Model S for 6hr journeys with young family?

[jsteele]

Hi @jsteele & welcome!

I'm based in Aberdeen (there are a few of us up here!) & can confirm the Chester trip will be fine (I have an S70). I've done Aberdeen-South Wales several times in summer & winter (passing Chester on the way) and it's one of the better-served UK routes in terms of Superchargers, in fact you have the luxury of choosing between different stops on the M74/M6 rather than doing fixed hops. Warrington is the only 2-bay Supercharger on the route and is the only one to avoid if you don't want to risk queuing. That said, last week I queued at Gretna (4 bays) for the first time ever but this could have been avoided by using Tebay (8 bays) & Abington (6) (it was also lunctime on a Saturday so probably peak usage time).

I've found abetterrouteplanner charge times/energy usage forecasts at different temperatures are pretty accurate. Cross-check trip times with something like Google maps though as ABRP doesn't seem to account for typical traffic delays. The good news is that if there are hold-ups you tend to use less energy (travelling slower) so charge times go down a bit.

The enforced charging breaks are actually preferred by my family. Autopilot (I have the first version) is also very good for motorway driving.

As for service support, so far so good for me (coming up to 3 years next month). The Edinburgh service centre has an excellent reputation and they support customers all over Scotland including the NW highlands. Anything warranty-related and they will send a driver up to collect the car and drop off a loan vehicle (if your car can't be driven it will be taken on a trailer which also brings the loaner). This has happened twice to me, both times the car was driveable but not for long distances. I've had one service to date and they also did a free collect and deliver for that too. I'm not 100% sure if they offer a mobile technician yet (will make some enquiries).

Obviously if you're stuck at the roadside and need to get going they can only do so much from Edinburgh so normal AA/RAC is recommended. But that also applies if you live next door to a service centre as they are only open during office hours (the tyre replacement service is a nice bonus but not one to absolutely rely on). I should add that phone support is 24/7 as you'd expect.

This is the first car I've owned with a remote service centre and my experience has been overwhelmingly positive (it was a concern at first but has proved much better than hanging around the coffee machine at Arnold Clark!).

Any other questions just shout. Oh and if the man maths works out make sure you get a referral code from an existing owner (plenty to choose from on here ).

Thanks for the answer and so much info! The service you've had from Tesla sounds fantastic, very reassuring to hear. I guess Tesla have no obligation to provide quite this level of support? I suppose there is a risk the level of service could drop in the near future, but hopefully not!

I'm still working on the man maths . The total cost of ownership at 10k miles/yr is working out a good 50% higher than the sensible family cars I started looking at (VW TIguan, etc) but having test driven the Tesla I'm just not interested in anything else now!

It seems financing a nearly new car with a Tesla PCP is much more straightforward and with lower interest rates compared to a used one, so I'm thinking more in that direction now. If we trade in our current car as a deposit then the PCP monthly payments work out quite reasonable at <£500... makes it very very tempting....

 

[Peteski]

Thanks for the answer and so much info! The service you've had from Tesla sounds fantastic, very reassuring to hear. I guess Tesla have no obligation to provide quite this level of support? I suppose there is a risk the level of service could drop in the near future, but hopefully not!

I'm still working on the man maths . The total cost of ownership at 10k miles/yr is working out a good 50% higher than the sensible family cars I started looking at (VW TIguan, etc) but having test driven the Tesla I'm just not interested in anything else now!

It seems financing a nearly new car with a Tesla PCP is much more straightforward and with lower interest rates compared to a used one, so I'm thinking more in that direction now. If we trade in our current car as a deposit then the PCP monthly payments work out quite reasonable at <£500... makes it very very tempting....

At the end of the day you are paying a premium to drive a cutting edge high end EV, so comparing it with a Tiguan is apples vs oranges. If saving money is the primary objective then you would conclude that a used Dacia is the way to go!

