My first 650 miles with a BEV

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The early versions of all the Tesla models had drive-train design issues... handled by warranty. Later models have the kinks worked out.
 
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Driver side Fore and aft control arm bushings failed $2k
Charge port latch failed $1k…..
Rear large drive unit (when they can get one delivered) $0.

First two should be cover by my 3rd party warranty with my $100 deductible.

At least I got a model Y loaner. They are nice. Much quieter than my X. If I only had 3 kids I would seriously consider one.
 
Dang.
What is the design of the charge port latch that makes it $1000?
 
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Looks like a proper 500 amp cable assembly.
Probably. First generation S and X were limited to 150kw. I’ve seen some posts of unsustained 175kw. Sometimes used onboard chargers are sold with the charging port as removing the charge port cable from the onboard charger damages the tamper proof stickers.
 
Great service experience at Tesla. Work was done fast. 3rd party warranty covered everything but my $100 deductible. We have had 4 service visits in three years. Other than the costs that’s not terrible for years 6 through 8 year old.

It’s old enough now it’s time to start thinking about what might replace it. It’s hard as almost every weekday it takes all 5 kids on a drop off run. But that’s probably ending this year as the oldest will start high school and can ride the later bus. Would a used Model 3 or Y work? If they do so would a Bolt. So maybe we don’t need a big EV. But it’s nice not to have to drive a giant van everywhere. It will be an EV and it will charge at least at 100kw on the Tesla network.
 
(highschool starts later there? They are smarter there than here where my daughter has to leave home at 6.15 and when she was in first grade the bus came at 9... Teenagers and early morning just doesn't make much sense imo, whereas when they're small they woke up early...)
 
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Driver side Fore and aft control arm bushings failed $2k
Charge port latch failed $1k…..
Rear large drive unit (when they can get one delivered) $0.
I know you like that car for what it is and it seems to really fit your needs, but if I had a car that needed as much service as you describe, I would never buy that brand of car again.
 
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I know you like that car for what it is and it seems to really fit your needs, but if I had a car that needed as much service as you describe, I would never buy that brand of car again.
Exactly.
I'm learning quite a bit here.
 
I know you like that car for what it is and it seems to really fit your needs, but if I had a car that needed as much service as you describe, I would never buy that brand of car again.
Exactly.
I'm learning quite a bit here.
Oh I would never spend my money on a Model X. But if you are offered a used one as a gift you say thank you! and enjoy it even though it has reliability issues. I’ve learned a lot. Remember it was this technology that was the proving ground for the Model 3/Y. The 2019 update of the S/X is better better.
 
Agreed that zero purchase cost makes a difference, and I have also read that the mistakes of the early Model X in terms of undersizing the suspension and other components for the high weight of the car have been largely solved.
 
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Agreed that zero purchase cost makes a difference, and I have also read that the mistakes of the early Model X in terms of undersizing the suspension and other components for the high weight of the car have been largely solved.
They have changed a few parts and changed the rear suspension some. Recalled some control arm that had casting flaws. It’s better but it’s what you get when you want to share a lot of components between two platforms. The front suspension was never designed to have the ride high of the X so they eat front CV joints. 24k miles on my first set. I can feel vibrations now are the toast not yet at 50k. I’m more careful now to lower the suspension when I want to stop on the go fast pedal.

At this point the S/X are legacy products. Refinements have helped at lot but it an aging halo product that the Cyber truck didn’t depose. Sales are not great. Consensus is that 1000+ HP AWD is only useful for bragging both on and off the drag strip. The opening up of the Tesla charging network coupled with Musk’s recent political involvement, I think will result in a decline of S/X sales and a discontinuation of them in a year or two. They might get replaced by some unannounced product but the volume is to low to recoup substantial capital outlay.
 
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My X is back from the shop. Another $3500 in repairs. The warranty company is loosing bigly. Air strut, door latches and charge port door. Plus some seatbelt work and an alignment.

