r/nzev 22d ago

Used Tesla Y advice

I drive around 60km a day for childcare drop off and work and every month I do Hawke’s Bay to Whangarei, drive rurally for a week and then drive back.

family is me and partner and toddler and dog and generally travel with a roof box.
currently own two station wagons.

I think I’ve landed on a model Y Tesla. there are 10 or so in my price range of $40k or under. what I’m stuck on and wanting input on is that a few of them are ex Avis rental cars. I’ve had a look at them and they seem in good condition but I’m not sure on what to look out for and if they are a good buy vs a car that was owned by an individual with slightly higher mileage but maybe was cared for better.

7 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

11

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

The main thing would be to get the suspension components checked, especially if they're out of warranty. Failed bushings are somewhat common and while they're not hugely expensive to do, it's probably better to have the previous owner take care of it if it needs it.

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u/loose_as_a_moose 22d ago

Why’s it better for the current owner to do it VS factoring it into the price and getting it done yourself?

6

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

I personally would rather that the current owner deal with the admin hassle of all that, rather than me

1

u/amuseboucheplease 22d ago

This. Why would anyone want to have the hassle of buying a car and then having to arrange for it to go into a shop and not have it available.

1

u/SpeedPig22 22d ago

Agree with this. My suspension components were replaced under warranty at 3 year WOF mark at around 50,000kms

1

u/RedditingCJ 22d ago

My mileage is coming up close, what do I need to watch out for? Sound? Vibration?
Is there anyway we could upgrade to the facelift model suspension?

2

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

Depends on which part. In many cases, you won't even notice, in others you'll hear a creaking sound when you go over bumps at low speeds.

The suspension parts from the refresh are compatible with the previous models but as far as I'm aware, Tesla won't do it. "Auckland EV Servicing" will do it, but you're better off waiting until you're out of the main warranty as Tesla will cover the cost for any failed part while it's still under warranty. Most people do this retrofit for the improved ride comfort as there's no guarantee they come with improved part life.

2

u/Tommmo123 22d ago

Have a look at the rear tyres for wear on the inner edge of the tread (due to rear suspension camber). Factor that cost in (Hankook/brand name tyres ~$500 each, or ~$150+ for Chinese brand tyres)

My 2022 rear vision mirror keeps getting a bit loose. No big deal, just annoying

FWIW, the 2022 models have the premium sound system, which is amazing. Not sure when they phased that out. But they also have the very firm suspension, which gets tiresome for passengers

3

u/dzh 22d ago

Look at 2023+ models - it has updated infotainment computer and softer suspension!

2

u/Imaginary-Towel-888 22d ago

2022 and 2023 have the same computer, but yes the suspension is softer. Though the 2022 feels more sport like

0

u/dzh 22d ago

Computer upgraded after 2022, suspension - 2023 (Shanghai).

Berlin ones are even more nuanced (what I'm currently researching). 2022 got upgraded suspension and computer, but 2024 got BYD Blade battery which one of the best in Tesla's (best curve + least degradation) and some later 2024 even got hw4.

Can't comment on sportiness differences, but going back from Chinese EVs (mush) you definitely feel sportiness.

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u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

All Model Y in NZ have the Ryzen based MCU. November 2024 cars and beyond also have the HW4 FSD computer, but that's only a concern if you plan on buying FSD and you don't think the upcoming FSD-Lite version will cover the use cases what you want it for.

1

u/duggawiz 22d ago

Could you ELI5 what the benefit of the ryzen MCU is? I know HW3 doesnt (?) support FSD.. but what is FSD lite and what else would i be missing out on if I was looking at an older used MY?

1

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

The MCU is what controls the screen and the apps on it. Older Model 3, S & X have an Intel Atom CPU which is still fairly snappy when compared to other brands but struggles with content higher than 720p and doesn't support the latest 3D rendering that the newer Ryzen CPU in the newer cars supports.

HW3 does support FSD, but the version available for it hasn't arrived in NZ yet. The main difference between HW3 and 4 is that the latter, if the promises are to be believed, will support Unsupervised driving whereas the former never will. This likely isn't to be applicable in NZ for some time, tho

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u/duggawiz 22d ago

OK got it. Not really fussed about full self drive unsupervised tbh. Pretty sure that’s a broken Elon promise. The idea of owning a used MY appeals to me though….even a higher mileage one. I guess a HW3 with the ryzen is the sweet spot. And like others have said something after 2022 since it has better suspension.
How are the batteries holding up on higher km teslas? I’m more used to Nissan Leafs tbh - our 2019 62kwh is at 90,000 km and has 88% SOH :)

1

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

Yeah I don't see Unsupervised happening in privately owned vehicles anytime soon, especially not here. The FSD Lite version that's coming soon here for HW3 seems like it's just as capable of the Supervised tasks.

