Should I get rid of my Tesla? And replace it with what?

[av111]

Which car has better self drive than tesla

[Beensabu]

Is this a legitimate concern with Tesla?

No, it's not.

Tesla was 40% of EV sales in 2024.

There are a huge amount of Tesla models on the road vs EVs from other brands.

Even if Tesla goes completely out of business (unlikely), someone will probably fill the gap in the market for repairs/parts.

There are other cars that depreciate monumentally within a few years (especially EVs, due to technological advances), and Teslas have always been one of them (it's not new - it was the fastest depreciating car brand of 2024 per Fast Company's analysis of CarGurus data). It's what you sign up for as an early adopter or a status brand seeker - you pay more.

Most people just keep driving their depreciated car until they get their money's worth out of it. Other than the ones that buy a new Maserati every year, even though those at least keep their status (so far).

Edit: It also doesn't do any good to sell your car at a huge loss just to make a statement. You already gave him your money. All you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot on top of it if you're upset about having done that.

[joebruin77]

I sold my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance after 6 years of ownership in Nov, 2024. I decided to buy a certified pre-owned BMW iX. You can get some really great deals on certified pre-owned EV's now. At the time of purchase, my iX was just over a year old with 10K miles on it. It is fully loaded and I was able to buy it for 42% below the MSRP of a brand new one. So far I have not had any issues with the car and the first scheduled maintenance is in 2 years. But if I do have a problem, there are at least 6 different BMW dealerships within an easy drive of my home.

In a recent survey of EV owners, the iX rated highest in owner satisfaction. Other than missing a frunk, I love the car and recommend it.

[ensign_lee]

Depends on what you want.

Sporty Sedan? Audi e-tron GT (RS if you want to REALLY go fast), or one of Hyundai's offerings

Crossover? Ford Mustang Mach-E

Truck? Silverado EV looks good; Rivians look good (though you said you didn't want to go that route); Lightnings are good for their price.

Luxury Station Wagon? The Cadillac Lyriq look REALLLY good and I'm very tempted myself.

[MCST]

I just got rid of my Tesla and purchased a CPO BMW 330e. It gets about 20 miles on full electric (which is more than enough for my commute). The 3 series is highly rated for safety and reliability. I took a loss on the Tesla, but I'm happy with the decision.

There is just too much going on with Tesla right now. I understand people say the company has plenty of cash, good valuation, etc. but the truth is aside from a minor cosmetic refresh, the company is resting on its laurels while other companies are innovating. Plus, the CEO is completely checked out, making you wonder who is steering the ship?

I really liked my Tesla a lot (aside from some rattles) but at this point I think a PHEV is the happy medium. I'd love an all electric BMW or Volvo or Mercedes, but the prices are absurd, and the federal/state credits can be difficult to claim depending on vehicle value and income. I think that leasing an EV makes the most sense if you're going to get one. They just depreciate way too fast. It's not really a problem if you hold onto your car for 10 years, but as batteries degrade and technology advances, are you really going to do that?

[Mayacallie]

I just leased a model 3 to go with my model S. Just waiting until Tesla builds a minivan. In Scottsdale, it appears that every third car is a Tesla. Almost as many as 911s!

[CC1E]

It is going to be a rough year or so until Elon returns to his companies full time and the controversies die down.

But at the end of the day Tesla still makes the best EVs, with the best fast charging network, and most service is performed in your own driveway by mobile techs. It’s light years ahead of dealing with a traditional car dealer. I suppose the self-driving may work consistently someday too, but I wouldn’t hold my breath in that. Glad I only paid $3k for it back in the day.

If you absolutely don’t want a Tesla and you need a larger SUV then Rivian or the electric Escalade are decent options. Just know they will be expensive and painfully inefficient compared to Tesla EVs. Hyundai EVs are also decent and more have reasonable efficiency.

[carchurchbook]

I own a 2019 Tesla Model 3 with 65,000 miles on it. I absolutely love it. I've just driven most EVs out there and I don't believe any really compare with the Tesla in terms of driving comfort, acceleration, reliability, and software.

