Picked up a Model Y

[brovane]

Finally took the Tesla plunge after owning two Nissan Leaf's on Thursday. I had rented a Model Y for a week earlier this year and drove from San Diego to Las Vegas for a work trip. Was really impressed with how the vehicle handled and drove. Being a Nissan Leaf owner, I was really happy with the Tesla Supercharging network. Finally a EV I can take on long road trips and not worry about charging. Tesla was discounting them towards the end of the year and was able to get a new Model Y Long Range with a $3k discount of the normal sticker. Didn't get Purchase Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving. I am interested in the enhanced auto-pilot but I can always add it to my car for a additional purchase.

I was originally intending to purchase next year but my better half told me to go ahead and get it now since they where discounting them. I didn't need to be told twice. Overall easiest car buying experience I have ever had. Still getting used to all the technology on the vehicle. I have already one EVSE charger in my garage for my Leaf but will add another home charger in my garage on a dedicated 60-amp circuit.

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[gtg947h]

Nice! Can't quite tell if it's black, or the cooler color that is blue

Should've mentioned you were ordering, I would have given you my referral link...

Wife is now in need of a new car, and debating between a Toyota hybrid crossover, and another Model Y (for his and hers). We'll probably go with a lower mileage used one either way. She insists hers must be red, though...

[jemhouston]

Congrats.

If on a long trip, have two or three charging stations handy per stop.

[brovane]

Nice! Can't quite tell if it's black, or the cooler color that is blue

Should've mentioned you were ordering, I would have given you my referral link...

Wife is now in need of a new car, and debating between a Toyota hybrid crossover, and another Model Y (for his and hers). We'll probably go with a lower mileage used one either way. She insists hers must be red, though...

It is the Deep Blue Metallic. I decided the world didn't need another white or silver Tesla.

I kind of spaced on the entire referral thing. I got focused on going through the Inventory and trying to find one that had the best discount. The Tesla inventory system is kind of weird because they would have two identical Model Y's configured the same and one would be discounted $3k and the other discounted $2k.

[Micael]

Sweet ride! Hope you have a fun time with it!

[MikeKozlowski]

Gotta admit, it looks good - please keep us up to speed on it!

Mike

[brovane]

Took the Y on some longer trips. Last Saturday I drove the car to Santa Clarita to meet some family. Plugged into the Supercharger and by the time the wife and I had some food and went to the bathroom the charge was back over 80%. Instead of using miles for range, I just look at battery percentage. If I plug a route into the Navigation, the car is within +/- 1-2% of predicted battery % at destination. Yesterday took the car on a trip on the sunrise highway in San Diego County and the car handled awesome on the winding mountain roads. The car felt like it hugged the road and speeding up or down was effortless using the electric motor to either apply power or regen braking. Never had to use the brakes, just one pedal driving and using the throttle to control everything. It was really great fun. Tomorrow the wife is taking the car from San Diego to Bakersfield for a trip to see the family.

My Dad helped me install a dedicated 60-amp circuit for the Tesla EV charger and the Tesla wall connector is all hooked up. I am in the process of adding on accessories in the car to improve storage. There is a lot of nock and crannies in the car for storage. Added a screen rear storage box that sits behind the screen but acts as a good place to put stuff. Plus there is a lot of room under both front seats. Wife complained about the small glove box but there is plenty of other places to stash stuff.

[gtg947h]

Mirrors my experience. Great fun to drive (at least compared to all the beaters and econoboxes I'm used to). Keeping it in percentage mode is best, just use the planner. Over time you'll learn to estimate how much a given drive will use (e.g. I know a trip into Savannah and back to home or work is 10%).

I recommend the door-mounted cupholders too, and a sunshade (don't get that retractable one, it sucks sweaty donkey balls... just get a cheap one).

I've found the only big challenge (well, other than not accidentally finding myself going too fast) has been "where do I charge once I get to my destination?" on trips. Charging enroure hasn't been a problem, but can be once you're there if the public charger infrastructure isn't good. I had to charge off a wall outlet at the rental when we went to Edisto beach last week; it worked out but not as convenient as charging at home. At least Dad let me put a 50A outlet in at their house...

