'Cost Me Less Than $100': Woman Buys Tesla. Then She Reveals 4 Things She Wishes Someone Told Her Beforehand

A new Tesla owner highlighted a few things she wishes she knew before making the jump to driving a fully electric vehicle. Madi (@nursemaddi) shared her thoughts in a recent TikTok, which she appears to have recorded from the interior of her Model 3 with a white interior. Some of the points she brings up were echoed by another Tesla owner who uploaded a similar testimonial.

Here are four things she says she wished somebody had told her before buying her Tesla. 

The Tesla Home Charger Is Worth It

The first issue has to do with reliably powering one’s vehicle. Madi says that if she had to rely on just Supercharging, owning the car would be a frustrating experience. It’s not difficult to see where she’s coming from. Reports have indicated that some Tesla commuters are waiting up to 90 minutes to plug their cars into a Supercharger stall. 

“No. 1 being the charging," she said. "I have a home charger. So, it’s not an inconvenience for me, but I can see how it would be an inconvenience for other people. Like if you have to charge at Superchargers or if you don’t have the wall charger, you have to plug in... that would be super annoying. Because those take forever. But definitely you need the home charger, and it’s worth every penny to buy and get somebody to install it.”

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However, she did add that she saved money on the installation of a Level 2 home charger. That’s because her husband was able to do so himself. “So I didn’t have to worry about that. But it is worth the $500 or whatever it is,” she said.

Most Costly To Trick Out?

Secondly, she went on to state that she believes additional accessories for her Tesla cost more when compared to other vehicles. There’s some debate out there as to whether or not Teslas are actually considered luxury car brands. This is partly due to the brand’s minimalist interiors, which aren’t as plush or comfortable compared other automakers. Furthermore, car enthusiasts have stated that when put up against the likes of, say, a Mercedes S-Class, a Tesla’s ride can feel firm in comparison.

That being said, it’s worth mentioning that Tesla is a relatively new car brand when compared to other legacy manufacturers. Presumably, production costs for creating components for these newer cars, with newer manufacturing lines, could result in higher pricing. Or, businesses might lean on the notion that many do indeed find Tesla’s offerings to fall in the luxury category. Thus, folks may be willing to shell out the extra cash for said accessories.

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“That’s another thing you’re gonna have to spend more money than your actual car. You’re gonna have to buy a charger. You’re gonna have to buy floor covers, gonna have to buy like the AC vent covers. Little things here and there to keep it tidy like you would any other car,” she says.

Madi continued, “I feel like it’s just a little more expensive for Tesla because it’s a Tesla.”

Tesla Battery Life

A third sticking point that Madi says she wishes she had been aware of prior to buying her car was its real-world mileage.

She says that the car’s battery doesn’t always take her as far as advertised. The TikToker tells drivers to forget about a Tesla’s quoted range capabilities. Others, like this driver who posted to the Tesla Motors Club forum, have the same gripe. Madi says in her clip: “Three being that the mileage and what your car can go. [It] is not actually ever going to be what they sell it to you as. Because you’re constantly using tech and electricity and all the things. So it’s going to…run out a lot faster than you would think.”

Lastly, Madi says that while folks can save money on fuel costs, powering one’s car isn’t free. After installing a home charger, she noticed her energy bill went up a bit each month. Moreover, she warns that folks may have to spend a bit more to insure their vehicles. Fast Company predicts that coverage rates for the EV manufacturer may continue to rise throughout 2025, too.

“No. 4 is that you will save money on gas," she said. "But you will also pay more for your electricity every month. So my electricity is about $30-$40 more a month. Which isn’t awful, I’ll say. I was probably spending $300-$400 on gas a month. Also, insurance can be a bit more too."

Tesla: Worth It?

Despite these issues, Madi says she’s very happy with her vehicle, and encourages folks interested in the brand to buy one for themselves. “But yeah, that’s all. I love my Tesla so much, I feel like everybody should get a Tesla if they want an electric vehicle,” she said. She goes on to say that she hasn’t had any issues with her vehicle, despite wishing she was privy to certain aspects of owning a car from the popular EV brand.

“Also, my warranty on my battery on my car is literally good for like a very long time. So I feel secure. I have no issues, I heard if you do have issues it’s super easy to resolve,” the TikToker states.

To close out her video, she showed off an added benefit of her vehicle after flipping around her camera’s orientation. Focusing on her Model 3’s infotainment screen, she shows off a graphic of the car. Madi highlights that commuters can alter the color of the digitally displayed rendering of their vehicle. She opted for a metallic pink hue and judging by her commentary, she’s a fan of this functionality. “Stop it right now,” she said as the TikTok comes to a close.

Commenters Sound Off

Some who replied to her video dispelled the notion that a Tesla home charger is required to power their vehicle. Instead, they recommended installing a specific type of outlet. “You don't need to buy the Tesla charger for your house, just install a NEMA 14-50 plug,” one wrote. Indeed, there are NEMA 14-50 adapters you can attach to your Tesla charging cable. Just make sure that your home’s electric system can handle the extra power load.

Someone else touched upon this point. Thankfully, their home was already outfitted with this plug: “I didn’t buy a wall charger, I just plugged in the mobile connector that came with my car into the 240-volt outlet in my garage. Usually takes no more than two hours to charge at night.”

Another commented on a Tesla’s quoted range. According to them, EPA tests aren’t exactly conducted in ways that most drivers would use their vehicles. “Mine came with floor mats and most vehicles don't get the advertised range. Because nearly nobody drives like the EPA's drive cycle when they test this stuff,” they added.

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Another person shared their own energy expenditures after purchasing a Tesla. By their estimates, they’re saving a considerable amount of money when compared to gas. “I did the math with my electric bill, I’m spending about $13 a week at home to charge, and probably less considering it’s summer, so the A/C is on a lot more at my house. I was spending about $35 a week on gas before. I didn’t buy my Tesla to save money, but still think it’s pretty cool!”

InsideEVs has reached out to Madi via TikTok comment for further information.

 

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