Buying used electric cars is still a bit of an unknown for the general public. Car culture simply hasn’t moved forward enough for something like the Tesla Model S to make its way onto used car lots all over the country.
Yet, there are people who don’t shy away from them, and Autotrader’s Tyler Hoover is one of the bravest souls out there when it comes to taking chances on older, but relatively special models.
This 2012 Model S, boasting 107,000 miles (172,200 km) on the clock, for example, cost him just $33,500.
Right off the bat, Hoover pretty much knew what to expect thanks to a previous Model S experience. With three out of the four retractable door handles already replaced, he says that one of them is still on track to fail – a $1,000 fix…
Another costly item that had also been replaced was the $4,000 touchscreen, which has been known to fail on early cars such as this 2012 one. Despite still operating on the old 3G network, the infotainment system works well, as do all the car’s electronics.
What about the battery?
The battery represents the main issue with old electric cars. However, even after 107,000 miles, this Tesla’s battery is still at 90% of its original capacity, which matches the expected rate of degradation in the Model S.
Finally, this car offers an extra peace of mind by having the extended warranty. Instead of the standard 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage, this 2012 Model S has an 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which means that even if something does go wrong with the battery or the drivetrain, Tesla should fix it for free within the next two years.