Tesla Plaid-1 year review

[PorscheGAL]

Been tempted to post my thoughts so here we go:

I purchased my Plaid, new, in November 2021. It has 33,000 miles on it (yes, I drive a lot for work).

Why did I choose it?
My husband got a model 3 in April 2021 after reading lots of reviews. I drove it once from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC and fell in love with the acceleration. The Plaid was announced and I reserved it shortly after. I traded my Audi RS3 for the Plaid and I will tell you I don't miss it.

The buying process is not for the light-hearted. You reserve, pay a deposit and wait. There is an estimate of delivery but mine changed constantly in the 6 months I waited. Sometimes, Tesla extended the time and sometimes they shortened it. This is not for someone in a rush for a car. I was notified a week before the car would arrive at the Tesla service center in Charlotte, NC (there are no Tesla Service Ctrs in SC due to the laws) and set up an appointment to pick up. Before you arrive at the service center, you must download the Tesla App. There will be no dealers showing you around your new car. You walk up to it, use the app to unlock and the keys are in the center console. You go in the building to sign the purchase agreement and you're off.

Life with the Car:
This car is fast. If you look at my signature line, I have owned some great cars but the acceleration on this car is like a roller coaster. I can sit at a stop light, hit the pedal and will be 50+mph before I get through the intersection. I drive it like that everyday. My job has me driving across the entire state of SC so charging does come up.

Tesla says the car will go 400 miles on a full charge. I drive it like I stole it so I get about 380. If I drove on "Chill Mode" in place of "Sport" I am sure I could get 400 but where is the fun in that?

At home, I plug the car in every night to charge and it costs about $13 to fully charge (12-13 cents kW hour). If I need to charge on the road at superchargers it costs $25-30 to fully charge typically. It does take about 30 minutes to fully charge but I use that time to send work emails, have lunch, etc.

Besides work, I have driven to Jacksonville, FL twice and Daytona with this car. Charging is easy. The GPS automatically puts charging station stops along the way when it is needed.

Service:
There is very little. I have had a wheel alignment done. The pain comes in there is no local service center so I drive almost 2 hours to Charlotte and Tesla wants the car left all day. So, what do I do for a whole day in Charlotte to kill time? That's a pain. Sometimes there are loaner vehicles but not always. Luckily, if I didn't need the alignment I wouldn't have gone to the service center at all.

The Bad:
When it rains, my car smells like feet. I have no idea where the smell comes from but if I use there heavy duty recirculating air the smell is gone in 20 seconds.

The alarm system is very sensitive to vibrations in a parking garage so my app is notifying me constantly of an alarm. On a high note: I can see through my app a 360 view around my car to see if there is a real issue. In dark parking garages, especially at night, I will look before I walk to the car for any safety issues.

One of my favorite functions:
Dog mode and the ability to keep the air on while not in the car.

Got questions? Ask away.

[Nickshu]

When you road trip is it a PITA to sit and wait for a charge?

How often do you arrive at a charging area, needing to charge and get on w/ your life, to find that all stations are occupied and you have to wait hours to get a spot to charge?

If you are road tripping how long do you have to wait for the battery to charge up before you can keep going on down the road?

Have you driven in cold weather? I have heard battery range drops drastically when cold.

If you set cruise on the interstate at 90MPH does your range drop significantly? I have heard over 70mph the range drops off quite a bit?

These are the main concerns that are keeping me out of the EV game for now.

[recycled sixtie]

Loved your review. Thanks for that. I have been gently looking at ev's and have tried a Nissan Leaf but have not tried a Tesla yet. Range is my concern and it looks like your car has it. Friends of ours from the West Coast have one but not sure which model. He had a heart operation and he said if he came out of it alive he would buy a new Tesla. He did survive and bought a Tesla and visited with us in Edmonton on the way to Saskatchewan. No issues on their trip and I was very impressed with their Tesla.

Just a word of caution on intersections. I was driving my wife's Camry about a year ago and I was the first to go into the intersection when the light turned green. I see a car coming out of a side street from the left. My tires are spinning on the icy street to get out of his way. No tbone fortunately. Two days ago my daughter was driving and witnessed a car in front got tboned. She said the noise of the crash will stay with her for a long time.

Stay safe out there folks.
Cheers, Guy

[PorscheGAL]

I have never had to wait for a charger. The GPS will not direct me to a station that is full. It will send me to an alternate station. As far as sitting, it gives me a chance to have a bathroom break and grab a snack if needed, so it doesn't bother me.

The coldest I have driven in is probably about 30F. I do lose a little range at that temp mostly as it is sitting in a parking lot. I'd say about 20 miles.

I drive almost all highway and the mileage I give in my description is based on that.

[Sooner or later]

Thanks for the info.

[fanaudical]

Thanks for the review!

What laws keep Tesla service centers out of South Carolina?

How would you compare fit and finish on the car to the RS3? How do you rank the quality of the interior?

