My Thought After 10 Months of Owning a Tesla
After taking a test drive, I was hooked (Side note, use my referral link to schedule your own test drive and save some $$$ if you buy http://ts.la/jonathan50561 *). Prices having come way down from 2022 and the Federal Government offering a $7,500 tax credit, was enough for me to sell my 2015 Subaru Legacy and jump into a Tesla Model Y.
Initially I placed an order online but later, after looking at the inventory, I was able to find a build that was just what I wanted and available sooner. At the time there was no difference in price for me but at the time of the post, vehicles in inventory are less than an order placed through the Tesla custom order tool.
Early May, 2023, my VIN was assigned, a pick-up date was selected and I was excited.
Day 1 Considerations
As mentioned, I had changed my order from the customizer to a vehicle that was inventory. I was assigned my VIN and a few days later, went to pick up my vehicle. After filling out the remaining paperwork, a Tesla rep and I walked around the vehicle where I noted all the issues I was able to see. It’s important that this is done ASAP as Tesla will fix everything found within the first 100 miles.
I actually recommend you pick up a Taper Gauge Tool or something. Bring it with you when you go to pick up and measure the gaps. If there are any gaps not symmetrical or that look large, call it out. It’s better to document it at pickup and be wrong than not have it recorded prior to you putting 100 miles on your new ride.
My issues were as followed:
- Misaligned rear passenger door
- Passenger door was realigned
- Misaligned passenger taillight
- Ended up being a combination of a misaligned taillight and rear hatch. Rear hatch was realigned at a bodyshop. The vehicle had to then go back to the body shop to repair scratches under the rear hatch that were visible when the hatch was open
- Misaligned dashboard trim
- Trim was replaced
- Misaligned hood
- Hood was realigned
- Visible stitching on driver seat
- The seat replaced
- Defect in paint on driver rear view mirror
- Driver rear view mirror cap was replaced by mobile tech. I will note that it does have its own issues but they are not as bad as the original mirror cap. This is a good reminder that trying to fix things can sometimes make them worse.
- Seat guide trim with broken retainer clips
- Retainer clip was replaced but this still pops off from time-to-time.
- Steering column bottom foam not properly tucked
- They have never been able to resolve this. The first time was a mobile visit where the tech cut the foam off. I later raised this as a concern noting it was something identified within the first hundred miles and I feel was not resolved correctly. Two other times the service center tried to address it and every time the liner slowly worked its way out from under the steering column as the wheel moved back and forth. It’s still an issue to this day
Service Appointment(s)
As mentioned, I had changed my order from the customizer to a vehicle that was in inventory. I was assigned my VIN and a few days later, went to pick up my vehicle. After filling out the remaining paper, we went out to inspect the vehicle. Immediately I called out issues and the Tesla rep with me helped to schedule a service appointment.
One issue I had was that I kept updating the appointment to add some of the stuff identified above. Each time I did this it would require me to reschedule for a different date and when I showed up, they were overwhelmed as they didn’t understand everything. This resulted in a follow-up appointment to deal with the seat and trim.
The lesson is, to take your time on day one and schedule your service appointment with as much detail, pictures, and info for everything all at once. If, during the next few days, you identify anything else, don’t edit the existing appointment, schedule a new appointment instead. Make sure to specify that the second appointment is to resolve issues identified with less than 100 miles on the vehicle.
I’ve had experience with mobile techs and the service center and I prefer the service center. It’s less convenient, however, I feel that the service center is better equipped to address issues without rushing to get to the next appointment.
In total, I made 4 trips to the service center and had 1 mobile tech resolve issues that were all related to items initially identified within the first 100 miles. Some of the multiple appointments were because, after evaluation, they had to order parts. I also made a 5th visit to the service center to have my mobile charger that failed 6 or so months after purchase. It took longer than it should have but I got it replaced.
Charging?
Tesla Wall Connector – Right off the bat, I’d say you need a Tesla Wall Connector. There are definitely other brands such as the Enphase Level 2 EV Charger, but what’s most important is that you purchase something from a reputable manufacturer. Another really important consideration is the outlet you plug the connector into if it’s not hard-wired. I 100% recommend going with something like the Bryant 9450FR Industrial Grade 50 Amp NEMA 14-50 or a similar one made by Hubbell. The reason, is cheap residential outlets are not designed for 48 amp continuous draw for several hours. The State of Charge YouTube channel has a video titled “How To Safely Charge Your Electric Vehicle” that goes into more detail, but the point is that industrial-grade receptacles are designed to support the large current and continuous load whereas residential receptacles are not.
The State of Charge Youtube – “How To Safely Charge Your Electric Vehicle”
Tesla Mobile Connector – I keep a mobile connector with the vehicle at all times. This is to ensure I can easily connect to something if I travel to a family member or friend’s home. This isn’t common but I have been on some longer trips where there wasn’t much wiggle room and being able to charge at my final destination was necessary.
CCS Combo 1 Adapter – Since owning our Tesla, the CCS Combo 1 Adapter hasn’t been needed but the family and I have only been on two real road trips. That said, it is on my list to get. The main reason is that I have more flexibility when traveling to less familiar destinations.
