I Bought the Wrong Tesla? (Winter & Range Anxiety Taught Me the Hard Way)

Thinking about buying a Tesla but worried about winter driving, range anxiety, or choosing the wrong model? After owning my Tesla Model 3 for over a year, I’m sharing what I would do differently if I were buying again today—especially as a 58-year-old driver in the Midwest.

In this video, I break down my real-world experience comparing the Model 3 vs Model Y, including:

Why getting in and out of a low car matters more as you get older
Model 3 vs Model Y seat height, rear seat comfort, and interior space
Winter driving in Illinois (snow, ice, cold, and battery performance)
Charging at home, Superchargers, and 120V outlets
Range anxiety (and why it turned out to be mostly fear, not reality)
Leaving a Tesla parked outside in Midwest winter for a full week
Full Self-Driving (FSD): subscription vs buying outright
Tesla Insurance savings and real monthly costs
White vs black interior (and how I prevent jean stains)
Tinting lessons learned (Model 3 vs Model Y factory tint)

If you’re over 50, live in a cold climate, or just want an honest Tesla ownership perspective without hype, this video is for you.

Chapters:
0:00 - 1:01 Introduction
1:02 - 4:50 Is the Model 3 Too Low? Model Y?
4:51 - 7:25 Was Ultra Red the Right Color, and White Interior?
7:26 - 9:30 Could Have Saved Money on Tinting with a Model Y
9:31 - 11:03 Did I Need a Tesla Wheel and Tire Protection Plan?
11:04 - 16:04 Would I Use a Full Self-Driving Subscription?
16:05 - 17:15 Do You Need a Premium Subscription Service?
17:16 - 20:37 Is Winter, Charging and Range Worth Worrying?
20:38 - 25:44 Worries and Paranormal Activity in Dubuque?
25:45 - 28:12 Leaving a Tesla in a Cold Midwest Airport
28:13 - 29:12 Thoughts on all my Mental State
29:13 - 30:23 Wrap Up

👇 Let me know in the comments:
Are you deciding between Model 3 and Model Y?
Do winter concerns worry you about owning an EV?

💰 Buying a Tesla? Save Money
Use my Tesla referral link to save on your next Tesla purchase:
👉 https://ts.la/patrick360645

Visit my website?
👉 https://qcteslaguy.com

👍 Support the Channel
If this video helped you:
• Like the video
• Comment which accessory you’d install first
• Subscribe for Tesla mods, accessories, FSD drives & ownership tips

👉 Be sure to check out my previous accessory episodes
👉 And don’t miss my latest Tesla FSD drives and real-world ownership content

#Tesla #EVLife #ElectricVehicle #EVAccessories #TeslaFSD #QuadCities #QCTeslaGuy #TeslaOwnership #FSD #FullSelfDriving #teslamodel3 #teslamodely