Do you keep a backup car?

[tomsax]

Cathy and I held on to our Honda Insight for over a year making an effort to drive it every couple of weeks after we got the Roadster. In addition to the issue with the 12V battery, there's the problem with gas going bad, especially when it contains ethanol. We sold it a few weeks ago to a SEVA member who will put its 50+ MPG to good use.

We now have only the Roadster and a 2002 RAV4-EV.

While the Roadster has been very reliable, service can take a while. Our car spent a week in the shop while they figured out a problem that turned out to be the subwoofer amp. Other cars have spent over four weeks in service while a complex problem is tracked down, new parts ordered and shipped, then a deeper problem is found. Carl and Mark in the Seattle store are awesome, but they also have to cover a huge geographical area, so service gets slow when one is in Alaska while the other is in Idaho.

Anecdotally, at least half of the long service times are for non-warranty issues, car accidents or other vehicle damage not caused by a design or manufacturing problem.

Still, the problems that require long service time are rare, and the cost of keeping and maintaining a spare gas burner is high, it seems like it's a better bet to just plan to rent. Of course it would be nice if Tesla absorbed that risk and kept some loaner Priuses (or Leafs!) on hand for those rare situations.

[pgwoosley]

I find I use a old back up car to pull a trailer, for parking at the airport while I am on a trip, to carry large items, and in situations where driving a fancy car would tempt people to overcharge me or worse.

[bolosky]

I've got a 95 Pathfinder. It gets awful gas mileage, but since I haven't filled it since May I no longer really care.

It's useful for hauling large stuff (my house has well water that's got very high iron content, and the iron filter consumes 40 lb bags of salt at a stupendous rate); for driving on snow (even if the Roadster's fine with snow, I don't trust other drivers not to hit me); for hauling both kids; and for the rare long road trip. Since it's so old, I don't carry collision or comprehensive insurance on it, so it's not terribly expensive to let it sit in the garage.

Tom's comment does make me wonder if I'm going to have a problem with the gas going bad soon. Maybe I should start filling it up only a quarter of a tank at a time from now on.

[Todd Burch]

When I get my S my backup car will be my wife's Toyota Corolla. It'll also be our primary long-distance road trip car until beefier batteries come along 5-10 years from now.

[James]

I also have a Toyota Prius as a backup car. With 2 children, I need a car that can carry both of them.
I think my miles are about 75% Tesla Roadster, 25% Toyota Prius.

The issue has nothing to do with it being an electric car.
I would have the same issue with any 2 seater sports car.

[herbvdh]

I would keep a second vehicle Lexus RX400h due to I need All Wheel Drive for bad weather snow use and light hauling Lowe's etc. Tesla would be a daily driver though when I get it.

[vfx]

I find I use a old back up car to pull a trailer, for parking at the airport while I am on a trip, to carry large items, and in situations where driving a fancy car would tempt people to overcharge me or worse.

This perfectly describes us too.

[jasonhi]

Thanks for all the replies. I put my order in today at the Seattle store. Saw Tom & Cathy's and Chad's cars in there today.

Radiant red
Premium leather black & beige rally style
Sport suspension
Sport forged wheels (silver)
Infotainment
Paint protection

Expected delivery dec 1.

Can't wait already!

...Jason

[DaveD]

Welcome to the Seattle group of Tesla owners, Jason. Tom & Cathy's and Chad's cars are in getting their 12K services done. I'm 1500 miles from needing my 24K service. My backup car is a Scion xB, but I've put very few miles on it since getting my Roadster 18 months ago.