Helping my parents get a Tesla

[y_p_w]

So I went with my mom for a demo drive at their location in Marin County. I didn’t check carefully and thought it was at their previous location in a shopping center, but then realized they took over a nearby car dealership building complete with a service center. I didn’t have an image of her DL but they were OK with adding her right then, and gave us a half hour to return it.

She was super cautious, but she’s like that with any new vehicle or a rental car. They have a unique location near a residential neighborhood with narrow roads and a bit of uphill, so she could just drive in a circle. I think my mom can manage although sometimes she just slowed down to a crawl.

I’m feeling a bit better about their ability to at least figure out how to drive a Model 3. But inevitably they’re going to be asking me to help them with the little settings.

The advisor was fine when we told her that my parents had already reserved and looked up the order to see what still needed to be done, including looking at the app to see about the delivery requirements. Later I helped add their insurance card for pickup, and all that’s left is the payment, although it might be ACH or a cashier check. We’ll need to see tomorrow.

 

[Torrid]

I hit Costco early, just before it opens. I hate lines. Plus I have to drive almost 15 miles each way, so that adds cost across the board.

Our Costco is 37 miles from us. I love going but I've never paid attention to their pumps. I've only ever taken the Tesla there.

 

[Torrid]

So I went with my mom for a demo drive at their location in Marin County. I didn’t check carefully and thought it was at their previous location in a shopping center, but then realized they took over a nearby car dealership building complete with a service center. I didn’t have an image of her DL but they were OK with adding her right then, and gave us a half hour to return it.

She was super cautious, but she’s like that with any new vehicle or a rental car. They have a unique location near a residential neighborhood with narrow roads and a bit of uphill, so she could just drive in a circle. I think my mom can manage although sometimes she just slowed down to a crawl.

I’m feeling a bit better about their ability to at least figure out how to drive a Model 3. But inevitably they’re going to be asking me to help them with the little settings.

The advisor was fine when we told her that my parents had already reserved and looked up the order to see what still needed to be done, including looking at the app to see about the delivery requirements. Later I helped add their insurance card for pickup, and all that’s left is the payment, although it might be ACH or a cashier check. We’ll need to see tomorrow.

You can do either ACH in advance(it has to be clear before pickup) or cashier's check at time of pickup. I did both. My downpayment was ACH and I took the financed part as a check from the bank when we picked up the car.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Later I helped add their insurance card for pickup, and all that’s left is the payment, although it might be ACH or a cashier check. We’ll need to see tomorrow.

In Dec 2018 wifey test drove a Model 3. I could not drive it as I had had recent surgery. I put $500 down on credit card. She finished the transaction at home on line (click-click-click) and the car was delivered to our door. All complete in maybe 5 days. We had to take delivery by end of the year to get the full tax credit.

 

[y_p_w]

My parents are kind of confused as to whether or not he ordered the Tesla Mobile Connector. I looked at the order form and I don't see it. It's not a big deal if they didn't, but I'm thinking they don't actually sell them at delivery. There's a site claiming that Best Buy is now selling the Mobile Connector, but the photo the site has is of a Tesla Wall Connector, which is supposed to be installed professionally.

https://www.torquenews.com/1/tesla-mobile-connector-now-available-best-buy

My parents had a handyman (apparently legal in California below a certain cost) come in and install a two-pole 50 amp breaker and a NEMA 14-50 outlet. The handyman told him all the stuff to get at Home Depot. My dad was also a bit confused and got a Square D breaker but later panicked and got a GE breaker which the handyman had recommended. I was there when he installed it and the guy said that either was fine. It looks kind of oddball with a Square D breaker among Westinghouse breakers, but I think Westinghouse is no longer in the business.

So they should be ready to power a Mobile Connector with 240V/50A once they have one.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My parents are kind of confused as to whether or not he ordered the Tesla Mobile Connector. I looked at the order form and I don't see it. It's not a big deal if they didn't, but I'm thinking they don't actually sell them at delivery. There's a site claiming that Best Buy is now selling the Mobile Connector, but the photo the site has is of a Tesla Wall Connector, which is supposed to be installed professionally.

https://www.torquenews.com/1/tesla-mobile-connector-now-available-best-buy

My parents had a handyman (apparently legal in California below a certain cost) come in and install a two-pole 50 amp breaker and a NEMA 14-50 outlet. The handyman told him all the stuff to get at Home Depot. My dad was also a bit confused and got a Square D breaker but later panicked and got a GE breaker which the handyman had recommended. I was there when he installed it and the guy said that either was fine. It looks kind of oddball with a Square D breaker among Westinghouse breakers, but I think Westinghouse is no longer in the business.

So they should be ready to power a Mobile Connector with 240V/50A once they have one.

I have the Mobile Connector, which used to come with the car but now is extra. The Wall Connector is not really necessary. The Mobile Connector was designed to stay in the Frunk but many of us just use it at home plugged into a NEMA 14-50. I get about 30 MPH charging speed.

