Oklahoma man bought the 'cheapest Tesla in America' for $5,000 but it was packed full of surprises
- Oklahoma man bought ‘cheapest Tesla in America’
- He paid just $5,000 for the 2013 Tesla Model S
- But it was packed full of hidden costs
Published on Nov 29, 2024 at 5:38 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Dec 02, 2024 at 7:55 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
As the battle between EV and ICE engines rumbles on, one Oklahoma-based YouTuber invested $5,000 in what’s been dubbed the ‘cheapest Tesla in America’.
At the time he believed that he’d bagged a great deal.
However, a mere two months later that financial façade ebbed away with several surprise costs popping up.
Consider this a cautionary tale on the hidden costs of buying a used EV.
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The ‘cheapest Tesla in America’
Randy Shear, who shares car-related content via Auto Auction Rebuilds bought a 2013 Tesla Model S for $5,000.
While he was filled with the satisfaction that comes with bagging a bargain – sadly it wasn’t to last.
While at first things ran smoothly, after just eight weeks his bargain became more of a financial burden.
He faced significant issues including battery failure, sensor malfunctions, and air suspension problems.
The expensive surprises
Of course, these repairs didn’t come cheap.
All of the EV’s problems totted up and amounted to a $7,085 fix.
You don’t have to be a hotshot at math to realize that these necessary repairs and part replacements surpassed the car’s actual value.
While EVs, and Teslas in particular, have been lauded as being cost-effective – especially when it comes to powering them – repairs aren’t inexpensive.
The complex technology in Teslas makes repairs expensive and requires specialized services.
What’s more, they seem to depreciate at a rate of knots, too.
In fact, one YouTuber says his Tesla Model S Plaid lost him $100,000 in two years.
Randy’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the hidden costs of buying used electric vehicles.
Despite his experience, Randy still reckons he’d do it again.
“I can’t recommend enough going out and buying an older used Tesla,” he said.
His advice? “If you can afford it have some money put back in the event that something goes catastrophically wrong.”
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
