The new days have finally come where you can have a fully electric vehicle. The majority of us have witnessed the development of hybrid cars in the market, slowly turning into fully electric-powered cars. The first few electric vehicles were just dull and boring to drive, they didn't appeal to the market immediately. Plus, the range of the first electric cars was also not that great, and the cost was much more than a traditional gasoline or diesel-powered car.
Then came Tesla, they have changed people's perspective with electric vehicles. They made great cars with a premium finish, that has an equivalent range of a traditional vehicle, and can out-perform sports cars and supercars out there. So if you are one of those people who have a changed perspective, and made a decision to research Tesla, or even made a decision to already purchase the Tesla Model 3, here are some things you need to know.
10 Trims
The Tesla Model 3 comes in three different trims. Each trim is designed based on the individual's needs, as Tesla tries to cater to the majority of the people in the market. The first trim is the Standard trim with a base price of $44,490. This is the budget-friendly trim for the Model 3 as it gives you an estimated rated range of 267 miles, a top speed of 140 mph, and a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds.
The next trim is the Long-range trim. This trim offers you a more luxurious option than the Standard trim, a longer estimated rated range of 358 miles, a top speed of 145 mph, and a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds powered by a Dual-motor AWD drivetrain. The starting price of this is $50,990. The last trim is the Performance. This trim is catered to the people who only care about the maximum performance of what the Tesla can offer. It has a less estimated rated range of 315 miles, but it has a top speed of 162 mph and a 0-60 time of 3.1 seconds.
9 Options
The options are pretty straightforward with the Model 3. Starting with the color, you get two standard color choices; Pearl White or Midnight Silver Metallic. Some color options are also available with an extra cost, ranging from $1000-$2000 depending on the color choice.
Another major option you could consider is the Full-Self Driving Capability that costs $10,000. This offers you literally a self-driving feature where the car changes lanes by itself, navigation on autopilot, auto parking, summoning your vehicle from the parking to a pick-up point. It's like you have your personal chauffeur.
8 Charging Accessibility
Another major thing to consider is your charging accessibility. Depending on the area you live in, the accessibility of the Tesla-provided chargers may be limited. So you may want to do your research prior to making a purchase, as this is a huge thing to consider.
Tesla, however, provides a charger you can install at your own home, but if you live in an apartment with no available plug to install the charger, then you will be dependent on the chargers that are within your proximity. What you can do is you can check on your local malls, and your own work if they have the Tesla-provided chargers and use that instead.
7 Dealership Proximity
Another thing to consider is your dealership's proximity to where you live. If you have made a decision to purchase it, you will have to go to the closest dealership to pick up the vehicle. However, in Tesla's policy, if you live more than 220 miles from a Tesla location you are entitled to a carrier to have your vehicle delivered to you. Note that this is only applicable for brand-new Teslas.
Tesla also has a mobile service team to cater certain customers for servicing, and you also have to check with your local state if it is in fact available. However, if the service required for your Model 3 is Tesla specific, and it will be something major, then you will have to drive out to your local dealership to get your Model 3 repaired.
6 Battery Care
The battery is the largest, and most expensive component of a Tesla, so you have to make sure that you are taking proper care of it. The care for this is not too difficult, and it is a lot easier than keeping up with the maintenance of a traditional vehicle.
There are only two things to remember in making sure your battery health remains in tip-top condition. The first is to keep your battery plugged in while you are not driving it. Yes, Tesla actually recommends that you keep it plugged in, especially if you do not plan to use it for several weeks. The car's computer will already maintain a certain charging level to keep the battery health optimal. The second thing to remember is to not charge your battery levels over 90% unless you are planning to drive the vehicle.
5 Everything Affects Range
This topic is certainly an important one, as not a lot of people talk about this. The range posted on the website is usually an estimated range just to have a basis for the customers. However, everything affects range in a literal sense. The range is not just based on how aggressive you accelerate or brake. The weather conditions also affect the car's range and performance.
As an example, If you are in a colder place that has proper winters, then most likely you will have to use the car's heater. The heater consumes more electricity than the A/C. Being a fully electric car, everything that powers it, and everything that you use only comes from one energy source.
4 Phantom Drain
Another uncommon topic is the Phantom drain. Unlike engine-powered vehicles, if you leave your car at the airport for a week or more, the amount of fuel remains the same as you left it. That is not applicable to the Tesla. The battery slowly drains when you leave it unplugged at the airport.
The thing with Tesla is that it's always connected, and functioning 24/7. There is no button for you to completely shut off the vehicle. The vehicle is like a smart vehicle where the connectivity remains, like the application to your phone. The security of the Tesla also remains on to protect itself from being stolen.
3 Hidden Features
Tesla is a very advanced car with its own quirks. Being equipped with a smart OS system onboard with constant updates like a mobile device has, it also comes with many hidden features that you can discover along the way during your ownership.
They can be discovered by searching around the web, as there are lots of guides provided by other owners to best enjoy your vehicle. One of the hidden features or a downloadable app is a map similar to what is equipped, but other than the map showing you the charging locations, the add-on map will also show you alerts, red-light cameras, speeding cameras, etc. It's like Waze, and Tesla map combined into one.
2 Security
Since the Tesla is always connected, the security features are also working 24/7. There is a built-in dashcam that constantly records even when the car is parked and switched off, and also there is a Sentry mode.
The dashcam records in a loop by an hourly manner. Every hour the file deletes itself and overwrites the new recording for your car and it's more than enough for any accidental coverage to protect yourself. While the Sentry mode is a camera-equipped around the vehicle that activates when the car is parked, and when the car senses that someone is nearby. Recording any potential theft, or when someone vandalizes your car when parked.
1 Post-Delivery Setup
Once you have taken delivery of your Tesla Model 3, setting up your car is very important, as much as getting familiar with all the features available to you to maximize your Tesla's potential.
From setting up your key accessibility to match your seat to setting up and pairing your device that acts like a remote to fully optimize all its safety and security functions that it offers. This can get overwhelming at first because there really is a lot to set up at the initial process. But once you are able to complete this, you will be in awe with how easy everything works.