 

[Torrid]

We forgot to order one and it took a couple of weeks to get it. Look at your deposit. Total paid if they ordered the connector when they reserved the car would be $480. If it’s only $250 you didn’t get one.

 

[y_p_w]

We forgot to order one and it took a couple of weeks to get it. Look at your deposit. Total paid if they ordered the connector when they reserved the car would be $480. If it’s only $250 you didn’t get one.

Order fee says $250. That's what dad was saying - that he thought it the "order fee" was for the Mobile Connector.

But it should be eligible for the 3 months free charging, but I'm not sure when it starts. An advisor said it wasn't immediately at delivery, but would be for a full 3 month period.

 

[loneryder]

Ditto. My first car was a bug eye sprite. White, almost exactly just like this one. Don't think I ever had another car that ever invaded my soul like the Sprite. My brother had an early AH 3000. It wa always draggin' its muffler.

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Yes you had to be real careful entering a parking lot or driveway. Loved those wire wheels especially the chromed ones.

 

[loneryder]

Yes you had to be real careful entering a parking lot or driveway. Loved those wire wheels especially the chromed ones.

Friend of mine in college had a MGA with an aluminum V6 or V8(can’t remember). He couldn’t really get on it because it would rip the rear wire wheels.

 

[ecotourist]

The general approach for most Teslas is to charge to 80% at home on a routine basis. The set up JeffKeryk showed above is all you need to do that. No need to spend big bucks on an elaborate charging system for a Model 3.

Yes they're going to generate charge going down hill. It would have to be super steep to need to use the brakes. If they exceed a 90% charge after going down that hill, maybe they should cut back to less than 80% as the initial charge. And yes, once the battery is charged to 100% they would have to use the brakes.

A small complication is that the battery in the new RWD Model 3 is supposed to be charged to 100% at least once a week. If that's what they've ordered you'll figure out how to deal with it.

I think the Bob guys (who mostly don't own and have never driven a Tesla) are making this out to be way more complicated than it really is. I took a half hour test drive (after minimal instructions) and decided to buy a Model 3. It took me a couple of days to figure out most of the controls. I still haven't read the manual as some have suggested. Driving a Tesla is just not that hard. You set up the controls for him and for her and save them. If your parents can remember their names they select their own setting (it's right at the top of the screen) and go. You can even pair a person's setting with their cell phone so it automatically changes to that person's setting when they get in the car. I haven't done that because I haven't felt the need.

PS I haven't figured out how to use all the programs on my computer either but I do spread sheets, do my income tax, use e-mail, manage my genealogy records, use photoshop, and do web searches - which is what I need to do. But I'll bet I don't use more than 10% of my computer's capability. I don't need to. Same with the Tesla. I know how to do what I need it to do.

 

[Dave_T]

I hit Costco early, just before it opens. I hate lines. Plus I have to drive almost 15 miles each way, so that adds cost across the board.

You mention this like it's the only place you can/will refuel... Absolute best deal I've found for fuel and lots of them close by is the Shell stations as I have the fuel rewards card and .10 is discounted with every fill up. They run monthly savings where an additional .20 is discounted the 20th of each month if you fill on that day as well as regular offerings if say I do 3 or 4 before the end of the month the next one is like an extra .30 discounted per gallon. Now I don't live/breathe every penny saved, but those things add up if you make the effort and best part is there's always a Shell just a spit away and I never go out of my way to refuel and factor in that whole 3 mins into my route along the way.

 

[JeffKeryk]

You mention this like it's the only place you can/will refuel... Absolute best deal I've found for fuel and lots of them close by is the Shell stations as I have the fuel rewards card and .10 is discounted with every fill up. They run monthly savings where an additional .20 is discounted the 20th of each month if you fill on that day as well as regular offerings if say I do 3 or 4 before the end of the month the next one is like an extra .30 discounted per gallon. Now I don't live/breathe every penny saved, but those things add up if you make the effort and best part is there's always a Shell just a spit away and I never go out of my way to refuel and factor in that whole 3 mins into my route along the way.

I buy gas from closer stations. It is about 40 to 60 cents higher per gallon. Or more... $5 regular is not uncommon. 2 of my cars use premium, which can be $1.00 more.

 

[GON]

Your dad is my kind of guy.

His Dad sounds a lot like my Wife.

Two weeks ago my Wife was flying out of Denver to Seattle. She always checks one bag, and gets a hard copy boarding pass.

After the monster long wait at DEN security, she gets to the TSA agent, who tells her the printed boarding pass can't be read by the scanner, and the agent follows up and states that it is common problem with hard copy Delta boarding passes. The TSA agent then states just pull the pass up on her iPhone. My Wife doesn't have any third part installed apps on her Iphone, just the Apple factory installed apps.

Wife calls me in a huge panic I am also at a airport (different airport). I pull up her boarding pass and text the pass to her.

YPW, I fully understand your situation.