That being said, with each passing day, the competition for EV's becomes greater. The design refreshes are minor after six years so it doesn't make the new ones appealing. While the car has been virtually without any problems, I've had terrible experiences purchasing products from their online store. The customer service is terrible. That doesn't bode well for Tesla when all other auto companies are getting better at customer service.

Therefore I worry about Tesla's future.

Hybrids, though popular now, have all the complexity of a gasoline powered vehicle PLUS all the electronics needed for an electric vehicle. Instead of being the "best of all worlds", I think it's the "worst of all worlds".

My next car will be an internal combustion engine vehicle, perhaps a Honda or Toyota or Subaru or Nissan.

[helloeveryone]

I own a Tesla, and I'm thinking about trading it in for something else. This is not intended to be a political post, so please don't make it one.

My concern is about the company's long term viability. Tesla sales are down worldwide, resale values have tanked, the company stock is nosediving, the vehicles are getting even more expensive to insure, and there's really no upside in sight. I'm concerned about owning a car that may be worthless in a year or two and/or impossible to get parts for. It's the same reason I wouldn't buy a Polestar or Rivian right now.

Is this a legitimate concern with Tesla? Has anyone else traded theirs in lately? If so, what's your experience with value? Is it worth cutting my losses now and trading it in for something else while I still can?

I love the EV driving experience, but I'm afraid of getting into another EV and facing the same situation. I'd ultimately like a car I can keep for a long time, and a year ago I thought that would be Tesla, but now not so much.

I love my gas guzzling 2021 Toyota 4Runner. I really hope to keep it 10-12 more years. Will be sad whenever gas prices fluctuate back to the $4+/gallon range but right now closer to $2.6-$3/ gallon is tolerable.

We also love DW’s Rav4 Hybrid. Amazing gas mileage. Great ride. Comfy. Lots of amenities as it is a Limited.

Both are great vehicles.

perhaps consider a camry hybrid?

[finite_difference]

If you're looking for a car that's more comfortable, cheaper, more reliable, can be repaired at thousands of places, that you can buy parts for at NAPA and have greatly reduced insurance and never have range anxiety, go buy a new Camry. All are hybrid which Toyota's been doing now since, it seems like, Fred Flintstone's car. If you happen to live in New England, with our electric rates, you can do the math. A coworker bought a FWD Camry hybrid and being a thorough engineer nerd has data showing 56 mpg winter and 59 mpg summer. My electric rate with a cheap rate company is 38 cents a kWh and I just bought gas yesterday at the station on Rt 126 in Ashland just south of the Market Basket for $2.72 a gallon. So that Camry costs significantly less than a Tesla per mile in my area. Let's do some quick math.

Camry, let's just say 57 mpg.
Gas $2.72/g

Tesla model 3 RWD (the most efficient EV on the planet). I'm finding 0.185 kWh/mi
38 cents/kWh for me

Camry
($2.72/g) / (57 m/g) = 4.77 cents per mile

Tesla
38 cents/kWh * 0.185 kWh/mi = 7.03 cents per mile

So not quite half, but a Tesla all around will never be cheaper in any way than a new Camry Hybrid. And you'll never have to wait for 20 minutes to charge.

If gasoline goes to $5/gal and electricity goes to the US average of $0.13/kWh:

Hybrid: 0.087 $/mile
EV: 0.024 $/mile

Multiply by 100,000 miles and the EV costs $2400 vs $8700 for the hybrid. If you drive a non-hybrid, or drive the hybrid mostly on the highway, then the math gets considerably worse.

[finite_difference]

It is going to be a rough year or so until Elon returns to his companies full time and the controversies die down.

But at the end of the day Tesla still makes the best EVs, with the best fast charging network, and most service is performed in your own driveway by mobile techs. It’s light years ahead of dealing with a traditional car dealer. I suppose the self-driving may work consistently someday too, but I wouldn’t hold my breath in that. Glad I only paid $3k for it back in the day.

If you absolutely don’t want a Tesla and you need a larger SUV then Rivian or the electric Escalade are decent options. Just know they will be expensive and painfully inefficient compared to Tesla EVs. Hyundai EVs are also decent and more have reasonable efficiency.

