Posted on 10/06/2025 1:07:19 PM PDT by Controlling Legal Authority
I bought a Tesla 2 months ago, still learning new things about it. I didn’t do it “for the environment”. Strictly a transportation issue. I get the, uh, impression that more of us here than not are not a fan so I thought I’d throw out my admittedly brief personal experience if anyone here is curious.
Yes, that is part of the pre-drive briefing. Then the rest of the questions start flying after we get started.
I already know all about ‘em... No interest.
True, but there is a recertification process.
My son really wants one now after seeing mine. ( He hates driving as much as I do.) But since the tax credit is gone I advised him to give it a few weeks. There may be a new lower cost model coming out as soon as tomorrow and a huge software update that should be a big assist to FSD is hitting soon. If you go used I’d want to make sure it is new enough to handle the new software package.
I think they are neat. The issues I have with them are not based around the motor, but the quality. Every single one of them is just a POS with an interesting twist.
Touch screen controls (ridiculous in a moving transport) terrible brakes, suspension and steering (the engineers didn’t focus on the things that normal car engineers consider) and simply boring looks that seem to always lean to self driving (the end game IS removing the driver from the equation).
But there is room in the world for them. Some people aren’t good drivers. Some people simply don’t like cars. For them the modern electric is very appealing. My ex wife hates driving, and it shows with how many of my cars she’s wrapped around poles. She needs self driving.
All modes of transportation matter :)
Sorry I can’t hold your hand. Read the posts, I’m too busy answering people’s questions about my personal experience.
It took me a couple of hours using FSD with my hand hovering over the steering wheel. Lol. But I was soon fine with it and appreciating it.
New, a 2026 Model Y
I remember a lot of quality control issues a while back, that is part of the reason I didn’t jump in back then. But I’ve heard they are much better on the fit and finish. My car didn’t have any problem in that area. Another issue was a concern about service. I live 100 miles from the dealer. Naturally the second day I had I stupidly knocked off a mud flap when I parked and didn’t notice how steep the drop off was from pavement to gravel. yeah, it was a winery. Anyway, I just texted Tesla, they sent a guy out a week later. Says he is in my town every Wednesday servicing cars. Asked if I had any other issues, and I had a question about a feature on the mobile charger that came with the car. It was a first world problem, but they took care of that too. Gratis.
“My homeowners Insurance wasn’t affected.”
Is your insurance company aware of the presence of the EV? Do you bundle Home and auto?
“If you feel like it please give any and all information that you think is pertinent to owning a Tesla . I am very curious to hear a truly non-biased assessment of ownership.....Thank you for your post .”
For me, it was waiting for Tesla to get FSD ready for prime time, which I think they did last year, at least for my purposes. I would have certainly considered any other car, including an ICE car, if it had a comparable FSD, but after a couple of months I think I prefer an EV over ICE car. I just like the quiet, the ease of just plugging it in my garage as opposed to stopping for gas regularly. I have taken two trips so far where I had to stop to charge. Piece of cake. I could barely finish my business while it was charging anyway so no delay really. And on those two trips the routing was basically the same as if I was driving an ICE car. The buying experience was certainly different, in a good way. But when I bought it they were pretty busy. It would have helped if they would have spent more time with me as I was getting ready to leave or if I had someone experienced with a Tesla, but I survived. Anyway, I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have that I haven’t answered . Feel free to contact me directly if you want.,
Yes, same company for home and auto.
Did you start in Alaska?
Part of me asks because I wonder how EVs do over long distances.
Part of me asks because I was a kid in the way back of a station wagon from central Florida to Fairbanks and then Anchorage, as a ten year old. The trip of a lifetime!
Totally epic. My fam talks about that trip pretty often. Fairly sure I will hear more about it in a few weeks, when I see my siblings.
When you get through adversity together as younguns, it helps shape you for the adults you become.
“If you feel like it please give any and all information that you think is pertinent to owning a Tesla . I am very curious to hear a truly non-biased assessment of ownership.....Thank you for your post .”
Besides what I said previously and all the other responses on the thread so far, after getting used to all the gizmos and options you have with it (but consider I am coming from a mid level Honda Accord 2019 version) is that FSD isn’t perfect. You really do have to pay attention and take over. I don’t know if it can ever be truly Unsupervised FSD. Like how could it handle being marshalled to park in a grass field with nothing on the ground like stripes to show it exactly where you are supposed to park? But it is sure better than anything I am seeing or even just hearing about. And the maintenance schedule is nothing compared to any other car I have had.
Sounds like a pretty cool trip!
But no. Landed in Nashville and then the plan was to drive to places in Kentucky & Tennessee to see some sights. Staying in different places as we went along. Can’t imagine trying to figure out charging stations and all that.
Well, I wouldn’t want one but it’s your money. Suspect they are fun to drive, but I would worry about accidents (super high repair costs) and battery life. And the occasional fire that can’t be put out, of course.
Tesla app (and other 3d party apps) as well as the screen in the car take car of the charging station issue.
Pontiac Aztec - reminded me of Pete’s Dragon.
Our trip had no charging stations. No need. They hadn’t been invented yet. Gas stations, car repair shops, etc were greatly appreciated, though! It was the modern version of “The Odyssey” from 1970. And a bit of a cross into “National Lampoon’s Vacation”. Flat tires…busted mufflers…no A/C going home through Death Valley. I’m being perfectly honest.
That trip from Florida to Alaska and back was one for the ages. My parents must have been a little off-kilter, though I didn’t realize it back then. My older siblings probably did, but yeah, they were trapped, too. By that I mean that all of us were a captive audience in that car.
We all learned a LOT on those summer trips. Part of it was how to deal with adversity. Happened on every trip every summer. A priest once told me that the thing that keeps a family together is not always the good times, but the tough times they go through and get through TOGETHER.
I think he was spot on!
P.S. I hope you will enjoy your trip. Both states are full of goodness and beauty. Just make sure you go off the beaten path. Amazing, and oh so beautiful!!!
A lot has changed in these last several decades, but the natural beauty is still there. Go find it! You will not be disappointed. Stay away from the tourist trap sites like Gatlinburg.
If I think of more, I’ll let you know.
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