Every tech enthusiast dreams of driving a Tesla, but not everyone can afford to buy
a new model. With the entry level model 3 model starting from only $30,000 all the way
to a fully loaded Model X going above the $100K mark, Tesla owners report some of the
highest levels of satisfaction of any vehicle on the market with 99.6% of respondents saying
the Model 3 is a pleasure to drive. The Model 3 became a best seller in the US and
delivered over 190,000 vehicles, since its debut in 2017, capturing 67% of the market
for electric cars in the second quarter of 2019. This abundance of Tesla’s is not only
good for the environment, but also good for customers that are interested in buying a
used tesla, because more and more pre owned models in excellent condition are coming on
to the market.
Anytime you buy a pre-owned vehicle, there are certain things that you need to take into
consideration, especially regarding electric cars like Tesla. We’ve made it simple for
you and compiled a list with pros and cons you should be aware of before buying a used
Tesla.
Electric cars have a low need for maintenance, the Tesla models having only about 20 moving
parts compared to the 2,000 of an internal combustion engine vehicle. Unlike gasoline
cars, Tesla cars require no traditional oil changes, fuel filters, spark plug replacements
or emission checks. As electric cars, even brake pad replacements are rare because regenerative
braking returns energy to the battery, significantly reducing wear on brakes. Tesla cars do not
require annual maintenance. Because of the highly specialized nature of Tesla cars, it
is recommended you do not take your car to a non-tesla shop for maintenance or repairs,
and your warranty coverage could be effected if they break anything.
An important small detail and common issue you should be aware of is the quality of the
door handles. Because they are definitely not as straightforward as most cars, being
instead infused with technology, these elements can get easily damaged. In fact, many Model
3 and Model S owners have reported broken or “frozen” exterior door handles.
A smarter car is something that we all dream of, but what we must be aware of is that with
great intelligence, comes a greater chance of something failing, like the MCU on the
older models of the Tesla Model S, for example. A great number of users mentioned that the
Achilles heel of this car is definitely the aforementioned microcontroller whose memory
chip can fail from too many read-write processes. It seems that this might be a recurrent problem
that can still be found in newer car models too, so this is yet another aspect to consider
before buying a used Tesla.
Tesla has the slowest depreciation rate in it’s segment, even when compared to class
leading gas powered vehicles like the Mercedes S-class and BMW 7 series. This means that
your Tesla vehicle will retain it’s value over time far greater than comparable electric
vehicles like the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, or Chevy Volt.
To mention a general benefit, an obvious pro of getting yourself a secondhand electric
car is that you’ll not only contribute to the preservation of the planet by driving
a car that doesn’t pollute while it’s moving, but you also cut off the air contamination
that is an intrinsic part of the production process of any vehicle, household appliance
or gadget. So, a used Tesla can help you diminish the impact cars have on the environment in
two ways: by totally eliminating the emissions while driving it and by breaking the cycle
of production related pollution.
As is often the case with the majority of second hand vehicles, Tesla seems to have
some problems of their own when it comes to drivers complaining about the poor bodywork
of their cars, including but not limited to issues with the paint job, the trims and even
the exterior lights. It seems that these issues tend to be more prominent in their “budget
model”, namely the Model 3, but this shouldn’t discourage you from buying a used Tesla since
these small snags are present in all car models, be them electric, petrol or diesel.
Electric cars are not only good for the environment but also for your wallet, the electrical energy
needed to fuel them being low cost, either by using the superchargers in the case of
Tesla, or various charging stations that can be found across the country. Besides that,
Tesla cars are able to charge themselves with regenerative braking, overall saving you fuel
costs over the life of your ownership of the vehicle.
The huge touchscreen tablet is the well-defined trademark of Tesla but as cool and futuristic
as it might seem, there have been some small but annoying situations where it malfunctioned,
stopped working, leaked fluid or got bubbles on the surface; at least in the older Model
S versions. Because this tablet is the central command panel of the car, it is of utmost
importance to have it working properly at all times, so it’s always a good idea to
double check its functionality when picking up a used Tesla.
Environmental considerations aside, Tesla’s are popular for yet another reason: they can
be crazy quick, thanks to the high torque of the electric motor. The idea of instant
acceleration is not a myth when it comes to electric vehicles and with a used Tesla Model
S you can actually achieve 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds and for almost half the price of
a new one. With enough research and an eye for detail, you can find a pretty good deal
on a used tesla.
A tesla repair that’s not covered under warranty can be an expensive endeavor, the
manufacturer working only with original parts and only in authorized service centers, which
may also mean that your car might to be stuck for quite some time in the workshop.
Anyway, to avoid the usual issues a pre-used vehicle comes with, we’d recommend you buy
a Tesla that still has its 8 year battery and drive train warranty to make sure any
critical repairs are covered.
Tesla’s are special vehicles, with a buzz and reputation unlike anything else and Tesla
owners report some of the highest levels of satisfaction of any vehicle on the market.
In other words, driving a Tesla is not just functional, but it also is an experience,
that the majority of drivers describe as being totally unique. Of course, there are other
extremely advanced EV's on the market, but Elon Musk’s Tesla is the perfect blend between
unrivaled quality and affordability.
A new tesla is protected by a New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 4 years or 50,000 miles
that covers the repair or replacement necessary to correct any Tesla factory defects under
normal driving conditions.
The battery and drive train are covered for a period of 8 years or up to 125,000 miles
depending on the specific make and model.
If you purchase a used tesla from Tesla’s certified pre owned system, the Model S and
Model X come with an additional either 4-year or 50,000 mile warranty or 2-year, up to 100,000
total mile warranty. The Model 3 will come with the remainder of the original 4-year
or 50,000 mile warranty. The balance of original Battery and Drive Unit Limited warranty still
applies for used cars regardless of model.
But if you purchase your used Tesla from a private seller or dealer, you receive the
remaining balance of the original warranty and are not allowed to purchase an extended
service agreement.
It’s a tradeoff between going to Tesla directly, or purchasing from a private seller because
they often have more available inventory and lower prices than Tesla’s certified pre
owned system.
There are many positives and negatives regarding purchasing a used Tesla Model 3, used Tesla
Model S, or used Tesla Model X. With production rates continuing to rise we expect more and
more used Tesla’s will be available for purchase, and our conclusion, is that it is
a good buy. If you enjoyed this video or found it helpful
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