BYD EVs are better and cheaper. But you can’t buy them in the US.

The build quality on Tesla vehicles is very poor compared to Toyota and Honda. The panels just don’t fit right. Toyota would never allow cars like that to leave the factory.

I want a VW Buzz, just waiting for them to give it a bit more range and hopefully fix a few of the other minor issues mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLFoOKa0ngc

[LoveTheBogle]

So much irrational fear spreading around this country right now. It is almost comical if people were not so serious about it. Drive your Tesla until it doesn’t drive any longer. Or trade it/sell it and realize the losses now. Almost al vehicles have substantial depreciation and Tesla isn’t any different.

[OffgridSooz]

Chevy has several excellent EV options from the Bolt to the Silverado truck, as well as the PHEV Volt.

[well9boy9]

BYD EVs are better and cheaper. But you can’t buy them in the US.

2nd this.

[epicureme]

So much irrational fear spreading around this country right now. It is almost comical if people were not so serious about it. Drive your Tesla until it doesn’t drive any longer. Or trade it/sell it and realize the losses now. Almost al vehicles have substantial depreciation and Tesla isn’t any different.

It's not irrational for those whose livelihood is already affected, or whose industry is tied to federal funding and may be affected.

[supalong52]

So much irrational fear spreading around this country right now. It is almost comical if people were not so serious about it. Drive your Tesla until it doesn’t drive any longer. Or trade it/sell it and realize the losses now. Almost al vehicles have substantial depreciation and Tesla isn’t any different.

It's not irrational for those whose livelihood is already affected, or whose industry is tied to federal funding and may be affected.

If I was a Fed, I definitely wouldn't be selling a Tesla, much less any car, at a significant loss.

[livingalmostlarge]

I don't see how the used market is cheaper. I saw online new 2025 model Y for $35k and used ones for $32k. Where is the discount? How is it 50% depreciation? I'd probably buy another one if it were $18k.

[bikefish]

If I was to own an electric car, it would be a Tesla.

[just frank]

Just sold our 2016 X. We were original owners (have owned Tesla cars since 2013). Had Carmax and Carvana give us a price. Carvana was $6k higher so went with them. We replaced it with a Volvo C40. We leased the new car in order to get the EV rebate. A little better deal than paying cash. Seems like a great car and is much quieter/no rattles but of course, it's new. With the opening of Supercharger stations to other brands, that made the decision pretty easy in case we can't find another charger on a trip.

We have had a 2023 XC40 Recharge for 2.5 years that has been problem (and rattle) free.

Hope your C40 is the same.

My friend bought a used 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge for <50% of MRSP a few months ago. She loves it. Range is a little low (200 miles at highway speeds) but charges perfectly at Tesla superchargers due to the driver's rear quarter-panel location of the charging port.

[z0r]

again plugging this option: volvo xc90/xc60 (etc.) phevs can be had with the PZEV warranty which gives you 15 years 150k miles on most of the large parts (10 years 150k miles battery). you have to buy one originally sold in a pzev state, and have to register it in a pzev state (read the fine print), but this is a phenomenal warranty that's "free" with the car. some xc90 phevs are below $25k to get the $4k used tax credit as well

without the pzev warranty it's a harder sell but they've been making these since 2016 and have the bugs mostly worked out, you could get a newer one, especially a 2022.5+ with the longer range

https://www.autotempest.com/results?mak ... on=country

[MCST]

If gasoline goes to $5/gal and electricity goes to the US average of $0.13/kWh:

Hybrid: 0.087 $/mile
EV: 0.024 $/mile

Multiply by 100,000 miles and the EV costs $2400 vs $8700 for the hybrid. If you drive a non-hybrid, or drive the hybrid mostly on the highway, then the math gets considerably worse.

I agree that EVs are probably cheaper to run long term, but you also need to factor in insurance costs. My Tesla increased my insurance by $1,300 a year over the luxury SUV I owned before. Over the course of 10 years, or 100k miles, that's $13,000 more. I was told that my insurer dislikes Teslas because (1) they have a lot of power and people tend to crash them more, and (2) even a minor crash will often cause them to total the vehicle. Even factoring in maintenance costs for a PHEV, I'd still come out ahead (cost wise) over a Tesla.

