Living with a Tesla Model 3 | 5000 UK miles later | 6 month long term review

It's been 5000 miles and 6 months have passed since picking up our long range 2021 edition Model 3. It's a good opportunity to review how things have been. What's it like to drive, to charge, what have the exact costs been compared to our previous diesel SUV, and the little loves and annoyances we've noticed along the way?
Watch on to find out.
With thanks to Alec Quarton Electrical Ltd - if you're looking for an EV charger fitting service in the North of England, contact Alec and his team at: aqecp.co.uk
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⌚️TIMESTAMPS
0:00 : Intro
0:30 : Driving
2:45 : Charging
5:35 : Costs
7:09 : Loves
8:27 : Niggles
11:00 : Conclusion
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🔗 RELATED
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[@AdamWellinformed]

Great video Mark. Can’t believe it’s been 6 months already! I must say I really do admire your video production and editing. Look forward to the 12 month review ⚡️

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks buddy- and of course the admiration is mutual. Your output frequency and quality is insane.

[@robchambers7206]

love the honesty in your film

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Rob. I’ll be posting my 12 month review in the next few weeks so strap in for more honesty and the answer to the question - would I buy this car again?

[@Notchedto11]

Thanks Mark, I was first here for the prem!hehe My Model 3 LR arrived as expected on Monday and I am busy learning everything - despite watching countless hours on here it's still a curve to climb...every day is a school day! Your videos have helped massively with that process & I have already noticed a couple of your niggles on mine....that said I am definitely in love! Thanks as alwauys my friend! Marcus

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Ah, thanks Marcus! Thrilled that your delivery arrived without issue and sure - part of the fun is the learning. You’ll be a pro in no time. Top tip: if in doubt, press the right steering wheel button and voice command will *usually* do what you expect it to!

[@GardenGrillUK]

Brilliant review. Editing on point

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks buddy! 18 month review on the way 😊

[@kiwijonowilson]

Excellent report. I have only had my M3 RWD for 1 month now, but your comments on pros and cons align with mine, with minor differences from my experience so far. Overall loving the car and look for any excuse to take it out on the road. I have kind of got control of the indicators and can USUALLY get them right but agree they could be better - a slight annoyance is that most cars here in NZ are Japanese and have indicators on the right stalk, so took me a while to get used to LH indicator stalk (and now I always operate the wipers when ever I try to used the indicators in our other cars!). For me I think single pedal driving (with the strong regen the car has) is probably my #1 like - and its not even something I considered before getting the M3! So much so that I now find it more annoying when occasionally someone cuts in front of me and I have to use the brake pedal. Agree with your points on autopilot but I actually think my #1 dislike is probably phantom braking (as in full braking type event - not just the odd slow down where I have learnt to just accelerate through them) - its only happened a couple of times, out of the blue, so far but it does give you a fright. Sure would love to see improvements to that.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Jonathan - thanks for commenting. Another poster (Dan Paul) has pointed out to me that the easiest way to turn the indicators off is to push them once in the same direction as you pushed them to turn them on. Very counterintuitive at first if you’re used to an ICE car but it does work a treat.

[@daxter224]

You have done well to insure at those levels

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Oh mate. The prices have increased by >60% since this video was made. See my 18 month update!

[@cjuhure]

Enjoyed your vid. Just as a bit of advice on one of your niggles. You can cancel the indication by tapping the stork in the same direction (you do not have to tap in the opposite direction) - so will save that accidental left-right, left-right indicating! Hope that helps. I have a model Y and would add as a niggle the fan noise when running A/C on a reasonable warm day can get excessively loud. As an additional love, I’d say the regular improvements via free over the air updates is fantastic. Plus the wireless chargers at a slight angle so the phone screen is visible when charging.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thank you! Yes - this does seem to have solved my niggle. Trust me to try an ICE car technique on a Tesla - of course they’ve simplified how indicator stalks work along with everything else :-)

[@andyg3752]

Great video. Looks like they did fox the indicator problem with software!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Andy. Yes, all sorted now with a software upgrade. 18 month review coming really soon!

[@HiThere619]

I love videos like this. Straight to the point and no BS to pad the run time. I’ve ordered a Model 3 and it’s nice to see honest and straight-forward pros and cons of the car. The only thing I may disagree with is how the turn signal stalk works. Granted, I haven’t yet driven a Model 3, but these function the same way as the BMW 745Li I had years ago, and the way my dad’s F150 functions. I love them. They’re simple and extremely easy to use and, in my opinion, I love having the stalk return to the center after each tap. I hate turning a steering wheel and both seeing and hearing the plastic-sounding click of a normal stalk returning to center.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thank you - I aim to keep my BS to the absolute minimum! I didn’t mention it in the video but a more accurate description of this niggle is that there is no tactile change between a tap and a long press. I’m OK with it springing back to centre but when it does I often have no idea what I’ve just asked the car to do. Because there’s very little/no audio feedback either it is a bit hit and miss as to which command you’re giving the car. It’s the combination of no tactile or audio feedback that’s the problem. The only real way of knowing is by glancing down to the bottom/right of the screen to see if the blind spot camera is still on- not quite in the periphery so it involves taking your eyes off the road to do it.

[@HiThere619]

@@ThatMarkGilroy Is there a little “bump” feel when clicking the stalk? I haven’t personally driven a Model 3 yet, so I honestly have no clue. I remember the 745Li (and my Dodge Charger now) having a distinct feeling when giving the signal a “hard” click. Like, for example, in my current Charger, if I gently tap the stalk up or down, the signal flashes three times and stops. If I press it harder past a “bump” or “click” feedback point, the signal stays on until manually cancelled or cancelled by a turn of the wheel.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@HiThere619 That's it. No bump or click, just an intuitive sense of whether you've pressed it down long enough to stay on or flash three times. If any other owners know that there's a knack to this that I'm missing please let me know!

[@HiThere619]

@@ThatMarkGilroy Ahhh gotcha! Yeah other cars I’ve driven have had some sort feedback. Now I’m interested to see what the Model 3’s signal stalk is like. Thanks for the insight!

[@peterbtaylor]

@@ThatMarkGilroy I have had my Model 3 for just over a week and there is a very distinct bump between the 3 indicator flashes and the permanently on indicators. Mine needs a definite push to get to be permanently on. I have found it best to cancel the indicators by tapping the stalk in the same direction rather than in the opposite direction as you suggested in your video. It avoids the possiblity of accidently indicating in the opposite direction. I do have three issues with the indicators: Firstly, you cannot go from indicating one way to indicating in the other direction with one click of the stalk - a common need on roundabouts in UK. You need to first cancel the initial indication by tapping the stalk and then click it again to indicate in the oppsite direction. I've got used to it but it doesn't make sense to me and could be easier to use. Secondly, 3 indicator flashes on a stalk tap are not enough for me. I would prefer 5 or even 6 flashes. It's a shame this isn't configurable. Thirdly, I would like the indicators to self cancel after a certain time or distance without needing a turn of the steering wheel. My Triumph motorbike does this extremely well and it stops you driving with the indicators blinking without you realising it - something you mention in your video. My final niggle relates to the traffic aware cruise control which, in general, is very good and I use it a lot. In slow traffic, the distance behind the car in front can be adjusted within a sensible range so crawling along in slow traffic feels safe and relaxing. However, on a motorway, at higher speeds, I find the car stays too close to the car in front for my liking. On the maximum level 7, it stays perhaps a bit over 1 chevron distance (UK drivers will know what this means) behind the car in front. I want it to be twice that for a relaxing cruise control journey on a motorway. This is a safety issue so please Tesla give us more adjustment on this important and very useful feature. None of these niggles is stopping me from loving the car. It is so easy to drive and the performance makes it feel like a motorbike with 4 wheels - fantastic.

[@pace_tracker]

Good video again! Got mine LR on Monday too #teamblacktesla 😅 Love it so far and the quality is great

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Vesa! Hope you’re having fun getting to know your new car 😊

[@pace_tracker]

@@ThatMarkGilroy First longer trip done in rain and snows storms. The LR works like a charm!

[@TheElectricMan]

great review

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks buddy!

[@AdamJones-wq9hc]

Amazing video.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Adam 👍🏻

[@audriusa5368]

good old days, only a year ago. Electricity and insurance 20-35% cheaper...yeah... electricity 27.7p at home, insurance nearly double

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Mate. This video aged SO BADLY!! My 18month review tells this story.

[@cryptoslackerrob-464]

I did a u turn in model 3 hire car and did the same wheel rash . Wish they warned me how wide a turn circle the three has lol. Oh well still loved driving it. 🚗

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Argh! Can only imagine doing that in a hire car. I’m convinced the alloys are made of chocolate. I’ve managed to repair/hide mine now with some funky wheel covers. Made a video about them over at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKjLpIl4pduBgtk

[@danpaul4975]

My previous car was a 17 year old Corsa 1.4 and today's petrol prices are still more than double what it would cost to charge my Tesla to do the same miles.... That would be if my local Tesco didn't have a free podpoint!! Shame about your alloy kerbing. I bought a 5th spare alloy that has kerbing on it, gonna have a go at a DIY repair. Had my car 13 months and I love it. As for indicators. If you press fully down to turn on the left one for example, you can half press the same way to cancel, you don't have to press it the opposite way to cancel.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Great tip Dan- thank you; I’ll give it a try! And yep, I was not pleased about that curbing- happened less than two weeks into ownership 🤦🏻‍♂️ May I ask- are you one and the same Dan Paul who used to post Tesla content?

[@Tom55data]

You would be wise to swap to Octopus electricity provider as they have a 4 hour EV nighttime tariff which I pay 5p/unit, but I think for new customers is about 7p/unit. 4 hours will give you about 120 miles in a Tesla. This makes a big difference in fuel costs. For other people then the cheapest way to lease any EV is salary sacrifice as BIK was zero 2 years ago, last year 1%, and now 2%. So depending on your tax rate you can save your tax rate / month. I have the "special" UK tax rate for a certain salary range of 62.5% (look it up) which means I save a bucket load of money each month, and so my monthly lease cost for everything (servicing/tires etc) of less £300/month for a M-3 LR.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Tom - I am actually with Octopus (but not the cheap overnight rate). I took a good look at my current Octopus tariff as quoted in this video (fixed until Sep 2023) and when I ran the numbers found that it's not worth me switching. The higher standing charge and daytime rate in the Octopus Go tariff vs my current rates didn't make it worthwhile for me. I only charge at home perhaps once a week at most - usually every 10 days or so...the rest of the time is mainly free top-ups whilst out and about.

[@maxproudlock7962]

You come across very likeable mate and for someone about to pull the trigger in buying a Tesla just wanted to say thank you. Just need to decide… blue or red!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks buddy. 18 month ownership review on the way next month. Can’t help on the colour front but I would definitely NOT recommend the black - looks amazing freshly washed but shows up all the dirt when it isn’t!

[@maxproudlock7962]

@@ThatMarkGilroy I did think that was likely with the black which is unfortunate as I came to this video after your pick up video where you say you originally ordered the blue! I’ve subscribed so will keep an eye out! Thanks for all your insight, it really helps 😊

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@Max Proudlock Ah yes, I'm not bitter AT ALL about that. 😆

[@davehHH1]

completely agree with the niggles. I've done 2 alloys. I ended up fixing them myself with suitable filler, sandpaper and primer and correct paint. Annoying though.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I did the other one on that side yesterday. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Gonna fix em and buy some Mayde covers to do a better job.

[@davehHH1]

@@ThatMarkGilroy I've found its the camera that doesn't help. The second alloy I did I was watching the camera reversing straight... But the camera doesn't really help with where the alloy is in relation to the curb only the mirror. For the fronts you're screwed no way of knowing where you are. I never reverse close to curb anymore.

[@ToBeOrNotToBeThatIsTheQuestion]

Interesting point with the alloys. I'm really surprised people don't upgrade and change the alloys to something else as pretty much 90% of owners just keep the same bland alloys making all model 3s look identical except for exterior body and interior colour.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Oh believe me I’m changing them!

[@cryptoslackerrob-464]

@@davehHH1 it's so annoying, you would think there would be a simple solution.

[@LesroyBuckley]

I love your video Mark... I'm thinking of a M3 Long range but will struggle to have a home charger. Thr tesla fast charge network looks so good however that ik tempted to buy it and just use the network... thoughts?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks! The charger network is superb - as is the availability of other chargers. We probably charge ours once a week (tops) as the mileage we do doesn't need anything more. If you're concerned about it why don't you simulate it for a week and see how you get on - every time you need a top up head to a charging point rather than a petrol station and see how it goes? Having built in Netflix/Disney/KZbin in the car certainly helps kill the extra time it takes!

[@LesroyBuckley]

@ThatMarkGilroy I've taken your advice and as a result I've ordered a Company car Tesla Model 3.... Interestingly, I ordered an Model 3 Long Range... although its a RWD LR rather than AWD LR. Only available to fleet drivers and costs between the M3 Rwd and the Awd M3. Range is quoted at 394 miles. Can't wait to take delivery of it

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Nice! What’s the delivery estimate saying?

[@LesroyBuckley]

@@ThatMarkGilroy it currently says July or August 2023

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@LesroyBuckley wow that’s super quick!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Mark, you said you lease it. Where from? I've looked at leasing as I don't think I'll ever be able to buy one, however the prices have jumped massively of late. Good video 🙂👍🏻

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Richard and thanks for the feedback! In the end I leased directly with Tesla (full vid of my order process at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZTGYXuMlNZgmck) - there are a bunch of independent leasing firms that you can use but I wanted to guarantee my order by a certain date (plus was cleaner with the trade-in). My only regret was not going with a full PCP - the PCH is a little restrictive and I wish I'd paid a little more to have the freedom to do what I want with the car at the end of the term (or earlier).

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@ThatMarkGilroy brilliant. Appreciate the info 👍🏻

[@JoeHardman]

Are there any wider compatible tyres that are available to prevent damage to the alloys?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I ended up buying some covers that cover the full alloy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKjLpIl4pduBgtksi=N5-_lEAtJbCmXTPl

[@MuhammadAli-bk2st]

Nice report but, you haven't mentioned the price to buy a Tesla model 3 in UK. Thanks

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Muhammad, thanks for commenting. I deliberately left the on the road price out as it has already changed since purchasing the car. You can see my full ordering video (which shows the price I paid) at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZTGYXuMlNZgmck

[@kamsmag]

Is your Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus or Long Range? I find a lot of videos a bit misleading as contrnt creators don’t mention what variant they own. Sorry if I missed something. I haven’t watched your previous videos. Thinking of buying a second hand Tesla. It’s looking like I can afford the standard plus model but a bit worries the battery won’t be good enough😅I make about 200 miles a week - mainly city driving…

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

No worries. It’s the long range version!

[@Settez123]

How do you find not having a driver display in front of you? Is it annoying to have to take your eyes off the road and to the left to check your speed?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Luke. I’m not gonna lie, it takes some getting used to. But the trade off in terms of having this huge field of view is worth it. I think because the speedo is up in the top right hand corner of the screen, it’s peripheral enough that it’s really just a glance down to check rather than having to move your head to look. Not that far removed from having a driver display- just in a different direction.

[@Settez123]

@@ThatMarkGilroy thanks Mark, appreciate you coming back so quick. I’m getting very tempted lately

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Best advice I can give is (if there's one within range) go and book a test drive. The sales team at Tesla are very hands-off - you'll just get the car to yourself for 90mins or so and you can have a good opportunity to see what it feels/looks like as a driver. Be warned though - you'll probably buy one once you've driven it. ;-)

[@Settez123]

@@ThatMarkGilroy I think I might do just that, thanks again

[@gannetripple]

The speed reading is really no further away than it would be on the dash of another car, just in a different direction. No need to move your head, just your eyes. Having said that, I do wish it had a head-up display with speed, nav and maybe more.

[@lharris828]

Could you slow down the chat rate please?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Sorry mate- I’d had a lot of coffee that day. I think my 18 month review is a little more gentle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5SumY2ni8aXr8Usi=5ekDoqt4cp6i-hVa

[@layman786]

What happens if you are going away for 2 to 3 weeks and don’t have a home charger. Will the battery last that long?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Do you mean going away on a road trip for 2-3 weeks and don't have a home charger? Or leaving your car alone stationary while you go away for 2-3 weeks?

[@layman786]

@@ThatMarkGilroy going on holiday and leaving it at home with no wall charger

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

​@@layman786 You should be absolutely fine. Factor in 1% a day battery drain - a little more if you want to leave Sentry Mode on. Don't be tempted to check the car via the app as this will also drain the battery faster. At that rate you should only expect around a 20% drop after two weeks, max. @spawnpoiint made a great video on this which you'll find at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIXMhH6vidN7odE

[@newzealandfromadjimini2cor452]

You can bet it won't be long before EV's are hit with road tax charges .....

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

You’re probably right although I hope you won’t be. Same with EV charging costs catching up with fuel costs..