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Why I bought a Tesla Model Y and why I waited so long

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 available. 
  • It's roomy: For a not too big of a car, the Model Y offers a lot of room inside the cabin and in the cargo area. It as a big frunk (trunk in the front), a big trunk with additional space, foldable seats, etc. Perfect for cargo, camping and even sleeping in the car. 
  • It's a great value: Even though the price seems higher than other cars (Honda, Toyota, etc) you have to consider the life-time value of an EV, and especially of a Tesla. Tesla's last a long time, there are Model S car that have 500,000 miles, and they need almost no maintenance. No oil changes, no transmission fluids, spark plugs, etc. If you use regenerative braking (electric motor slows down the car while also charging the battery), you might never need to replace the brakes (pads and/or disc).


Why did I wait so long?

Obviously, the primary reason for waiting is money. But even if I would have had the funds, I would have waited because I didn't really need it a couple of years ago. I had a Honda Element which was perfect. I also like to let new products "mature" a bit until the manufacturer works out all the little issues. I was also considering a Model 3 earlier, but I decided to wait for a Model Y because it provides way more cargo room for hauling stuff, camping, bike, etc.


Why now?

Well, the prices came down over the last six months, by a lot. Back in 2022, the Long Range Model Y was priced around $65k, now in August 2023 it is around $50k and Tesla offers a referral discount of $500 and a 3-month free trial of FSD (Full Self Driving), which I took advantage of. In addition, I noticed that inventory cars are further discounted. So, I monitored the inventory on the Tesla website until I found the car configuration I wanted and saved another $520 - that makes a total of $1020 in savings.  If you are in the market for a Tesla, make sure to use a referral link from a friend, or you can use my Tesla Referral link to get $250 off for a new Tesla (promotion might expire - please check the Tesla website when you click the link). 



If you have more questions, please check out one of my other blog posts that talks about What questions to ask when buying a Tesla or any EV. 


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