Support CleanTechnica's work througha Substack subscription,on Patreon, oron Stripe. Help us produce all of thehigh-quality, original content we publish week after weekdespite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles.Our Tesla Model 3 is now seven years old and we are about to trade the car in for a Tesla Model Y. The reason? Is it because we have done over 180,000 km (about 112,000 miles) and will be likely to require expensive maintenance? Is battery degradation a problem? Is it because we want new tech? Is the car getting shabby? Are we trying to beat depreciation? To stay in fashion? Has the lease run out?
In the good old days that everyone longs for (’50s and ’60s), if you got 100,000 miles out of your car, you were doing well. It was easy to know when to let George go — all of the above. Now, cars are built much better, they are rust proofed, and they have higher quality engineering. I know Uber drivers who are pushing half a million kilometres who are happy to keep driving the same car. I asked my friend Nathan Merritt of Ride4U when he would consider trading in his Model 3 — and he said after 700,000 km — perhaps. We have also have discussed battery degradation in the past, and he confirms that like us, he has lost about 10% of range.
Despite the FUD, batteries don’t die the moment the warranty runs out. Degradation is minor and manageable. So much doesn’t need to get replaced: gear boxes, timing belts, rings and bearings, water pumps. These are just some of the things that I have had to have done on aging petrol cars.
Not only are these cars driving longer; they seem to be made of better materials which still look good after long use. And, yes, we cart our wearing and tearing grandkids around a lot. As for the tech, our Tesla constantly updates, and so that is not really an issue — apart from the fact that we have Hardware 3. As for beating depreciation — too late for that. We have to realise that a car is not an appreciating asset. It depreciates like all technology — mobile phones and laptops do not increase in value. Our last petrol car cost AU$38,000 and was traded in for just AU$1,700. Tesla’s don’t change much on the outside, so they don’t have to keep up with what’s fashionable.
Here’s the issue: not the car, but the aging driver. We have made the decision to buy a Model Y mainly because we are deteriorating and find it hard to get down and get in. The Model Y is an easier option. Also, it would be good to augment our driving with Tesla’s FSD (Supervised). Many of our generation in Australia rave about how good it is. Much as I am loathe to let my Model 3 go — we have had many adventures — I am consoled by the fact that it will go to one of my children and thus stay in the family.
Well, that’s my 2 cents worth, and of course it is Tesla centric and thus biased. I canvassed my contacts to see what they thought. Here are some thoughts from Don who is a fan of BYD and drives an Atto 3. It was his comment that he planned to upgrade to the new Atto 3 EVO that provoked this article.
“I’d be happy to work with you on the best time to trade in an EV for a new one. As we discussed, I don’t know exactly when that is, or if we should still base the decision upon what we used to do with an ICE vehicle or is it now more about convenience or just desire for a new model/car.
“I have been looking at some of the new entries coming to the Australian market, mainly in a similar size to the Atto 3, and the number of choices now is really quite amazing. Battery technology, for me anyway, is still a major contributing factor, along with some better creature comforts to better accommodate the older body. A few variants seem to align, but there are many that offer one part of the package, and not the other.
“Talking to various attendees of both groups with whom we engage frequently, it appears that these two criteria are a common requirement: battery technology; creature comforts.
“This is the reason that I believe the Atto 3 has been so well received in the Australian market.
“The Atto 3 does fail in some of the creature comfort areas, as we discussed, but it generally offered better battery technology than the rival Tesla (at the time of launch), which made the decision easier for some. As you know, Tesla is now offering that better safety packaged battery, which has provided the opportunity to regain an edge on its sales.
“Other newer entries into the market are still offering NMC battery technology in well equipped vehicles, which, for me, is not an option I would be comfortable with.”
I asked Neil Warner, who has traded in a few EVs, for his thoughts. He highlighted his desire to stay within the manufacturer’s warranty period. The fact that some people can’t adjust to the lack of buttons and knobs or might find that they have bought an EV that doesn’t meet their range requirements could lead to a changeover. He likes to change often to reduce depreciation.
CleanTechnica readers responded: “Keep buying and trading in those BEVs, the world needs as many in the fleet as we can get.” Others were keen to push a perceived advantage with Tesla’s FSD (Supervised). “Who wants a new EV that can’t drive itself safer than 99% of human drivers? No other auto manufacturer is remotely close to the advanced driving safety, efficiency, and technology that comes standard with every new Tesla.”
Arthur Hunt, who has championed FSD (Supervised) in a few CleanTechnica articles, here and here, also weighed in, at my request:
“Our first 2020 Tesla was still performing well after 110,000 km. However, the HW3 hardware would not support FSD (Supervised) so we upgraded and have enjoyed the full FSD experience. It is also much safer. There are also some minor enhancements such as self-opening and closing boot lid, and a heat pump for cabin heating which is more efficient. We still enjoy a stalk for the indicators and have found gear change on the monitor easy to use. We have not made much use of Grok.”
“This week we asked the car to take us to the keppel Bay Sailing Club and specified entry to the parking area. It did that and then did a reverse angle park in a vacant spot that it found. On an amusing note: this week, after exiting the car, I got a phone alert to return immediately, as there was a child locked in the car. It was actually the sunshade sticking up on the back seat, but reassuring that the alert works.”
Neil Warner provided thefollow information:
“1/ Why Trade Tesla 3 for Y Performance?
“The Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor (M3 LRDM) was dipping my toes in to the world of EV’s and the best option for me at the time in 2021. The Model Y was not available then.
“The M3 LRDM performed well, was efficient however the ride was harsh at lower (urban) speeds. Front seat room was ok however rear seat room was tight. Entry/exit to the rear seats was difficult for my in-laws due to the vehicle being low and the door openings not being that large. Ground clearance was problematic being low (140mm) so one had to be vigilant when going in to driveways of kerb heights.
“Storage was good with large frunk and boot. However, the opening (aperture) for the boot was small and restricted what you can get in to the trunk (I have always been a fan of hatchbacks due to their practicality).
“We purchased our Model Y Performance (MYP) in 2023 which basically solved these issues. The MYP is larger vehicle with a hatchback, higher ground clearance (157mm) with entry/exit to the rear seats being easier for my in-laws due to the seats being mounted higher and wider door openings. The front seats are mounted higher (on plinths) so you slide on to them rather than having to drop down on to them in the M3 LRDM. The ride was marginally better. Storage was much greater than the M3 LRDM with the tailgate making it vastly more practical.
“2/ Why Trade the MYP for the Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor?
“We purchased our Polestar 4 Long Range Dual Motor (P4 LRDM) in early 2025. I generally keep our cars around two years and am fortunate to have a healthy budget which opens up options for to wider variety of EVs. Having had two Teslas I wanted something unique/different, with a hatch (not necessarily an SUV), quiet, comfortable, with one pedal driving mode (great in stop/start traffic), well built with a more cosseting/luxurious interior. Service intervals were a consideration.
“The P4 LRDM fitted my criteria. It’s a coupe SUV being a cross between an SUV and a sedan (hybrid SUV?), has a hatchback, frunk (albeit small), good ground clearance (166mm), one pedal driving mode, is luxurious inside, is a very quiet, refined and powerful vehicle. Warranty was important and Polestar have a five year vehicle warranty (eight year/160,000km on battery). Service is every two years or 30,000km compared to some manufactures that required annual service/inspection.”
There you have it. Those are the opinions of four experienced EV drivers. Why would you trade in your battery electric vehicle? In our bright electric future, the paradigm has changed. I would appreciate your thoughts in the comments section below.
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