Helping my parents get a Tesla

[y_p_w]

So they're going with PG&E's EV2-A plan. They're not huge electricity users. They basically only have a couple of fairly efficient refrigerators, lights, LCD TVs, and power adapters. But getting a separate meter for their EV-B plan was a nonstarter. I suppose that would allow them the standard tiered rate for non EV electricity.

The peak hour rates are really high though. But they're probably not a great idea for a home with A/C.

 

[JeffKeryk]

So they're going with PG&E's EV2-A plan. They're not huge electricity users. They basically only have a couple of fairly efficient refrigerators, lights, LCD TVs, and power adapters. But getting a separate meter for their EV-B plan was a nonstarter. I suppose that would allow them the standard tiered rate for non EV electricity.

The peak hour rates are really high though. But they're probably not a great idea for a home with A/C.

They charge off peak, right? The scheduler is a snap to use. Even though it makes no difference on my bill, I charge off peak.

 

[y_p_w]

They charge off peak, right? The scheduler is a snap to use. Even though it makes no difference on my bill, I charge off peak.

I set it to charge at midnight for them to account for when they switch in maybe a week. Interesting that the lowest rate is midnight to 3 PM. I thought that A/C use meant that peak starts at about noon. But they live on the bay side where it’s much cooler than on the other side of the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

 

[macarose]

.... .... ....

 

[y_p_w]

They charge off peak, right? The scheduler is a snap to use. Even though it makes no difference on my bill, I charge off peak.

They're getting the PG&E TOU plan. I helped program it to start charging at 12:15. Just a little bit of margin just in case the timing isn't synced perfectly.

I'm looking at where I used to live (Santa Clara) and they have a two-tiered non-TOU rate plan where the higher rate is about 15 cents/kWh. That's just crazy with cheap municipal power.

And it's been a learning experience. Some random messages asking me to help with this or that. I don't know if he knows how to just turn off the radio, but at least I showed him how to mute the volume with the left scroll wheel. He was used to using an iPhone for driving directions. But just clearing the controls is something where I'm hoping he can remember to swipe it down or tap on the car icon.

Set up Bluetooth connectivity with his phone, which is going to get interesting. Not sure it's a good idea, but at least he'll have an idea who's calling him.

The biggest issue would probably turning on headlights entering a tunnel or driving through a daylight headlamp area (through woods or valleys) for oncoming visibility. I think it defaults to automatic headlights after doing something (charging, exiting, locking?) but going through the menu to turn them on is something that seems to be frustrating to my dad.

 

[97prizm]

I just bought my first battery lawnmower. The thing sucks in the heat. About to take it back for a gas powered one…still not convinced battery is the way to go.

My neighbor has one of the neon green eco electric mowers. After his first one caught fire and nearly set his back yard on fire they sent him another one. After 3 years the battery is depleted enough that he can't get his full front and back yard mowed on one charge.

 

[JeffKeryk]

They're getting the PG&E TOU plan. I helped program it to start charging at 12:15. Just a little bit of margin just in case the timing isn't synced perfectly.

I'm looking at where I used to live (Santa Clara) and they have a two-tiered non-TOU rate plan where the higher rate is about 15 cents/kWh. That's just crazy with cheap municipal power.

And it's been a learning experience. Some random messages asking me to help with this or that. I don't know if he knows how to just turn off the radio, but at least I showed him how to mute the volume with the left scroll wheel. He was used to using an iPhone for driving directions. But just clearing the controls is something where I'm hoping he can remember to swipe it down or tap on the car icon.

Set up Bluetooth connectivity with his phone, which is going to get interesting. Not sure it's a good idea, but at least he'll have an idea who's calling him.

The biggest issue would probably turning on headlights entering a tunnel or driving through a daylight headlamp area (through woods or valleys) for oncoming visibility. I think it defaults to automatic headlights after doing something (charging, exiting, locking?) but going through the menu to turn them on is something that seems to be frustrating to my dad.

Headlights are automatic; forget about them. In fact, just about everything is. Just when you think you know the car, here comes another OTA update!

 

[y_p_w]

Headlights are automatic; forget about them. In fact, just about everything is. Just when you think you know the car, here comes another OTA update!

I figure he'll either never notice since he's going to avoid touching the controls (other than his preprogrammed seat/steering/driving settings) or he's going to be complaining about it to me.

 

[ARB1977]

My neighbor has one of the neon green eco electric mowers. After his first one caught fire and nearly set his back yard on fire they sent him another one. After 3 years the battery is depleted enough that he can't get his full front and back yard mowed on one charge.

Not trying to rob this man thread. Yeah after that mess I was done.

