What’s it like to drive inside a computer with four wheels? If you’re considering buying a Tesla, there are a few things you need to know before pulling the (electric) trigger.
Owning a Tesla gives you some serious street cred, but it also presents challenges that the regular gas-car driver will need to get used to: like having to find chargers wherever you go and not getting distracted by the bigger screen while driving.
Here are some things current Tesla owners wish they’d known and want you to know before you make that investment.
1. The Cost is Worth It
While people define the value of investment differently, your Tesla car will pay off its price difference from other electric or hybrid cars with your gas savings, in the first one or two years (depending on how much you drive).
People often worry about the electric bill cost to charge your Tesla vs the price of gas. That, of course, depends on the utility prices where you live and what gas is going for when you make these calculations, but the majority of owners find that their electric bill increase is still less than they were spending in gas per month.
2. The Home Charger is Worth It
While you don’t necessarily have to install a Tesla charger in your garage/at your home when you buy the car, the extra cost is worth it if you drive often. If your Tesla is going to be a car you only drive sometimes around town, then you can get away with using your traditional electric outlet.
The difference between the two is the speed of charging. Your Tesla could take up to 15+ hours to charge on a normal wall charger, while a Tesla brand charger is usually half that.
If you’re stretching your budget to own a Tesla, then your best bet would be to stick with a wall charger for the first few weeks, then get the fast charger once your finances are a little more liquid.
3. Not All Public Charging Stations are Free
There are a good number of cities that have free electric car charging stations around the city, to encourage people to buy electric cars. But as these cars become more common and affordable, we’ll see those slowly become pay-to-use stations.
Some people have successfully gone on Tesla road trips, but the biggest drawback of these cars is them running out of charge after a certain number of miles. Tesla is always expanding its public charger network, but they’re not everywhere they need to be to make this a sustainable travel car (yet).
4. Tesla Customization Details
Before, if you wanted to customize your car, your choices were all internal and surface level, like seat covers, fuzzy dice, and if you had big bucks, a custom wrap job from Supreme Wraps AZ.
But with a Tesla, you can customize everything from the way your horn sounds to the sound you want the alerts to make, and the list goes on. It’s a fun part of the experience, but that’s not what you’re paying for.
Owning a Tesla: Does it Make Sense for You?
If you’re someone that lives in an urban area, with lots of modern updates (charging stations) like California or Colorado, have the money to spend, and value an earth-friendly investment then yes – owning a Tesla makes sense.
However, if you’re looking for a car that you’ll be driving long distances in often, especially in the more rural parts of America, then you may want to wait a few years. Of course, you can always check the Tesla charger map to see what’s offered in your area and you should before you make a decision.
We hope you found this guide helpful and wish you luck in your car buying journey! For more helpful auto tips, follow our blog.
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