Man buys a high mileage Tesla Model 3 Performance for $12,790 but its range and a Supercharger issue cause a very stressful journey back home
Published on Aug 21, 2026 at 6:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 21, 2026 at 6:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This man had a stressful drive in store for him when he picked up this high-mileage Tesla Model 3 Performance for $12,790.
While it sounded like a great deal on paper, things quickly unravelled.
Range and Supercharger issues guaranteed that his journey back home wasn’t an easy one.
Would he make it back home before buyers remorse set in?
If something’s too good to be true, it probably is
It’s an adage for a reason – people are often scared off a sweet deal in case it turns out not be as good as initially promised.
But plenty of buyers have been stung by sweet sounding deals.
One man bought a ridiculously cheap Ferrari, only to realize it had the ‘worst history’ of any supercar he’d seen.
It was a similar story with the UK’s cheapest Toyota GR Yaris and this $9,999 Rolls-Royce.
Ultimately, you need to be really careful when it comes to a good deal if you want to avoid getting tangled up in the strings attached.
This Tesla Model 3 Performance caused no end of trouble
YouTuber Calvin’s Car Diary was in for a rocky ride from the get-go.
The car – purchased via an auction – was covered in cosmetic flaws, but was otherwise accident-free.
However, a troubling message appeared on the screen after the Tesla Model 3 Performance started up.
It read ‘Paid charging unavailable – check unpaid balance’.
An outstanding balance from the previous owner was going to be an issue here.
“So, that’s telling me that I’m not going to be able to charge the car for the journey home,” Calvin said.
Just as he expected, it proved to be massively problematic on the way back.
In order to clear the bill or use a Tesla Supercharger, ownership would have to be transferred on the app, but that’d require a lot of hoop-jumping in terms of age verification and documents.
It would also take time, which he didn’t have.
With only 60 miles of range left in the vehicle and a 150-mile journey ahead of him, Calvin had quite the predicament on his hands.
“Range anxiety is a real thing, and right now I am experiencing that at its peak,” Calvin said.
Fortunately, he found a workaround and was able to charge the EV at a third-party rapid charger.
With just 6 percent left on the car, that’s what we’d call a close call.
We can only imagine the sigh of relief he must have let out once he got back home.
Timeline of Tesla cars
March 2008: First-Generation Roadster is released, capable of 245 miles per charge.
June 2012: Model S is released.
September 2015: Model X is released, distinguished by its ‘Falcon Wing’ rear doors.
July 2017: Model 3 is released, becoming the world’s best -selling electric car for several years.
March 2020: Model Y is released, becoming the best-selling passenger vehicle in 2023.
November 2023: Cybertruck is released.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
