2011 LX570 - Trading it in

[Heckraiser]

Not unique. I'm also a EV DD'er. FWIW, I must have a relatively new, semi-upscale DD for work. So if I'm not driving a Tesla, it would be a BMW, Acura, Lexus, or similar. Pricing between these models is all pretty close, so the upfront cost of an EV is negligible. My first tesla I bought brand new out the door for $24k after tax incentives. That's the price of a mid-range Civic. Without tax incentives, $32k, that's still much lower than any of the other options available at the time. Current pricing is still competitive with new comparable cars (3-series, TLX, etc) with no tax incentives. Meanwhile, fuel cost is roughly 1/6 the cost of gas in my case, maintenance cost has been tires and windshield wipers across 3 EV's, 10 years, somewhere around 200k miles. They literally have not needed any maintenance other than minor warranty stuff early in life (AC fix and replaced turn signal). My first Model 3 was the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned, including 5 Land Cruisers, lol. I leave the house with a full tank every morning, though I still stop a lot at gas stations for snacks and lotto, lol. Icing on the cake, as a self-employed person, I can write off my work mileage at the same rate as ICE, even though the costs are just a fraction, so it's a great tax hack as well.

 

[Supra Turbo]

This horse has been beaten to death. Everyone has their needs and use case. For those of us that drive hundreds of miles a day, it doesn't really make much sense. For a routine daily commute, its definitely a saver, all things being equal (time of purchase ice vs ev, available incentives, use case, vehicle capabilities, etc etc). There's no simple answer and one is not necessarily better than the other. Both have their pros and cons, just like about anything.

 

[coleAK]

"Another thing most people don’t think about is the massive amount of time you save home charging an EV, I’ve gotten to the point where it pains me to wait in line and stand there to get gas. I mostly drive my EV within a 100 mile radius of my house so most years I spend a total of 1 hour time spend in charging, compare that to every time you get gas"

I haven't ever waited in line to buy gas in my life. If a station look crowded I just go to the next one.

Filling up takes 2-3 mins max. It's great if you can always charge at home but I spend a lot time driving all over the West, the time I would waste at charging stations would significantly increase my travel time. People also never talk about the BEV insurance costs and the case of the SUV tire wear. I would pay more to insure a model 3 here in Colorado than it would save me in gas.

It's great your solar was so inexpensive but 99% of us are not able to install and wire it ourselves. I am glad it works out for you and if you are spending 4K a year on gas you must be driving a ton. Your situation seems really unique.

Aaagh the modern internet where no one can say things like. “I would have never thought of that”, or “man I’ve never really added up how much time or money I spend on gas”

You live in Colorado, I just did a search of average gas prices in Colorado. Premium is $3.73 a gallon, i average 11-12 mpg in my LX570. Using easy numbers 12k miles a year at 11-12 mpg is $3730-4069 a year in gas. Up my way premium is more like $4.09 a gallon and I drive the LX ~8-10k miles a year. I average 11-12 mpg not towing and 8-9 mpg towing. My brother with the lightning is in Florida, cheep gas, but her drives 18-20k miles a year

Never waiting in line for gas is an exaggeration. And if you don’t wait in line you pay more or spend more time in the car. I’ll admit I’m cheep when it comes to some things, I get gas at Costco probably at least 90% of the time, it is rare I don’t have to wait at least 2 cars ahead of me. Flow rate of a normal gas pump is 5-10 gpm at 20 gallons you are spending 2-4 min just pumping, wait 2 cars and you are spending at least 15 min, not counting drive time possibly out of your way and at least in and out of the gas station.

Also on the topic of EVs and Alaska, given I have 7-8 months of winter my EV is less efficient then it would be other places. My model 3 is rated to 250wh/mi and my lifetime average is 290 wh/mi, they number is slightly skewed as drive the EV more in the winter, as in the winter I rarely drive the LX, it can go months without the leaving the garage.

 

[slipkid13]

Aaagh the modern internet where no one can say things like. “I would have never thought of that”, or “man I’ve never really added up how much time or money I spend on gas”

You live in Colorado, I just did a search of average gas prices in Colorado. Premium is $3.73 a gallon, i average 11-12 mpg in my LX570. Using easy numbers 12k miles a year at 11-12 mpg is $3730-4069 a year in gas. Up my way premium is more like $4.09 a gallon and I drive the LX ~8-10k miles a year. I average 11-12 mpg not towing and 8-9 mpg towing. My brother with the lightning is in Florida, cheep gas, but her drives 18-20k miles a year

Never waiting in line for gas is an exaggeration. And if you don’t wait in line you pay more or spend more time in the car. I’ll admit I’m cheep when it comes to some things, I get gas at Costco probably at least 90% of the time, it is rare I don’t have to wait at least 2 cars ahead of me. Flow rate of a normal gas pump is 5-10 gpm at 20 gallons you are spending 2-4 min just pumping, wait 2 cars and you are spending at least 15 min, not counting drive time possibly out of your way and at least in and out of the gas station.

Also on the topic of EVs and Alaska, given I have 7-8 months of winter my EV is less efficient then it would be other places. My model 3 is rated to 250wh/mi and my lifetime average is 290 wh/mi, they number is slightly skewed as drive the EV more in the winter, as in the winter I rarely drive the LX, it can go months without the leaving the garage.