The Tesla Model 3 completely blew me away

[AKmoney]

I also live in a condo with a low amp service breaker panel, but my solution was to build my own “Powerwall” which will serve multiple purposes.

That's a pretty interesting arrangement. Did you have to get HOA approval for any of that?

In my case, there's zero chance HOA will ever install solar. Our board president is a luddite. He couldn't care less about EVs.

The DCC box should work perfectly for me. It took a while for my city to grant a building permit because they weren't familiar with it but they eventually approved. I should have it all installed within the next couple weeks.

 

[Bumbo]

It’s not particularly necessary at this point… it is after all built as a stand alone off-grid setup so it doesn’t require any permits or permission. All I am doing is charging a bunch batteries using the grid, solar, or whatever method available and powering appliances off my own inverter. Think of it as a glorified Goal Zero portable battery.

Even when used as emergency power, it’s connected to the home like a typical generator where the panel has a mechanical lockout / manual transfer switch and an outlet which is used to back feed the panel. That portion I am getting installed by a licensed electrician, but once its done, it makes no difference if I pull out the generator I use for camping or my own battery/inverter setup which just makes a lot less noise.

If I wanted to use it like an actual Tesla powerwall which is AC coupled, then yes, the red tape portion of this things becomes a bit more complicated. Once you go grid-tie, things generally have to have permits and inspectors.

 

[tv4184]

Looks like I got my first initial email and my account shows a tenative 11/28 delivery date. I have no clue how the address for my parents house made it on there because I signed up with my address. Their email has the correct address but when I sign on its a different one. Not that its a huge concern. I was going to see if I can pick up the car at the delivery center instead of having it brought to my house.

As I expected, I haven't gotten any bites on my CTR seeing that its fairly new, no ones really willing to pay so close to the price of a new one. However I found a fair trade in price with Carvana so I might go that route if Carmax / TDA doesn't give me a better price. I doubt they will. If anything this might make me liquidate the other vehicles in my possession too if I end up driving this all the time. I've been rotating between the CTR, IS300, and 4Runner the past 8 months. RX7 might even get chopped for a different project.

 

[AKmoney]

That does sound pretty strange. They'll eventually send you a Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement - ie, the "official document". That's the one you'll want to have the correct address shown on.

Which model did you order? Mine's the Long Range Dual Motor. I had a chance to use Autopilot yesterday in some stop-n-go freeway traffic. It worked great. I still have two weeks left on my free EAP evaluation. Damn you, Elon....

 

[tv4184]

I just talked to the guy taking care of my reservation today. Basically I think my car is ready. They’re just awaiting payment. My funds were tied up so I’ll have to wait til next week because of the holiday week. I also plan to pay off most of my CTR lien so the trade in can offset the taxes on the Model 3. So the hold up basically is on my end. They can’t ship the car til they take payment. It’s something to do with Texas law and Tesla not being a dealership.

I got an LR dual motor with EAP. Hopefully I don’t regret not going with the performance model lol


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[tv4184]

After a week of waiting for money to get moved around slowly because of the holiday weekend, finally got my VIN this morning after making the payment last night. The only thing to wait on now is paper work to sign for the trade in. Can’t wait to stop having to goto the gas station. Might have to reconsider the other 3 cars after I start driving this [emoji23]


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[AKmoney]

Post pics when you get it! You're going to love it!

 

[tv4184]

Looks like delivery is going to happen in 5 days. So quick lol...

 

[tv4184]

They moved it up again. At least I was able to get a family photo before I trade in the Type R

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[AKmoney]

I bet the anticipation is building!

Update on my end: Got the Tesla Wall connector and DCC (demand charge controller) all installed and signed-off in my garage. It's on a 240V/30A circuit and the car pulls a continuous 24A while charging, good for +21mi/hr charge rate. I'd love having more current available but that's the most juice I can squeeze until I dump this place and move into a house with a 200A main panel.

 

[tv4184]

I bet the anticipation is building!



Update on my end: Got the Tesla Wall connector and DCC (demand charge controller) all installed and signed-off in my garage. It's on a 240V/30A circuit and the car pulls a continuous 24A while charging, good for +21mi/hr charge rate. I'd love having more current available but that's the most juice I can squeeze until I dump this place and move into a house with a 200A main panel.

It almost makes you want to make the wall look nicer if it were your own garage haha. I went the cheaper route.

I just had a Hubbel nema 14-50 installed. My garage could use 500 worth of cabinetry instead of a wall charger with clutter around it [emoji38]

It’s sort of bittersweet for me. I’m giving up a racing machine for creature comforts and tech.

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[AKmoney]

NEMA 14-50 on a 50A circuit is perfect. Wish I coulda done that...

I decided to go for the Tesla wall connector because my electric utility (SCE) has a $500 rebate for the home installation of an L2 EV charger. It basically pays for the wall connector.

 

[tv4184]

NEMA 14-50 on a 50A circuit is perfect. Wish I coulda done that...

I decided to go for the Tesla wall connector because my electric utility (SCE) has a $500 rebate for the home installation of an L2 EV charger. It basically pays for the wall connector.

Yeah that’d be great if Texas did that I wouldn’t mind a nice wall charger. It was 310 with the Hubbell 14-50 outlet for my install.

Might change my mind down the road. How often did you take ur mobile charger if you ever did?

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[AKmoney]

Might change my mind down the road. How often did you take ur mobile charger if you ever did?

Never. Just keep the J1772 adapter in the glove compartment. You can use that to charge at public L2 chargers (like ChargePoint, SEMAconnect, etc). I used it quite frequently last month at the ChargePoint chargers here in my office park, but now that I have 240V set up in the garage at home I bet I'll rarely use it.

 

[tv4184]

Just a few hours but I did get this the other day. I thought I was getting a Tesla and not a BMW...lol

 

[tv4184]

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[AKmoney]

Congrats!!

 

[AKmoney]

Please report back in a couple of months. I test drove one and the whole center console thing drove me nuts. Too many years with gauges in front of me I guess. And for $65K, I'd rather just spend another $10K, buy a Land Cruiser, and call it good. My go-fast days are behind me.... Congratulations on your new ride!

I've had the car for a month and it just keeps getting better the more I drive it. I've never enjoyed driving a car as much as I have this one and I've had some decent rides over the years: E39 BMW 540i 6-speed, E90 BMW 335i, a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S...

Things I love about it:
- Steering, ride, acceleration... Did I mention the acceleration?!?!
- The stereo is awesome. Free music streaming rocks.
- Lots of cargo room with the rear seats folded. It fits my 29" mountain bike easily.
- Charging at home. I wake up to a "full tank" every morning. Haven't been to a gas station in a month


A couple nit-picks:
- I wish it had real, physical buttons for opening the glove box and the frunk.
- It has more road noise than a comparable Audi or BMW
- If you open the trunk in the rain, water will run down the rear window and land inside

 

[tv4184]

I've had the car for a month and it just keeps getting better the more I drive it. I've never enjoyed driving a car as much as I have this one and I've had some decent rides over the years: E39 BMW 540i 6-speed, E90 BMW 335i, a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S...

Things I love about it:
- Steering, ride, acceleration... Did I mention the acceleration?!?!
- The stereo is awesome. Free music streaming rocks.
- Lots of cargo room with the rear seats folded. It fits my 29" mountain bike easily.
- Charging at home. I wake up to a "full tank" every morning. Haven't been to a gas station in a month


A couple nit-picks:
- I wish it had real, physical buttons for opening the glove box and the frunk.
- It has more road noise than a comparable Audi or BMW
- If you open the trunk in the rain, water will run down the rear window and land inside

I do also wish it had physical releases for the frunk/trunk. I also find them difficult to close. The trunk I keep having to do it multiple times, maybe its a new car thing because the same thing happened on the BRZ. My dad likes the ride in comparison to the CTR though, but that thing had 30 profile tires on a 20" wheel. I haven't done much else so far but I feel like I'm going to be down to 3 cars pretty soon. After I finish my RX7 build, the IS300 will likely get the chop just because there's no need for two sedans in the household of just one. Another hatchback would be far more useful.

 

[tv4184]

I forgot to ask but did you get credit for your referral.