I'll add that it pulls a trailer wonderfully, as long as you aren't going far (the drag cuts the range in half, give or take). Accelerates like it's not even there, though the regen braking is definitely affected. I bet I could load up a full 3500lb trailer and it would still walk away from our minivan...

[CJ07]

Enjoy the Tesla! We are about a month into owning a new Mustang Mach e for my wife and enjoying it a lot so far. Though it makes my Ram pickup feel like a slug when I drive it now.

Mirrors my experience. Great fun to drive (at least compared to all the beaters and econoboxes I'm used to). Keeping it in percentage mode is best, just use the planner. Over time you'll learn to estimate how much a given drive will use (e.g. I know a trip into Savannah and back to home or work is 10%).

That seems to be the one downside to the Teslas when it comes to their EV tech. The range estimator seems to be very optimistic in the Model Y our friends have. The Mach e tends to be a little pessimistic to almost right on target.

[gtg947h]

Mirrors my experience. Great fun to drive (at least compared to all the beaters and econoboxes I'm used to). Keeping it in percentage mode is best, just use the planner. Over time you'll learn to estimate how much a given drive will use (e.g. I know a trip into Savannah and back to home or work is 10%).

That seems to be the one downside to the Teslas when it comes to their EV tech. The range estimator seems to be very optimistic in the Model Y our friends have. The Mach e tends to be a little pessimistic to almost right on target.

If you have the car set to display range remaining (instead of percent) that range is based only on "EPA range"* - that is, (percent of battery capacity remaining) * (Rated EPA range). It doesn't adjust for less-than-perfect driving conditions. That's why I recommend setting it to percentage vs. miles.

Now, if you dial in a destination on the navigation, the predicted percent remaining at that destination is usually quite accurate, to within 1-2% in my experience, assuming I haven't done something like hook up a trailer, start driving very aggressively, or really dramatically crank up the climate control. This is why I almost always dial in a destination (in addition to traffic awareness)--I get good SoC feedback.

You can get somewhat of a more accurate range prediction based on the average of your last 5, 15, or 30 miles on the consumption screen (this image not my car):



* The EPA range figures are notoriously bad--the drive cycle is essentially mixed suburban and country highway driving under mild weather and ideal conditions. Deviate from that--use your AC in hot weather, drive in very cold weather or rain, drive sustained high speeds on the interstate, etc.--and you're going to fall short of that ideal figure.

[gtg947h]

Well shoot. I guess I'm buying a new car...

Wife is ok, and NOT at fault (for once )... but she was driving to lunch in my car, minding her own business, and someone pulled out from the left and just plowed into the front left wheel. All at low speed, so nobody went to the hospital, but all the airbags went off and for sure it's totaled.

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[kdahm]

Well, the good news is that everyone is safe.

The other good news is that you've already done your new car shopping research.

[Michael]

Glad no one was hurt. The good thing is that the airbags went off (been in a crash where they didn't), and I'm guessing that the crumple zones worked as advertised, so at least you know that model protects you when things go wrong.

[gtg947h]

[/quote]

The other good news is that you've already done your new car shopping research.

Glad no one was hurt. The good thing is that the airbags went off (been in a crash where they didn't), and I'm guessing that the crumple zones worked as advertised, so at least you know that model protects you when things go wrong.

Yeah the car did its job, she just has the usual minor scrapes and seat belt bruises. They weren't going very fast, maybe 25 or so. The dashcam footage is pretty clear on it too.

The last time my wife totaled a car in 2019 it was her fault and it was a lot worse damage, but that one did its job too. Maybe we need to stop buying blue cars, she keeps messing them up (2 totaled and one with multiple minor non-fixed incidents)...

[David Newton]

What driving habits get her into trouble? My guess would be observation and anticipation. The classic things that poor drivers lack. They lack the skills to properly look round at what's going on in their proximity and thus they lack the information to properly anticipate problems when or preferably before they occur.