YouTuber and Tesla owner Andy Slye provided a cost-by-cost car breakdown
A YouTuber has broken down exactly how much he's spent on his six-year-old Tesla, and it includes a surprising amount of money saved on gas.
Last month, tech expert and car enthusiast Andy Slye shared a YouTube video where he detailed just how cost-effective owning a Tesla Model 3 has been for him.
Andy, who works in IT, said he bought the Ultra Red version of the electric vehicle for $54,000 back in 2019.
"Exactly six years ago I did something crazy and spent more money than I ever thought I would on a car," he started.
He shared that he’s driven his Tesla 144,225 miles so far. That’s a bit more than what the average American is expected to drive in ten years, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Before he got into how much he saved on gas by charging the car at home for six years, Slye went over how much he spent on "optional expenses."
For instance, he spent $1,800 on Paint Protection Film (PFF) to cover the front of his car and $200 to tint all the windows.
He spent another $200 on accessories like phone mounts and floor mats, and $500 went towards buying a radar detector.
"I got one speeding ticket every year for the first three years of ownership so I ended up getting this radar detector, and it's been worth it because ever since I've gotten it, I haven't been pulled over," he explained.
In total, Slye estimates he’s spent about $3,200 on optional extras over the years, bringing the total cost of the car to $57,200.
Slye also mentioned that he had to pay for several repairs that weren't covered by the warranty. These repairs added up to $2,040.
In addition, he’s spent $2,730 on two new sets of tires.
"Now let's talk about one of the best things about owning a Tesla: the charging costs," Slye said.
He explained that he lives in a state where electricity is very cheap, and he mostly charges his car overnight in his garage when electricity rates are at their lowest.
In his 10-minute video, Slye mentioned that the cost to charge his Tesla overnight is about $0.08 per kilowatt-hour.
He said that his car has used a total of 36,482 kWh to travel those 144,000 miles.
After doing the math, it turns out that charging his Model 3 at home over six years has cost him $2,772.
He also spent $583 on Tesla’s Superchargers while traveling, and $900 for a NEMA 14-50 outlet so he could charge the car in his garage.
"So, that brings my total charging costs to about $4,255," Slye summed up.
He then compared this with what he might have spent on gas if he drove a car with similar specs. He estimated he’s saved about $20,000 by driving an electric vehicle.
According to GoBankingRates, the average American spends around $3,306.53 on gas every year, meaning Slye has definitely saved a lot with his Tesla.
In total, Slye’s ownership costs so far amount to $75,175.
Given that his mileage equals what most people drive in ten years, this means Slye is paying about $7,517 each year to own and maintain the car.
"I'm going to drive it until the wheels fall off," Slye said at the end of his video.
But after hearing about his impressive savings, are you ready to switch your gas car for a Tesla? What do you think?