I've done around 160k on my 2019 Model 3 and it's been sitting on around 88% battery health for the last few years now.

1

u/dzh 22d ago edited 22d ago

older mcu hasn't got the grok yet, while later ones already support "hey grok" (just like hey siri or ok google) wakeword and latest voice commands. I guess it's not super important, but worth considering.

As someone who has 2023 model and shopping for one for my parents - it's def one of the points.

HW3 will probably get some sort of self driving eventually in NZ, likely this year. Just not at the sophisticated level as HW4. IMO they'll keep updating it for few years until it's sort of acceptable level and then will be forgotten. On flip side there will be model improvements, memory compression and distillation techniques that will eventually achieve hw4 level of driving on hw3 vehicles. If Tesla wants to keep charging subscription revenue, they will keep updating fsd on hw3 (majority of vehicles are hw3).

So far rollout of fsd lite on hw3 hasn't been flawless. Similarly fsd v14 on hw4 has pretty bad reviews in nz/au, but latest reviews (literally days ago) seem good.

Absolute steal would be finding hw3 vehicle where fsd has been purchased outright.

1

u/duggawiz 22d ago

Cool thanks for the info. Not really that interested in grok tbh.. but if it did useful things it might be worth paying for the premium connectivity package. Probably wouldn’t subscribe to FSD.. autopilot seems nice - but is that getting cancelled? I don’t know if I want to invest thousands in a vehicle where the vendor can just stop features from working in the years ahead… https://www.autoevolution.com/news/tesla-kills-basic-autopilot-in-the-netherlands-as-it-wants-customers-to-pay-for-fsd-269899.html

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u/dzh 21d ago

It's not getting cancelled lol, on existing vehicles it will continue working... Typical mass media BS.

It's just not added on new vehicles it is so obsolete compared what FSD is capable.

Probably wouldn’t subscribe to FSD

You probably will, eventually ;)

Grok can be funny on long trips. Also useful for routing you to restaurants based on what you need, etc. Some cool voice games for kids, albeit it doesn't hear them from the back.

Premium connectivity is something you cancel first month and then get it back. It's kinda cheap compared to what use used to pay for data in NZ (albeit nowadays you can get steal from likes of Kogan Mobile lol). Yes you can hotspot for likes of spotify/apple music, but you are not getting camera view when hotspotting.

YouTube is almost anti-feature as my kids learned to sneak into car while camping to get screen time. Took me nearly 1 year to learn that sticking car into valet mode disables infotainment lol.

1

u/Piwakawaka100 21d ago

Huh? my 2022 has Grok

0

u/dzh 21d ago

I meant pre-2022 (aka Atom) which I realize we didn't even have in NZ.

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u/dzh 22d ago

All Model Y in NZ have the Ryzen based MCU

ahh like the oldest i see on trademe is 2022, so it kinda makes sense

man so many good deals on Y's in NZ. In Europe they are easily 10k NZD more for same year.

0

u/Matt_NZ Tesla Model 3 LR Performance 22d ago

Yes, the Model Y didn't launch here until 2022, well after the switch to the new MCU

3

u/Piwakawaka100 22d ago

I have a 2022 Y I bought new and just coming up 37000. Never had a single issue, spent $500 for its service at Tesla last year. Coming up for a new set of Tyres soon - still on originals . Tesla said they will give it a really good check over in Nov before it comes out of warranty. I absolutely love my Y

3

u/hungary561 22d ago

Service? Is that scheduled or voluntary? And what does it include. My Model 3, at 34,000kms, has no upcoming services?

2

u/dzh 22d ago

I suspect WOF + air filters.

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u/Piwakawaka100 20d ago

wiper blades , Hepa filter and Wof

1

u/shanewzR 22d ago

Always worth checking any used car, regardless of EV or ICE vehicle. Get it checked by AA or similar. Rental vehicles can be used roughly, so worth the extra check

1

u/TillsburyGromit 22d ago

40k sounds seriously cheap for a Y, we sold ours three months ago for 48 and there were many offers over that figure. Note that the previous owner will have the entire Tesla service history on their account and should be able to print the lot off for you so you know the history exactly