OT - Telsa Model 3

[KingHigh]

The Saab just isn't an option among friends. I'm trying to sell it, but it's hard to sell a car following full disclosure.

I would have been okay. Was looking for a two year solution at a value. But I understand.

 

[RU4Real]

I would have been okay. Was looking for a two year solution at a value. But I understand.

It's been at the dealer (Perrine Buick GMC, where I bought it, because when there was still such a thing as a new Saab, they sold them) for three weeks. It went in to have the driver's airbag replaced as per the Takata warranty action. When I dropped it off, they asked me if there was anything else they could address. There was:

• On cold start, it fails to catch its cold idle unless you give it a little gas and hold it until the idle program kicks in.
• The driver's door lock sometimes fails to react to the key fob.
• The shift linkage is loose, so you have to play with it to get it to go into Park properly, before the ignition lock lets go of the key.
• The sunroof doesn't work.

So they replaced the airbag and then called me the next day to say that their Saab technician (they only have one) had some kind of family emergency and would be out for at least a week, so... what did I want to do with the car?

Since nobody actually drives it, I said "hang onto it and just let me know when the guy gets back and it's done."

Like I said, that was 3 weeks ago. They haven't called and they haven't returned any of my calls.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Sounds like their Saab technician is either dead or working someplace else.

 

[RU4Real]

Sounds like their Saab technician is either dead or working someplace else.

Actually, my guess was "unexpectedly incarcerated".

 

[KingHigh]

Actually, my guess was "unexpectedly incarcerated".

Daddy's on vacation.

 

[becktheory]

I continue to be very concerned about the tipping point. Lithium is a finite resource. The transmission grid has well-known limitations. We're not building new power plants. It's not difficult to see a day when there are electric cars in half the garages and rolling blackouts, nationwide, because of it.

Tree huggers whine about gasoline, but electricity doesn't grow on trees either. This country needs more fission plants.

Tree huggers have been much busier helping to transform the production of energy off of coal. Their is sufficient energy production and more then enough in reserve. I don't see the concern of blackouts.

 

[becktheory]

Anyone reserve one? Can you lease it? The website doesn't seem clear on that. Also, what's the deal with the tax credit? Sounds like it would be $7,500, but then I read it's only for the first 200,000 cars so it may not be available still. Anyone with good knowledge of how that works.

TIA

I have reserved one but don't expect to get the tax credit. Just an FYI if you lease or finance it, you would not get the tax credit since you don't own the vehicle.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Actually, my guess was "unexpectedly incarcerated".

Ah, that one too!

 

[Scarlet Engineer]

That's weak logic and doesn't suggest anything other than the Nissan Maxima is a complete **** box.

My wife's last A4 was running flawlessly at 100k. I traded in my GTI at 93k and it had still yet to be serviced for anything other than routine maintenance, tires and brakes.

And leave us not forget - there's a 50k+ price difference between a Maxima and a Model S.

None of which addresses the point - at what level of battery degradation, in the first 8 years, will Tesla determine that the battery requires replacement?

I have about 50k miles on my Tesla and have been monitoring my battery capacity very closely. So far my battery has degraded 2 miles.

Tesla recommends charging up to 100% only when you need it. Otherwise you should top up to 80-90% on a regular basis. That prevents the rapid degradation you normally see in lithium ion batteries.

 

[theRU]

Tree huggers whine about gasoline, but electricity doesn't grow on trees either. This country needs more fission plants.

Fission is short sighted...def not the answer

 

[CERU00]

The Nissan VQ series is what's called an "interference engine" That means that the valves and the pistons occupy the same physical space, at different times. Failure to replace the timing chain on interval puts you in danger of trashing the entire top end when the chain eventually breaks.

I think a better analysis of your operating costs would be in excluding whatever you paid to rebuild the engine when you broke it, and substituting the cost of the required maintenance, which would be about $750.

Bottom line, comparing the cars based on operating costs may not be the best way to justify a Tesla. You bought it because you think it's cool. You should really just own that - there's certainly nothing wrong with it.

I paid 29k for a new maxima. Put at least 25k worth of gas, oil and replacement of components that are unique to ICE over 10 years if owning it. I had a 60k warranty which I never needed. After 60k, it broke left and right. Completely disabled on the side of the road twice and at 145k, the timing chain broke causing irreparable engine damage. I take responsibility for at least part of that trouble. I've never been interested in maintaining machines. To me, it's a hassle, uninteresting, costly and a complete pain in the ***. I strongly prefer low maintenance.

I bought a pre-owned Model S for 50k which will require none of the $25k expense over that 10 year period. The gamble I've taken is that this Model S may not last me 10 years. But in the meantime, I get to drive my dream car instead of a **** box for the same cost all in.

As to the battery warranty, normal degradation us not covered. What constitutes "normal"? I have not seen a definition. More than 25% degradation before 150k miles and I'd be pissed. Fortunately, every report I've seen from owners suggests that the longevity of the battery is much better than even what was hoped.

Timing chain broke?? How'd that happen? Those things shouldnt need to be replaced.

 

[RU4Real]

Timing chain broke?? How'd that happen? Those things shouldnt need to be replaced.

I don't know what year his Maxima was, but...

Earlier VQ engines had chains, later ones had (have) belts.

And there's a maintenance interval on the chains, as well. They absolutely will break, over time.

I had a timing belt let go on an old Subaru way back in the 90s. It was no big deal, because Subaru's boxer 4 isn't an interference engine. It stalled, I had it towed. When the timing belt goes on an interference engine, it lunches the whole thing. Valves meet pistons. Neither wins.