 

[y_p_w]

Any recommendations for dark gray touchup paint to hide curb rash on an 18" Aero wheel? Strangely enough the wheel cover wasn't touched, and that's only $25. But the wheel cover doesn't cover the edge of wheel, but sits in the center of an aluminum alloy wheel. My previous experience with wheel covers were factory ones that completely covered steelies.

https://shop.tesla.com/product/model-3-aero-wheel-cover

Yeah - my bad. Didn't take a wide enough right turn in a parking lot. Not sure how my mom is going to take this. She's been adamant that Tesla had to fix a paint blemish and then pay for a body shop to fix their poorly done "repair".

She just called me and took it pretty well. Probably the difference between getting the carmaker to fix a mistake vs something caused by a family member. And she's had her own share of curb rubs.

I suppose there are rim protection strips, but they're kind of pricey. But they look interesting and can cover existing damage. I've had a few tires with built-in rim protection, but that's not the case with the factory Primacy MXM4 tires.

 

[y_p_w]

So my parents finally got an appointment for the body shop for this Friday, and it will obviously be there at least over the weekend. It's a shop that's only a couple of blocks away from the Tesla Berkeley service center. I was in the neighborhood and stopped by to ask about loaners with body/paint work covered by Tesla, and the advisor said they should have loaners available for body/paint work that Tesla pays for. I mentioned the last time my parents got a Model S P100D for a day, and the service advisor said they don't typically have ones that nice, but they're occasionally available. Usually Model 3s and Model Ys.

Whatever loaner they get, they want to take on a longer trip than last time they had a Model S P100D loaner, especially having it over (at least) the weekend. It's interesting since I'm helping them plan and probably doing most of the driving. There seem to be Tesla Superchargers along the route, but it won't be like being in the San Francisco Bay Area. This will take some more careful planning and a check to make sure that they're operating.

I'm also thinking it might be possible to set up a "phone key" with a loaner, just in case. Of course delete any other phone keys but then delete my own when done.

I guess the other thing is that the body shop probably needs one of the Tesla card keys. I should remind my mom to bring one.

 

[PandaBear]

They're getting the PG&E TOU plan. I helped program it to start charging at 12:15. Just a little bit of margin just in case the timing isn't synced perfectly.

I'm looking at where I used to live (Santa Clara) and they have a two-tiered non-TOU rate plan where the higher rate is about 15 cents/kWh. That's just crazy with cheap municipal power.

And it's been a learning experience. Some random messages asking me to help with this or that. I don't know if he knows how to just turn off the radio, but at least I showed him how to mute the volume with the left scroll wheel. He was used to using an iPhone for driving directions. But just clearing the controls is something where I'm hoping he can remember to swipe it down or tap on the car icon.

Set up Bluetooth connectivity with his phone, which is going to get interesting. Not sure it's a good idea, but at least he'll have an idea who's calling him.

The biggest issue would probably turning on headlights entering a tunnel or driving through a daylight headlamp area (through woods or valleys) for oncoming visibility. I think it defaults to automatic headlights after doing something (charging, exiting, locking?) but going through the menu to turn them on is something that seems to be frustrating to my dad.

This EV vs TOU vs Tiered plan in PG&E is one of the reason I likely won't get an EV as well. If Critic's 44c/kwh rate for TOU is the future, switching to TOU from tiered rate (39c/kwh) means I will be paying WAY MORE for electricity when I am not charging the car, and since I don't use much electricity I would be losing out. It would be nice if I can charge EV for cheaper than pumping gas, but if I also don't drive much I would likely be better off just using a gas car, charge elsewhere, etc and stay on a tiered plan using less.

If duck curve keeps getting steeper I think most people would end up having battery powered AC or ice storage based AC, and programs to replace resistive heat dryer to heat pump dryer.

 

[Torrid]

So my parents finally got an appointment for the body shop for this Friday, and it will obviously be there at least over the weekend. It's a shop that's only a couple of blocks away from the Tesla Berkeley service center. I was in the neighborhood and stopped by to ask about loaners with body/paint work covered by Tesla, and the advisor said they should have loaners available for body/paint work that Tesla pays for. I mentioned the last time my parents got a Model S P100D for a day, and the service advisor said they don't typically have ones that nice, but they're occasionally available. Usually Model 3s and Model Ys.

Whatever loaner they get, they want to take on a longer trip than last time they had a Model S P100D loaner, especially having it over (at least) the weekend. It's interesting since I'm helping them plan and probably doing most of the driving. There seem to be Tesla Superchargers along the route, but it won't be like being in the San Francisco Bay Area. This will take some more careful planning and a check to make sure that they're operating.

I'm also thinking it might be possible to set up a "phone key" with a loaner, just in case. Of course delete any other phone keys but then delete my own when done.

I guess the other thing is that the body shop probably needs one of the Tesla card keys. I should remind my mom to bring one.

