My Tesla Model Y Experience

One of the reasons for me to purchase my Tesla Model Y now was that I got the full IRA Federal Tax Credit of $7,500 - that is a substantial amount of money to save when buying a new EV. It surprises me that still a lot of people don't seem to know about this tax incentive. I think it is worth to understand the program because makes an EV more affordable. All variants of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y qualify for this credit, among other selected brands and model such as Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Marche, GM Lyric, VW ID4, etc. The credit amount depends on criteria such as where the car is made, where the battery is made and where the battery materials are coming from. Therefore, the credit might change over time for certain cars. In addition, there is a requirement regarding income and price of the car. You can find more details about this here  IRA Clean Vehicle Purchase Credits . Tesla has posted a short summary regarding price and income on their website that explains this in more detail.

Tesla is currently running a referral program that gives the buyer of a new Tesla up to $500 discount, plus 3 months trial of FSD (Full Self Driving). Each person who has a Tesla account (and the Tesla app) has a unique referral link in the app that can be used to get the discount. The referrer gets credits that can be used to purchase Tesla merchandise or upgrades. Ask friends or family if they either own a Tesla or at least have a Tesla account and then get their referral link. Have your friend tap the profile picture in the Tesla app, then select "Refer and Earn" and then tap "Refer Now" to have them send the link to you. In case you don't know anybody who has a referral link, you can use mine:  https://ts.la/lutz13571 You just click that link to select, configure and order your Tesla. You can even buy a discounted car from the inventory and the referral discount will be added on top of the other discount. Pretty cool.

Interesting question - what car brands are actually made in America. Cars.com published a 2023 ranking of the "most American made" cars. You would assume that GM and Ford lead the charts on this one. Well, they are not even in the top 10 list. To the surprise of many, Tesla has actually the most American made cars. Model Y holds #1, Model 3 is #2, Model X is #3 and Model S is on place 4. Followed by Honda, VW, Acura. So, if you want to support American made products and jobs in America, then you should consider Tesla as at the most American company of all of them. 

Most Teslas offer a range between 270 and 400+ miles. Of course that is just a theoretical calculated number and depends on many factors such as temperature, driving style, up/downhill, etc. Some of the conditions you have influence over (driving style, etc. ) and others not (temperature, uphill, etc.). Here are some tips and consideration on how to maximize the range: Moderate acceleration of car reduces energy consumption  Lower highway speed: 60 or 65 instead of 708 or 75  Use Regenerative braking (recharge battery versus brake pedal when slowing down Reduce the use of heating and cooling (AC) when possible Minimize the load (remove weight that is not being used from car) Remove roof rack when not used Limit sentry mode to places where necessary (e.g. turn off at home if possible) Have tires with correct tire pressure In summary, there are many ways to conserve energy and maximize range, but I guess the two most important factors are quick acceleration and high speed on freeways (bo

Unlike at traditional car dealerships, there is no haggling or negotiation when buying a Tesla. You order it online and then you just pick it up. However, there are ways to get discounts. For one, Tesla has a referral program that offers $500 off on a new Tesla (ask your friends for their referral link or use the one on this site). In addition, Tesla offers various discounts on its inventory cars. The discounts range from $500 to several thousand dollars based on the model and configuration. Especially Model S, Model X and Model 3 seem to have higher discounts.  Here are two ways to approach this.  If you want a Tesla soon, but cannot find the configuration in the inventory you could just order one and then after you get the confirmation you can select an "Early Delivery" of an inventory car right from the app. That's what I did. I checked the app several times a day after I placed my order and on day 5 or so I saw an inventory car that matched by configuration that was $

Obviously I am a bit biased towards Tesla, but I think buying any EV is a good investment (as far as a car purchase can be considered an investment). Teslas or EVs have way lower maintenance costs in the long-term, lower cost per mile (electricity versus gas), they support sustainable transportation, reduce emissions and are way more fun to drive. So, here are a few questions that might help finding the right EV. Range: The myth #1 of EV is that they have a short range causing unnecessary anxiety for future owners. So, you need to ask yourself what kind of driving you do (daily commute and longer road trips) and what range you really need. Most EVs are now between 200 and 400 miles of range. Charging: Based on your answer regarding type of driving you do, you need to figure out how you plan to charge your car. Home: This is the easiest and most convenient charging, if you have a place to park your car and have electricity close by. There is level 1 (120V) normal outlet and level 2 (240

When I first got into my new Model Y it felt almost unreal. The car unlocks, you get in, the car knows who you are, your preferences (music, seat position, etc.) and it is ready to drive. You put in D and go. It is incredibly smooth driving, very quiet, but also very powerful. The low center of gravity (battery pack) makes driving around corners really fun. And I enjoy the braking (or the lack of) when slowing down. The car uses regenerative braking (e-motor charges battery to slow down the car) and you only use one pedal driving. You accelerate, stay on the paddle until you come to a STOP sign or red light. You slowly release the paddle a bit to get slower and right before the line, you release the pedal and the car stops and automatically puts it on HOLD (almost like parking brake). On some days, I never use the brake at all. Hard to imagine but true. Just imagine how much energy we waste by braking (heat) and how much pollution we generate (dust of braking pads). The only way to rea

Why did I buy a Model Y? There are many reasons for deciding on a Model Y, and there will be probably more after driving it for a while, but it comes down to a few top reasons: It's an EV: If I ever spend money on a NEW car (all my previous cars had been used) it had to be a a model that supports sustainable energy. It's the whole package: Tesla not only builds great cars, but also delivers total freedom with the Supercharger Network. Tesla navigation just tells you where to go and you just plug in to charge. Also, the seamless integration of hardware (the car) and software (the screen, the audio, etc.) makes this car not only a great driving experience, but it also continously gets more features through software updates - just like an old iPhone gets more features through a new IOS. It's fun: It's sporty, it's fast, it's efficient, it's comfortable, it's quiet - it is amazing to drive. If you have not driven a Tesla, do it - there are free test drives a

Early in August 2023, I finally decided to place an order for a Model Y - from the App. No dealership, no haggling, no waiting, I just configured it and placed an order on the iPhone.  A couple weeks later, I got the text - it's ready. I had decided to pick it up in Fremont - where the car is made. And I have to say this car is amazing. It's not only my first new car (my whole life I saved money by buying used cars, mostly Honda's) it is an amazing car. It's beautiful, it is quiet, it is luxurious, it is fast (really fast), it has amazing audio (love Spotify streaming!) and the interior is so sporty/comfortable/simple you just want to sit in there. But most important was that I can charge it almost everywhere (SuperCharger network) and that it has lots of cargo space for my work. Everyday, when I see it in my driveway I still cannot believe that this is my car now.  I have been waiting for this for almost 10 years (I will explain in a later post why I waited to buy a Te