Potential 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance purchase

9

92saturnsl2

Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
4,391
Location
Kentucky
Talk me into it or out of it, your choice, but please explain why and refrain from political commentary. I'm considering this purchase purely out of a "what does a vehicle need to do for me" perspective; politics and tree hugging simply aren't a factor here.

Test drove one with 65K at a local dealer. Still picking my jaw up off the floor. Between giggles and moments of terror, the wife threatened to leave the car at one point and walk home if I stomped on the accelerator pedal one more time. One of the those things where the novelty will fade. Performance aside, I'm a practical person (and in my 40's, so not looking to kill myself in one of these) and very curious about these things:

Mechanical bits and parts: suspension, brakes, pumps (whatever ones exist), is this a non-starter for a DIY type person? I have a big learning curve ahead as it pertains to the electric drivetrain, but since I have a shop w/ lift I'd like to do the rest of the maintenance and repairs myself if possible.

Reliability in general with an electric drivetrain. Are these vehicles known for issues-- motor problems, cooling system, etc?

This will be a commuter car only, 70 miles round trip (for me) and a run around town car for the wife when I'm not working. Zero range anxiety and I'd installed a dedicated 50A 240V circuit when I built my shop for a future electric vehicle. I'll likely have a 3-4 year loan on it, so ideally battery health won't be an issue. I know Li-ion batteries and how to take care of them (limit charge to 80%, no deep discharge) so hoping this can be a 200K+ mile vehicle.

Previously we were considering a used WRX for small car, but I can't do that when this electric car is about the same price.

The 65K mile example we test drove was $20K. It was rough enough around the edges (curb rash on wheels, dirty interior, some minor panel gap issues) that we kept looking. Found one at a specialty car dealer w/ 75K for $22.5K but it's in better condition in every way possible. One owner local car, I simply couldn't find a defect anywhere inside or out. Checked insurance, it's on the higher side for a small car like this, but not as high as I was lead to believe doing research on Reddit and such.

Please chime in with your thoughts / experiences!
 
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If you can't do the repair, where would you get it done?

Tesla service centers aren't exactly prolific in KY. I see one in Louisville.

1744741957315.webp
 
I haven't followed the parts situation, but it is something I would look into. At one point, Tesla was restricting part sales to folks who were vetted repair facilities.
 
There are days when I think about how nice it would be to not have to change the oil or worry about transmission issues.
 
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If you don't have to worry about 40 below weather like I do in Minnesota, an EV will probably work out for you. Even up here, I know a few people that have one and they like it a lot even with the range issue in the cold. Not for me, but that's my opinion. One guy has a commute kinda like yours and got a cyber truck, he said the $$ saved on gas makes it well worth it.
 
In Dec 2018 we bought this car on a Lark; wifey and never discussed it. I had had surgery and couldn't test drive it. TBT, me and everyone else thought Tesla would be belly up any day now, or we woulda bought stock instead.
Late Dec 2018: Model 3 Mid Range, '13 GS350 F Sport, our beloved '06 TSX.
1744743178025.webp

I bought the car for wifey, but later fell in love with the Model 3. So when the Highland refresh came out, I put down my order. Picked this up at the end of June 2024; they gave us $21K for our perfect '18 Mid Range.
1744743422294.webp

You will not get tired of the acceleration. In fact, there are times when it can help out in sticky situations.
For $20K you will not find a more fun car. You don't need the Performance, even the lowly RWD Single motor cars are faster than most. Perhaps drive a few more.

Good luck. I always say, "Welcome to the dark side."
 
The Critic said:
I haven't followed the parts situation, but it is something I would look into. At one point, Tesla was restricting part sales to folks who were vetted repair facilities.
Click to expand...
Rockauto seems to have a robust selection of aftermarket parts-- the normal stuff like brake pads, suspension bits seem to be there. I probably need to hop on a Tesla forum to get specifics on what parts fit the Performance model I'm considering.

Couldn't find a spark plug on there for the life of me.
 
Corvette Cadillac -V instead or EV only options? I don't know what all the 0-60 times are from comparable gasoline engines but it could be cheaper HP.
 
fantastic said:
Corvette Cadillac -V instead or EV only options? I don't know what all the 0-60 times are from comparable gasoline engines but it could be cheaper HP.
Click to expand...
I want something I can drive into my shop/garage, plug in and the charge % be whatever I set it by morning and never fill up at a gas station again.

Not many gas cars can go 0-60 in 3.2 seconds but that's not really what I'm looking for. The convenience of plugging in and not visiting a gas station is key (again not for green/political reasons).
 
92saturnsl2 said:
Rockauto seems to have a robust selection of aftermarket parts-- the normal stuff like brake pads, suspension bits seem to be there. I probably need to hop on a Tesla forum to get specifics on what parts fit the Performance model I'm considering.

Couldn't find a spark plug on there for the life of me.
Click to expand...
At some point in time, you'll need something that Rockauto doesn't offer.

Also, just beware of the EV tire "issue." They go thru a lot of tires.
 
I’d keep looking for a clean one. I think the newer the better as well as they made updates along the way.

I love my 2023 Model Y Performance as a daily driver. It’s got plenty of power and costs peanuts to charge at home. I’m almost at 30,000 miles on the OEM tires. I’ll get some tread measurements but think I’ve got at least 5,000 more miles based on how things looked the last time I checked.

I love not getting gas and doing basically no maintenance. I’ve put maybe a gallon and a half of washer fluid in it in 2 years, that’s it. The tires aren’t the same size so I don’t rotate and I touch the brake pedal less than one time per day. If it continues to be reliable and holds up, I’ll keep this one for a long time.
 
We're liking our Model S Plaid, after having it only a short time. We did a road trip in it, and it's comfortable. We could charge it at home, but so far have only used Tesla Superchargers. We'll see how things go as the time and miles pass.
 
We have a '21 Model 3 SR+ (the base model). It would have plenty of range for your application. It has plenty of go as well. I do like the convenience of overnight charging. It has all the good Tesla features: "dog in car", keeps you warm or cool while you wait interminably for your spouse, a good stereo, a good Nav system, little required maintenance, one pedal driving, and access to the Supercharger network (one of the best features). Did I mention the convenience of overnight charging.

Problems so far: one tail light replaced under warranty (debatable whether replacement was necessary), and the charging wire that came with the car has a crack beside the "press to release" button. That's it.

What I don't like: It's kind of wide (meaning you have to be really careful getting in and out of a single car garage door), and the wheels protrude over the tires (meaning no matter how careful you are, you'll eventually get curb rash). No spare tire.

We like the car itself a lot. For relatively short commutes and around town driving it would be hard to beat.
 
92saturnsl2 said:
Talk me into it or out of it, your choice, but please explain why and refrain from political commentary. I'm considering this purchase purely out of a "what does a vehicle need to do for me" perspective; politics and tree hugging simply aren't a factor here.

Test drove one with 65K at a local dealer. Still picking my jaw up off the floor. Between giggles and moments of terror, the wife threatened to leave the car at one point and walk home if I stomped on the accelerator pedal one more time. One of the those things where the novelty will fade. Performance aside, I'm a practical person (and in my 40's, so not looking to kill myself in one of these) and very curious about these things:

Mechanical bits and parts: suspension, brakes, pumps (whatever ones exist), is this a non-starter for a DIY type person? I have a big learning curve ahead as it pertains to the electric drivetrain, but since I have a shop w/ lift I'd like to do the rest of the maintenance and repairs myself if possible.

Reliability in general with an electric drivetrain. Are these vehicles known for issues-- motor problems, cooling system, etc?

This will be a commuter car only, 70 miles round trip (for me) and a run around town car for the wife when I'm not working. Zero range anxiety and I'd installed a dedicated 50A 240V circuit when I built my shop for a future electric vehicle. I'll likely have a 3-4 year loan on it, so ideally battery health won't be an issue. I know Li-ion batteries and how to take care of them (limit charge to 80%, no deep discharge) so hoping this can be a 200K+ mile vehicle.

Previously we were considering a used WRX for small car, but I can't do that when this electric car is about the same price.

The 65K mile example we test drove was $20K. It was rough enough around the edges (curb rash on wheels, dirty interior, some minor panel gap issues) that we kept looking. Found one at a specialty car dealer w/ 75K for $22.5K but it's in better condition in every way possible. One owner local car, I simply couldn't find a defect anywhere inside or out. Checked insurance, it's on the higher side for a small car like this, but not as high as I was lead to believe doing research on Reddit and such.

Please chime in with your thoughts / experiences!
Click to expand...
Buying a used EV feels like buying a used power tool battery. Or a several years used cellphone.

I mean I guess you could?
 
My kid has a 3 Performance, and it's a rocket ship. Stupid fast. Otherwise, seems like a great car. As long as you can charge at home, EV can be great for a lot of people.
 
When I bought my 2021 Model 3 new I loved all the gadgets and the instant torque.

6 weeks later I had that thing gone. The fad wore off quick. And I wasn’t too thrilled with the fit and finish or comfort of the car either.

The comfort and materials quality of my Genesis isn’t even comparable to the Model 3. It blows it out of the water. The power is equal too. Though I’m not recommending this for a cheap commuter, just that there’s other things out there.
 
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