Tesla Model 3 Long Range 1 year/20,000 mile review - costs, maintenance, problems, likes and dislike

#tesla #model3

This is our Model 3 Long Range that we’ve owned since new 1 year ago and covered more than 20,000 miles.

That’s a pretty decent long term basis for a review. There’s not many cars I keep that long!
So what do I like and not like about it?
What problems have we had?
How much have we spent on maintenance?
What have been the charging costs?
How many miles from the tyres?
Long term mixed use efficiency?

Here I run through all the costs plus what I think are the pros and cons. All the main things I like and don’t like about it are revealed!

Let me know what you think of yours in the comments below including all the things you wish you knew before you bought a Tesla!

Thanks for watching!

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[andybolton]

Model 3 Long Range, Deep Blue Metallic. Brand new collected 1st March 21, 21 plate. 9 miles on the clock.
Best car I’ve had. Love it. Phenomenal.
Worst customer service I’ve ever had.
Appalling.
Went in to Tesla 1st week of March 22 for a charging system fault.
Got the car back 2 days later telling me it’s fixed. It wasn’t.
Fault returned the next day. Rang them to be told they’ve ordered a wiring loom.
Back order, continuously putting back my appointment.
I need a courtesy car as it’s a company car I need for work.
Had a car booked on 1st appointment, no car booked on the changed appointments.
No common sense.
It’s an intermittent fault so likely a loose connection in a wiring loom. Fair enough.
I’ve had to avoid distance jobs as I don’t want to risk being stranded. 25, 000 in the 1st Year when the fault appeared.
1st distance job I had to do, at Ferrybridge Supercharger with 40 miles of range, 108 miles to go.
Would not charge.
I travelled the 10 miles or so to Leeds Tesla, thinking that their techs would come out and waggle the loom.
Nope. Would not help me at all. Was told to call Tesla recovery and they’d truck me to Newcastle.
Worst customer service I’ve ever experienced

[MikeLuke]

Cheers Richard. I bought a LR last year September, MiC, deep blue, black interior, with the 19“ alloys as well. To me it’s still the best overall package - well, it has been before the crazy price jumps: the look, the efficiency, the fun to drive, the speed, the practicality. I feel the Model 3 LR is the sweet spot in the whole Tesla family.

[johnnyforeigner]

Took delivery of my Model 3 LR just a couple of weeks before you and have only completed 8000 miles. I agree with pretty much everything you noted especially the ride, which is much too hard. I would also like Tesla to increase the size of some of the fonts on the display. My eyesight isn't what it used to be. Despite those couple of niggles, this is still the best car I have ever owned.

[johngreenhalgh]

Had my M3LR since Sept 21 so identical. Had an issue with a dodgy bit of the charging harness, eventually located and sorted by Tesla without fuss. The experience has been great. The iPad display is excellent, but would like a HUD one on my last BMW and loved it. Agree with comments ref headlights, my wife's C class Mercedes lights put the Tesla to shame. Thanks for another great video.

[antoinepageau]

We have the base model 3, took delivery in March, already at 14, 000 km. I love this car. LFP battery allows 100% charge without concern. On long trips, super charger stops are never more than 15 minutes, several stops are less than 10 minutes! In traffic you feel like the king of the road with the instant acceleration. Autopilot is superb. Everything else you mentioned, Looking forward to Cybertruck delivery.

[mikelecomte]

Richard,
Another useful and well constructed video from my favorite channel. I have had a 2021 model 3 LR since June 2021. I’ve driven 12, 000 miles. I’ve taken 8 trips of 300 miles from Cape Cod to New Jersey. The supercharger network is unparalleled for convenience. I charge at home on level 1 and am surprised how most advice tells people to get a level 2 charger before bringing in the car home. There is a supercharger 4 miles away that I’ve never used. I normally drive 20 to 50 miles per day and charge to 80% over night at 5 mph. On the few days that I drive further (150 miles) I still have 50%+ charge in the morning and, after a few days I’m back to 80%.
Your suggestion that Tesla should alert you to the phone being left in the charger is excellent. I never considered it and am often looking for my phone, which is in the garage. Keep posting your great videos, like letting cardboard Elon test auto stopping, drag racing along the side of the building, and comparing efficiency, range, and charging times for multiple brands. Incidentally, I’m averaging 4 MPKW.

[steveyoung]

Great video Richard, one of your best and a great advert for EV's regarding reliability and running costs, but great that you highlighted where Tesla are ahead of the competion- ie route planning. Re charging at home you didnt mention solar charging!! using a zappi -powered by the sun!!

[louisrodriques]

Great video Richard and hi from the US. I have a M3 LR built in Fremont and absolutely love it. Not a single issue in 7 months of ownership. Just over 5000 miles pn the car including a few long road trips. The one thing that surprised me about your video is your estimate of what the car would sell for today. Maybe things are different in the UK, but in the US the market of used Teslas is insane. I paid just about $50000 for the car late last year, and just checked with an online car reseller which will offer me $58000 today. And that’s not even a private sale, which will generally yield a higher price.

[robf]

Great video, Richard, thanks. Was hoping to have my M3LR by now, but currently have an EDD of Nov/Dec. This video has helped me want to stay the course and not jump ship to something else!

