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237: Ed’s Cost of Ownership

237: Ed’s Cost of Ownership

The Watt Car EV Podcast Aug 21, 2025 57 min
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About this episode

Ed shares a detailed breakdown of his ownership experience with a 2019 Tesla Model 3 SR Plus, discussing costs associated with maintenance, fuel, and repairs over six years. Key expenses include tire replacements, battery maintenance, and a significant repair for suspension bushings. The conversation also touches on the vehicle's performance, regenerative braking, and the evolving EV market. Ed reflects on the overall enjoyment of owning the car and considers future EV options, emphasizing the importance of understanding ownership costs in the context of electric vehicles.

Topics: cost of ownership maintenance expenses tire replacements battery maintenance regenerative braking EV market evolution suspension repairs fuel costs model comparisons ownership experience
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Tesla Model 3
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Tesla Model 3

"...ave? We're going to do this on the brand new 2019 model 3 SR Plus. You need a new car."
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Tesla Model
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Model

"...rn, Ed Sanchez, owner of a brand new six-year-old Tesla Model 3, as we were about to get into."
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Toyota Camry
S5A-0043 (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Toyota Camry

"...o, you know, it's a step up, I'd say, from like a Camry, Altima, generally, in terms of specifications, y..."
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Nissan Altima
LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Nissan Altima

"...know, it's a step up, I'd say, from like a Camry, Altima, generally, in terms of specifications, you know,..."
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Volkswagen Passat
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Volkswagen Passat

"...o I mean, it's the difference between like, say a Passat and a three series, I guess, kind of sure."
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Kia Optima
Throwawayacc222 (CC0)
Car

Kia Optima

"...es. And when I just pulled up my chart for my Kia Optima, my tires are due for changing and that was almos..."
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Toyota Corolla
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota Corolla

"Now, I had Corolla for years over 300,000 miles on a Corolla. I coul..."
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Tesla Cybertruck
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Cybertruck

"...ge and low voltage system. Most are still now the Cybertruck is 48 volt, but most EVs are still 12 volt for th..."
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Infiniti 37
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Infiniti 37

"... replaced the battery on my mom's just got a 2012 Infiniti 37. And I went to O'Reilly to get a battery."
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Honda Civic
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Civic

"not Subaru Honda. Yeah. No, I had a civic that you'd indicate and it would show the right s..."
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Porsche Taycan
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Taycan

"... the other way. And if you get on the brakes on a Taycan, then when you hit the brakes, it does regenerati..."
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Ford Mustang
Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Mustang

"I mock it. But like the Mustang has the the horse. The lamps are awesome."
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Hyundai Sonata
Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Hyundai Sonata

"...prior to this I've well, I prior to this, I had a sonata, which is a sedan. But I've had several hatchback..."
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Tesla Model S
Granada (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Model S

"...h, I was like, oh, man, I was hoping for like the Model S, you know, a lift back with a large opening, larg..."
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Car

Rivian R3

"...nough, maybe that I'm kind of holding out for the Rivian R3 if they stay in business long enough, which I hop..."
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Kia EV6
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Kia EV6

"...t there are a lot of other, you know, there's the EV6, there's the Ionic 5. There's I mean, even it doe..."
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