Nema Adapter Bundle – I don’t own this either but I do want to get some of the other Nema adapters. I have family members who have let me know that they have outlets in their garage intended for welders that would work to charge but it’s a different outlet receptacle than what I currently have.
Hire an Electrician? – If you don’t have an outlet or electrical in your garage that will work to plug your vehicle in, you’ll want to consider hiring an electrician to do the work. Your main service and panel, sub panel(s), and current load will all have an impact not the size of the breaker and load you can run to a Wall Connector or Mobile Connector. It’s important to get the calculations right and use the right gauge of wire to ensure everything is installed to code and safe to use.
How to Ensure Your Battery Lasts a Long Time – Now that we’ve covered changing hardware, let’s discuss charging best practices. In short, charge frequently and charge to only 75 or 80%. If you need to go on a longer trip, schedule the vehicle to finish charging to 95 or 100% just before you leave. Following these practices can ensure your battery lasts longer than the vehicle. I also recommend the Tessie app below for advanced battery health monitoring. Engineering Explained has this video going into the science and reasoning for the best practices that you should definitely watch. Since I do mostly shorter daily drives and plug in everything I’m at home, I have been changing to 80% but after watching the Engineering Explained video, I’ve now set my charge limit to 75%. Unless I’m going on a longer trip that is.
What Accessories Do I Have?
MagBak RimCase – With around 1,000 on the odometer, I noticed a little scratch on one of my wheels. Looking at it, I could tell the scratch wasn’t curb rash as there were no drag marks. It must have been caused by the tire being put on the wheel or by the car wash though I have no proof of either. I was able to order a Zink Wheels bran Tesla Wheel Curb Rash Repair Kit from Amazon to repaint the scratch with color-matched paint. Once I painted up the scratch, I ordered a set MagBak RimCase for Tesla. They were a bit pricey and took hours to install, but they will prevent any additional damage to the wheel edge. To top it all off, they are very unobtrusive. No one will notice the RimCase is there unless it’s pointed to them. If you’re concerned about your wheels, I recommend checking out the MagBak RimCase for Tesla. If you use the code generated by my referral link, you can save an extra 15% https://magbak.refr.cc/jonathanbolton
TuxMat Car Mats – Keeping my car clean is important to me. Snowy/Muddy feet, spilled drinks and liquids, stuff my kids throw on the flow, it all causes a degree of frustration. Thanks to all-weather mats, this frustration can be averted. There are lots of all-weather mats out there. In the past, I’ve used WeatherTech, OEM, and generic that I’ve cut to fit. Well, of all, I’ve used, I’ve come to like TuxMat best. So, why do I like them best? First, I like the look. I feel they’re stylish and complement the vehicle’s interior. Second, they’re durable and come with a lifetime warranty. Last, they have amazing coverage. When looking at the drive side floor mat of my 2023 Model Y, there’s a lot of coverage on the center console side. I say get what works for you but this is what I recommend.
Lifting Jack Pads – I grew up tinkering with vehicles and know just enough to get myself in trouble, lol. Another accessory I have is a set of Lifting Jack Pads. One benefit of having the Model Y Long Rage (or standard range) is that you can rotate your own tires. The Model Y is stiff enough that jacking one side can get both tires off the ground but it’s only possible if you have jack pads. Because of the battery, Tesla has very specific instructions on jacking up the vehicle and damage will occur if they are not followed. Here are the instructions for the Tesla Jacking Procedure. Here’s a great video going over the process. Also, make sure you always perform tire rotations on level ground with jack stands and other safety equipment in place. In the future, I hope to get a pair of Teslarati’s Tesla Jacks Stands. Also, keep the pads or pucks in your car in case you need mobile support from AAA or another provider. Often the technicians responding are not equipped with them.
Tesla Stuff – Like I’ve said. It’s important for me to keep my car clean. Thus the TuxMats. But for the other compartments, I actually like the Tesla stuff like the All-weather Front Trunk Liner, Trunk Storage Bins, and Model Y Sunshades. Unfortunately, the Model Y All-weather Rear Cargo Liner Set is not compatible with my seven-seat interior. WeatherTech also has some great options but it’s been really hard getting a rear cargo mat that will allow the use of the third row not in use AND when in use. For that, I’m still looking. The 3D Maxpider Floor Liners for Tesla Model Y by Evannex is one of the better ones I’ve seen.
A word of caution for all accessories. People have different likes and dislikes. You’ll see some of my wants below and everything I’ve written are my likes. So, get accessories you like. But also get quality accessories. Operating a vehicle is dangerous. Save up and spend money on items that you know are quality. Read and watch reviews. The last thing you’d want is a cheap floor mat getting stuck under the accelerator, a knockoff sunshade falling resulting in a distraction, or a cheap phone mount coming loose leading to a distraction and your downfall.