With PCP just bear in mind that 3 or 4 years down the line you will have literally nothing to show for your monthly cost, so you have to think of it more as a rental cost. I'm not sure what the interest rate is now, but I know it's gone up a lot in the last year. Only 10 months ago the interest on a new custom build was 1.5% APR and inventory was higher, but I believe inventory finance is now cheaper, but the overall rates have gone up considerably. Anyway, I'm sure you can do the maths!

 

[DJP31]

It seems financing a nearly new car with a Tesla PCP is much more straightforward and with lower interest rates compared to a used one, so I'm thinking more in that direction now. If we trade in our current car as a deposit then the PCP monthly payments work out quite reasonable at <£500... makes it very very tempting....

And of course a big saving in fuel costs to help the man maths. Although slightly back tracking when I remember you're not doing loads of miles!

The inventory PCP rate is cheaper than the custom build - and you get the car quicker of course. Lots to be said for that route, and even if you can't find one on the website give them a call, they often have cars behind the scenes. I've no idea why, but then Tesla work in mysterious ways at times.

@Peteski is spot on with his PCP comments and rental. The residual values Tesla quote are very strong, which obviously helps with the monthly payment. However there is little prospect of the car being worth that on the open market in 4 years time. So you either pay off the balance and keep the car, effectively then out of Tesla warranty OR hand it back and start again. This only works if you have the resources for another deposit.

Personally I don't want to run a Tesla out of warranty and reckon a new car will be better than my 4 year old car, so I'm making sure I've allocated a chunk of change to be able to start again. Also echoing @Peteski , none of buying a Tesla makes financial sense but as my grown up daughters say - YOLO .

 

[jsteele]

And of course a big saving in fuel costs to help the man maths. Although slightly back tracking when I remember you're not doing loads of miles!

The inventory PCP rate is cheaper than the custom build - and you get the car quicker of course. Lots to be said for that route, and even if you can't find one on the website give them a call, they often have cars behind the scenes. I've no idea why, but then Tesla work in mysterious ways at times.

@Peteski is spot on with his PCP comments and rental. The residual values Tesla quote are very strong, which obviously helps with the monthly payment. However there is little prospect of the car being worth that on the open market in 4 years time. So you either pay off the balance and keep the car, effectively then out of Tesla warranty OR hand it back and start again. This only works if you have the resources for another deposit.

Personally I don't want to run a Tesla out of warranty and reckon a new car will be better than my 4 year old car, so I'm making sure I've allocated a chunk of change to be able to start again. Also echoing @Peteski , none of buying a Tesla makes financial sense but as my grown up daughters say - YOLO .

Yes I'm using a chunk of YOLO in my justification!

Agreed about PCP basically being a rental. GMFV is 35k on a 75D Tesla PCP - I would have thought the car would be worth around this though, since looking at 4 year old 2014 cars now available on the market today there is nothing available for less then around 37k. I suppose a lot can change in the EV market in 4 years, so perhaps another advantage of PCP vs used is that if the car is worth more than the GMFV then keeping the car could be a good plan at the end of the term (along with the purchase of an extended warranty..), while if the depreciation is higher then its quite nice to have the GMFV as an insurance policy against higher depreciation!

 

[DJP31]

while if the depreciation is higher then its quite nice to have the GMFV as an insurance policy against higher depreciation!

As you say, a lot can happen in 4 years, especially in this new evolving market. Less of a concern now than a couple of years ago but Tesla could go bust. I sort of view the interest on the PCP as the insurance premium for having the flexibility.

 

[.jg.]

No way would I trust any local garage (with zero Tesla experience) with my car. The mechanical parts of the service may be simple, but the rest is alien technology as far as they are concerned! Sure you could get a set of brake pads or tyres fitted, but not much beyond that.

But then, one would not pick an independent garage with no Tesla/EV expertise. There are a few independent garages around the country that are well versed in EV/Tesla servicing and repairs e.g. Cleevely Motors in Cheltenham.