[GH85Carrera]

Great review. Thanks
I notice you said it does have keys. I always wondered how one could unlock and drive the car if your cell phone went dead. With a dead cell phone, or one dropped into water or some accident, with just the keys can you operate the vehicle?

I have driven to many places in Arkansas with no cell service at all. I presume the car talks to the phone via Bluetooth, or local WiFi.

One of my sister in laws cousins has a Plaid. He love it, and as a guy, he loves all the toys and fart mode, and other features it downloads and updates.

[Sooner or later]

SC is like Texas and some other states. You must have a dealership presence in the state to sell the vehicles. Tesla does not have a dealership network and sells direct from corporate.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Thanks for the review!

What laws keep Tesla service centers out of South Carolina?

How would you compare fit and finish on the car to the RS3? How do you rank the quality of the interior?

In South Carolina, all new cars must be sold through a dealer. There is no direct selling to consumers from manufacturers.

Fit and finish are comparable to the RS3. The interior is minimalist, which I love. I had a Macan and I hated all the buttons on the center console. That look may not be for everyone but I like all my controls in the touch screen.

Plus. The voice command is amazing. I can say "defrost windows" and it does it with out me looking for buttons.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Great review. Thanks
I notice you said it does have keys. I always wondered how one could unlock and drive the car if your cell phone went dead. With a dead cell phone, or one dropped into water or some accident, with just the keys can you operate the vehicle?

I have driven to many places in Arkansas with no cell service at all. I presume the car talks to the phone via Bluetooth, or local WiFi.

One of my sister in laws cousins has a Plaid. He love it, and as a guy, he loves all the toys and fart mode, and other features it downloads and updates.

The "keys" are shaped like credit cards that just go in a wallet or shaped like the car (reminds me of the newer Porsche keys). The keys must be laid just under the screen for the car to recognize it. So if I leave my wallet locked (by 4 digit code) in the glove box it won't allow the car to be driven.

The keys and app communicate with the car through bluetooth.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

As far as sitting, it gives me a chance to have a bathroom break and grab a snack if needed, so it doesn't bother me.

I take these 7-8 hour trips at 66 years old to my Dad's house near Charlotte. One gas/bio break. I know I should walk around every hour or so but I don't. The charging would at least make one get out of the car every couple hours.

Pal east of me in Oil City let me download the app on my phone so I could see what his (10 year old) S was up to. I could beep his horn from across the country and his dog would go nuts thinking someone was going to the house. His wife asked me to remove it for that reason. I complied after one last beep.

His car had a "60" emblem on the back. I think that means pretty average power wise. It was not a fire breather but it was still fast.

[slow&rusty]

My 70-something year old neighbors bought a Plaid this year which boggles my mind as their house is literally falling apart. When he got it, he came over with his chest full pout and was quick to tell me how his car is the future and my gross polluters are now officially dinosaurs.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I take these 7-8 hour trips at 66 years old to my Dad's house near Charlotte. One gas/bio break. I know I should walk around every hour or so but I don't. The charging would at least make one get out of the car every couple hours.

Pal east of me in Oil City let me download the app on my phone so I could see what his (10 year old) S was up to. I could beep his horn from across the country and his dog would go nuts thinking someone was going to the house. His wife asked me to remove it for that reason. I complied after one last beep.

His car had a "60" emblem on the back. I think that means pretty average power wise. It was not a fire breather but it was still fast.

I can easily drive 4 hours and then stop. So you would still only have 1 stop. My husband has a Model 3 and he would need to stop every 2-3 hours

[Sooner or later]

Bob, she says she has 380 miles range. You should easily go 300 miles before needing a charge. 4 hours or so. Also, she starts the day a full charge. No need to top off the night before the trip or the morning of the trip.

[fanaudical]

What does the service and maintenance schedule look like for these?

Still changing brake fluid every two years? Are there any drive-train lubrication or coolant change intervals? Body lube or seal care?

What are these running for tires? How is the tire wear? Frequent rotation required?

[Norm K]

Good review, but I'll admit I'm not a big fan of this part ...

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

I can sit at a stop light, hit the pedal and will be 50+mph before I get through the intersection. I drive it like that everyday.

[PorscheGAL]

Service:

Brake Fluid every 2 years
Hepa Filter every 3 years
A/C Desiccant Bag every 3 years
Brake Calipers lube every year if in area where roads are salted (not an issue for me in SC)

I have different size tires on the back and front so no rotation.

I have 33K miles and will need new tires soon.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Bob, she says she has 380 miles range. You should easily go 300 miles before needing a charge. 4 hours or so. Also, she starts the day a full charge. No need to top off the night before the trip or the morning of the trip.

Yep.

I need to take a few more minutes even if I don't get a Plaid.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Norm K

Good review, but I'll admit I'm not a big fan of this part ...

LOL in my hood there's a model 3 owner (white one) who HAS to boot it from every single light-seen him multiple times, he tries hard. Won't break the speed limit tho.

rjp

[MisterB]

Nice review. My model 3 p is plenty fast. I also thought I would miss my 911 but that's not my case. Can you comment differences between the 3p and plaid other than range?