Is Tesla the Optimal Selection for Electric Vehicles?

[recklessX]

Six years, three-time owner of Teslas. I am starting to question if my next electric vehicle should still be a Tesla.

Six years ago, Tesla was the exclusive option. Excellent service was available when required, SuperChargers were sufficiently abundant, and the vehicles were dependable. I had my vehicle cleaned after the service, and it was easy to converse with a representative.

Accelerate to the present...Cars remain very trustworthy, as do several other vehicles presently. The competitive advantage of SuperCharging has dissipated. All other original equipment manufacturers are using Tesla Superchargers. The most significant advantage has been eliminated.

Service appointments are scheduled 3 to 7 weeks in advance. Engaging with a human representative may be challenging, and Tesla is among the few establishments that refrain from applying diagnostic charges to out-of-warranty repair services. Furthermore, car washing ceased some years ago; hence, if your vehicle is there for a few days, it will not be clean, based on my experiences over the last two years.

Additionally, there has been the FSD game for the previous four years. Not all individuals own FSD; however, I do. The selective distribution to some users, along with the disparities between HW3 and HW4, complicates the dependability of FSD across various vehicles and versions. The fragmented characteristics of ASS and similar entities are growing tedious. Who can maintain it among the plethora of features and promises available?

As an investor and three-time owner, is Tesla still considered "the best" as it was in previous years? The market is expanding more rapidly than Tesla. What is your opinion?

[ultimatesoy]

All enquiries are valid.

[Kix]

Admittedly, there is more competition in the electric vehicle market today compared to when you acquired your first Tesla. I am now on my first lease and want to pursue a second upon its expiration next summer.

My spouse encourages me to consider a different brand; nevertheless, I have been rather satisfied with my Model Y for the last two years, to be honest. No concerns; it operates really well, and I continue to anticipate driving it. I would even look back over my shoulder after parking it when it is immaculate and gleaming.

May I experiment with a different brand next year? Indeed, certainly. Competition is beneficial and forces Tesla to be vigilant; yet, if I choose an alternative and it fails to meet my expectations, I will regret my decision significantly. I believe their expertise and experience much surpass those of other EV firms.

Why alter it if it is not significantly flawed? However, preferences vary, since some may want that change; still, it is not a risk I am willing to take. Therefore, a Model Y or Model X is likely in my near future. Yay 🙂

[ultimatesoy]

Once you progress enough to contemplate purchasing an other brand, try renting one for a weekend or an extended period beforehand. Subsequently, you may coexist with it temporarily.

[bossyriver]

Which electric vehicle surpasses Tesla, and in what aspects?

If available, I will consider it; I do not exhibit strong loyalty to any certain brand.

    While styling is subjective, I have yet to see an electric vehicle that surpasses the aesthetic appeal of a Tesla. I like the basic design, which is straightforward and facilitates easy cleaning, both within and outside.
    I like the efficacy of a heat pump. All Teslas are now equipped with these, but several other electric vehicles still lack this feature.
    Few non-Tesla electric vehicles possess a function comparable to Keep, Dog, or Camp Modes.
    I am unaware of any other electric vehicle that has a function comparable to Sentry Mode.
    I choose purchasing directly from a manufacturer at a predetermined price, since I want to avoid negotiations to get a cheaper price than others.
    I do not depend on public charging infrastructure for routine driving or most journeys; instead, I want access to the most extensive and dependable charging network for the infrequent instances when I go beyond around 200 miles in a day.
    The only other automobile using HEPA filters is Mercedes-Benz.
    Few cars of any kind surpass the safety of a Tesla.
    No other car has a feature as advanced as Tesla's Full Self-Driving, albeit it still needs oversight and interventions at this stage.

Less expensive electric vehicles are available. There are more rapid electric vehicles. Some electric vehicles possess greater towing capability. Some electric vehicles provide more passenger and freight capacity. There are more efficient electric vehicles. Some electric vehicles operate with reduced noise levels. Some individuals may find some electric vehicles more aesthetically pleasing. However, I have yet to identify an electric vehicle that surpasses a Tesla in total performance.

