Man bought a used Tesla Model 3 with very high mileage and was actually very happy with it
- Andrew Lambrecht found a 2019 Tesla Model 3 for an irresistibly low price
- The only catch was it had over 80,000 miles on the clock
- A year later, and he’s so impressed with his Tesla that he’d do it all again
Published on Sep 10, 2024 at 6:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Sep 11, 2024 at 11:37 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This man bought a Tesla Model 3 even though it already had over 80,000 miles on the clock.
Battery health is one of the most important elements to consider when buying an EV.
But the price of this well-used Tesla Model 3 was too good to pass up.
Amazingly, the owner has been notably impressed with its performance, and would definitely buy a used Tesla again.
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The well-used Tesla Model 3
Andrew Lambrecht found a used 2019 Tesla Model 3 for sale last year.
It was just $26,000, even though it included the Full-Self Driving upgrade, which costs $15,000 on newer models.
That’s cheap, but not as cheap as the Tesla Model 3 that another person got brand-new for $23,000 less, thanks to incentives.
The only, and pretty major, downside was the odometer, which read 87,300 miles.
Most buyers would want a reading within the 30,000 to 60,000 mile range before considering a used car like this.
But Lambrecht had just sold his electric Mini Cooper and decided it was worth the gamble.
In one year he’s added 6,700 miles to the clock, and has thoroughly enjoyed the car’s performance.
The downside of buying a used Tesla
Lambrecht bought his Tesla Model 3 from someone who had only put 2,650 miles on it.
He was selling it to get the Model Y, which is more spacious and available as a seven-seater.
Lambrecht unfortunately couldn’t confirm the vehicle’s condition with the initial owner, so he contacted Tesla to run a check on its VIN.
Besides a battery overheating issue that was fixed, the car has had no major problems over the years.
Until Lambrecht noticed a creaking noise in the steering wheel, which is a known issue with these models.
Even though the car was out of its basic warranty, Tesla fixed it as a courtesy, which cemented Lambrecht as a Tesla fan.
In fact, its battery is in ‘excellent’ condition, according to EV technology firm Recurrent.
However, a full charge gets Lambrecht about 160 miles of range, which is 33% lower than what the car’s range should be.
But for him it’s worth it, and when he looks to buy his next car, chances are it’ll be another secondhand Tesla Model 3.
Andie Reeves
Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.