Obviously there are a lot of factors that go into insurance prices, but a common complaint of Teslas is the cost to insure them.

[happyisland]

Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, I think most people would probably be happy to not have their means of transportation be a political lightning rod. Unfortunately the owner of Tesla has become very political, which has downgraded the Tesla user experience and resale value. I am very happy that I have no idea what the politics of the owners of any other car company are.

And for that reason, regardless of specific political bias, I would never own a Tesla.

[eric321]

How do you charge your EV?
The Tesla connector NACS is becoming market standard but there are still many CCS chargers out there which are harder to find the equivalent of a supercharger. Chademo is worse in availability, but be wary of options for charging that move away from market standard. Think betamax or HD DVD.

If you mostly charge at home and don't need the range/supercharging, go for a older bolt without CCS as it's cheap.

I can see those selling a Tesla is you have a political reason.
Absent that, it's hard to find a better EV.

Supercharger and NACS is awesome.
parts - there are lots of older Teslas that are becoming part donors. High mileage taxis and depreciation accelerate this.
service - a number of GM/Chevy dealers have specialized in repairing Teslas.
Depreciation - Teslas have depreciated significantly. There is a large supply of used EVs as Tesla was ahead of production a few years back and inked many commercial deals like Hertz rentals for rideshare.

[MCST]

And for that reason, regardless of specific political bias, I would never own a Tesla.

That's a big reason, but setting aside politics, you have a CEO that is busy doing things other than running the company. I see that as a major risk to Tesla over the next few years. Tesla has gotten comfortable being the top EV manufacturer, but other companies are quickly catching up, and sales are dipping. Plus, customers don't like when you overpromise and underdeliver (ahem, Full Self Driving), and constantly mess with prices.

There's a lot of uncertainty with Tesla right now, and a lot of people who financed their vehicles are underwater as values have plummeted. Tesla generally makes a great EV, so I hope they get their act together.

[zlandar]

This is not intended to be a political post, so please don't make it one.

Thou dost protest too much.

[onourway]

If you're looking for a car that's more comfortable, cheaper, more reliable, can be repaired at thousands of places, that you can buy parts for at NAPA and have greatly reduced insurance and never have range anxiety, go buy a new Camry. All are hybrid which Toyota's been doing now since, it seems like, Fred Flintstone's car. If you happen to live in New England, with our electric rates, you can do the math. A coworker bought a FWD Camry hybrid and being a thorough engineer nerd has data showing 56 mpg winter and 59 mpg summer. My electric rate with a cheap rate company is 38 cents a kWh and I just bought gas yesterday at the station on Rt 126 in Ashland just south of the Market Basket for $2.72 a gallon. So that Camry costs significantly less than a Tesla per mile in my area. Let's do some quick math.

Camry, let's just say 57 mpg.
Gas $2.72/g

Tesla model 3 RWD (the most efficient EV on the planet). I'm finding 0.185 kWh/mi
38 cents/kWh for me

Camry
($2.72/g) / (57 m/g) = 4.77 cents per mile

Tesla
38 cents/kWh * 0.185 kWh/mi = 7.03 cents per mile

So not quite half, but a Tesla all around will never be cheaper in any way than a new Camry Hybrid. And you'll never have to wait for 20 minutes to charge.

As you well know, your electric and gas prices are inverted from most of the rest of the country, so people should be crystal clear about that when reading your cost comparisons.

That said, I don't drive an EV primarily for the cost savings. I drive an EV because it drives better than any ICE ever made. What happens if you run your comparison against an ICE that makes north of 500hp and requires premium fuel?

[LadyGeek]

I removed several posts regarding political aspects of Tesla. This thread has run its course and is locked (controversial). See: Personal Consumer Issues

Note that this subforum has a much lower threshold for locking or removing posts than the financial and investing subforums. In general, controversial, offensive, pointless, divisive or mean-spirited posts or topics may be locked, edited or deleted (with or without notice) at the discretion of the moderating staff even if they do not otherwise violate forum policies.