I got a loaner S plaid for the week. I did not look at what year it was it had 15k miles. So probably a ‘23 or ‘24. The efficiency wasn’t that much better than my bigger 2016. Range was better and charging speed. The ride was nicer than my X and it was on larger Pilot 4s summer tires. So the improvements are nice but only at saving you time. Call me old fashioned but I like the vertical screen and old UI. Nothing in me even wants to upgrade to a new Model X. I’ll keep this one even after the warranty expires and possibly even consider replacing the HV if it needs its. It’s that good at what it does even if it’s a lemon and needs 3.5k in repairs each year.

Tesla has a solid product even if the CEO is a jerk. The full self driving is good. In 249 miles it shut off on my twice. I think the FSD computer crashed one time. No clue what happened the other. I will insist that my parents, who are in their mid early 70s, pay for and start using it while they are still good drivers. Building trust in a new system is easier when you are certain you are still a great driver. It’s like having three extra sets of eyes always in the road. Getting seniors to adopt is the tech as co driver not a self driving mode is important.

When there is an equivalent alternative I will gladly ditch my Telsa. There just isn’t.
 
Shutting off twice in 250 miles is not exactly confidence inspiring, especially with thousands in maint each year. It’s supposed to be less maint not more. Add in the fact that you are paying for a car that you never truly own and it is a HUGE set of red flags. My son’s car is 90 years old and still ticking. His truck is 55 years old and still near mint. Both are paid for and they don’t quit every 125 miles.

As an engineer/fabricator/mechanic, I have a LOT of issues with newer vehicles. They don’t hold a candle to the older iron.
 
So far we are happy with the EV6. It's a pleasure to drive and ride in. The range and charging speed are excellent. There has been only one maintenance issue. The sub-woofer polarity was wired in reverse, causing anemic bass. I fixed that myself after getting a tip on Facebook.
 
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My X is back from the shop. Another $3500 in repairs. The warranty company is loosing bigly. Air strut, door latches and charge port door. Plus some seatbelt work and an alignment.

I got a loaner S plaid for the week. I did not look at what year it was it had 15k miles. So probably a ‘23 or ‘24. The efficiency wasn’t that much better than my bigger 2016. Range was better and charging speed. The ride was nicer than my X and it was on larger Pilot 4s summer tires. So the improvements are nice but only at saving you time. Call me old fashioned but I like the vertical screen and old UI. Nothing in me even wants to upgrade to a new Model X. I’ll keep this one even after the warranty expires and possibly even consider replacing the HV if it needs its. It’s that good at what it does even if it’s a lemon and needs 3.5k in repairs each year.

Tesla has a solid product even if the CEO is a jerk. The full self driving is good. In 249 miles it shut off on my twice. I think the FSD computer crashed one time. No clue what happened the other. I will insist that my parents, who are in their mid early 70s, pay for and start using it while they are still good drivers. Building trust in a new system is easier when you are certain you are still a great driver. It’s like having three extra sets of eyes always in the road. Getting seniors to adopt is the tech as co driver not a self driving mode is important.

When there is an equivalent alternative I will gladly ditch my Telsa. There just isn’t.
This, applied to any other car (e g. an Odyssey) would lead to an utter trashing of the car online.
I'd get rid of this thing in a minute once your warranty is over and buy another (electric) car. No confidence for a machine that needs to be reliable (more than efficient; i.e. I would not buy an efficient car if it can't be relied upon to do it's job).
 
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This applied to any other car (e g. an Odyssey) would lead to an utter trashing of the car online.
I'd get rid of this thing in a minute once your warranty is over and buy another (electric) car. No confidence for a machine that needs to be reliable (more than efficient; i.e. I would not buy an efficient car if it can't be relieyf upon to do it's job).
Exactly. It seems like people buy into an expensive/luxury market and then feel like they have to justify/defend their mistake instead of saying “nope, not doing that again”.

