High mileage tesla
Discussion
There’s plenty of YouTube episodes on high milers used as taxis that are more reliable than you would think.
But as an owner of a 21 plate model 3 LR, I’d be inclined to advise you to seek out something either lower miles or newer if you can stretch to it. Build quality improved on 2021 onwards and addition of heat pump improved efficiency.
It depends what the budget is and the cost of the example you have seen?
I checked autotrader for 2019 and there were only two for £17k ish. You can get better value for that price. ie £17k for 125k miles is too much, maybe £12-13 and have money for any unexpected repairs?
But as an owner of a 21 plate model 3 LR, I’d be inclined to advise you to seek out something either lower miles or newer if you can stretch to it. Build quality improved on 2021 onwards and addition of heat pump improved efficiency.
It depends what the budget is and the cost of the example you have seen?
I checked autotrader for 2019 and there were only two for £17k ish. You can get better value for that price. ie £17k for 125k miles is too much, maybe £12-13 and have money for any unexpected repairs?
This is worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AbStgJrRic&t=...
Richard Symons deals in EVs, more Tesla than most.
Richard Symons deals in EVs, more Tesla than most.
Maracus said:
This is worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AbStgJrRic&t=...
Richard Symons deals in EVs, more Tesla than most.
That's a good insight. Most of which I knew already but good to see it all laid out. Richard Symons deals in EVs, more Tesla than most.
Makes me wonder how EV haters interpret videos like that. Fingers in their ears shouting la, la, la is my guess.
We had a 2021 Model 3 Long Range, which we did 122k miles in just over 3 1/2 years. It was brilliant. No servicing during that time at all. No breakdowns, only consumable items were 1 set of wiper blades, 1 set of front tyres and 3 sets of rear tyres. A revelation v internal combustion engine.
We averaged just over 4 miles / kwh despite all the motorway miles that you'd expect given the mileage.
I'd echo the comments above - aim for a 2021 onwards car, which would be available easily at that price. But I wouldn't be afraid of mileage - there is little to go wrong, I think you'd be unlucky if something did.
We averaged just over 4 miles / kwh despite all the motorway miles that you'd expect given the mileage.
I'd echo the comments above - aim for a 2021 onwards car, which would be available easily at that price. But I wouldn't be afraid of mileage - there is little to go wrong, I think you'd be unlucky if something did.
timwatsham said:
We had a 2021 Model 3 Long Range, which we did 122k miles in just over 3 1/2 years. It was brilliant. No servicing during that time at all. No breakdowns, only consumable items were 1 set of wiper blades, 1 set of front tyres and 3 sets of rear tyres. A revelation v internal combustion engine.
We averaged just over 4 miles / kwh despite all the motorway miles that you'd expect given the mileage.
I'd echo the comments above - aim for a 2021 onwards car, which would be available easily at that price. But I wouldn't be afraid of mileage - there is little to go wrong, I think you'd be unlucky if something did.
But isn't the OP asking how an older Model 3 with over 120k miles will be as an ownership proposition moving forwards and adding more miles, rather than asking how reliable they are for the first 3 years/120k miles?We averaged just over 4 miles / kwh despite all the motorway miles that you'd expect given the mileage.
I'd echo the comments above - aim for a 2021 onwards car, which would be available easily at that price. But I wouldn't be afraid of mileage - there is little to go wrong, I think you'd be unlucky if something did.
Lots of cars seem to be trouble free even with high miles in the first few years, only to have problems later in life.
Would be good to know someone's actual experience as I'm looking into the same option but a 2020/21 model 3LR with heatpump.
I've seen videos of certain cars with high miles but we all know videos are bias one way or another. Someone with real life experience and what issues if any, would be interesting to know.
We expect the other parts wear just like ICE cars but the battery and range is what people want to know.
I've seen videos of certain cars with high miles but we all know videos are bias one way or another. Someone with real life experience and what issues if any, would be interesting to know.
We expect the other parts wear just like ICE cars but the battery and range is what people want to know.
Not specific to Model 3's but more the reliability of high mileage Tesla's.
We have a 2023 Model 3 on 21k miles and a 2018 Model X on just over 100k. The Model 3 replaced a 2014 Model S that was written off after being reversed into by a Highways Agency lorry. We bought the Model S new in 2014 and covered just under 200k miles before it was written off. It only let me down once when the battery went from 20 miles to zero while parked. Tesla took it away and replaced the battery under warranty.
The weight and torque means the suspension and tyres are the main things that need replacing. But other than that, the Tesla's have been the most reliable cars I have had.
We have a 2023 Model 3 on 21k miles and a 2018 Model X on just over 100k. The Model 3 replaced a 2014 Model S that was written off after being reversed into by a Highways Agency lorry. We bought the Model S new in 2014 and covered just under 200k miles before it was written off. It only let me down once when the battery went from 20 miles to zero while parked. Tesla took it away and replaced the battery under warranty.
The weight and torque means the suspension and tyres are the main things that need replacing. But other than that, the Tesla's have been the most reliable cars I have had.
Just to add some balance - our Model Y has needed £5k worth of repairs in the 30k miles since the warranty ran out so don't take the "there's almost nothing to go wrong" too seriously. £3k of that for failed invertor that had it off the road for almost a month and the rest for various knuckles and suspension arms. We've now found an independent who's willing to look after it but the parts are still expensive and the suspension arms last time took weeks to turn up.
Snow and Rocks said:
Just to add some balance - our Model Y has needed £5k worth of repairs in the 30k miles since the warranty ran out so don't take the "there's almost nothing to go wrong" too seriously. £3k of that for failed invertor that had it off the road for almost a month and the rest for various knuckles and suspension arms. We've now found an independent who's willing to look after it but the parts are still expensive and the suspension arms last time took weeks to turn up.
What age/miles did the car get to ahead of those bits needing replacing?Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff