To buy a Tesla Model 3, only to end up in hell

Battery drain and Sentry mode

• Many focus on the reported ~8% battery loss per day while parked. Several owners confirm similar losses with Sentry mode enabled, estimating ~200–300W continuous draw (car never sleeps).
• Others report near‑zero vampire drain (1–2% over several days) when Sentry is off, suggesting that behavior is abnormal for a healthy car.
• In this case the author insists Sentry is off; some speculate a software or hardware fault (e.g. reboot loop, short, stuck subsystem, broken cameras confusing the system), but it’s ultimately unclear.

Broken cameras, safety systems and design choices

• Commenters highlight that with cameras down, the car loses wipers, ADAS, and other safety features, and Tesla support still told the owner to drive it—seen as unacceptable.
• Several see this as emblematic of Tesla’s “all‑in on cameras/software” architecture without robust fallbacks (e.g. wipers tied to vision, radar removed, heavy reliance on a single compute stack).

Tesla reliability and service – highly mixed reports

• Some owners report years of trouble‑free use, low running costs, and high driving enjoyment; others recount repeated service visits, long parts waits, squeaks, misaligned panels, and inconsistent quality.
• Service experiences vary widely by location: some praise responsive mobile service or new centers; others describe unresponsive apps, months‑long waits, few approved body shops, and feeling used as “free QA”.
• Statistical views conflict: references to Consumer Reports place Model 3 as relatively reliable and well‑liked, while German and Danish inspection data show high defect/fail rates, especially on brakes, suspension, and lighting.

Buying a Tesla where there is no local presence

• Many criticize importing a Tesla into a country without official sales/service, noting the risk of long travel to service centers and complicated cross‑border disputes.
• Others point out that within the EU consumer protections are strong and cross‑border, and suggest the real failure is Tesla’s handling, not the buyer’s choice.

Modern car software, UX, and over‑automation

• Large subthreads broaden this to “modern cars are terrible”: intrusive warnings, ADAS nags, touchscreens replacing buttons, unreliable infotainment (Volvo Android, VW, Toyota, Mazda, BYD, etc.).
• Some argue OTA updates and centralization enable fixes; others say they incentivize shipping half‑baked software and increase failure modes in safety‑critical systems.
• Several express preference for older, simpler cars (90s–2000s Honda, Toyota, BMW, Clio, etc.) with physical controls and minimal electronics.

Alternatives and EV landscape

• Korean EVs (Hyundai, Kia) are recommended by some as safer bets: good efficiency, “boring” but stable software, wide service networks. Others report serious issues (ICCU failures, bugs, harsh suspension) and mixed UX.
• Competitors like Polestar, Renault, and Volvo are cited as having better ride/handling or comfort, but also their own software and reliability problems.

Musk, politics, and ethics

• A large tangent debates the ethics of buying Tesla given Musk’s behavior, political influence, and associations; some see purchase as tacit support, others find this moral signaling tiresome.
• This is seen by some as separate from the product’s technical merits; others argue it can’t be disentangled, especially when Tesla’s governance and priorities affect quality and safety.

Consumer protection and next steps

• Multiple commenters urge the author to stop waiting on Tesla and invoke EU consumer law: formal written notice, ECC‑Net, or a lawyer’s letter to seek refund, replacement, or enforced repair.
• The consensus is that, given severe defects from day one plus a months‑long delay, legal escalation is appropriate rather than continuing to rely on Tesla’s voluntary goodwill.