nurse (house calls). Being in Michigan (a non tesla sale state) can I count on the mobile ranger service for most new car problems if/when they arise? I know for the major things the car would have to go away. Will they pick it up and haul it to a service center? Or would I have to drive (if it can still move) it to a service center 2-3 hours away?

Daily scenario by the way is this:
*Mostly city driving
*50 to 80 miles per day
*Snow tires in winter
*Heated garage and charging to 90% nightly.
*8 to 10 stops per day
*I will set the climate control to keep the car warm in the winter and cool in the summer while she is with patients.


Question 2: With the above in mind is SR plus a workable solution - even during the coldest days of winter(10 degrees F)?
For super bad road days I will swap with her and she will get the jeep and I will work from home. Sick patients need care even in a blizzard.

Thanks! I'm super geeked right now if you couldn't tell.

Todd

 

[nativewolf]

It certainly doesn't make sense... I still can't connect spelunking with driving a tesla? What is the connection? An attempt to get grounded?

 

[KJD]

In snow country the only car you want is the long range all wheel drive, don't even think about the SR plus. Not worth the stress of worrying about getting home when the storms roll in mid day. The AWD 3 is a great car in the snow.

 

[t0ddly]

In snow country the only car you want is the long range all wheel drive, don't even think about the SR plus. Not worth the stress of worrying about getting home when the storms roll in mid day. The AWD 3 is a great car in the snow.

So I can't count on 80 miles on a heated garage kept car in winter? Remember in really bad days she would get the Jeep.

 

[KJD]

Oh yes you can do 80 miles.

What about the days when you have a change of plans and drive more than 80 miles ?

What about the days when you forget to plug the car in ?

After the first day of driving a Tesla your wife will never want to see the inside of that jeep again.

 

[t0ddly]

Also for many years I drove a Crown Victoria (RWD) for many years and it handled great in the snow.

 

[t0ddly]

Oh yes you can do 80 miles.

What about the days when you have a change of plans and drive more than 80 miles ?

What about the days when you forget to plug the car in ?

After the first day of driving a Tesla your wife will never want to see the inside of that jeep again.

So I can't count on 80 miles on a heated garage kept car in winter? Remember in really bad days she would get the Jeep.

Good points - there are super chargers near us if we forget. Two years free I'm told. She loves the . Ha! She loves the Jeep Commander - we are going to have the best and the worst cars for the planet in the same garage.

 

[t0ddly]

Don't get me wrong. I have very seriously thought about the AWD LR. And your making me think about it again. Ugh. It's a tough one.

 

[Raechris]

1st post be gentle

My wife caved in front of my father in law and is letting me buy her an M3 SR+ for my 50th birthday! Yea that sentence does not make a ton of sense but hey - I gotta chose my battles.

I am very excited just to have one in the garage and drive occasionally. I just texted the news to the delivery specialist that I have been talking to and he said he would call me in the morning.

A couple questions if I may...

Question 1 with pretext: I am in Michigan and the wife needs a reliable car for work as a visiting nurse (house calls). Being in Michigan (a non tesla sale state) can I count on the mobile ranger service for most new car problems if/when they arise? I know for the major things the car would have to go away. Will they pick it up and haul it to a service center? Or would I have to drive (if it can still move) it to a service center 2-3 hours away?

Daily scenario by the way is this:
*Mostly city driving
*50 to 80 miles per day
*Snow tires in winter
*Heated garage and charging to 90% nightly.
*8 to 10 stops per day
*I will set the climate control to keep the car warm in the winter and cool in the summer while she is with patients.


Question 2: With the above in mind is SR plus a workable solution - even during the coldest days of winter(10 degrees F)?
For super bad road days I will swap with her and she will get the jeep and I will work from home. Sick patients need care even in a blizzard.

Thanks! I'm super geeked right now if you couldn't tell.

Todd

I don't agree with OP. Having my MS75D (259 stated, 248 rated today) for two years in zero to 100 degree weather I can assure she will be fine, unless she leaves heat running for hours a day while she is in meetings. I would not advise that especially since the car will warm or cool within 5-10 minutes from any temp from the phone app. When temp is below 32, you will lose 30% stated range (40% is worst case in zero degree). On the flip side you can expect a 20-25% gain over stated range in over 60 degree weather. Congratulations in advance. You will both love the car and the experience driving electric.

 

[Tam]

...M3 SR+...

I wouldn't recommend anything shorter than a Long Range for Michigan.

However, if you stick to the script, have the discipline, you should be fine even with a Short Range.

...mobile ranger service for most new car problems if/when they arise?...

What I've heard is the service was excellent for early adopters but it's not like the old days anymore.

...Will they pick it up and haul it to a service center? Or would I have to drive (if it can still move) it to a service center 2-3 hours away?...

They used to in the early days for early adopters but not anymore.

Now, If your car is drivable you'll pay for the tow $3.00 each mile each way. If your Service Center is 100 miles away, that's $600 towing.

...coldest days of winter(10 degrees F)?...

You should be fine if you stick with your scenarios but I would want to have some buffer just in case (road closure, detours...)

 

[t0ddly]

Thanks Tam, the cost for towing sounds pretty miserable. Are you sure about this? This could be a deal breaker. Oh man that completely sucks

 

[t0ddly]

Oh wait... If drive able I would be charged towing? Odd - wouldn't the rangers be able to handle most of those scenarios?
If not drivable would Tesla take care of that cost during warranty?

 

[Seattle]

I agree, any place with snow you want awd. And then having more range is pretty important. You never want to feel range anxiety, especially when you first get it until you learn how much you can trust it.

 

[Tam]

Thanks Tam, the cost for towing sounds pretty miserable. Are you sure about this? This could be a deal breaker. Oh man that completely sucks

Yes. I am sure.

Oh wait... If drive able I would be charged towing? Odd - wouldn't the rangers be able to handle most of those scenarios?
If not drivable would Tesla take care of that cost during warranty?

Although I live in California but my nearest Service Center was 200 miles away and I've been with that for the past 7 years.

Now, Tesla has opened up one 50 miles away finally.

You'll be fine as most of the repairs will be done by Mobile Service at your home, work, hotel stay... even when they are drivable.

Mobile Service doesn't do 4 wheel-alignment so in the old days, Tesla would send a truck with a loaner drop it off for your then pick yours up do the wheel-alighment then tow it back to you.

Now, because you can drive hundreds of miles on your own to a Service Center, they no longer pay for the tow unless your car is undrivable.

When your car gives out a message that 12V battery needs replacement during your 4 year new car warranty, mobile service would take care of that for you.

However, if your car will then be dead prior to the replacement because mobile service is delayed and your car is no longer drivable, Tesla would send a tow truck to pick your car up.

If there's something more than a simple 12V replacement that might take more than a day, Tesla would send you a loaner.

It could be the D/C to D/C fuse was blown which prevents the main battery from recharging your 12V battery.

Once the problems are fixed and now your car is drivable at the Service Center, you'll need to drive the loaner back to the Service Center if you don't want to pay for the tow charge.

I've gone through 3 Tesla cars for the past 7 years and they have been very reliable so I think you should be fine too!

 

[t0ddly]

Thanks again Tam. This sounds doable service wise. And I am rethinking the LR AWD now. But 8 grand+. Whew. I originally was looking at off book RWD LR. Wish that was still a thing.

 

[t0ddly]

I agree, any place with snow you want awd. And then having more range is pretty important. You never want to feel range anxiety, especially when you first get it until you learn how much you can trust it.

Thanks. Rethinking it.

 

[dmurphy]

Daily scenario by the way is this:
*Mostly city driving
*50 to 80 miles per day
*Snow tires in winter
*Heated garage and charging to 90% nightly.
*8 to 10 stops per day
*I will set the climate control to keep the car warm in the winter and cool in the summer while she is with patients.

First and foremost, welcome to TMC! It can be a little rough around the edges here, but the knowledge is second to none. That said - we all have a tendency to overanalyze every little thing ... here's my take on your scenario:

She'd be more than fine in an SR+. Especially if you understand what you're getting into. Winter WILL be less range... but you know that, eyes-wide-open. You'll be starting with a heated garage, so that's a good thing. You also mention having a Supercharger nearby, so in the worst case - if there's lots of extra driving or something, you know you can always stop there.

No need to keep the climate control on - just use the app to turn it on a couple minutes - if that - before getting back in the car. I'm blown away with the efficiency of the HVAC on this thing.

"If I knew then, what I know now ...." - SR+ would've been fine for me, rangewise. I'm glad I have the LR AWD - but it's because I want all the software accoutrements, not because I need the range.

So go, buy, enjoy, and remember -- you have 7 days to return and upgrade if you find you just can't live without the LR battery.

