I'm interested in this aspect. Do you mean you're waiting for the end of the year true up to see where you stand? Did you install extra
PV panels in anticipation of the new EV?

Well, not so fast. Tesla is typically dead last in just about every reliability rating. Even though the battery and motor(s) are reliable and low maintenance, the control and cooling of the powertrain are not. Plus you have all of the same dodads as every other vehicle that like to break. Really modern ICE powertrains are very reliable, it’s all the other crap that breaks.

I can see it, and hear the crew chief now. Daytona 500. "4 tires and a battery change."

"Just stay on the lead lap until the last caution. They will never hear us coming."

Yes. My true up date is May 19th. So that date will be almost seven months exactly. Like I said, the system normally generates close to 3mb (2.8mb last year) of extra power over the year. I'm hoping I will get an idea of how much that extra generation will contribute toward supplying power for the car. My system went online a bit before mid 2016, & I haven't had more panels added. I'd have to balance the cost of adding more panels against the savings of powering the car. I suspect I wouldn't be worth it since the difference I anticipate paying, if I go over the amount of extra power I generate, would be a minor cost. But, I'm hoping I will get a more clear idea at true up time. Like I said before, one of my main satisfactions is sticking it to the utility company. They pay me two cents per Kwh for my extra generation, so I usually get around $100 credit for my almost 3 mb. They charge from the high twenty cents to high forty cents on their three tiered rate schedule. So I'm running the car on 2cent/Kwh power.

^ thanks for the info and I eagerly await your results. I just had a system installed, haven't even seen a power bill yet. I was at the mercy of PG&E and I assume you were of Edison? If your blood sucking energy provider is like mine everyones electric bill will at least double within the next 10 years. Solar is our only defence. I'm sneaking in more PV panels now that my final inspection is completed and am now considering an EV grocery getter for my wife. Two for one, stick it to PG&E and to Chevron at the same time!

We have SDG&E. They have a contract over a period of years to deliver power to the County. It's interesting that the new mayor of the city of San Diego is currently opening the process up to alternative bidders for electrical service. SDG&E automatically had the contract renewed for decades and paid a really low fee for it. I'm glad to see a little competition introduced into the process. Like I've said before, one of my main reasons for installing solar generation was cost increase. Our house is all electric. Our highest monthly bill went up from $495 to $595 from one year to the next, indicating to me how much they were able to raise rates. My system should pay for itself later this year or inito next year.

Edit: in deciding the size of your system, it doesn't pay to oversize it and generate power you won't use. I think usually companies size systems for 10% over usage. That's why we generate our extra power. At the time I didn't know anything about it, but luckily it seems to have worked out well for us. So if you're intending on getting an EV, you might use your system as is until you get an idea about power usage over the year. You can always add panels later when you can judge if it's econonical or not.

Anyone...

External speakers with a vrooom sound track.

Marv- wow, that's a great return. It's the expensive electric bill that makes solar a viable alternative in CA. Looks like mine will take 8 years to pay for itself at my current rate of consumption but I use natural gas too. I figure it will pay off sooner if I can power up an EV with it.
I would hazard a guess that your new utility competition will become a blood sucking leach like the last. I mean, it's the California way!

My Model 3 has the 18” wheels which give a firm but not punishing ride quality. I specifically avoided the 19” and 20” options.


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So, we have 2 Tesla. I have a Model S Performance and my wife just got a 21 Model 3 a couple days before Christmas. She got a Tesla because of my Tesla. I can't speak to others reliability, but in 60K miles, I've had spent zero on my car besides electricity cost. Its been to the shop once for a computer update and that cost nothing. I still look forward to driving it everyday and it really has been nothing but a pleasurable driving experience. People say ludicrous mode gets boring, guess I haven't gotten there yet. Being an owner, with my eyes wide open, I'm seriously thinking about trading in for a new model S plaid+.

The Model 3 is a nice car, definitely different from the S. Same things I like, others not so much. It definitely is louder inside then my S. But it its a nice size and so far my wife really enjoys it..

Really glad to see you well enough to look in on us and comment. What you said reminded me about another thing with ours. It does have more interior noise than I thought it would have. It's not bad, just surprising. I also think the tire noise is too loud for the car. I will be trying to choose quieter tires when we replace the ones that came with the car.

Thank you, me too. I agree with about the tire noise as well. On my wife's 3, there is a noticeable wind source coming from the drivers side

I have 21s on my S. Depending on the road, those michelin can get loud, then other times they are perfectly quiet....They are not a lexus inside.

Have you seen the wheels that are under those ugly hubcaps? They're really nice. Supposedly you lose 3% of range without the hubcaps. Worth it to me. Also, 45psi is for range, not comfort. Elon Musk has said go to 38psi for comfort, but that triggers the TPMS. I run mine at 40psi and the ride is a little better. 39psi sometimes triggers the tire pressure warning.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612230145.jpg



I think the older Model 3s were louder than the newer ones. It does depend on the road a lot. I put on everything on this page except the wind noise kit. The car is pretty quiet. Part of the reason you hear road noise and wind noise is there's no driveline noise to mask it.

https://www.rpmtesla.com/collections/model-3-noise-reduction-kits

My 76 year old Mother in Law, who has to have the latest and greatest tech everything just purchased a 2021 Model X, Dual Motor, with Ludicrous Mode...triple black.

It is a beautiful car, amazing looking. It sat in her Drive way for two weeks while she figured out how to drive it. My Father in Law and wife went to go pick it up at the dealer.

She gave us her super charged range rover sport, like new condition as she only drives the car to the gym and grocery store.

She will never even think about going fast in it. She is a super slow driver and hits the brakes the entire time she drives, it is nauseating.

I have not even been offered a ride in it. However, I have been tasked with programing it to open our garage door for when she comes over.

If all goes well when the warranty runs out we will get it. I mean my wife will get it.

Here is what it looks like....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612243223.jpg

The tires are supposedly Tesla specific. Or that’s what I was told.
I got a flat, pulled off the highway and there happened to be a tire shop on one corner and a Pep Boys on the other.
I thought “great, I’ll pull in, they’ll take the tire off, throw on a patch and I’ll be on my way.”
But neither would do it. They said there’s some special liner inside the tires such that they couldn’t patch it like a “normal” tire.
Don’t know if that contributes to the tire noise or not, but I agree they can be noisy.

Mind. Blown. That is what is under those fugly caps?! VERY glad you posted this, because I was going to opt for the larger wheels simply because the standard look so lame.

Yeah, Tesla has an option for the center caps. I think it was about $185.

Recent recall announcement.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/tesla-recalling-135k-cars-touchscreen-defect

Only affects 2012-2018 model year vehicles. Apparently they used a different touchscreen on 2019 an up cars.

EDIT:

Tesla’s response to the recall. . .

“It is economically, if not technologically, infeasible to expect that such components can or should be designed to last the vehicle’s entire useful life,” Tesla said in the letter (replying to the recall)