[TurmericDare]

Based on my experience, having had a non-Tesla before to a Tesla, I assert that Tesla remains the most cost-effective electric vehicle available today.
I am in Canada, and although the "public" DCFC locations are adequate, they are inadequate in terms of the number of stalls (1-2-4 per site) and restricted in kilowatt output. Ninety percent are 150 kW or less, whereas sixty percent are 50 kW. Acquiring any other electric vehicle with 250 kW charging capacity is of little benefit. Indeed, some non-Tesla electric vehicles are beginning to get access to Superchargers, namely the V3 locations; however, their availability is not as extensive as one would assume. Quebec has a higher per capita ratio of electric vehicles than California. The majority of electric vehicles sold in Quebec are the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. It is rather typical, considering that other electric vehicles have waiting periods of 1 to 3 years, while Tesla is prepared for delivery within around one week.
I formerly had a 2023 Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive and now own a 2024 Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive. My encounters with Tesla Service were exemplary on each occasion I need assistance. At the location and at their service facility. The purchasing process was excellent, selecting the trim, the options, and then proceeding with "click to buy". From my seat in my chamber. Who would want more than that?

In my opinion, Tesla is the preeminent leader in efficiency. The efficiency of my Model Y at 167 Wh/km, in contrast to my Tesla Model 3's 151 Wh/km after three months of ownership, is remarkable. I am doing brief urban driving excursions (1-2 miles), which significantly diminish the efficiency of any electric vehicle, as well as internal combustion engine vehicles. The efficiency disparity between the two is about 10%. Indeed, some non-Tesla electric vehicles marketed as "highly efficient" do not achieve these figures. I have a strong affinity for efficiency.

[bossyriver]

The electric vehicle registration statistics for Texas as of September 17, 2024, is shown below.

More than fifty percent of all electric vehicles in this region are Teslas, despite Texas being mostly unaccommodating to EVs, lacking incentives, prohibiting direct sales, imposing an annual cost for EV registration, and exhibiting predominantly unfavourable public opinion. I assume that the percentage of Teslas is significantly greater in some states, like as California.

Since its inauguration a few months ago, I often see one or two Fords at the nearby 16-stall, V3+ Supercharger location; but, I have never witnessed more than five out of the sixteen stalls occupied simultaneously.

In some larger cities, there are wait periods at certain Supercharger locations; nevertheless, in other areas, the quantity of charging stations much exceeds EV registrations.

[ouzo]

You are enumerating two seldom used items: service and Superchargers.

Test another electric vehicle to evaluate your preferences and identify its available and absent features.

My book delineates two components of a Tesla: the electric vehicle and the Tesla engineering.

My succinct remark to them is often, "How many automobiles possess integrated garage door openers?"
Undoubtedly, the answer is mostly, if not entirely.

"How many of them possess the intelligence to open the door upon your return home?"

A Tesla has several features beyond being an electric vehicle.

[Grubscrew]

The outcome is contingent upon your desires.

Tesla was once an ultra-luxury automobile manufacturer that provided concierge-level service, ensuring that every interaction included a dedicated representative to address all customer needs. If that is your preference, then Tesla is no longer the brand you want.

If you want mainstream vehicles that provide distinctiveness at a more economical price compared to ultra-luxury options, and are prepared to accept treatment like to that of consumers of GM, Ford, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, then you have arrived at the appropriate destination.

[TurmericDare]

Indeed, we are seeing a like scenario here. It is no longer amusing to see four Tesla Model Ys ahead when crossing Champlain Bridge. Subsequently, all vehicles transition to the left lane to go to Montreal.

[VeinedPoncho]

I lost track of the number of electric vehicles we test drove before concluding that Tesla represents the aggregate of its components. The car, charging infrastructure, efficiency, software-engineered architecture, and ongoing over-the-air enhancements together compelled me to spend my hard-earned money on it.

There are several commendable electric car choices when considering the vehicle alone. However, one must take into account additional issues about electric vehicles. Few individuals contemplate this matter. They depend on one or two factors in their evaluation of electric vehicle ownership. Or fashionable one.... I detest Elon Musk.

[PeonySilver]

I sequentially test drove the premium Ioniq 5, EV6, EV9, ID.4, and the Highland Model 3 LR. Entirely within a month. Tesla fulfilled all my criteria. It was $6,000 cheaper and has more functionality. I find the uncluttered cabin more soothing, as is the driving experience itself. It seems robust and durable.

It resembles a tablet on wheels more than an electric vehicle. It is straightforward and effective, and the technology enhances my driving skills.

Therefore, I consider Tesla to be the optimal selection for an electric vehicle.