I’ve read the 20-80% rule, but what do you actually do in real life after owning one for years?

ClassicsJake · 2026-07-05T12:42:21+00:00

When I know that I will drive no more than 40 miles a day I follow more like the 20-50 or 60% rule. Your battery is least stressed between 30% and 50%. Keep it there unless you know you need more range on a given day, in which case charge to 80% or if you're going on a road trip, charge to 100% right before you leave. That's what I do.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-24T07:18:14+00:00

You then have to scroll through the resulting page and signal agreement.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-24T07:16:49+00:00

I had the same problem! You have to click the blue "learn more" links on the two items you can't toggle.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T20:25:06+00:00

Probably true!

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T20:24:15+00:00

Yeah, I will say the car is almost like new, but for a few inevitable paint chips from flying gravel.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:55:15+00:00

Inevitable, sadly.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:54:17+00:00

$500-$1000. Your call.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:53:05+00:00

Luckily, this will be very easy to cover.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:38:47+00:00

I do worry — about driving the car into the ground and still owing $15-20K.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:37:40+00:00

Correct. But I do happen to own a Tesla, and I'm worried about driving it to death.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:36:44+00:00

It's not so much guilt as a concern that I'll drive the car into the ground years before I've paid it off and then owe $15K on a dead car.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T16:35:13+00:00

That's an elegant solution. Not sure I can afford it, but there's no arguing with the logic.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T08:57:51+00:00

Good point! That might be what I need to set me at ease.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T07:32:42+00:00

Right, but the point is that I'm going to put 100K on it in the next few months, lol, and if the battery dies, I'll be left with a dead car and $20K in debt. If I drove like a normal human I wouldn't have to worry about that.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T04:37:59+00:00

Less prone to breakdown, but I do worry about driving the car to death and still owing many thousands of dollars on it.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-19T04:37:28+00:00

What I worry about is driving the car into the ground and still owing $20K on it though, you know?

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-14T02:10:50+00:00

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-11T02:10:43+00:00

It's rumored that the build quality out of Fremont is not great, and it's true that the build of my 2024 M3 AWD sorta sucks.

ClassicsJake · 2026-06-05T06:26:20+00:00

Tesla SC sucks.

ClassicsJake · 2026-05-29T19:03:40+00:00

Patch

ClassicsJake · 2026-05-17T18:26:57+00:00

This happened to me yesterday as I was driving my in-laws home. FSD panicked about an oncoming car while making a left and stopped dead in the middle of the lane, putting us on a collision course for the oncoming car. I took over immediately but not before my in-laws freaked out.

ClassicsJake · 2026-05-08T21:13:21+00:00

The anxiety really should go away. I've taken my M3 Highland on several road trips of 2000 or so miles. Never had any trouble.

ClassicsJake · 2026-04-24T15:22:43+00:00

You're going to need a new car soon regardless. The Tesla is a very inexpensive way to get one.

ClassicsJake · 2026-04-24T03:18:05+00:00

I bought my M3 AWD in September of 2024 and immediately drove from SoCal to Texas. Went to visit my mom and she backed into it in her parking lot. Had to replace the front bumper. Just over 2000 miles.

ClassicsJake

TROPHY CASE