 

[y_p_w]

The general approach for most Teslas is to charge to 80% at home on a routine basis. The set up JeffKeryk showed above is all you need to do that. No need to spend big bucks on an elaborate charging system for a Model 3.

Yes they're going to generate charge going down hill. It would have to be super steep to need to use the brakes. If they exceed a 90% charge after going down that hill, maybe they should cut back to less than 80% as the initial charge. And yes, once the battery is charged to 100% they would have to use the brakes.

A small complication is that the battery in the new RWD Model 3 is supposed to be charged to 100% at least once a week. If that's what they've ordered you'll figure out how to deal with it.

I think the Bob guys (who mostly don't own and have never driven a Tesla) are making this out to be way more complicated than it really is. I took a half hour test drive (after minimal instructions) and decided to buy a Model 3. It took me a couple of days to figure out most of the controls. I still haven't read the manual as some have suggested. Driving a Tesla is just not that hard. You set up the controls for him and for her and save them. If your parents can remember their names they select their own setting (it's right at the top of the screen) and go. You can even pair a person's setting with their cell phone so it automatically changes to that person's setting when they get in the car. I haven't done that because I haven't felt the need.

PS I haven't figured out how to use all the programs on my computer either but I do spread sheets, do my income tax, use e-mail, manage my genealogy records, use photoshop, and do web searches - which is what I need to do. But I'll bet I don't use more than 10% of my computer's capability. I don't need to. Same with the Tesla. I know how to do what I need it to do.

The problem is that they don't like constantly changing settings for anything. I think I could handle setting to 90% most of the week and then let it charge on the weekend to 100%. My dad is giving me access to his account (which I believe would also give access to the car), so I might be able to set it remotely for my parents.

It seems interesting that Tesla recommends keeping it at 100% for the RWD models (because of the battery chemistry?), although it also sounds like the battery might be slightly oversized (and use less of the range) so 100% isn't the same as 100% for other models. I've heard of when Tesla remotely enabled longer range when there was an impending natural disaster. I'm not necessarily thinking about the longevity of the battery, but since they live on a hill and the first thing they do is go downhill where it would be nice to recoup some of that energy to charge the battery.

I'm looking through all the recommendations. Interesting that they don't recommend using fast charging except for long road trips. I totally understand that though, since it generates more heat than slower charging. But with a free charging period I'm thinking it's hard to resist using it.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-BEE08D47-0CE0-4BDD-83F2-9854FB3D578F.html

 

[ecotourist]

The problem is that they don't like constantly changing settings for anything. I think I could handle setting to 90% most of the week and then let it charge on the weekend to 100%. My dad is giving me access to his account (which I believe would also give access to the car), so I might be able to set it remotely for my parents.

It seems interesting that Tesla recommends keeping it at 100% for the RWD models (because of the battery chemistry?), although it also sounds like the battery might be slightly oversized (and use less of the range) so 100% isn't the same as 100% for other models.

Unless they're going on long trips, a routine charge of 80% would be better. That way if they recover energy going down hill they stay well below 100%. Regenerative braking doesn't work at 100% (or maybe even close to 100% - don't know for sure) so the driving dynamics will become different. Effectively, the braking part of one pedal driving would be impaired.

I'm told you can set it up so the vehicle uses its actual brakes "automatically" at 100% charge so the driving dynamics stay the same - but you lose out on the energy being wasted and use the brakes a lot more than usual.

Yes it's because of the battery chemistry of the recent base models. The newer models should be charged to 100% at least once a week. Older base models (like mine) should rarely or never be charged to 100%. I've had mine charged to 100% exactly twice in almost 2 years, and to 90% a half dozen times. My range is still 395 km (down from just over 400) so my battery is holding up pretty well - which is not what a lot of people on Bob have been worrying about.

 

[PimTac]

Yeah. At home.

This is where my parents usually get gas - Costco in Richmond, California. The real pain is the bottleneck to get in. And it's different with only two pumps on the far right which were added later.

Maybe I’m missing something here but the idea of driving 15-20 miles in order to then sit in a line for a long period of time just so I can save a little money on gasoline doesn’t make sense.

 

[Torrid]

Maybe I’m missing something here but the idea of driving 15-20 miles in order to then sit in a line for a long period of time just so I can save a little money on gasoline doesn’t make sense.

Me either, but I live in a small town surrounded by rural areas and the next "large" city is about 35 miles from here. We always take the EV for family trips and that's usually a family trip to go to Costco.

 

[y_p_w]

Maybe I’m missing something here but the idea of driving 15-20 miles in order to then sit in a line for a long period of time just so I can save a little money on gasoline doesn’t make sense.

They live about 3 miles away driving, and they'll typically do it when they're already going to Costco.

And the difference in price can be as much as 60-90 cents per gallon less than comparable gas stations.

That being said, the idea of charging a battery at home rather than going to a gas station absolutely appeals to them.

 

[JeffKeryk]

For the little bit of driving they do, supercharging is worthless. Plug it in at home and forget about it.