[vegansnail]

I've had my MIC Model 3 LR since Dec 21. I love it and will defo be getting another Tesla in the future, maybe a M3P or a Plaid who knows! I love the fact I wake up everyday with 80% battery and it takes me no time at all to do, no more waiting at fuel stations. The best thing about it though is the instant torque! Such a great car to drive so glad I went for it, love the videos btw keep it up!

[milesbgibbons]

I bought a long range black outer/black inner with 18” wheels for a fiver under £50k back in September. Since then I’ve done 22K miles in business road trips around Europe and a bit of personal travel within the UK. Absolutely amazing. No issues, no range anxiety. Expect to do 26k before the first year is up and the Michelins are amazingly fine. Probably have another 4000-5000 European motorway miles left on them.
Wish there was a way to change the beam pattern for European driving rather than just dipping the headlights! Let me know if you know an answer, and amazing work guys, watch all your videos xx

[robmog]

My M3LR was delivered December 21, love it, only gripe is the phantom braking, thinks it won’t get through gaps that as a driver of 49 years I know is comfortable, also thinks you’re going to crash on bends into oncoming traffic. Any pedestrian near a crossing it panics and brakes, very disconcerting. Tesla supposed to be sorting out via OTA but no sign yet.

[jonathansmith]

Great video. I’ve always loved Tesla’s (model 3 particular) and had test drove them but recently in my new job I’ve driven numerous vehicles across the whole of UK, including a model 3 long range on a 150 mile journey. It has without doubt been my favourite car ever for so many reasons. It didn’t disappoint. There is nothing quite like it to drive from my experience so far……

[ezpoppy]

From the US: Thank you, Richard for another brilliant video! Very enjoyable and informative - not always an easy mix, that.

I have a Fremont March 2021 M3 SR+, so just over a year, with ~16, 000 miles on it. Most of my driving is local commuting, about 250 miles a week, and most of my charging is at home. That runs me about $1.00 US a day, $7/week. Gasoline here in Sacramento CA runs about $6/US gallon for regular, $7 for premium. You can do the math if you like.

I love the car. In my 50 years of driving, I’ve never had a car as fun to drive, or as easy to maintain (nothing!). Every time I get in and drive any where, it just zips along.

I’ve had only two minor quality issues, both quickly and professionally rectified by Tesla.

As for a wish list… hmmm… nothing. Maybe a power frunk lid. That would be nice. But I don’t get in there that much, so it’s not a biggie (and I just put I microfiber towel under my hand when I press it closed to keep from getting prints).

That’s it!

Love the car, the tech, the design, the features, the economy… and the FUN! And mind you, I’ve got the “slowest” Tesla made.

Keep putting the good word out there on EVs.

[HighlandSteam]

My Model 3LR has cost me more in cleaning products than "fuel" and service. Had Zen for 7 months now. Still love her and any excuse to go out for a jolly.

[peterwatson]

I also have a June 21, MIC long range in NZ which has done 21000km. I had full PPF done and ceramic coating. Tinted the side windows windows to 35%, and had the interior 3M protected. I also had the 19' rims painted gloss black and even the Tesla Badges done in black (my car is blue. I completely agreed with almost everything you said in your review, both the likes and dislikes. Especially the ride being a little firmer than I had hoped. I have hair on my head though so didn’t have that issue 😁. I also love my white seats. Only maintenance has been a small chip in the windscreen which cost NZ$75 to fix. Mostly charge at work for free and probably cost about NZ$350 in charging (a few supercharging and fast charging and home charging on some weekends). Love my car

[flashback]

Yes that Dog Mode is brilliant. We were at a wedding down in Cornwall last Thursday. It was a really hot day, but our Jack Russell slept like a baby all afternoon in our Model 3, whilst all us wedding guests roasted out side!

[molepatrol]

Great review Richard. I got the same car one month before you in May 21. My positives are the same as you. It's a brilliant car with no fuss driving.
The gripes/problems after almost 15 k :
1. squeaks in the back- I'm loathed to get Tesla to look at it as it is difficult to guarantee fix
2. The electric boot stopped opening fully- mobile Tesla team came and fixed whilst at work
3. The charging cable handshake at home ( my existing BMW i wall box ) does not always fit first time. Tesla came out and said it wa the cable not the car, but I think the lack of a recess is why this is a problem. DC at a supercharger is fine.
4. Paint chips on bonnet- I had the side sills PPF'd but couldn't afford the bonnet and front too.
5. The lack of LED under the door handles at night is a real nuisance as the handles are impossible to see. My old BMW 320 had them in 2005! Such a simple thing but Germans way ahead of the game.
The running costs are in the region of 1.25- 1.5p a mile with home charging on Octopus Go and the free supercharger miles that I got originally. So would I think about jumping ship - it would be very hard to contemplate any other brand, ( almost ordered the Polestar 2- but didn't want to wait 4 months and for its app/heat pump etc) but now the price has rocketed I may have to when the lease runs out in 2 yrs as I want to buy outright long term.

[chrisdevereux]

100% agree about the headlights Richard. Hopefully now that the US regulations have caught up, we’ll see some updates and changes by Tesla 🤞🏻 …but i should also remember to acknowledge that just having the ability to update the headlights on a car is not something other manufacturers routinely do, yet with Tesla i take it for granted! 😁

[andrebrittaindissont]

Great video as always

I adore my 21 Long range - I leased it- wish I’d bought it!!