I’ve Had My Tesla Model 3 For 2 Days and I Already Want My Toyota Camry Back, Don’t Believe Them If They Tell You a Tesla is Better Than a Camry

I hate this Tesla, and I want my Camry back.

That's what Mariah (@this.is.not_mariah) said right after she bought a used Tesla Model 3. She traded in her Toyota Camry and purchased the Tesla on the advice of other Tesla owners and from the Toyota dealer. 

Imagine the thrill of anticipating a Tesla Model 3, fueled by the glowing reviews of its owners. The promise of significant fuel savings and the allure of the 'best car they've ever owned' echo in your mind.

You find a Tesla Model 3, which you think is beautiful, at the Toyota dealer where you purchased your Camry. You like your Camry, but buying a Tesla is the only thing you can think about. 

The Toyota dealer, sensing the slow sales of electric vehicles, is eager to offload the Tesla Model 3. They see an opportunity to profit from your desirable Toyota Camry, and the deal seems too good to pass up. 

You make what appears to be a great deal, and the dealer takes your Camry, which is in good shape, in on trade. You drive away in your new shiny Tesla Model 3, and life couldn't be better. And then you realize you made a big mistake.

Here is Mariah's sad story.

Mariah says," So, yeah. I just posted a video," she says as she begins to cry, "oh, my gosh, I can't even speak right now," she says, crying. "Anyway, I know I just told everyone how good this car is. I said, I love, I love the Tesla."

"But I hate this Tesla. I want my Camry back. I miss my Camry. I don't even have anywhere to put my freaking car phone in this car."

"This car sucks. If you are talking about how great your Tesla is, I love my Tesla, you are a liar. This car sucks, it sucks."

The Toyota dealer likely wanted to get the slow-selling Tesla Model 3 off its lot and told Mariah how much she would save on gas and what a great deal she was getting. 

Mariah says, "But honestly, I think Toyota screwed me over. Because I don't drive 40 miles to my job, I drive 20 miles. Tell me how I wasted 40 freaking miles. How often I have to charge it is the same as putting gas in my Camry." 

Mariah's plea for someone to buy her Tesla is laced with desperation. She's in a situation she never expected, and the urgency in her voice is noticable.

"So, does anyone want to buy a Tesla? Please, please buy this car from me."

Mariah was likely experiencing what's known as 'range anxiety.' This is when an EV owner becomes worried about running out of battery power before reaching their destination. She looked at the EV's gauge and saw the miles dropping fast as she drove to and from work. 

"Who convinced me that buying a Tesla is better than a Camry? Oh, because you are wrong. I was gaslighting myself and making myself believe it was the best car ever because I really wanted it. Because it's so pretty."

"But it's so bad. Like, literally, I hate this car. But yeah, who really genuinely likes their Tesla? Does anyone want to buy a Tesla? Please, please buy this car from me," she pleads.

Two days later, Mariah still doesn't like her new Tesla.

She says, "Like please, anyone, does anyone want to buy my freaking Tesla? I've had this car for two days and I hate this car. I'm going back to where I got it today because I don't know, I don't know about my battery."

"My miles (battery life) go so fast. I live 20 miles from work, so how do I use 40 miles from my battery? How did it take 40 miles from my battery? I don't understand what's going on." 

"If you are posting that you like Teslas, are you lying? Because what is going on?"

Mariah dislikes the Tesla Model 3 so much that she returns to the dealer to get her Toyota Camry back.

"I'm going back to where I got it today. I went to see what I could do about it. Because I want my old car back, I want my freaking Camry back. I don't know if there is anything I can do about it." 

"I went to talk to the used car manager because I bought it used. But the used car manager is off today. Hopefully, I can get my old car back." 

Update after four days.  

Mariah is back at the Toyota dealer for the fourth day in a row.

She says, "I'm back at the Toyota dealer, and I'm trying to get my old car back, and I'm losing so much, so much money, on what I just did, but I'm willing to do it because I feel they lied to me about the Tesla." 

"I'm trying to get my old Camry back, but they said they need to do an inspection on it, and I'm not waiting for that. I'll probably have to get a new car now."

The Toyota dealer doesn't want to sell Mariah her old Camry because they likely gave her very little for her car to make the deal for the Tesla. So they tell her it's already in the shop for an "inspection." They can make thousands selling it to someone else after reconditioning the Camry.  

They also see that she'll likely buy a new 2025 Camry with a little persuasion and they can make even more on the deal. 

Mariah signs the paperwork for a new Camry and gets the deal done.

Mariah says, "Ok, this is my new car, a 2025 Toyota Camry SE. This car is so much better than the Tesla. Don't ever buy a Tesla in your life."

Back home, she says, "Obviously, I was a little screwed up with money because it just happens. It happened. It's a life lesson we live and learn. Now I have a Camry again. It's not the same Camry I had before. It doesn't have a sunroof like my old Camry, but I love it." 

"I needed to get out of the Tesla immediately, and I'm so happy about my new Camry. That Tesla was nothing but stress and anxiety."

Conclusion.

The comments to Mariah were brutal, and it's easy to say that she made a bad decision by trading in her Camry and buying the Tesla Model 3. What can buyers learn from Mariah's experience?

It reveals that range anxiety is real. A new owner can be left with questions unless someone explains how an electric vehicle operates. She wasn't told that charging a Tesla's battery at a public station can be expensive. 

Also, we don't know how many miles were on the Tesla Model 3, but it could have had high mileage, and the battery was close to being replaced. That's why the battery drained so quickly. 

The Toyota dealer saw Mariah coming and the opportunity to unload the high-mileage Tesla and, at the same time, get a Toyota Camry they could make a lot of money on—a "double score," as it's called in the car selling business. 

They then sold Mariah a new Camry and made even more from her mistake. She was taken to the cleaners.  

What should Mariah done differently?

She should have taken an experienced person like a friend, family member, or an auto broker who can give her sound advice about buying a used Tesla. They could have informed her to walk away because it was not a good deal. 

Edmunds give this advice:

"The vast majority of car dealers have no written policies that allow you to rescind the purchase agreement you've signed. This means your only recourse is to plead your case. You can say that you have discovered you don't like the car or that it will stretch your budget and put you in dire financial straits."

"If you have buyer's remorse, you can call the salesperson first as a courtesy, but be prepared to contact someone higher up in dealership management, such as the sales manager, general manager or owner. It's solely at the dealer's discretion whether to undo the purchase. Make your call on a business day as opposed to a weekend."

What do you think Mariah should have done? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out this story. Hertz is selling its used Teslas Model 3s at a huge discount. 

Hertz says they will sell you a 2023 Tesla Model 3 for under $18,000. There is only one catch. You better check the EV's mileage. One Hertz renter discovered it may have many more miles than it's worth. 

Hertz Shot Me a Ridiculous Price of $18K For a 2023 Tesla Model 3 That I Rented, Great Price; I Was Shocked When I Found Out How Many Miles It Had. Read my Hertz report here. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Mariah