Can a 140,000-mile used Tesla Model S still perform? We bought a high-mileage EV for under $13,000 and took it to the track to test its 0-60 speed, range and real-world reliability. Either we got the biggest steal of our lives … or made the absolute biggest mistake. We’ve got a year and 20,000 miles to find out which.
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00:00 Intro
00:36 What We’re Testing
01:19 Edmunds’ Original Model S Ownership
04:30 The Numbers
07:44 Driving Impressions
11:35 Edmunds EV Range & Charging Tests
12:22 Wear & Tear
15:55 Edmunds’ Take
What happens when you buy a decade-old high-mileage EV for less than $13,000? To find out if an aging electric car is a genuine bargain or an impending money pit, we purchased a 2014 Tesla Model S with nearly 140,000 miles on the odometer and brought it straight to the Edmunds test track for instrumented testing.
Back in 2013, Edmunds bought a brand-new Model S P85 for $105,000, and while its groundbreaking performance blew us away, chronic reliability headaches made it tough to recommend long-term. Our new used Tesla Model S tells a surprisingly resilient story. Despite riding on mismatched tires and sporting a single rear-mounted electric motor, this 100,000-mile EV clocked a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.0 seconds flat and ran a 13.3-second quarter mile. Around our handling course, the air suspension delivered a quiet, comfortable ride, the steering remained precise, and the cabin was largely free of squeaks and rattles — aside from a faint motor whine under load.
Battery degradation was the biggest question mark entering this test. When new, our original car achieved around 230 miles on a full charge. Remarkably, our high-mileage veteran delivered 221 miles of range in the Edmunds EV Range Test, proving the battery pack has held onto nearly all of its usable capacity after a decade of driving. Inside, the 17-inch vertical touchscreen remains remarkably responsive, supporting modern apps like Spotify alongside classic Tesla Easter eggs.
While warped gauge cluster glass and worn leather show its age, this cheap used EV proves there is plenty of life left in an electric pioneer. We will be living with it for months to test long-term ownership, but early impressions show tremendous performance and value.
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Our Model S seems like a bargain, but will we end up with egg on our face?
Tesla makes a genuine decent car. More so that most mainstream companies
Just picked up a nearly identical, original owner car with same miles for 6,500 bucks. There are crazy deals on these things if you keep an eye out. The good deals sell immediately though
I own two vintage model S cars: one with 300,000 miles and one with 275,000 miles. All the kinks have been worked out out of them by the previous owners and they perform well with very little maintenance. The car was 300,000 miles had the battery replaced by the previous owner at about 250,000 miles and still charges to original standards. The car with 275,000 miles still has the original battery and charges to 211 miles.
This is an interesting series you’re starting. I’ll be interested to see what else you find.
But I have to disagree with the framing that this is a “super high mileage“ car. 135,000 miles just isn’t that much anymore. The last I checked, the average car in the US fleet was 11 years old and if average mileage is 15,000 a year, that’s 165k miles. This car did around 10k per year. Find a Tesla with 230k or Samcrac’s with 300k for a “super high mileage” car!
You said the one you’re driving isn’t a performance because it’s only RWD… the video showed P85 badging in the back. The P literally means performance. Yes, you can get a RWD performance.
Do they hire these guys just for the accents 😂😂
Point of clarification. I would suggest you say first modern electric car available to the whole contiguous US marketplace. Electric (lead acid) cars were a thing before gasoline cars rose in prominence. Back before gasoline cars rose in popularity people could choose between a steam car and a lead-acid electric car. Gasoline cars were unsafe, unreliable, a bit dangerous to operate during refilling, and inconvenience (gas stations were not around every corner).
Those problems were solved and all of a sudden steam became dangerous, electric became limiting (often <20 mile range and slow), and gasoline cars with modern asphalt or concrete roads, modern for the time tube then bias ply tires (before radial) made it crazy to consider anything other than a petrolium (gas/diesel) car for convenience and safety.
That said I'll argue that the GM EV1, built in Lansing, MI during the 1980s, was the first modern EV. It was ahead of its time and a limited market offering to meet California and Arizona government emission mandates. I live in the greater Lansing area and saw them test driven on our roads but could not buy one.
The GM EV1 was loved by all who leased one. It had modern lead-acid batteries and later nickel-metal hydride, regular car performance, expanded local range (55 miles with lead-acid then 105 miles with the updated NiMH batteries, using modern eMPG measurements), and people loved them. Many became emotional when GM came to pick up the lease following mandated end of the test program.
Did it lay posi strips?
Cheapest? I just got one for $4000
I have a 2017 model X 90D and have 272,000 miles on it. Original battery, motors from new. It has 17% degradation. That’s the good news. Now the bad: disclaimer though, @235k miles Upper control arm, bushings $2876, both from air shocks $3395. brakes went out at 240k miles ~$1300.
At 271k miles, my entire a/c blower $2682, chiller $2032 and compressor $2385 went down. I’ve used my a/c about 3-4 hrs a day for 10 yrs, 5-6 days a week.
Always good and bad, after 272k miles, any car needs maintenance as things just wear out
My 2013 model S has 276,000 miles and is driving great
I can’t believe this video didn’t expand on the coolant design problem in the LDU.
It would be interesting to see a car that was used in 13 winters.
Model S one of the prettiest cars, although I prefer the refresh grill.
I came here for cars, not politics. Please have your hosts keep their snide virtue signaling comments to themselves.
Enough with ur qr code 😂😂😂😂
2013 model s p85.13 year old car smokes every ice car on the road. Replaced ldu. Coolant delete. Swapped the 21 staggered setup for a 19 square. Now I can rotate tires. Free supercharging. Fixed the camber issue. Upgraded to mcu2. Very good car. Maybe one of the best.
This video was so hard to watch that I stopped halfway.
It's 20% ads for edmunds and bumper.
Then you meander, taking your time through every segment for no actual payoff.
Tighten it up.
The best reason to buy an old Tesla is that Musk wasn't a mass murderer (cutting USAID to starving people), at least that we know.
“Tezla”😜😊
My model 2021 model 3 BATTERY FAILED and had to be replaced by Tesla. Thankfully had battery warranty since I was only at 57k km (35k miles)
TFL already did this. Long story short it’s not perfect but super impressive for the age and a great value
I have a 2021 model 3 long range. Bought it new. Now 110k miles. Had it in for service twice… Once to realign the trunk lid and once because a had a little static in one speaker. Both times I was out of there in 20 mins. I have changed the 12v battery twice, but that's just normal maintenance. Still original brakes. It's been fantastic.
Looking forward to future episodes!
Great job Alistair! Heard you today on carcast and had to check this out
The problem with electric cars is time, a battery will fail with out warning, and at 13 years old we will see, I won't be surprised if it bricks randomly
how did you get a different theme and layout on the main screen? this makes it look way more modern
Wow that initial review is rough, this wasnt a new model it was a new company and it dominated like nothing before.
Dang, I see a lot of repainted panels. I don’t think any of the previous owners knew how to drive.
😂
this is a great and honest video!
at ZERO miles still a SHIT, It's this a MARKETING GIMIG
Ultra high mileage… At 130k miles? My 08 Impala has 380k miles on it. Is that a platinum ultra high 😂.
Normal people buy 130k mile cars cause they are low mileage..
I have facelift 2016 free supercharging with 172,000 miles on it. Still going well.
Best car ive ever owned, 2018 Model S 100D. its got 195k on it now
I’d rather buy a used 2026 model S in another 2 1/2 years when my lease runs out. Might as well buy the best version of this car…
I’d like to see oil analysis from the motor-gear-unit. I bet it’s sludge.