However, there is nothing in the routine servicing that would be alien to any competent garage - it is all checks on steering, brakes, suspension, etc. Even changing the drive unit fluid is identical to the procedure for changing automatic gearbox fluid. Clearly, if there are any faults or other non-service work to de done, this would require the attention of a Tesla SC.

 

[Peteski]

But then, one would not pick an independent garage with no Tesla/EV expertise. There are a few independent garages around the country that are well versed in EV/Tesla servicing and repairs e.g. Cleevely Motors in Cheltenham.

However, there is nothing in the routine servicing that would be alien to any competent garage - it is all checks on steering, brakes, suspension, etc. Even changing the drive unit fluid is identical to the procedure for changing automatic gearbox fluid. Clearly, if there are any faults or other non-service work to de done, this would require the attention of a Tesla SC.

Well this guy is 3 hours from Edinburgh so the chances of finding a local indy garage with any Tesla experience is pretty much zero. The thing with PCP finance is that the GMFV is dependent on the service being carried out to Tesla specifications, which includes the electronic system diagnostic checks. I agree that the mechanical side of it is pretty straightforward, but it's all the details that are very Tesla specific and as we all know there are plenty of minor gremlins to resolve at pretty much every service. I've got a list of about 20 items that need attention, none of them major, but they need sorting out and it will need a few days in the SC to deal with them. An indy garage without specialist Tesla knowledge would have zero chance of solving most of these issues.

To be honest I've had bad experiences with indy garages when servicing ICE cars that they are not completely familiar with e.g. one garage broke both my Volvo headlight units when attempting to adjust the beam and I only found out at a later service at a Volvo specialist indy. The devil is in the detail with cars and detailed knowledge of the specific car they are servicing is a major benefit.

 

[Peteski]

Yes I'm using a chunk of YOLO in my justification!

Agreed about PCP basically being a rental. GMFV is 35k on a 75D Tesla PCP - I would have thought the car would be worth around this though, since looking at 4 year old 2014 cars now available on the market today there is nothing available for less then around 37k. I suppose a lot can change in the EV market in 4 years, so perhaps another advantage of PCP vs used is that if the car is worth more than the GMFV then keeping the car could be a good plan at the end of the term (along with the purchase of an extended warranty..), while if the depreciation is higher then its quite nice to have the GMFV as an insurance policy against higher depreciation!

Just remember that you would be selling your car privately at the end, while Tesla could retail it with warranty etc. Realistically Tesla could probably retail the car for £5K+ more than you could sell it privately or p/ex. So basically don't count on recouping any residual at the end of the PCP as the current GMFVs are very generous, which is good for keeping the monthly cost down and gives you peace of mind on residuals. The only downside is the finance cost, but Tesla have historically been very competitive on PCP finance. You also have to stick rigidly to the 12,500 mile Tesla servicing schedule, which is surprisingly expensive for an EV.

 

[cezdoc]

Thanks for the answer and so much info! The service you've had from Tesla sounds fantastic, very reassuring to hear. I guess Tesla have no obligation to provide quite this level of support? I suppose there is a risk the level of service could drop in the near future, but hopefully not!

I think you're asking the right questions at this stage, I went through the same sort of debate before buying my Model S. Past experience is no guarantee of future levels of support but Tesla have remained committed to their Scottish customers since opening the service centre a couple of years ago and I sense we're still on an upward curve. I speculate that their non-franchise model means that staff are properly incentivised to provide a great customer experience, there are certainly plenty of anecdotes of them going above and beyond their basic obligations.

So long as you go in with your eyes open I don't think you'll be disappointed. The Model S and X are great cars to drive so if you have any doubts a quick test drive is sure to help put the doubts into perspective!

FWIW the service centre is in Newbridge near the M9/M8 junction so more like 2 1/2 hours' drive from Aberdeen - or as little as 2 if you're on the right side of town (or near the AWPR).