Garage Door Opener – This one isn’t really an accessory. Tesla offers their Automatic Garage Opener that, if not currently installed, can be installed as a retrofit for newer Model 3 and Model Y vehicles but it’s $350. There is also the myQ Tesla support offering a 1-year ($45), 5-year ($179), and 10-year subscription ($299 one-time purchase) that will work with many garage door openers. In my opinion, that is a lot of money to spend on something that should have been included. So, if you want to use your existing garage door opener but want to keep your vehicle as minimalistic looking as possible, there’s a solution. First, remove the clip on the back of your garage door opener. Second, affix a Command 20 Lb Damage Free Hanging Strip paying close attention to not cover the battery door. Third, attach a second Command strip to the top of the one on the back of the garage door opener and remove the backing to expose the adhesive. Lastly, stick the garage door opener to the back of the screen near the lower left corner with the button pointing down.
There. Now you get to keep your vehicle’s minimalistic look while having an easily accessible garage door opener that you can remove if needed to replace the battery. I will say that it’s important to keep the visor clip in a safe place in case you ever need it again.
What Accessories I Want
Ceramic Window Tint – I call it an accessory because it’s not installed by the dealership and is something we can do ourselves… or have a professional install. XPEL makes some awesome stuff. They have what they call their Nano-Ceramic Car Window Tint. It’s on my list and recommended for many reasons. First, it has “maximum UV protection” and can help reduce the risk of UV damage to your and the components within the car. Ceramic window tint also helps to keep the inside of the vehicle cooler meaning that your cabin protection comes on less often and phantom battery drain is reduced. The AC also doesn’t have to work as hard making sure the climate control has less of an impact during those hot summer days. The bottom line, it improves your efficiency.
Adro Tesla Model Y Body Kit – I know carbon fiber body kits are not for everyone, but man are they cool. The one issue/concern I have about the Ardo Model Y carbon fiber rear diffuser is that it doesn’t allow for access to the tow hitch receiver. Not that I tow things, but I like the ability to quickly access it if I need to. If not to tow, then maybe for vehicle recovery. Side note here. If you do have the Tesla Tow Package, I actually recommend you get a second receiver cover from Tesla and trim off half of the clips. This will make it easier to take off and on repeatedly if needed. I also recommend a Trim Removal Tool so you don’t mar the receiver cover.
Teslarati’s Tesla Jacks Stands – As I mentioned prior, I like to rotate my own tires. These function as a Tesla jack pad AND stand all in one. But they’re a bit pricey.
Paint Protective Film – It’s always a good idea to get Paint Protective Film (PPF) on the areas of the vehicle that have the most wear. Some even like to have the whole car wrapped in PPF. It’s around $6000 to have the entire vehicle done but only $1000 to have the high-wear parts. Of course, I want to get my whole vehicle wrapped in PPF but that’s not in the cards. There are many companies offering DIY kits and if you have good attention to detail, parts of the hood and just in front of the rear tire are recommended.
What App(s) I Use?
The Tesla app of course. But I also found and love the Tessie app. Why do I love it? It provides almost all the same basic functionality of the Tesla app and a whole lot more. In-depth trip data (for all you nerds), battery health with comparison across all Tessie users, analytics, tracking, smartwatch controls… It rocks. The app also allows you to automate your Tesla and gives much more detail about the specific firmware of your vehicle. You can try it for free for a month by using my referral code https://share.tessie.com/MgT82KYKzBb and leave a comment letting me know your thoughts.
What Are My Overall Thoughts?
So… I’ve found that having an EV is a lifestyle change. Daily I wake up with a topped-off battery. The result is no more trips to the gas station for filling up. On the flip side, road trips have to be more calculated and more request stops planned for when considering the time it takes to travel. The farthest I’ve done was a 1,400+ mile round trip. There were several more stops compared to a typical internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and almost 2 hours were added. If you’re not expecting it, that can be annoying. Also, if you have several kids, maybe even intolerable, lol
The vehicle is nice and quiet so when traveling with passengers, it’s easy to talk about religion and politics. Cabin space and comfort are average and ride quality is much stiffer. To get the most comfort and range, select the smallest wheels. For the Model Y, that’s the 19’’ Gemini Wheels. Also, when I ordered it was an upgrade for the Stealth Grey but now that’s the included paint option. I know it’s boring but I recommend the white. It’ll retain the least amount of heat and require less energy to run the cabin overheat protection or keep the occupants cool during the long summer days. If getting an X or Y, I also recommend the Tow Hitch. It’s $300 less getting it when factory installed and is the most robust recovery point if you ever need to be pulled out or pull someone out.
Also, you may save money on fuel with an EV but tires are more expensive for the heavier electric vehicles, and they also wear out more often. You’ll want to consider that in making any decision and make sure when it comes time to replace them, it’s not a surprise.
But here’s the real question, after 10 months and 12,000+ miles, do I still like my 2023 Tesla Model Y and would I recommend one to family and friends? Absolutely.
LINKS
Use my referral link to purchase a Tesla product or schedule a Demo Drive and get up to $1,000 off and other exclusive benefits. http://ts.la/jonathan50561
Get 15% off by using the code you get from my referral link https://magbak.refr.cc/jonathanbolton
Get 1 free month of Tessie free by using my referral code https://share.tessie.com/MgT82KYKzBb
