2023 Tesla Model 3 Standard Review My Experience With EV Credits, Autopilot, and Charging After One Week
Buying Experience & EV Credits

I’ve bought cars before, but the process of getting my Tesla Model 3 was by far the easiest I’ve ever experienced. Thanks to the EV tax credit, the discount was applied on the spot. Technically, I didn’t need a down payment, but I put a small amount down just to lower my monthly payments.
On top of that, my local power company offered an additional $4,000 rebate, which stacked with the $4,000 federal EV credit. That brought my $25,000 pre-owned Tesla Model 3 down to an unbelievable $17,000 out the door.
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First Impressions – Beauty Inside and Out

You don’t truly realize how beautiful a Tesla is until you have the key in your hand, walk past the sleek panoramic roof, and open the door yourself. Pictures and videos never did it justice.
A lot of EV haters will tell you Teslas have poor interior quality. Honestly, that couldn’t be further from the truth in my experience. The inside feels techie, minimalist, and luxurious in its own way. It’s not a BMW or Audi in terms of traditional craftsmanship, but Tesla has its own version of luxury that’s clean, futuristic, and surprisingly comfortable. For me, it competes far closer to those brands than people give it credit for.
Driving Experience & Performance
Even though I went with the standard version, it’s still extremely fast. The acceleration takes you by surprise when you push it. Knowing that the Performance version is even quicker blows my mind — because this base version already feels more than enough for me.
I’m a calm, by-the-speed-limit type of driver, so I don’t need track-level performance. What I value is smoothness, responsiveness, and efficiency — and the Model 3 nails all of that effortlessly.
Autopilot & Self-Driving
Self-driving was one of the features I was most curious about, and it has completely impressed me. In my opinion, it’s better than the Waymo self-driving cars I’ve seen tested in some cities.
On my first try, I had the car take me to a local Starbucks using only regular streets. It drove smoother than I could, and I consider myself a decent driver. On another trip, I let it handle a 15-minute highway drive. It merged, handled exits, and navigated tunnels without issue. I’ll admit I almost grabbed the wheel a couple of times out of instinct, but the car handled it perfectly.
The confidence this builds is huge, even after only a week of use.
Charging Experience

One of my biggest hesitations was charging. I don’t have a home charger, so I figured sitting at a public charger for 30 minutes would be inconvenient. To my surprise, it has become one of the most relaxing parts of ownership.
Tesla Superchargers feel like a little community. You pull up, plug in, and you’re surrounded by other Tesla owners doing the same. Nobody’s hanging around or causing trouble like at sketchy gas stations. It’s just clean, safe, and feels like part of the Tesla lifestyle. What I thought would be a downside actually feels like a benefit.
Final Thoughts – Why I’ll Never Go Back to Gas
I’ve only had my Tesla Model 3 for a week, but I can already say I’ll never go back to gas as my daily driver. If I ever buy another gas vehicle, it’ll be a secondary car — maybe a big SUV or truck for utility. But for everyday driving, an EV just makes sense.
Between the amazing deal after credits, the stress-free buying process, the smooth performance, and the luxurious yet tech-focused interior, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
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