I can't wait to read your "What the heck was I waiting for?!" post shortly. Even more, I can't wait to hear how much your wife loves it. Mine was a total skeptic but now is very happy with it ... and is rumbling about a Model X once her Enclave ages out.

 

[BM3B]

Thanks again Tam. This sounds doable service wise. And I am rethinking the LR AWD now. But 8 grand+. Whew. I originally was looking at off book RWD LR. Wish that was still a thing.

You might be able to still get one, just ask. I am waiting for an off menu 3P-, doesn’t hurt to try

 

[t0ddly]

First and foremost, welcome to TMC! It can be a little rough around the edges here, but the knowledge is second to none. That said - we all have a tendency to overanale thing ... here's my take on your scenario:

She'd be more than fine in an SR+. Especially if you understand what you're getting into. Winter WILL be less range... but you know that, eyes-wide-open. You'll be starting with a heated garage, so that's a good thing. You also mention having a Supercharger nearby, so in the worst case - if there's lots of extra driving or something, you know you can always stop there.

No need to keep the climate control on - just use the app to turn it on a couple minutes - if that - before getting back in the car. I'm blown away with the efficiency of the HVAC on this thing.

"If I knew then, what I know now ...." - SR+ would've been fine for me, rangewise. I'm glad I have the LR AWD - but it's because I want all the software accoutrements, not because I need the range.

So go, buy, enjoy, and remember -- you have 7 days to return and upgrade if you find you just can't live without the LR battery.

I can't wait to read your "What the heck was I waiting for?!" post shortly. Even more, I can't wait to hear how much your wife loves it. Mine was a total skeptic but now is very happy with it ... and is rumbling about a Model X once her Enclave ages out.

First and foremost, welcome to TMC! It can be a little rough around the edges here, but the knowledge is second to none. That said - we all have a tendency to overanalyze every little thing ... here's my take on your scenario:

She'd be more than fine in an SR+. Especially if you understand what you're getting into. Winter WILL be less range... but you know that, eyes-wide-open. You'll be starting with a heated garage, so that's a good thing. You also mention having a Supercharger nearby, so in the worst case - if there's lots of extra driving or something, you know you can always stop there.

No need to keep the climate control on - just use the app to turn it on a couple minutes - if that - before getting back in the car. I'm blown away with the efficiency of the HVAC on this thing.

"If I knew then, what I know now ...." - SR+ would've been fine for me, rangewise. I'm glad I have the LR AWD - but it's because I want all the software accoutrements, not because I need the range.

So go, buy, enjoy, and remember -- you have 7 days to return and upgrade if you find you just can't live without the LR battery.

I can't wait to read your "What the heck was I waiting for?!" post shortly. Even more, I can't wait to hear how much your wife loves it. Mine was a total skeptic but now is very happy with it ... and is rumbling about a Model X once her Enclave ages out.

First and foremost, welcome to TMC! It can be a little rough around the edges here, but the knowledge is second to none. That said - we all have a tendency to overanalyze every little thing ... here's my take on your scenario:

She'd be more than fine in an SR+. Especially if you understand what you're getting into. Winter WILL be less range... but you know that, eyes-wide-open. You'll be starting with a heated garage, so that's a good thing. You also mention having a Supercharger nearby, so in the worst case - if there's lots of extra driving or something, you know you can always stop there.

No need to keep the climate control on - just use the app to turn it on a couple minutes - if that - before getting back in the car. I'm blown away with the efficiency of the HVAC on this thing.

"If I knew then, what I know now ...." - SR+ would've been fine for me, rangewise. I'm glad I have the LR AWD - but it's because I want all the software accoutrements, not because I need the range.

So go, buy, enjoy, and remember -- you have 7 days to return and upgrade if you find you just can't live without the LR battery.

I can't wait to read your "What the heck was I waiting for?!" post shortly. Even more, I can't wait to hear how much your wife loves it. Mine was a total skeptic but now is very happy with it ... and is rumbling about a Model X once her Enclave ages out.

Thanks for taking the time dmurphy! It helps - believe me.
As for keeping the interior comfortable -. Maybe I'll just set it up to keep the cabin from getting too hot in the summer sun with the black interior. And let it be in winter

 

[t0ddly]

You might be able to still get one, just ask. I am waiting for an off menu 3P-, doesn’t hurt to try

I'll give it a shot and maybe I'll get lucky and find a turned down LR RWD. But I will be going for existing inventory at this point and seems unlikely. Well - if my guy can find a way I could wait a couple weeks. 325 miles and half a second quicker to 60 would be super worth a wait.