 

[Tozz]

Hi all,
I am based in Aberdeen and do a 6hr drive down to Chester fairly often (every 2-3 months). I can see from a better route planner that this is possible with the supercharger network, likely with 2-3 stops depending on the temperature. My questions would be how reliable are the superchargers and the estimated charging times, and how would other Tesla owners honestly feel about doing this kind of route regularly with a young family?

The reliability of the superchargers are severly underestimated. Try reading i-Pace forums. Lots of complaints about non functioning DCFC (DC Fast Chargers). Interrupted charge sessions, sesssions that don't want to start, charging stations that are out of order for weeks or months, etc, etc.

I've only seen once that a Supercharger was out of order (Amsterdam, due to a fire in the building) and that was immediately reflected to the car in the sense that it no longer showed that location as a Supercharger location.

Tesla Superchargers are insanely reliable.

Also, add the ability to check how busy a supercharger is. With other DCFC stations there is no way to see if they work and if they work if they are busy or not. With Tesla you can see this from your car. I never had to wait at a Supercharger once.

Another concern I have is that the nearest service centre is 3hrs away in Edinburgh ... would other owners see this as a big problem?

This might be of some concern if you want to honor the guaranteed residual value. That guarantee is only valid if you adhere to Tesla's service intervals, which is every 20.000km (12,500 miles). Depending on how much you drive, that might be quite requently. I drive 'only' 40.000km a year, but that already equals 2 service visits a year. If you drive 40.000 miles a year, you need to visit a service center 3 times a year. At 3 hours away that's atleast a day's work, more if they need your car for more than a few hours and you need to travel back and forth in a loaner.

This might not be an issue with a used 90D, but perhaps with a nearly new 75D (don't know if they honor residual value with CPOs)

In my 6 months of ownership it's been to the servicecenter once due to a misaligned doorseal at delivery that wasn't found at PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) or the lack thereof. But I need to schedule an appointment because i've recently hit 20.000km.

If you don't have this residual value thing I wouldn't bother with service that often. They really don't do much to the car except check fluid levels, replace keyfob batteries and check tires.. Nothing you can't do yourself or your local garage. Only every 80.000 miles or so they replace the battery cooling fluids.

 

[arg]

If you don't have this residual value thing I wouldn't bother with service that often. They really don't do much to the car except check fluid levels, replace keyfob batteries and check tires.. Nothing you can't do yourself or your local garage. Only every 80.000 miles or so they replace the battery cooling fluids.

I have been going for the alternate services - as you say, the odd-numbered ones are only inspections, but at 2 year intervals they change the brake fluid (just as most ICE service schedules call for), and 4 year intervals they change the coolant.

 

[⚡️ELECTROMAN⚡️]

I have been going for the alternate services - as you say, the odd-numbered ones are only inspections, but at 2 year intervals they change the brake fluid (just as most ICE service schedules call for), and 4 year intervals they change the coolant.

Brake fluid should be fine for a lot longer than two years.

 

[IanMcL]

I drive Salisbury to Burnley and back every couple of weeks. Only had my S 85D for just over a month. Otto my Autopilot (1) certainly takes the driving strain, nowadays. Superchargers all fine. Had to use Warrington last week, as keft it a bit short. Empty bays on arrival. Yippee!

Needing a charge has actually made me take a break, which I did not do and instead of a KFC at Burnley, then trip, it is now a KFC at Keele and a charge up! No time lost.

 

[Peteski]

I drive Salisbury to Burnley and back every couple of weeks. Only had my S 85D for just over a month. Otto my Autopilot (1) certainly takes the driving strain, nowadays. Superchargers all fine. Had to use Warrington last week, as keft it a bit short. Empty bays on arrival. Yippee!

Needing a charge has actually made me take a break, which I did not do and instead of a KFC at Burnley, then trip, it is now a KFC at Keele and a charge up! No time lost.

Taking a break is good for you, the KFC not so much