Life with America’s Most Controversial Car

It's in the news virtually every day. And not all of it is good: Production hell, cash shortages, wayward tweets from the CEO, threats from the SEC. And yet, hundreds of thousands placed deposits on the Tesla Model 3 before a single one was made. Today, the controversial Model 3 outsells all of its luxury competitors from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus—and has been doing so without running a single ad or commercial.

The Decision
In the Spring of 2016, I heard or read about the coming availability of a $35,000 all-electric car made by Tesla. I had seen the Model S on the road and liked its sleek look, as well as the concept of never having to stop at a gas station. I had never consciously thought about an electric car for me, in part due to the cost and in part out of a concern about the dreaded “range anxiety” that a friend who owned the original Nissan Leaf described to me.

But I was curious about an affordable Tesla so I started reading up on it. The Model 3 was intended to be an accessible electric that many could actually afford, especially after factoring in the $7500 federal tax credit, California’s $2500 electric car rebate, and savings in fuel and maintenance. My own commute was relatively short but I would be able to take the car on long trips and still never suffer range anxiety with a standard Model 3 battery. And, the early models of the car looked quite futuristic, with its glass roof and minimalist interior with the gigantic tablet in place of a dashboard.

In short, I was hooked.
So, along with hundreds of others of all ages and backgrounds, I lined up early the morning of March 31, 2016 at Century City shopping mall to put $1000 on my credit card to reserve my spot on the waiting list for my Model 3. As a surprise bonus, Elon Musk himself made an appearance at that location, high-fiving the faithful as he walked the line.

Then came the wait.
Tesla was somewhat vague about the estimated delivery date of the cars, but I was initially led to believe they would be available for purchase by first day placeholders by the end of 2017. It was definitely annoying that the delivery date for the first cars kept getting pushed back, with the arrival of the basic $35,000 model nowhere in sight.

As this was going on, Elon was making other, unwelcome news with juvenile tweets about a British cave diver who helped rescue the Thai boys soccer team and taunting the SEC after being accused of making false statements to move the price of Tesla stock. I was beginning to wonder whether I should just give up waiting when, in September 2018, I was informed I could get a longer-range Model 3 for delivery within two weeks. It was time to do some serious number crunching.

A huge factor to me was the dwindling availability of the full federal tax credit. I learned that Tesla was selling so many cars that the credit would be dropping from $7500 to $3750 or even lower by the time the basic Model 3 would be available. I was also unsure about the availability of the California rebate into 2019.

Penciling it all out, I determined that a long range Model 3 in September 2018 would only set me back a couple thousand more than waiting until Spring of 2019—and I would be getting a nicer and more valuable car if I bought right away. So, even though I originally signed up with the express motivation of buying a $35,000 electric car for the masses, I ended up the owner of a $49,000 rear wheel drive long range Model 3, plus a few thou more for metallic silver paint and 19” wheels.

And, I love it! It is the nicest, fastest, least expensive to operate and maintain, most technologically advanced, and, by far, “coolest” car I’ve ever owned.

The Adjustments
Driving adjustments from a gas motor to the Model 3 have been a breeze. I initially thought it would take awhile to get used to the regenerative braking but I got the knack of that by the second or third time I drove the car. Having to look to the right at the screen instead of at the dash directly in front of me took a bit longer but I am loving the massive navigation screen.

The Joys
The Tesla Model 3 is so fast, quiet, and smooth. It’s the first car I’ve driven in which you can actually feel yourself being pushed back into your seat when you floor it (which I sometimes do for fun on empty roads). It is also super comfortable, with the best seats of any car I’ve sat in. The back seats are also quite comfortable and I’ve been told, even on long trips, one is less inclined to get motion sickness because there is no claustrophobic feeling due to the expansive glass all around.

I appreciate the easy access to a phone charger in the center console—although enabling that space to charge a phone wirelessly via a Qi set-up would have been even better. I have made good use of the roomy trunk and the more secure “frunk” space as well. I like the way the car is able to automatically open my garage door as I approach it, while still giving me a chance to “skip” activation if I want.

One feature that I’ve come to really appreciate is being able to initiate interior cooling or heating prior to getting into the car. It is remarkable how fast the car can cool down even if all the windows are up and it has been baking in 95 degrees Palm Springs sun. Surprisingly, I have found that the all-glass roof does not make the interior hotter even on the brightest day. And the ventilation system, with its excellent adjustability, has kept me comfortable inside the car no matter what the weather is like outside.

I love that Tesla regularly sends out software updates to the car and that I don’t have to pay for them. This gives owners the feeling that we have a car that is going to be kept technologically up to date. That resale values are the highest in the industry for the Model 3 is testament to the fact that this is a car that is not likely to feel as old as quickly as other cars.

Finally, there is real joy in being able to pass up gas stations without a thought and plugging it a couple of times a week into the NEMA 14-50 outlet I had installed in my garage. Since I had been generating more electricity than I was consuming with my rooftop solar panels, it doesn’t seem so far that I will be seeing a big increase in my electric bill. That my car use does not contribute to poor air quality or climate change is also a great psychic benefit.

The Annoyances
Nothing is perfect and there are some minor things that I don’t care for, that are an annoyance, or that I wish Tesla had done differently. For example, the center console is finished with a glossy black surface that shows dust and smudges. I think it is a bit silly that the only way to open the glove compartment is by touching the screen a couple of times.

A bigger annoyance is that with some frequency, there is a delay before the car unlocks from the outside. On occasion, I have to take my phone out of my pocket before the car unlocks. (Still, I do like not having to carry a large key fob and worry about battery replacement.)

The No-Dealership Experience
I certainly don’t miss not having a Tesla dealership in every city or county to visit. The main reason to go to a dealer after buying a car is to have it serviced and in the case of Tesla, there are no rigid service schedules. More than six months out, I still haven’t experienced the need for servicing. There is a truly exhilarating feeling of freedom of passing up all of the gas stations one sees, and never worrying about oil changes, fuel filters, and spark plugs. I expect that even brake pad replacements will be rare since I am relying so much on the strong regenerative braking effect to slow my car down. When I do require servicing, I will probably be able to take my car to a service center only a few miles from home or, at worst, schedule someone to come out to my house for servicing.

The Bottom-Line
A half-year out: would I do it again? Absolutely, without reservation. I have owned some good cars in my life but none of them has done so many things well and has been as much fun to drive as my Tesla Model 3.

– Daniel M. Mayeda

Daniel M. Mayeda is the Associate Director of the Documentary Film Legal Clinic at the UCLA School of Law. Tesla recently announced that the $35,000 standard version of the Model 3 will no longer be available to order online. The full-length version of this article, including a sidebar report on Tesla service, can be seen at LACar.com.