I've never had to do it, but my understanding is if you have the app on your phone and they give you a loaner, they can temporarily add it to your app and will actually label it as "Loaner".

This EV vs TOU vs Tiered plan in PG&E is one of the reason I likely won't get an EV as well. If Critic's 44c/kwh rate for TOU is the future, switching to TOU from tiered rate (39c/kwh) means I will be paying WAY MORE for electricity when I am not charging the car, and since I don't use much electricity I would be losing out. It would be nice if I can charge EV for cheaper than pumping gas, but if I also don't drive much I would likely be better off just using a gas car, charge elsewhere, etc and stay on a tiered plan using less.

If duck curve keeps getting steeper I think most people would end up having battery powered AC or ice storage based AC, and programs to replace resistive heat dryer to heat pump dryer.

It's definitely a trade off depending on your rates. For me I'm flat rate at $0.13 per kW and it ends up being very cheap to charge. It really only begins to be a benefit for saving money if it's not more expensive than another car you would want to buy or you drive enough miles to make up the gap. It would save me a ton if it was my personal driver with the amount of miles I cover, but I bought the car for my wife and I'm not planning another vehicle purchase for myself for another 5 years. It would be hard for it to make financial sense to buy the car ahead of schedule and not to mention looking at a Tesla Model 3 Performance I am cross shopping other smaller performance sedans/hatches and a couple I like are actually more expensive than the Model 3 Performance. That obviously could change in 5 years.

I'd never try to directly talk anyone into a vehicle purchase, but I have no problem sharing my experience. I definitely want to make sure people realistically know what they're getting into. It can be excellent if you know what you're getting. I took a bit of a chance because my wife wanted an EV and we did some cross shopping. I've learned a lot through her with it and I have liked EVs for years, I just never actually considered buying one before this.

 

[y_p_w]

I've never had to do it, but my understanding is if you have the app on your phone and they give you a loaner, they can temporarily add it to your app and will actually label it as "Loaner".

Last loaner was speed limited to 85 MPH (not a problem really). All I recall was that one of the key fobs was handed and that was about it. I can probably ask about adding it to the app, but I'd hate to be stuck somewhere after losing a key fob. With one's own Tesla it's at least possible to start it remotely if one can contact someone with remote access. Like maybe borrowing someone else's phone to contact a family member with remote access to enable a start.

 

[Torrid]

Last loaner was speed limited to 85 MPH (not a problem really). All I recall was that one of the key fobs was handed and that was about it. I can probably ask about adding it to the app, but I'd hate to be stuck somewhere after losing a key fob. With one's own Tesla it's at least possible to start it remotely if one can contact someone with remote access. Like maybe borrowing someone else's phone to contact a family member with remote access to enable a start.

I've only seen it on Reddit, but I've seen many share what their loaner screen looks like on their phone. It seemed like a common practice to me.

 

[The Critic]

I still think getting this paint defect fixed is a big mistake. The refinish will likely be mediocre at best and durability will be reduced compared to the factory finish.

 

[y_p_w]

I still think getting this paint defect fixed is a big mistake. The refinish will likely be mediocre at best and durability will be reduced compared to the factory finish.

My mom is insisting on it. So if the paint starts peeling, this is what she wanted.

 

[y_p_w]

I've only seen it on Reddit, but I've seen many share what their loaner screen looks like on their phone. It seemed like a common practice to me.

Got the loaner today and will take it on a trip. Model 3 Long Range with more than 50K miles. A bit different with a manual trunk and the frunk won’t open but it thinks it’s open with the warning. It’s in pretty good shape for a loaner.

The Tesla employee said that I wouldn’t be able to add a key and there was a single key card. But when I got to my parents’ home I saw a QR code on the display to add a phone key. It comes up as “LOANER” and I now have remote access. There are a bunch of orphaned phone keys, but I can’t seem to delete them. But I should be able to delete access when the loaner is returned.

 

[Torrid]

Got the loaner today and will take it on a trip. Model 3 Long Range with more than 50K miles. A bit different with a manual trunk and the frunk won’t open but it thinks it’s open with the warning. It’s in pretty good shape for a loaner.

The Tesla employee said that I wouldn’t be able to add a key and there was a single key card. But when I got to my parents’ home I saw a QR code on the display to add a phone key. It comes up as “LOANER” and I now have remote access. There are a bunch of orphaned phone keys, but I can’t seem to delete them. But I should be able to delete access when the loaner is returned.

I didn't know the Model 3 used to have a manual trunk. Interesting.

 

[y_p_w]

I didn't know the Model 3 used to have a manual trunk. Interesting.

It was odd when I set up the app to remote “open” the trunk. It’s like opening the frunk with the warning about it needing to be manually closed. But it didn’t actually open the trunk. It more or less unlocked it and the release button on the trunk would then open the trunk.