Tesla makes excellent electric vehicles, and the American automaker has made major advancements when it comes to the overall quality of its products over the past decade.However, there are still reasons why you might want to skip Tesla when purchasing an EV. Things like questionable fit and finish, along with a lack of service centers near you, might be deal-breakers when thinking about buying a Tesla.Let’s examine some of the reasons why you shouldn’t buy a Tesla!
1. Build Quality Issues
Tesla is infamous for its shoddy build quality and poor quality control. This isn’t a dig at the company from Tesla haters either; its quality control issues have been well documented by loyal Tesla owners in many forums. The company has struggled with assembly quality issues, including doors that don’t close properly from the factory as well as misaligned body panels and trim pieces.
There are also many issues where a part, such as a headlight, is properly installed on one side but not on the other. There are also plenty of quality issues with Tesla interiors, such as misaligned trim pieces that aren’t properly fitted. Paint quality issues are also common, such as improperly finished panels that have visible imperfections or paint that chips and peels easily.
These issues aren’t limited to Tesla’s more affordable vehicles either, with complaints also aimed at the larger Model S. The Plaid model’s yoke was criticized for being difficult to use and for its poor-quality vegan leather that suffered accelerated wear. Tesla displayed a standalone Model S interior (with yoke) at the Peterson Automotive Museum, and even the faux leather on that car’s yoke has started peeling.
2. There Are More Affordable EV Options
Compared to higher-end EV competitors, Tesla still offers a great combination of range and performance for your money (especially compared to German manufacturers). The cheapest Tesla you can buy (the Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive) is still $40,240, though. If you opt for the dual-motor Long Range version, you’ll be paying $47,240. The Performance upgrade for the Model 3 will bring the total cost of the vehicle to $53,240.
If you really want an EV but don’t want to break the bank, there are great,affordable EV options to considerover Tesla. The venerable Nissan Leaf is one of those sensible options, and the $28,040 starting price will definitely appeal to a broader range of customers. Chevrolet’s $26,500 Bolt EV is also a great option, and its 259-mile range is great for the price.
3. Not Enough Tesla Service Centers
Tesla has made strides in expanding its network of service centers across the United States, but there are still states (like Connecticut and Delaware) that only have one service center, which is unacceptable and leads to long wait times for customers.
Simply driving to a Tesla service center might force you to take a day off from work if it’s a couple of hours away from your home, which is a major annoyance. If you want an EV but are worried about the lack of Tesla service centers, you may go with an EV from a traditional automaker like Ford instead. In the US, the Blue Oval has more than 3,000 dealers that will service your electric Ford.
The more service locations that are available, the better, especially because you’re able to get your vehicle serviced close to home if you ever need to bring it to the dealer. This is something Tesla will need to continue working on, and it’s one of the clear downsides of not having a certified dealer network.
4. No Traditional Dealer Network
Tesla doesn’t work with a traditional dealer network, and this is mostly a positive. Buying a vehicle at a dealer usually tends to be one of the worst experiences, especially having to deal with sneaky dealer sales representatives that look at you like there is a huge profit to be made. Bypassing dealers means Tesla passes on savings to the consumer, but it also means you need to purchase your Tesla online, which might not be ideal for people who aren’t technologically inclined.
Tesla delivers your vehicle once you finance it and place your order, but securing a test drive might be difficult or impossible, depending on where you live. If there isn’t a Tesla showroom near you, you might have to take a chance and order your new Tesla without ever taking it out for a test drive (unless you know someone with a Tesla willing to let you take one for a spin).
Dealerships may be seen as outdated by some, but they do offer certain benefits when purchasing a new vehicle, and some might find that experience easier than ordering a car online. If you’re not ready for Tesla’s fully online car buying paradigm, you might want to look elsewhere.
5. Subpar Brakes on the Plaid Models
The Tesla Model S Plaid is one ofthe quickest EVs you can buy,and it blows most otherhigh-performance electric vehiclesout of the water. The only problem is the Model S Plaid’s combination of extreme acceleration and considerable mass, which requires brakes that are up to the task of stopping it.
Many automotive journalists criticized the brakes on the standard Plaid models (Model S and X) because they weren’t up to the task of repeatedly bringing the heavy EV with over 1,000 horsepower to a stop during spirited driving. For day-to-day use, the cast iron brakes on the Plaid were fine, but during hardcore track sessions, they got extremely hot from repeated stops, and drivers reported alarming issues with brake fade.
One of the Model S Plaid’s biggest competitors, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, offers standard carbon ceramic brakes, which are great for the track and can repeatedly stop the Taycan without worrying about diminished performance. Luckily, Tesla now offers a $20,000 track package that unlocks the vehicle’s full 200 mph top speed and also includes 16-inch carbon ceramic brakes.
This is great news for owners of the Model S Plaid, but the brakes are an extremely expensive option, and Tesla should include decent brakes on every Plaid model (even if they’re not ultra-expensive carbon ceramics). Tesla doesn’t offer the Model X Plaid (which arguably needs the big brake kit even more than the Model S due to its immense weight) with a track package or even with the upgraded carbon ceramic brakes.
6. Limited Paint Options
Tesla’s color options are very limited and surprisingly conservative for a company on the cutting edge of vehicle technology. If you want Tesla’s top-of-the-line sedan, the Model S, you’ll have five color options (Pearl White Multi-Coat, Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, and Ultra Red). The white paint is the only one you can get for free; the others are a $1,500 option, except for the Ultra Red, which commands a $3,000 premium.
If you want more color options, you’re able to skip the Tesla and go for a competitor like the Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE sedan, which offers 11 color options, and most of them are free.
7. Legacy Automakers' EVs Are Just as Good as Tesla’s
Tesla used to have the upper hand in terms of producing full-electric vehicles because they didn’t have much competition from traditional carmakers. But now legacy automakers are catching up and offering excellent electric vehicles that can go toe-to-toe with anything Tesla makes.
You could say that legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors make electric vehicles that are just as good as anything that Tesla has to offer, or perhaps even better. When you consider the improvements in overall quality control that they can offer over Tesla, not to mention the widespread availability of service centers, some may prefer an EV from a traditional automaker.
8. Privacy Concerns With Vehicle Cameras
Tesla’s vehicles are equipped with many cameras that the vehicle uses for autonomous driving as well as to record incidents concerning the vehicle (such as when Sentry Mode is activated). The problem is that these cameras can also be used to invade your privacy if you’re a Tesla owner.
Former Tesla employees interviewed byReutersconfirmed that Tesla employees exchanged videos captured by customer cars. This is probably a Tesla owner’s worst nightmare, especially considering that most people park their vehicles inside their homes. A violation of privacy like this from a company you trust with your privacy is reason enough to consider choosing another brand.
There Are Real Alternatives to Tesla EVs
Tesla makes awesome electric vehicles, but as the competition gets better at making competent EVs, customers can choose to go with an established brand’s EV without sacrificing too much (or anything at all).
There was a time when the Model 3 was the go-to electric sedan, but there are plenty of awesome alternatives that provide excellent range and performance, typically accompanied by better build quality and access to a larger service center network.
