Doing my research... been pondering a Tesla to replace my Mercedes E320 Diesel ever since I saw one at Hot Nite last summer and have found plenty of reasons why it would be great, including some spreadsheets that seem to be tweakable to make it a financially prudent decision too... :biggrin:
I'm in Kamloops and obviously, there is no Tesla corporate presence here in town. I don't think there is Model S owned here either, although plenty seem to be driving through now that the SuperCharger network has expanded.
What I'd like to get an unbiased opinion on is whether I would be making a mistake by owning a Tesla so far from a service centre. How frequently do owners find issues that require Tesla to become involved? I'd assume there is little or nothing that could be done by an intelligent local mechanic that wouldn't end badly or void warranty? I can accept (and look forward to) a trip to Vancouver once in a while for regular scheduled maintenance, but I don't want to spend my life on the Coq just to fix some trim or chase down a funny noise.
Assuming at least some service centre visits are a fact of life, how likely is it that I'd find myself in a situation where I had to either bring in a repair person or have the vehicle transported to Vancouver because it wasn't able to go on its own power? Does Tesla have a policy on this sort of thing?
I'm going to assume many owners here previously owned Mercedes or BMW or other import luxury cars. And have an expectation of a solid feel, quality build, etc, that goes with such a car. I know the Tesla isn't a Ford, but it IS American.... Will I feel like I've given up the quality of my Benz after the initial thrill of the Model S wears off? If you're comparing, is it more of an EV Ford/Lincoln or an EV Mercedes?
On a related note, what are the typical stops between Vancouver and Kamloops for charging necessary to complete the trip? With the vertical component of the Coquihalla highway considered, I'm not sure how to adjust down the EPA range ratings. Is the Fraser Canyon an option?
Any and all comments appreciated!!
I'm in Kamloops and obviously, there is no Tesla corporate presence here in town. I don't think there is Model S owned here either, although plenty seem to be driving through now that the SuperCharger network has expanded.
What I'd like to get an unbiased opinion on is whether I would be making a mistake by owning a Tesla so far from a service centre. How frequently do owners find issues that require Tesla to become involved? I'd assume there is little or nothing that could be done by an intelligent local mechanic that wouldn't end badly or void warranty? I can accept (and look forward to) a trip to Vancouver once in a while for regular scheduled maintenance, but I don't want to spend my life on the Coq just to fix some trim or chase down a funny noise.
Assuming at least some service centre visits are a fact of life, how likely is it that I'd find myself in a situation where I had to either bring in a repair person or have the vehicle transported to Vancouver because it wasn't able to go on its own power? Does Tesla have a policy on this sort of thing?
I'm going to assume many owners here previously owned Mercedes or BMW or other import luxury cars. And have an expectation of a solid feel, quality build, etc, that goes with such a car. I know the Tesla isn't a Ford, but it IS American.... Will I feel like I've given up the quality of my Benz after the initial thrill of the Model S wears off? If you're comparing, is it more of an EV Ford/Lincoln or an EV Mercedes?
On a related note, what are the typical stops between Vancouver and Kamloops for charging necessary to complete the trip? With the vertical component of the Coquihalla highway considered, I'm not sure how to adjust down the EPA range ratings. Is the Fraser Canyon an option?
Any and all comments appreciated!!