For almost a decade, Tesla cars have been the talk of car enthusiasts all over the world. Tesla is the only company that concentrates solely on electric cars, producing four models so far. The Tesla Roadster, Model S, Model X and recent Model 3 have all captured the imagination of global consumers. However, with this popularity comes a great deal of controversy, and not just about the company owner, Elon Musk.
People are talking about Tesla’s designing and manufacturing process, as well as their marketing. It looks like Tesla clashed with the basic rules of the car building business. They tried to introduce a new approach, and not only to driving but also to selling and repairing their cars. Although most customers are interested in their cars, few are impressed. In fact, most people are skeptical about the whole electric and self-driving car thing.
This is understandable since electric and self-driving vehicles are a big leap forward, so the market needs some time to adjust. While most articles focus on the advantages of Tesla cars, this list contains 20 reasons why you shouldn’t buy them. This is everything you need to know if you are considering buying a Tesla Roadster, Model S, Model X or Model 3.
Energy Consumption During Highway Driving
Among some strange things, you notice when you drive electric cars is the fact that their range is alarmingly small in highway driving. This is opposite from gasoline engines that have the best fuel economy on highways and long stretches of open roads. The reason is simple. Tesla’s all-electric cars use regenerative braking to recharge the battery. And since there isn’t much braking on the highway, the battery rarely gets recharged, so the range is small.
Too Much Hype
For sure, Elon Musk was delighted when his company was all over the news and the internet car community was buzzing about it. However, for some customers, too much hype is a bad thing. Simply, some people want more discrete brands and cars without that “look at me” factor. Also, some news about Tesla was negative, so the company also got some bad press, too.
Not Environmentally Friendly
Yes, Tesla models have zero emissions, but they are not environmentally friendly at all. The problem is, in order to produce the batteries for one Tesla vehicle, their factories pollute the air as much as driving a conventional car for eight years. This means the popularity of Tesla models may ruin our environment and not help preserve it.
Complicated to Own and Service
When you have a regular gasoline-powered car, you don’t have to worry about the location of gas stations or services. You know that everywhere you go, there are gas stations or dealers ready to service your car. Well, with Tesla, this is not the case. You need to carefully study where the charging stations are, and if the area you travel to has certified Tesla service.
Takes Too Long to Recharge the Car
How long does it take to fill your tank at the gas station? It probably takes five minutes in most cases, and then you are ready to go. Well, if you have the Tesla, recharging takes around an hour and a half to top your battery. And that is an extremely long time compared to the five minutes you spend at the gas tank. Also, if you charge the car at your home, it can take several hours longer.
Roadside Service is Limited and Expensive
Since the Tesla is highly specific car brand, roadside service is quite limited and not available in all areas. In fact, you can count on it only in major urban areas and along well-traveled interstate highways. Also, roadside service won’t help you if you run out of electricity, which is the most common problem. If you want full coverage, try the AAA Gold Plus package, but that is an expensive service not many owners can pay.
No Spare Tire
You heard it right. Tesla cars come without a spare tire. That means that if you get a flat tire in the middle of the nowhere, there is nothing you can do. Of course, you can always buy a spare wheel and carry it in your trunk. But, most consumers believe all cars must come with a spare tire or some kind of tire repair system. However, it looks like Tesla has a different opinion on this matter.
Tire Wear
One of the best aspects of Tesla and all-electric vehicles is the amount of torque electric motors produce. This is the secret of Tesla’s insane acceleration numbers and brutal force. In fact, it punches you in the back when you press the throttle. However, this also has a bad side since the tires wear down quickly compared to regular cars.
Cold Temperatures
It is long known that electric devices are not dependable under cold temperatures. If you think of Tesla as a big, four-wheeled electric device, you will understand why when outside temperatures get close to freezing. Simply put, the batteries drain sooner. Even when the car is parked, it loses power. Also, some systems may stop working like the all-important range meter.
Tough to Drive on Slippery Roads
Due to the enormous torque which is available from 0 rpm, Teslas are known to be a handful on icy or slippery roads. Simply, even the slightest acceleration is problematic. And that is due to the fact that the car transmits so much power to the ground, even at low speeds. And it could be dangerous for inexperienced drivers in challenging conditions.
Breaking System
Tesla brakes work a bit differently than on the normal car. First, they use regenerative braking to recharge the battery and second they sometimes brake without stopping the wheels by cutting the power to the engine. However, it can provide a slightly different feel to the inexperienced driver. To be perfectly honest, Tesla brakes are effective but drivers may need time to get used to them.
Charging Stations
The main concern when you have a Tesla in your garage is charging. You need to know when, where and for how long to charge it. So it is easy to experience range anxiety when your car is in a remote area where there are few charging stations. Also, if you want a good charging station at your house, it will cost you and take time to install.
Strange Buying Process
Tesla has introduced a new way of constructing cars and driving, as well as a new way of selling them. There is a dealer and service network, but not similar to any other on the market. Also, there is no test drive. Dealers have no test cars and they are not allowed to take you on the promotional drives. You can also buy a car online without even seeing it in person. That’s strange, isn’t it?
Steep Price
Unfortunately, Tesla cars are too expensive, regardless of the model. Even the least expensive one, the Model 3, is over $35,000. And that is more expensive than comparable electric cars from other manufacturers. On the other hand, the Model X in full specs is $100,000. That is serious money for a car you can’t even test drive that needs a chain of charging and repair stations to be fully functional. In anyone’s book, this is simply too much.
Resale Value
With any regular car, you know its resale value and the dealer trades you for a newer model. But that is not true with Tesla. Tesla models are still too new and advanced to predict how much they will be worth on the used car market. This is a problem, not only for current owners of Tesla cars but also for people who want to buy them second hand.
Originally, Tesla made plans to recycle their cars for new ones. However, this is not possible since the batteries aren’t recyclable. Also, to recycle all those cars they would need an enormous and expensive infrastructure.
Impossible to Repair by Yourself
Even though they don’t design modern cars for the backyard mechanic, there are things most people can do to make a car run if they get stranded by the side of the road. However, even if you are the most skilled mechanic on the planet, if your Tesla breaks down, all you can do is call a tow truck and helplessly look on while they tow it away on a flatbed truck.
Self-Driving Scandals
One of the most talked about features of the Model S and Model X is self-driving mode. In the last few years, lots of manufacturers have introduced autonomous driving models in their cars. However, Tesla is famous for being one of the first. But most manufacturers have had problems since these new systems are imperfect. Self-driving can provide a false sense of safety.
And Tesla cars had been particularly problematic. In fact, there are reports of numerous crashes with fatal outcomes due to self-driving mode failing to work properly.
