My mates suppose I’m loopy—and truthfully, that’s nothing new. However in August 2024, I decided that also blows their minds.
I traded my beloved 2018 BMW M2, a automotive I’d dreamed of proudly owning for years. It wasn’t a straightforward name, however deep down, I knew one thing needed to change.
18 months after swapping it for a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Efficiency, I’ve zero regrets. The financial savings, effectivity, and driving thrills make it the most effective choices I’ve ever made.
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Excessive prices pushed me to rethink
Buying and selling my BMW for a Tesla simply made sense
I purchased my BMW M2 in February 2023 for £33,000 (about $45,000). I’d been a fan of the OG M2 ever since studying rave opinions from fellow automotive journalists following its launch in 2016.
It was essentially the most I’d ever spent on a automotive, however receiving the keys to my Lengthy Seaside Blue magnificence felt like a bucket-list second.
Actuality hit simply days later on the fuel station, although. That tiny tank drank gasoline like no one’s enterprise, and filling up felt like a second job.
A couple of months in, a service worn out much more of my pockets. Upkeep, insurance coverage, depreciation—all the pieces about this automotive was costly.
I liked spirited weekend drives, however 18 months of possession made one factor clear: it was time to rethink. The seek for a better, extra practical performance car was on.
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Discovering a better, sooner various
Why the Tesla Mannequin 3 Efficiency made good sense
I had a transparent guidelines for my subsequent automotive: it needed to be extra environment friendly and sensible than the M2, nonetheless really feel a bit luxurious, and maintain efficiency at its core.
I checked out a number of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz fashions, however any of these choices would have landed me in the identical costly state of affairs.
The extra I considered it, the extra shifting from ICE to EV made sense. Having reviewed a Tesla in 2021, I couldn’t cease desirous about buying and selling the M2 for a Mannequin 3 Efficiency.
The change that saved me large on gasoline and thrills
After weeks of looking, I lastly discovered the precise spec I wished just some hours from residence. The M2—with all its M Efficiency carbon goodies—offered shortly, clearing the way in which for me to select up a 2021 Mannequin 3 Efficiency for £28,500 (about $39,000).
My mates couldn’t imagine it, however I used to be thrilled with the swap. The Model 3 Performance is four-wheel drive and sticks to the highway like glue, not like the M2, which grew to become a handful the second it rained.
Acceleration is a thrill, too. The Mannequin 3 Efficiency hits 0–60 in about 3.1 seconds, and on a regular basis driving feels fast and responsive.
Charging at residence modified all the pieces. With a house charger and an EV-specific electrical energy tariff, a full cost prices simply £6 ($8), in contrast with £80 ($109) for a tank of fuel within the M2.
Upkeep has been a dream. In 18 months of possession, the one factor I’ve needed to substitute is a full set of tires—which is the automotive’s solely downside, since being four-wheel drive it chews by means of them sooner. No oil modifications, fewer shifting components, and minimal maintenance make possession far much less traumatic than my BMW ever was.
On high of that, the Tesla retains shocking me with over-the-air software program updates and comfort options I didn’t anticipate. Whether or not commuting or hitting the weekend roads, it’s quick, environment friendly, and low-stress—precisely what I wanted.
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The sensible alternative provides up
Why buying and selling the BMW for a Tesla simply works
On high of gasoline and upkeep financial savings, insurance coverage has been one other win. Granted, it’s not as low cost as I initially hoped, however that’s as a result of it’s nonetheless a efficiency automotive, and alternative components will be difficult if an accident had been to occur.
One other large benefit is peace of thoughts. Not like my M2, which demanded fixed consideration and cautious driving, the Tesla is low-stress, predictable, and dependable in day-to-day use.
Lastly, proudly owning an EV has simplified life in methods I didn’t anticipate. No extra frequent journeys to the fuel station, fewer shock payments, and the automotive’s ease of use makes commuting, errands, and weekend drives much less of a problem.
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It isn’t good—and that issues
The irritating components of proudly owning a Tesla on daily basis
I can’t converse for the U.S., however charging infrastructure within the UK is slowly getting the place it must be. Tesla’s Supercharger network is a large benefit, though within the North East of England they’re nonetheless few and much between, and my expertise with third-party chargers hasn’t been nice.
As a rule, public chargers are both out of order or operating nicely beneath their marketed speeds. Utilizing a Tesla Supercharger looks like being a part of an unique membership—they’re quick, dependable, and simple to make use of.
I anticipated range anxiety to be a significant draw back of EV possession, nevertheless it hasn’t been as dangerous as I feared. Dwelling charging covers most day-to-day driving, and Superchargers are simple to seek out when touring additional south.
Chilly climate, nonetheless, has been my largest frustration. In summer season, I can get near 280 miles on a full cost, however that determine is greater than halved in the course of the lengthy UK winter months.
Depreciation has additionally been a tricky tablet to swallow. Dropping round £9,500 (about $13,000) in worth hurts, even figuring out that EVs are inclined to drop sooner than conventional petrol automobiles.
I’ve positively caught the EV bug and may’t see myself going again to ICE full-time, until it’s for a weekend toy like a Miata or Porsche Boxster. That mentioned, being in destructive fairness on my Mannequin 3 Efficiency means I received’t be switching automobiles anytime quickly.
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Would I do it once more? Completely
Who ought to—and should not—make the identical change
Realizing what I do know now, I’d nonetheless make the change from the M2 to the Mannequin 3 Efficiency with out hesitation. It hasn’t been good, however the long-term financial savings, each day comfort, and stress-free possession simply outweigh the downsides.
For drivers who care about efficiency however are uninterested in unpredictable operating prices, this sort of change makes plenty of sense. You continue to get speedy acceleration and fascinating driving, simply with out the fixed fear of gasoline costs, servicing payments, or shock repairs.
Dwelling charging is the actual game-changer. In case you can cost in a single day, personal a driveway, or have dependable entry to office charging, EV possession turns into extremely simple and inexpensive. With out that, the expertise turns into way more irritating and costly.
This type of transfer additionally fits individuals who truly use their automotive on daily basis. Commuters, frequent drivers, and anybody piling on the miles will really feel the advantages a lot sooner than somebody who solely drives sometimes.
That mentioned, this swap isn’t for everybody. In case you love the sound, really feel, and character of a petroleum engine, an EV could by no means absolutely substitute that have. Likewise, for those who stay in an space with weak charging infrastructure or rely completely on public chargers, the transition will likely be more durable.
For me, buying and selling the BMW for a Tesla wasn’t about giving up on efficiency—it was about discovering a better approach to take pleasure in it. I nonetheless get velocity, consolation, and fashionable tech, however now it matches my way of life and my funds much better than my outdated M2 ever did.
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