Is the Tesla car for you…or is it just a shiny new toy that’s more problematic than it looks?
Tesla is all the hype right now. The innovation behind this car is what attracts its loyal following. However, even if Tesla has a strong following and even if it offers a lot of features that are new in the car market, not all of its cars are created flawlessly. If you look closely, you’ll see certain imperfections about the car that even hardcore fans find annoying, or worse, abhor.
Hence, if you plan to buy a Tesla, you may want to familiarise yourself with these imperfections so you can make a sound decision. To some, these flaws are reasons enough for them to say that getting a Tesla is a terrible idea. So, before you write a fat check and drive home a Tesla, read on to find out more about Tesla’s imperfections.
Admittedly, Tesla is cool and hip. Moreover, it comes with features that make the car stand out from the rest. Still, if you get to know its flaws, it’s difficult just to shrug them off, especially if you’re paying a steep price for the car. It’s just reasonable to look at all the cons before you give your final decision.
- Recent String of Recalls
Everyone is undoubtedly aware of Tesla’s recent problems, from the Autopilot failures to the fires. These compiling issues have resulted in a massive recall. The company has recalled almost a half-million vehicles as recently as December 2021.
Though the most significant number of recalls is for the rear-view camera, it is just the latest in a long string of mishaps plaguing the company.
Front hood problems and trunk latch problems also caused recall. Though they may not seem like much, a growing trend in faulty components being used in Tesla cars leads to poor overall quality.
- Expensive Battery Replacement
Replacing a car battery is a fact of life and in a standard vehicle, a minor cost. If and when the battery starts to fail on a Tesla, expect prices to be prohibitively expensive. In fact, Tesla batteries are given a lifespan of about eight years for maximum capacity, which means after that point, your trips get shorter as the battery can’t charge to 100%.
The options are to leave the decreased capacity alone and continue to whittle down the battery until it doesn’t last a trip to the market or swap it out for a new one. While the latter seems a bit excessive, it may be the only option, and at an average of N200,000 to replace, it’s cheaper to replace the whole vehicle!
- Complicated to Own and Maintain
Having a Tesla car is cool, but it can also be the reason for your chronic headache. For a vehicle that you can use for everyday city driving, the Tesla is a reliable option. However, if you’re the kind of driver who often goes on long, interstate trips, you may want to reconsider getting a Tesla.
Keep in mind that there aren’t many charging stations for this car, so if you have to go on a long drive, a single charge from home might not be enough. To avoid getting stranded, you need to plot your trip on a map and note all the charging stations along the way. You also need to set beforehand when to charge so you can be efficient on your trip.
- It Takes Getting Used to Charging
If you plan to buy a Tesla, you should know that the algorithms for its charging routes, especially on interstate drives, may take a while to learn and get used to. So, if you’re a long-distance driver, you might need to spend some time and effort learning about the charging routes. This can be tricky, and not everyone is willing to learn other stuff just to fill up the power source of the car.
Moreover, there might be instances when it will tell you to skip charging, but that might leave you worrying while driving. Hence, you might end up charging every time you see a station just to have peace of mind. You might not be able to fully trust the algorithms just yet, but they’re helpful on long drives.
- Tires Wear Out Quicker.
When driving a Tesla, accelerating from a standstill to 60 mph can be very hard on tires. Hence, if you like to zoom away when driving, your tires wear out quicker compared to other cars. For instance, if you are driving a Tesla on stock tires, you might just get to use them effectively around the first 40,000 to 50,000 miles. After that, it might be unsafe to continue driving with the stock tires. You need to get them replaced immediately.
In most cases, changing the tires for the first time is free and covered by the service centre. However, after that, you will immediately incur additional costs to ensure safe driving with your Tesla.
- Always Have to Think About Charging Stations
The Tesla isn’t like other cars. Since it’s fully electric, it runs solely on battery power. If you don’t charge it well, it’ll stop running, and you can get stuck on your trip. Therefore, you need to know about the charging stations on your route. You also need to properly plan all your trips ahead because charging stations aren’t as plentiful as gas stations. You don’t want to get stranded while driving, so you need to know the exact locations where you can refill your car’s power juice.
Also, you might need to make alterations at home if you want to install a charging station in your house. This will require additional expenses on your end.
- No Test Drive
Unlike most car purchases where you can test drive the car before making a decision, this isn’t available when you buy a Tesla. In a way, it’s ridiculous to buy an expensive car without testing it. It’s even more ridiculous to buy a car that you’ll just see for the first time once you purchase it. That’s the case for Tesla. Since you can buy it online, you can easily buy it without testing it, which can be a disadvantage. Why? It’s because you might find some things in person that you don’t like but haven’t seen when purchasing them online. This is why doing a test drive for a car is important.
Remember, a Tesla is a serious purchase, and you deserve to test drive it before you give yourself a go-signal for buying it.
- Too Expensive
The basic Tesla car comes with a price tag of ₦40,000,000. However, if you’re buying a Tesla, you’re not the type of person who settles for the basics. So, you go all out and buy the bells and whistles that can be added to it. When you do so, the Tesla is no longer a mid-range vehicle but a luxury car.
Some features you can add to the basic package can include heated seats, and a bigger battery, Of course, you would want to have the Autopilot mode on a Tesla. These things will add more fees to damage. Hence, the car can cost ₦60,000,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO I ENTER AND EXIT TESLA VEHICLES?
HOW DO I CHARGE TESLAS?
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