[acgourley]

That's an excellent point but I would just temper it with the fact EVs should have lower long term maintenance issues for all non-battery parts. As an aside, I wonder if in 5 years you will be able to upgrade into a more powerful battery.

[dba7dba]

Whenever I'm sitting around waiting for oil change/tuneup/etc for my 2 cars in the family, I am tempted to look into Tesla. Having to sacrifice a Sat/car every few months for oil change really bugs me. Of course oil change itself is quick and cheap, but it’s the time I have to spend.

EDIT: I should've clarified that I don't spend a WHOLE Sat for a car oil change. But for a 30min work on the car, you have to go there, wait to drop off car, listen to dealership clerk going on and on about expensive 'preventive' repair I should get (any my family friend mechanic tells me none needed), wait a few hours (because of other customers at same dealership), and get a ride back dealership to pick up the car. That's like 2-5hrs.

As for going to non-dealer mechanic, well it is hard to find a good mechanic you can really trust. And such mechanics are usually booked.

On my very 1st car last oil change, I got an oil change at a shop I hadn't gone to before, for lack of time. Later I learned the mechanic had jammed the cap to the bottom of the motor oil tank at an odd angle and had just jammed it on, destroying the thread on the tank. One more oil change and it would've meant having to replace the motor oil tank.

[aroch]

Oil changes take 20mins, I'm not sure how that equates to a whole Saturday. Hell, you could do it on your way home from work. Or if you find a nicer shop (ie. a local, nonchain shop), they'll even let you drop it off in the morning, drive you to work and then pick you up from work to get your car in the evening.

Unless you make many hundreds of dollars an hour, the opportunity cost of 60mins (there + back plus change time) is rather low

[smm2000]

I used to change oil at a mechanic located next to Safeway parking lot. Almost always oil change took less time than shopping for weekly supply of groceries.

Now my employer has mechanic working out of work parking lot bi-weekly - I just leave car with him in the morning and pick it up in the evening. It's even more convenient and slightly cheaper.

[larrys]

"you have to go there, wait to drop off car, listen to dealership clerk going on and on about expensive 'preventive' repair I should get (any my family friend mechanic tells me none needed), wait a few hours (because of other customers at same dealership), and get a ride back dealership to pick up the car. That's like 2-5hrs."

What kind of car do you drive now?

At the cost of a Tesla you can buy a BMW (for less actually) and get a loaner and none of the up sell.

Because there isn't any up sell when they are covering all the maintenance including even windshield wipers. And definitely oil changes. And brakes.

So don't compare the experience of buying a luxury car to one where you have to sit and wait and deal with what you are referring to. And get shuttled back and forth.

Afaik last I checked mini dealers (owned by BMW) also offer loaners and cover all service programs.

[ankzap]

You should explore alternatives to where you get your oil change done. An oil change shouldn't take more than 15-30 minutes at a good local mechanic.