abasile said:
LTLFTcomposite said:
For a fraction of what a model S will cost you can just rent a car for those longer road trips, and likely find it's a far more satisfactory solution.
While we are quite satisfied with the capabilities of our Model S on road trips, I agree that it would not be an efficient use of funds to purchase a Model S just to use it on a few road trips per year.
However, longer-range EVs are also great for more regular, regional driving. It takes real dedication, and multiple CHAdeMO or CCS DC charging stops, to use a short-range EV to cross from one side of the SoCal sprawl to the other. With our Tesla, we can go pretty far before we even have to think about charging, and on those less frequent occasions when we do have to stop to charge, we've found the Superchargers to be without parallel. Our Tesla also turns out to be a very comfortable car for longer drives, at least in our opinion.
This isn't to knock our LEAF, as it remains useful for short, local drives.
Many thanks to everyone, both here and on the Tesla site.
Last week we visited the local Tesla store in San Diego to get further info on what options were available when and other data. We used the computer to build our Ideal Model S, as well as search the CPO older versions. Considering the rebates on purchasing a new one, plus the Autopilot V 2.0, it was worth it to us to get a new one for $20k more than a used one with less capability and 30,000 to 40,000 miles on it already.
Anyway, they found us a new one in Denver, CO. with 900 miles on it (used for giving test drives) with a $7,100 discount. Oh, and this one does have FREE lifetime SC usage. It is a 75D, Pearl White, with lots of good options, nothing missing that we wanted (it has both Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capability already paid for). My wife decided she likes it. We found out we could save $2,000 delivery cost and $1,000 in sales taxes by picking it up in Denver. I went online and found a one-way ticket for $42 each. A friend of mine is flying to Denver next month on the same airline and he already got his ticket a few weeks ago for around $450, although I think his is round-trip, Still a lot more expensive than our $84.
Now we have a 13 hour drive back to San Diego, plus Super Charger stops for recharge. As it is now, when we take road trips we stop for 15 to 20 minutes every 1.5 to 2 hours already for potty breaks and stretching. This way, all our stops will be at the SC stations, not truck stops.
My wife had already planned one week off of work for 5/15 through 5/19. I teach a class on Mon/Wed nights, and she is taking a class Monday nights, so we are flying out at 6:20am Tuesday, Going to the Denver Tesla service center to pick it up, as well as coaching, then leave Denver for our trip home sometime around 2pm. That should get us through the east Los Angeles traffic by early morning before it gets too bad, and home before 6am Wednesday. Anyway, that still gives me 12 hours before I teach the class, so plenty of time if it takes us longer getting home.
Then early morning Friday we leave for Disneyland, another 200+ mile round trip with the kids and grandkids. For Memorial weekend the next Friday we are going to San Francisco Bay area for another trip of over 1,000 miles. We are really looking forward to the stress free driving of the autopilot.
We do LOVE our Leaf and will keep it for many years to come. It will remain our preferred local driver but the Tesla will be our go-to vehicle for longer drives. We are so excited. Now for the learning process so we can fully enjoy all the benefits. Is it reasonable to assume that we can get up to 1,000,000 miles on the Tesla before we wear it out??? That gets the amortization cost down to only $0.10 per mile and $0.05 per mile for electricity (half that or less with SC charging). Maybe another $0.05 per mile for maintenance. Still less than the cost of gas for ICE vehicles.
Now for home charging. We do have the AV 240v, 30a unit for the Leaf. It will be okay to use it, but I was thinking of installing another 50a breaker on the panel and installing a 240v, NEMA 14-50 outlet for the Tesla EVSE included with the car. The electrical panel is outside the garage so I can install it on the inside wall at the panel. Any thoughts? Should I be looking for a larger amp breaker and connection? We have a 200 amp panel, with a 5kw solar system.