There is a lot of hype about Teslas and why you should get one. Most Tesla car owners hail the vehicle for its innovation and plenty of techie features.
Tesla is currently a top seller of electric vehicles in the United States. As of Q1 2022, Tesla had sold 113,882 cars in the U.S., claiming a 75% electric vehicle market share. It’s also crucial to note that all Tesla models, including Model Y, made it to the top 10 list of EVs.
But, like any car model, the Tesla Model Y carries positive and negative attributes. We cannot deny that Tesla has a good reputation. However, with more new and affordable market entrants, the Model Y faces more competition than ever before.
In this article, we will explore why the Model Y may not be the car for you, despite its many advantages. Let’s get straight to it!
#1: Recent Price Changes
The pricing of Tesla vehicles has been a hot debate for a while. At some point, Tesla decided to lower prices for its EV cars in some countries, a move that angered most of its customers who bought theirs before the price dropped.
However, things are a bit different with the Model Y. Since the company discontinued the Model Y Standard Range RWD, which cost $39,990, the new entrant model, the Long Range Dual Motor AWD, is quite pricey.
The model now starts from $65,990, amounting to a whole $17,000 premium over the Dual Motor price in the past one and a half years. The massive price rise for the same cars can be a turn-off for most buyers.
However, Elon Musk, who acknowledges that the high price differences are embarrassing, notes that these prices are likely to go down, especially once inflation stabilizes, so maybe now is not the best time to buy the Model Y.
The Model Y is also not eligible for a federal tax credit of $7,500, which might prompt you to try the model’s competitors that do qualify for the credit and are less pricey, like the Volkswagen ID.4 ($40,760-$48,940), Kia EV6 ($40,900-$58,500), or Hyundai IONIQ 5 ($39,700-$54,500).
#2: Incomplete Features
People have noted with concern the tendency of Tesla to oversell its products. For instance, Tesla separately sells its fully autonomous driving capabilities. Tesla owners worldwide have increasingly realized that the car they acquired does not have the same capabilities as their American counterparts.
Model Y owners complained that Tesla delivered the car without lumbar support, especially on the passenger side. It still needs to be made clear if the problem was with the production or whether the company deliberately removed the feature, which is standard in premium cars.
Tesla is also known to introduce changes to production whenever they feel ready; they don’t adhere to the industry standard’s yearly updates. Such moves seem to create complications for customers looking for up-to-date Tesla models.
#3: Long Lead Times
The increase in demand for Tesla Model Y dictates longer lead times. Buyers who opted for the base Long Range AWD model as early as July 2022 had to wait till April through July to have the vehicle delivered to them.
Tesla notes that the Model Y’s entry-level waiting time is about a year. While the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD costs $62,990, you must also pay an extra $1,200 DST and an additional order fee of $250.
Tesla’s most significant challenge used to be supply chain shortage. However, with the increased demand for Model Y, the challenge has shifted to logistics, hence the challenge of getting the cars where they should be on time.
At some point in 2022, Tesla reportedly revealed that it would reduce the Model Y waiting time if customers picked the self-driving option at a reservation fee of $12,000. The automaker stated that priority delivery for the Model Y’s FSD option would change from six months to two months.
#4: Fit and Finish
Car reviewers like KBB and Car and Driver noted that Tesla Model Y has mostly recorded negative reviews. Fit and finish simply means how the car is built. The questionable build quality is characterized by the lesser materials on the interiors that make it wear out quickly.
Throughout 2021, customers complained about the car’s build quality as most of its users have had episodes of panels coming off, as in the case of the Model 3. Some Model Y buyers told Auto Evolution that their left rear door broke twice, while its hatchback frequently sticks halfway up even after realigning it twice.
Users also noted difficulties cleaning the piano-black trim and the white upholstery, which attract fine dirt on the door cards. Other quality issues are the imperfections in its paint, among other cosmetic problems.
#5: Overreliance on the Touchscreen
The Model Y is heavily reliant on its massive touch screen. While having a 14-inch screen for information and entertainment might sound exciting, it can equally be a challenge. Using the screen for all controls in the car becomes a nuisance.
Imagine having all features on a bigger center screen, including the speedometer and climate control. First, it might take you longer to get used to it, especially if you are the driver who keeps changing temperatures or radio settings as you drive. However, using features like Netflix and other controls while parking shouldn’t be an issue.
Second, other auto manufacturers are now adding physical buttons and knobs to the larger control screens, which might get you thinking of other more ideal models than Tesla’s Model Y.
The danger of the center screen is that, with proper functioning, your car can retain the rearview camera display and indicators that prompt other road users whether your vehicle is in drive, neutral, or reverse. It may also interfere with the settings that control your windshield defrosters.
Last year, Tesla was forced to recall around 130,000 vehicles across its U.S. lineup, citing the possibility of the touchscreens overheating and going black. The recall covered the 2022 Model Y, the 2021-2022 Model S Sedan, the 2022 Model 3, and the 2021 and 2022 Model X.
Reports on blanking screens are pretty embarrassing, especially to a brand that is held in high regard on matters of tech. The truth is that Tesla offers superior electronics to high-end brands with better operating technology.
So, getting complaints on a central screen that drivers solely rely on is a big turn-off. Well, Tesla claims that the problem is fixable. A restart by holding down the steering wheel buttons until the screen lights up apparently can help fix the situation.
If the restart procedure does not work, the OTA software update should get you back on wheels. But such issues don’t resonate well with a $60K plus worth of ride.
©Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com
#6: Poor Ride Quality
Surprisingly, Model Y users reported that the Model Y has a bumpy ride that is unpleasant. Tesla raised many concerns that added some mystery to its purported performance when it decided not to give auto journalists access to the press car.
Not allowing journalists near the car was interpreted as the automaker hiding something. A few Google searches will confirm that some Tesla Model Y users would like to be happier with its ride quality.
The SUV has stiff suspensions that ensure you feel every bump, crack, or squeak your car encounters on some less-perfect roads. While the car’s standard 19-inch wheels are way better than the 20-inch option, that does not erase the fact that its suspension setup is counterproductive.
#7: Sketchy Autopilot Capabilities
Tesla has also recorded autopilot failure problems with the Model Y. A recent incident that happened in Germany was not the first one and, as things are, might not be the last. Despite the setbacks, Tesla is still focused on pushing its self-driving technology.
But with many complaints, we cannot keep claiming that the self-drive technology is untrustworthy, as Tesla customers are also to blame. Phantom braking and off-time lane switching also seem prevalent, yet Tesla remains a top-selling automaker in the U.S.
Tesla continues to use the self-driving marketing gimmick as a significant selling point. Given the experiences people keep sharing on multiple platforms, the gimmick seems like a shady sales tactic, and while you might not be using the technology daily, it won’t be long before such issues catch up with you.
#8: Elon Musk
Finally, one of the reasons to avoid Model Y is Elon Musk. While we hail him as a visionary entrepreneur who has made impressive moves in technological advancements, his behaviors, especially on social media, have become a considerable concern to many.
His recent acquisition of the social network, Twitter, further elicited many questions about whether the seasoned entrepreneur will effectively run the two brands in two different worlds.
Elon has posted tweets that brought problems to the stock market. His behaviors are sometimes erratic, and people feel his distraction could be a significant problem for the Tesla brand.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Yauhen_D/Shutterstock.com.
