Going from a Tesla Model 3 to a Model Y has many advantages, but not the only ones. We will return here in detail about the experience, from the sale of one of the first Tesla Model 3 that arrived in France to the differences in size with a brand new Tesla Model Y Propulsion.
The Tesla Model 3 arrived in France in the first quarter of 2019 and I received a Long Range version during the first deliveries. Almost two years ago I published here a first report after 70,000 kilometers. After 135,000 kilometers, we parted ways.
The arrival of the Tesla Model Y Propulsion has sped up the process a bit, since we had an order at the base for the Tesla Model Y Performance. Below, we will return in detail to the various choices that were made and that resulted in the delivery of a Tesla Model Y Propulsion at the end of 2022. But also to the advantages and disadvantages of one in relation to the other.
Vendre said Tesla Model 3, a challenge
The favorable period for selling a Tesla Model 3 at a good price is behind us for now, in particular due to the volume of used models available. In fact, whether it’s on peer-to-peer listing sites or on Tesla’s site, there are still plenty of Tesla Model 3s available to date.
A thought for second hand sellers 🤣 pic.twitter.com/djuKwPWi5S
— Bob Jouy (@bobjouy) December 23, 2022
Notably, at the end of the year, Tesla even allowed himself to sell some of them, to be sure of securing a sale, proving that it was not easy to sell a Tesla Model 3 at that time. The gold era where foreign importers bought a more expensive French Tesla than the price of new is well above it, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to start rising again any time soon.
Our Tesla Model 3, being old, compared to the others, and very mileage (135,000 kilometers at the time of sale), what assets did it have left to highlight? Fortunately, the configuration was quite rare (Grande Autonomie, blue, white interior), and the options (fully autonomous driving capability) might interest people looking for a Tesla at a good price, with all the necessary equipment.
So it found a buyer during the month of December, when we still had our Tesla Model Y Performance order in progress. I also wrote during the test of the Tesla Model Y Performance in essence that to try it was to adopt it. Why then switch to a Tesla Model Y Propulsion?
The Tesla Model Y Propulsion: the choice of reason
At the time of writing this article, a Tesla Model Y Performance, with an equivalent configuration, charges 22,000 euros more than a Tesla Model Y Propulsion. For this price difference, the Performance of course offers certain advantages: greater autonomy (514 kilometers compared to 455 kilometers), all-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive and a 0 to 100 km/h that has nothing to do with it (3.7 seconds versus 6.9 seconds).
However, when making the purchase decision, it is important to reposition what is important to each person and what value it may have for you. In our case, long drives are important, but the time lost in the Tesla Model Y Propulsion compared to a Performance is less than 30 minutes on a 500 kilometer drivewhich is acceptable.
The advantages of the 2022 Tesla Model Y Propulsion compared to our 2019 Tesla Model 3 are numerous, since we find, among other things, better soundproofing thanks to double glazing, greater comfort, heat pump, the AMD Ryzen processor for better fluidity on the screen, or even a gigantic (and electric) trunk that makes it a very practical vehicle with a heated steering wheel.
Finally, in late 2022, Tesla offered a huge perk for serious riders: Free Supercharging. In practice, almost 2,500 kWh have been offered to us, which still represents more than 1,500 euros of Supercargo. Others have even managed to recover a Tesla Model Y for less than 41,000 euros in the last days of 2022, making this vehicle a very reasonable option. Today, it has also become the starting price of the Tesla Model Y for the start of 2023, after a massive price drop across the range.
A car that not only has advantages
If the transition from a Tesla Model 3 to a Model Y brings its share of advantages, not everything is perfect. In fact, first of all, we went from a Long Range version (78 kWh battery) to a Propulsion version with a significantly smaller battery (62 kWh).
That said, after nearly four years and 85,000 miles on the clock, the battery in our Tesla Model 3 showed a residual capacity of less than 68 kWh (about 13% degradation). So it’s only a theoretical 9% difference between the two batteries, instead of 21% if both were new.
In addition to the smaller battery, it also lose power from Supercharge, since the new Tesla generally charges less quickly than the old ones. In addition, the LFP battery that equips the Tesla Model Y Propulsion is more sensitive to low temperatures, which requires the battery to be pre-conditioned more frequently before fast charging.
The consumption of the Tesla Model Y is significantly higher at high speed, but the fast charging network in France is already sufficiently developed that this is no longer a problem. In 2019, crossing France could be challenging in an electric car if the battery was too tight and consumption not optimized, but that’s ancient history.
At last, we leave a car with all-wheel drive (front engine and rear engine) for propulsion, but it has little impact on day-to-day. Indeed, a Tesla is, in the vast majority of cases, a propeller, even if it has a front engine. In this way consumption is optimized, and the front engine only comes into play in certain circumstances (strong acceleration, loss of grip or preconditioning of the battery). The daily driving sensations are not altered by the disappearance of the front engine..
What car for what profile?
Tesla’s two most popular vehicles have a lot in common, but they are still different in terms of road handling. The Tesla Model 3 is a very attractive vehicle, with a very sporty driving position, where we ended up very low. Those who love hard driving will be delighted on mountain roads, where the feeling of control is complete.
On the Tesla Model Y side, we are first and foremost much taller (18 centimeters taller for the SUV), and we dominate the road in a less sporty position, although the seats are identical. Being this, if you have passengers in the back, they will undoubtedly prefer to travel in a Tesla Model Ythat offers useful volume and much more space for the legs.
Also, Tesla Model 3 ground clearance can be problematic in many cases: underground car parks, speed bumps, etc. In Tesla Model Y, this is not a problem, thankfully.
Why stay with Tesla?
As a conclusion, we can above all ask ourselves, why stay with Tesla in 2023? In fact, there are excellent electric cars from many other manufacturers, and the network of Superchargers is no longer essential, especially since it is now partially open to all vehicles. Also, Tesla’s inherent problems and CEO Elon Musk’s broken promises may put something off.
Recently, the manufacturer has also removed ultrasonic sensors from its vehicles after leaving the radars, which may contribute to turning to other more consistent and less volatile brands.
Unfortunately for the competition, to date, in terms of driving sensations, one-pedal drive management, on-board software and occupant safety, Tesla is top of the class.. This is all part of the reason why a significant number of people who drive a Tesla remain loyal to the brand when it comes to changing vehicles, despite its flaws.
More importantly, with the recent drop in prices for the Model 3 and Model Y around the world, Tesla is stifling the competition. Currently selling for €41,990 and €39,990 respectively, the Model Y Propulsion and Model 3 Propulsion are excellent value for money.
However, some brands have chosen to offer as good a price / performance ratio, but with lower prices, such as the MG4, where Tesla remains reserved for big budgets. This will no doubt evolve in the future, with a much less expensive model likely to arrive in a few years.
Many Tesla owners use language with some peculiarities, related to the specifics of Elon Musk’s firm. Do not be scared, thanks to this guide you will be able to orient yourself with the terms…
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