If people want to drive a tesla or any other car, go for it, but don’t list off all the problems you have in the first 500+ miles and then try to tell people it is a great car. How is it so great for older people if it quits every 125 miles?????
 
I don't know it's the model or the specific car (Monday morning hangover mfg-type lemon).

Could be the specific car. If you buy a second one that shows the same, I'd be done with the brand.

Then again I had a ford as my first car in this country, and the engine block cracked in half at 103,000 miles.
I'm not buying a Ford again. Maybe that's not justified, maybe it was the specific car. But I'm like that.
 
I don't know it's the model or the specific car (Monday morning hangover mfg-type lemon).

Could be the specific car. If you buy a second one that shows the same, I'd be done with the brand.

Then again I had a ford as my first car in this country, and the engine block cracked in half at 103,000 miles.
I'm not buying a Ford again. Maybe that's not justified, maybe it was the specific car. But I'm like that.
My first question would be “did it have the proper antifreeze mixture in it?”

I saw a block that split a few years ago after being filled with just water.
 
Yes. Maintenance by the book.
And crack suddenly and violently in 95 F weather in July...

But that's not the point of this thread.
 
This applied to any other car (e g. an Odyssey) would lead to an utter trashing of the car online.
Oh it totally should be! And I easily spent 15k keeping my Odyssey on the road for 10 years (all paid for by warranty). The point of posting is inform. When new this was about 150k. The maintenance costs are probably cheaper than an equivalent priced vehicle from 2016-17. Think AMG G wagon. This wasn’t and (but the used market sure makes them appealing) a vehicle for the average American.
How is it so great for older people if it quits every 125 miles??
It’s best there is today. One should understand what it is capable of and not to safely use it. I’m not shying away from the deficiencies. I do believe when you co drive with FSD it’s safer. A human co driver can “say look out “ but the FSD is already applying inputs. A truck drifted not out of but close to it its lane. It was nearly in the blind spot. By the time I registered the truck’s movement the car was already steering away. Had it gone out of its lane I would not have been able to check my right mirror for a clear path before it exited its lane. FSD knew my right side was clear and steered that way.

It’s a lot like current AI. It’s really useful for certain tasks but you really need to look over its output. when you know what and how to use it and its limitations it can be quite powerful.

It’s not a great car. It certainly delivers in some metrics and not others. But taken as a total package I don’t think there are better better 6 or 7 seaters EV available today that would I would say are an overall upgrade if you value performance to some degree. While I have not driven on the Kia EV9 AWD or the Ionic 9 is probably the closest. Once you have Full self driving it’s hard to make up the deficit not having it leaves.
 
Sorry the Odyssey was a bummer. The only thing we did for ours was oil changes and one new set of tires in 7 yrs.

While I have not driven on the Kia EV9 AWD or the Ionic 9 is probably the closest. Once you have Full self driving it’s hard to make up the deficit not having it leaves.
That won't happen, one needs to have a hand on the steering wheel on the EV or Ioniq 9. Not an issue for me. I like being engaged when behind the wheel. I'm not ready to find out when that one time I was expecting self-driving to work and it didn't. That would be more stressful then just driving the car.
 
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Situational awareness is something that everyone needs, but many do not. I absolutely hate driving next to another vehicle and will avoid it. Trucks are the worst. I have had 3 semi tires blow out right in front of me in one day. All on different trucks. I will either speed up, slow down, or change route just to stay away from other vehicles. Yeah, your head has to be on a swivel and you have to mind your mirrors. AI is no replacement for that. I drove my neighbor’s new truck and it kept fighting my steering inputs. If I moved a little to the left to miss a dead raccoon, it wanted to go right. If I wanted to miss a patch of ice, it tried to put me right back on it. It fought me every mile of the way, so I finally let it steer and it very quickly gave up and I had to take control again. I absolutely hated it. People can’t stay off their f#%#~ cell phones while driving, and this only gives them more courage to use them. All of these driving aids and people are too stupid to pay attention and drive. I usually try to use back roads when possible, just so I can stay away from people.