I Bought A Used 2015 Tesla Model S! Did I Make a Mistake?

#evs #Tesla #ModelS #teslamodels
Purchase Price: $20,000 - $4,000 (used EV credit) = $16,000
Mileage: 89,311
In this video I share my thoughts about buying a used 2015 Tesla Model S 70.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:35 Exterior Walk Around
04:37 Interior Impressions
11:55 Overall Impressions of the vehicle
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Apps Used on the Average EV:
-Windy
-A Better Route Planner
-Chargeway
-Plugshare
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Products Used on The Average EV:
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[@aussietaipan8700]

I purchases my 2015 model S 85 in March 2023, only 32,000 Km (20,000 miles) on the clock, free super charging for life and free connectivity for life. I love the car BUT 2 issues. 1) no door bins and no center console bin. 2) The rear end is very wide and is some times difficult to park in busy car parks. I know the 2024 model S has door bins now but we cannot get them in Australia.

[@MMA9to5]

So if I purchased a used 2015 s85 from a dealership it should have the free unlimited supercharging available? Assuming the owner that sold it to the dealer gave them the info to do so

[@aussietaipan8700]

@@MMA9to5 Hi, Purchsing from a non Telsa dealership (like I did), the free super charging should remain with the car. The is a BUT, if the car has been sold used by Tesla in its life, Tesla would have removed the super charging.

[@Andersljungberg]

If you want the battery to have as long a life as possible, you should only charge up to 80%. And use super fast chargers as little as possible

[@alxk3995]

The "EV clinic" guys from Croatia said that people are unnecessarily afraid of super charging. 🤷‍♂️

[@happyguyjoaquimpedro]

This is the best looking Tesla car i have ever seen. It looks better than the more modern tesla cars.

[@biggunsclub1]

To me it still looks like a very modern EV. It has some amazing features and tech especially compared to the Kona but you didn't really seem that impressed!!

[@Andersljungberg]

A good thing about Tesla cars is said to be the navigator. Better than on some other cars. So you can go on long trips and still feel safe

[@Jon-kg6hm]

For $25k I could have chosen between a 2022 Model 3 RWD or the 2015 Model S P85. I went with the M3 since it only had 49k miles. Definitely doing a used model S for my next car

[@guillaumegiroux9425]

Hi, I have exactly the same dilemma. What scares me is the cost of reparations. In my case, the 2019 M3 has 120k km while the 2015 MS has 195k km. A battery pack is hugely expensive and the MS needs a cooler for 4k. The MS has the basic Autopilot, a big deal for me. I feel the MS is the most comfortable car, but the M3 is the most reliable and covered by warranties.

[@ortegaangel5152]

Looking between a 2014 Model S P85 70k miles & a 2018 Model 3 long range with 100k miles. Not sure if 2014 is too outdated software wise.

[@jeremyj6971]

Need the MCU2 upgrade + a few tricks to make the AP1 nag go away for that highway driving and it becomes a better car than most the modern Teslas due to their constant nag and interior cameras big brothering you. I personally really like AP1 for highway driving.

[@theaverageev]

I thought about the upgrade, but decided against it since I am not keeping this car for a long time. I would likely do it if I were going to keep it! The autopilot is ok, but I really don't like all of the logic. It sits too far to the left of the lane and while it has the ability to adjust to the cars around it within the lane, it is super delayed. Some times it will move over one way or the other after the car has already passed me, which is not ideal.

[@jakesjacobs5075]

Eight years old, and it will still outrun Italian supercars. 👍👌👌👌👌

[@ianvankirk8820]

I have a 2013 Leaf and it’s steering wheel heater gets super hot too.

[@jackgreenstalk777]

Dont charge 10 to 80% on road trips. Get a better route planner, and set it for fastest trip. It does more stops but faster stops for fastest total trip, set to arrive at 5% or 10% for best charge rates

[@theaverageev]

I don’t? Even when charging this car to a lower SOC it is miserably slow and I would not recommend this car to anyone that wants to road trip.

[@jackgreenstalk777]

​@@theaverageev you specifically mention, in this video at 16 minutes in that you plan to take it on a road trip abd then say "I haven't done my normal 10 to 80%" thats what my comment is in response to... speaking from my experience. 3 yrs in a 2014 model s 60, done plenty of road trips. Its a great car for road trips if you use know how to get best performance out of it (arrive with low S.O.C. CHARGE more often / shorter charges for fastest trips). 10 to 80% on a roadtrip will make it way less doable/enjoyable.

[@Laissez_Faire]

@@jackgreenstalk777I use my s60 in road trips and charge 10 to 60% for faster charging. Plus it’s free 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Mc88Flyy]

I had a 19 Model 3 Performance and loved it. Long story very short I had to sell. I regretted it ever since. Now I’m trying to find another Tesla. I found a 17 S 60d (38k miles!) that’s been upgraded/uncorked to 75d. It’s got leather/cloth interior, never knew they did that. 😅 Seems every Tesla has its own issues but they’re definitely liveable…new sub here, good vid, thanks 🙏

[@Topofthehill777]

Hi there! Did you end up purchasing the used model s? How is it going? I unfortunately just got in a car accident in my model Y and loved it but it’s more than likely totaled so I’m now considering a used model s to get more bang for my buck versus getting a new model Y. Thanks for your feedback

[@Andersljungberg]

One of the things about the Tesla is the acceleration. But then you shouldn't use the Chill mode. It limits the acceleration

[@rko1914]

I love my 2015 Model S 70D. Ive had it for about 15 months. Upgrading from MCU 1>MCU 2 is an absolute must. My 70D stopped getting updates. Once I changed to MCU 2 it started getting updates again. Having Netflix, Hulu, and internet in my 70D with premium connectivity and FUSC makes this a great car. No complaints (except range) At 90% SOC, I get about 200 miles. Not a road trip car but it definitely works great paired with our PHEV.

[@theaverageev]

Just wrapped up my 4 month video. I have heard the same things about MCU2. Unfortunately I’m not keeping it long enough to make it worth it. But thanks for sharing!

[@MrPlalinde]

What is the process to upgrade to MCU2 ?

[@bilboriches7216]

More than enough for a road trip. You wont be going more than 170 miles in one go anyway. And if its gona be highway only then youl be able to go 250 with no stress.

[@thenetworkarchitectchannel]

I did not know Tesla made a model that had a retractable roof. Sweet ride. Thx for the vid. I enjoyed watching.

[@theaverageev]

Yes! I think 2015 may have been the last year!

[@harriettanthony7352]

The open roof was VERY short lived; the thing leaked like Noahs Ark, it had issues of all sorts, and was not worth the headaches

[@melynuk4616]

@@harriettanthony7352not for me i had 2015 model S 90D and drive superb even it rains -- now its getting warmer ' its cool have it roof up - that the 3 and y and X dont have :-)' just saying'

[@ewheel1629]

Great video but it sounds like you paid $20,000 for your used Tesla and you won a $65,000 result come on man you got a great car I just bought the same car with not nearly any complaints for $19,900 in California you got a great deal be happy

[@theaverageev]

I’ll try 😆

[@Andersljungberg]

You should be able to update the software by connecting it to Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you can also get premium connectivity at a low monthly cost. Then I also think you can get more functions. if the hardware is upgraded to MCU 2 So it should also have something like Netflix and KZbin Maybe also Tidal and Apple Music. and play with better graphics?

[@justcollectingdust]

Pretty awesome car for being 9 years old. BTW...you do a great job of explaining things, honestly.

[@theaverageev]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@djblackjackshellac]

Thanks for the review. I'm looking for the roomiest electric for under 20k cash (I need to transport my elderly parents around, with my dad's wheelchair). An old Model S seems to fit the bill, although I'd prefer a Y for the skinny streets in my town. Can't find any of those for under 20k yet.

[@theaverageev]

It is a great car! If you are looking at one I would take one of your parents along to see how easily they can get in and out. It does sit lower, and that might be an issue! I know people are hesitant about the ID.4, but it is pretty roomy and the seating height might be positioned for elderly. You can grab a 2021 under $20k, but just be aware the software isn't going to blow you away. The ride quality will though! Or maybe keep an eye on Model Y prices and see if any dip below $20k!

[@GadHeilweil]

you can only answer this question in the future if the battery fail or not. That is the issue with used Evs, you gambling all in on the battery condition which is almost impossible to check

[@harriettanthony7352]

Hey OP ! Be GLAD you do not have air suspension; this is great when new, but when its old it will eat your checkbook for a snack- on ANY CAR that uses this system

[@theaverageev]

Haha thanks. My brother has the air suspension and has had no issues. But maybe he is just lucky! He is upgrading the Model 3 LR by the end of the month!

[@willmajor4559]

How much did you pay for it? What are you expecting to get for it? How much is your insurance on your electric car compared to ICE vehicles?

[@theaverageev]

$20k Resale right now is around $17-18.5k I couldn’t compare to an ICE but the insurance for this car is more than my Kona Electric was. That is mainly due to it being older and parts being harder to come by.

[@flyordieinafire]

Have you thought about adding comma 3 to the Tesla should be way better than stock auto pilot? There's a fork for Tesla's in general. Not sure if your model s is already supported.

[@flyordieinafire]

Found tinkla us which has a wiki on the different models. Bit dated but Bjørn Nyland has an old video. (Newer comma 3 now a days) Pre-AP 2014 Tesla Model S with OpenPilot

[@Andersljungberg]

There is a person in Germany who has driven over 1.2 million Miles with his Tesla S . I think it was from 2013 or 2014. He has been to places such as Morocco, Africa, Sweden with the car. with the navigator in Tesla, you can probably go on long journeys and still feel safe. but then you must also use the navigator

[@polska905]

That 1.2 million mile tesla is on its 4th battery pack and 14th drive unit. That's insanely unreliable.

[@gilgabo]

@@polska905Except he got to around 180K on the original battery. Most of the replacement motors were before Tesla understood the failure mode. Replacement large motors for these older S models incorporate the updates to overcome the failure mode.

[@ivanramos4950]

Man drive unit is like 7k for the front and 7k for back it sucks thats 14 k

[@speer320]

Good short term value holder. My 51yo mother needs a new car soon, my father is a ex mechanic. I’m gonna push them for an older Tesla. She drives 20 miles a week, not on highways.

[@theaverageev]

Then used Tesla would be perfect and they have so many features!

[@Andersljungberg]

There is a person in Germany who has driven over 1.2 million Miles with his Tesla S . I think it was from 2013 or 2014. He has been to places such as Morocco, Africa, Sweden by car. with the navigator in Tesla, you can probably go on long journeys and still feel safe. but then you must also use the navigator

[@mastermindtopics8712]

Would you still recommend getting? I have a Honda accord 2016 touring right now and wanting an upgrade for my college years before I apply to CHP. Tax credit is something that stuck out to me a lot!

[@theaverageev]

For my use case, I don't know if I would buy it again after living with it. Since it is so heavy, it isn't great efficiency-wise on the hills I drive on every day. On highways it isn't too bad efficiency-wise. The DCFC is super slow, so it is not an ideal road tripping vehicle. If you are just commuting with it, it would be fine! Do consider the potential repair costs as it is an older EV. If you want to roadtrip often, it would be worth at looking at an older Model 3 or other EV with faster charging and greater range!

[@justcollectingdust]

@@theaverageev true, but you are charging for FREE, correct?

[@conorbaker3166]

Glad you posted this and you are enjoying it. I am thinking of trading my Model 3 for an elder S just because they are so darn cheap now and to get a lower payment plus tax credit. My hesitation is that I see stories of battery module and drive unit failures with the early cars and the 18650 cells and it makes me a little weary with the 8 year warranty on the 2015s and 2016s now expiring this year and next year. I’m sure most of them are fine but it helps to know the history of the car. How was your used car dealership experience?

[@theaverageev]

Very true! But as with any used car, it is a risk. This car seemed to be well maintained. The dealership was great and very transparent. That was half the reason I went with this car. I reached out to many dealers with sketchy practices and hidden fees. Not cool...

[@ferrynpalmer3875]

Your right to be concerned. If your educated and aware of the potential risks and your prepared for them, they're awesome. I own a 2014 MS 60 with 131k miles. It's been pretty rock solid for the 2 years I've owned it. It's bank vault quiet, no squeaks or rattles of any kind. The drive unit was replaced under warranty shortly before my purchase, the battery health was good according to recurrent, the front and rear control arms were also replaced before my purchase. I'm getting ready to drop it off at Tesla RIGHT NOW to have the drive unit replaced. There's coolant in the drive unit and it's a KNOWN issue. I'm out of warranty and the $6500 hit is all mine to take. The drive unit that was put in ~ 2.5 years ago, well when the 8 yr battery/drive unit warranty expired SO did any warranty coverage on the recently replaced drive unit. So here I am....about to drop it off to pay a $6500 bill, they'll have the car for who knows how long, loaner provided for this expensive fix for a known issue....negative. I love the car and intend to buy a NEW model 3 in 2024.....if I can make it there without losing my rear end!!! Drive units are a known issue on the older MS....it's not IF, it's WHEN. Prepare for that, be ready to absorb it.

[@cheesun124]

The cost of batteries will be getting lower as the years go by, and so hopefully that can breathe new life into these vehicles when the time comes.

[@ferrynpalmer3875]

@@cheesun124 .....this is a fact. 3 years ago a HV pack replacement was over $20k for my car. Today that same new pack (it'd be bigger now, my 60kw pack is no longer made) is sub $15k. A refurbished pack wasn't an option years ago, those can be had for around $10k. Same with the drive unit I'm paying $6500 to replace. 5 years ago that cost would've been double.

[@johnjlopez]

@@ferrynpalmer3875 All tesla replacement batteries are refurbs.

[@user-mf4yg3io3g]

I believe the free supercharging comes with batteries 85 and greater

[@theaverageev]

Oh that makes sense then!

[@schlickit628]

Good deal. It will be interesting to see how this works for you. I’m a bit more leery about buying used for an ev because of battery degradation. If that turns out to be generally a non issue, I’ll probably always buy used in the future.

[@rko1914]

It typically isnt an issue. Get a 100 kw pack if you can and avoid the elder S60's and 70's because of range loss if its your only vehicle.

[@jayc3110]

The most interesting things about buying a used car, is the history of the purchase. Did you buy it from tesla? Did you buy it from a private owner? How many miles did it have on it? And most importantly how much did you pay for it? All these things should be in the beginning of the video so that the viewer is engaged. Not that interested all the little nitpicking interior details. I watched about half the video and gave up. Thank you and best wishes

[@theaverageev]

I personally don’t see how those things are relevant since every used EV is going to have a different story and not be helpful to people looking into used EVs. Additionally, with the volatile used EV market the price would also be not helpful. I can certainly tell you in the comments, but I try to give my videos a decent “shelf life.” So talking about what the car includes and the interior is important my opinion. I got it for $20,000. It’s implied that it was from a dealer since I got the used EV tax credit. I believe the car was leased and was then purchased by the leasee and then eventually traded in to Tesla and then sent to auction. I stated the miles I believe 89300 or something like that? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@benkanobe7500]

Comparing the efficiency of your Kona to the S is like comparing a Civic to a 7 series BMW...

[@theaverageev]

I mean yes you are totally right... but it is definitely a mistake I made in my calculations. Winter efficiency is particularly poor

[@tonyweir1317]

Great walk through. Lighting on screen made it impossible to see what you were doing.

[@theaverageev]

Sorry about the lighting!

[@amandalasha]

Whats the top charging speed on a supercharger?

[@theaverageev]

I haven't done a 10-80% charge test yet. But the fastest I've seen in 100kW. It should theoretically get 112kW. I will be testing this soon!

[@amandalasha]

⁠@@theaverageevthat’s not bad. Thanks for the videos.

[@Andersljungberg]

You can decide how many percent the sunroof should be opened

[@richjohnson749]

It would be nice if you told us how much you paid in. How many miles in the beginning of the video. Thank you

[@theaverageev]

I thought I said the mileage? If not it was 89,311. I put $2,000 down.

[@lesleycasey7365]

How much in total?

[@danbilzerianx]

hi is it good to purchase a used tesla s for doing uber eats?

[@theaverageev]

I think you would be better off with something with better range and charging. If you want Tesla, an older Model 3. That way you could more easily top off between deliveries. If you are ok with non-Tesla, the Older Kona’s get great range in city driving. 4+ miles per kWh.

[@rodrigosarcinelli]

What year is your Kona? Isn’t it unfair to compare it to a 9 year old tesla? Like on the autopilot for example, my model y autopilot is amazing, but the 2015 … I’m surprised it works😂

[@theaverageev]

Hahaha. My Kona was a 21. Im comparing it to my use case, not necessarily comparing the cars. I have used Autopilot on a 2022 Model 3, and still think Kona lane centering is better. I just don’t like the logic for auto pilot in general. Doesn’t gel with my driving style/habits! I don’t mind the car, but I do prefer my old Kona.

[@antonytj2003]

Hi, i am planning to buy a Tesla model X. Its a shame they stopped X in UK. What is your thoughts of buying a used X.

[@theaverageev]

It would be a great car for sure! I would just worry about, as I do with my Model S, repair costs and insurance. Since there are few cars and if it is an older one these costs may be high. It is worth calling your insurance provider to see what the cost would be for the X compared to your current vehicle!

[@milescoleman910]

Did I miss it how much did he pay for 90k miles?

[@theaverageev]

$20k

[@flyordieinafire]

I would guess it doesn't support CCS chargers?

[@theaverageev]

It does not currently. To be honest I’m not 100% if you can do the CCS retrofit on the older Model S, but that would allow access to CCS chargers.

[@SumitraGajjar]

How much did you pay for it? Also how long you planning to keep it. Let me know if and when you wanna sell it.

[@theaverageev]

Including taxes and fees $24,000

[@scheffman]

Any fixes 4 months in? And what is your real world range?

[@theaverageev]

Only thing was a door handle issue. Tesla came to my work and fixed it. The service was complimentary! Not sure if it was a warranty from a previous replacement? Real world on highway is close to 200 miles from 100% at highway speeds. Sometimes a touch better. Definitely meant for the highway. I am doing the range test next weekend and will post that ASAP!

[@scheffman]

Awesome thanks.

[@fomc75bp]

do you get free supercharge from privous owner?

[@theaverageev]

Unfortunately, no...

[@jackgreenstalk777]

He should. All 2012-2016 model s and x have or had free supercharging for life. Prior owner may have lost it due to modifying car or it was damaged, or they used it for ride share which goes against free charge policy

[@Andersljungberg]

If you have Tesla S with air suspension you can raise the car you can lower the car it should also be able to remember where you have raised the car so I do it automatically until you get to that place next time

[@theaverageev]

No air suspension for me unfortunately. My brother has it though.

[@Kdubsglass]

How did that road trip go?

[@theaverageev]

With the Model 3? Great! Video coming next week!

[@inspirerush]

good thing you survived the accident

[@theaverageev]

You are so right! Very grateful the car kept me safe!

[@robertrivera9217]

😂😂you can't compare an old tesla to a newer ev

[@theaverageev]

I’m pretty sure I was comparing it to my Kona? So I think it is fair to compare my experience of where I came from? But I do agree with you if I was just randomly comparing it with a new vehicle.

[@slave2damachine]

What does a 2015 s cost to buy?

[@theaverageev]

I picked this one up for $20k with 88,310 miles.

[@cifey]

8yr battery warranty no?

[@mat2104]

@@theaverageev I don't feel too bad about my purchase. I thought I got a bad deal, but maybe it was better than I thought. 2015 Tesla Model S 85D, every single option (so similar to yours but also the executive seats), lifetime supercharging, lifetime premium connectivity, and 74k miles. Only thing is it needed new tires (its AWD so had to replace all 4 even though only 2 were "bad"), the two screens had the glue/bubble leak (which most people do the infotainment upgrade anyways), and the passenger door handle won't open out. Paid 20k as well

[@tylerworkman6439]

@@mat2104 I think that’s a great deal! Nice!

[@darrenorange2982]

I bet you never buy that EX30...

[@theaverageev]

😬 I'm definitely not keeping this car longer than the summer. I can promise that!

[@spampeg]

Why is that? ​@@theaverageev

[@CDKladis]

Most Tesla owners buy another Tesla

[@ahassen1236]

As more time goes by most people are done with touchscreens and would prefer physical buttons again. It's just too demanding.