1st Generation Tesla Model 3 Still Keeping It Together At 100,000 Miles

Join daily news updates from CleanTechnica on e-mail. Or follow us on Google News!

Regardless of many others having already done this, I really feel considerably obligated to report on the primary 100,000 miles pushed in my Tesla Mannequin 3 LR RWD, since this is the very first configuration Tesla sent off the production line in July 2017. In truth, this has made me notice that I must go discover a set of these unique 19″ rims to exchange my 18″, as a result of it’s a born basic with that look from the very first SN1 automobile! It additionally means I’ve to maintain it without end…. Effectively, let’s see when it caves and needs to be shelved. I think that may occur many, a few years and miles into the long run.

My specimen is a black 2019 Lengthy Vary with rear-wheel drive. It has a (present) real-world vary of simply over 250 miles (400 km), which was speculated to be the initial real-world range of the Model 3 long before production. It has declined some 10% since new, however that’s nonetheless sufficient to by no means make me fear about vary. Additionally, the variety of Supercharger stations which have popped up throughout Denmark — and Europe —  makes any issues about vary a non-issue. By the way in which, the opening up of Superchargers to non-Tesla automobiles has not been an issue for me on the occasional highway journey. And I’ve additionally been on a highway journey in a Citröen eC4, solely utilizing Tesla Superchargers, and that has been no problem in any respect.

Complete Value Of Possession

I documented a lot of details when I reached 100,000 km (62,000 miles), so this time round I’ll simply replace the details:

Worth in June 2019 together with full self driving (FSD): $67,290 (DKK 463,000).

• Present common resale worth in accordance with varied native used automobile websites: $29,000 (DKK 200,000)
• Depreciation: $38,290 (263,000 DKK) = $0.383 per mile (DKK 1.64 per km)
• Complete spent on service: $4,840 (DKK 33,312) (Notice: A 3rd of this has been changing a number of suspension elements as a result of squeaking noises, some have been underneath guarantee, some weren’t. The remaining is 2 windshield replacements, 8 tires, wipers, cabin filters, and wiper fluid, and a few noise dampening work — nothing else.)
• Complete spent on electrical energy: $2,953 (DKK 20,327) (Notice: Attributable to type referrals early on I acquired greater than 10,000 miles of free Supercharging. Nevertheless, 93% of charging is at house.)
• Complete spent on insurance coverage: $5,140 (DKK 35,380)
• Complete spent on taxes: $429 (DKK 2,950)
• Complete spent on premium connectivity: $349 (DKK 2,400)
• Working value complete of: $13,711 (DKK 94,369) = $0.137 per mile (DKK 0.590 per km)

Complete value of possession (TCO) to this point: $0.52 per mile (DKK 2.23 per km).

So, regardless of fairly vital depreciation, as a result of worth cuts through the years and new automobiles getting higher and higher, making used automobiles much less and fewer engaging, that is nonetheless a really low TCO. If FSD turns into a actuality earlier than this automobile reaches finish of life, the story modifications utterly, however that’s a pie within the sky for now (though, I clearly wouldn’t have purchased FSD had I not believed in it, which I nonetheless do).

Consolation

Does the automobile really feel like new? No, it feels higher than new, but that’s only because I had it noise dampened within the first year, which made the sound consolation within the cabin so significantly better. I’m very joyful I made this choice early on. Every thing by way of the mechanics exhibits no indicators of wear and tear (besides changing these suspension elements as a result of irritating — however not unsafe — squeaking noises), that means the automobile nonetheless feels new to drive. And keep in mind, that is the rear-wheel drive with the large battery, which provides it extra energy than the usual vary, thus delivering a stable 0–60 mph time of 5 seconds. Nothing loopy, however provides to the enjoyable issue.

Unknowns

There are a few unknowns which are price mentioning. Rust is one. I hear tales about Teslas beginning to rust, each older Mannequin 3 and newer Mannequin Y automobiles. I had my automobile checked a few instances, and I’ve nothing out of the extraordinary by way of corrosion, even if the automobile sits exterior all yr spherical and is uncovered to loads of salt roughly half of the yr. This winter has been very challenging, and it made me notice that in case you can not keep at house when it’s snowing closely, all-season tires are not good enough. I’ll begin utilizing summer time and winter tires.

Brakes is one other unknown that you need to take into consideration when driving in the kind of local weather we now have right here in Denmark. The primary couple of years, I drove with most regenerative braking (one-pedal driving) to get good vary, however I observed that this made the brake discs rust a lot it could make them uneven. I switched to low regen and began to use my brakes tougher sometimes, particularly in winter. This has made the discs cleaner and extra even once more. At 4 years, it handed inspection, however solely simply, and I used to be informed the discs in all probability wouldn’t cross subsequent time — we will see. I’ve additionally discovered that if I work the brakes arduous a few miles earlier than parking, in order that the discs have some warmth constructed up, the parking brake pads are much less susceptible to stay, which beforehand would really feel actually uncomfortable beginning out within the morning with a loud clonking sound as if the pads had been glued to the discs.

Vary

Vary may be seen three-fold: First, there’s the official WLTP vary, which is 600 km (373 miles) for this mannequin. Second, there may be the vary estimate all the time proven on display screen within the automobile and within the app. Third, there may be the precise vary achieved. At new, the automobile advised a variety of 516 km (321 miles) was doable. Now, it exhibits 462 km (287 miles). So, that’s down 10.6%. The precise consumption has been very constant, with a year-round common of 176 Wh/km (283 Wh/mile), or put one other approach, 5.68 km/kWh (3.53 miles/kWh). Assuming 75 kWh of usable battery capability, this quantities to a mean vary of 426 km (265 miles) on a full cost. Adjusting for a doable lack of 10.6% battery capability, which provides an approximated present usable battery capability of 67 kWh, the precise vary that I’d belief a full cost would ship can be 381 km (237 miles). When folks ask me what’s the vary of an EV, any EV, I all the time reply: Neglect WLTP and calculate battery capability × 5 km (3.1 miles). That’s actual life for you.

I nonetheless get pleasure from each single experience on this automobile. It’s depraved quick, simple to make use of, and has razor sharp dealing with. The inside holds up nicely. There isn’t a visible put on and tear and nothing has come unfastened wherever. Consolation is okay for me, however I’m nicely conscious it’s nowhere close to its opponents, not to mention its successor. But, as a day by day driver, this 1st era of the Mannequin 3 has confirmed itself approach past what I’d have anticipated. (I’ve learn the tales of others having numerous issues, so possibly I’m simply fortunate?) Nevertheless, I dare not check out the brand new Mannequin 3. I’m so scared I’ll abandon “Colin” on the spot. In addition to, what would I name a brand new automobile? “Colin” is the perfect name … and it stays with this automobile! Goofy, I do know….