My friends think I’m crazy—and honestly, that’s nothing new.But in August 2024, I made a decision that still blows their minds.I traded my beloved 2018 BMW M2, a car I’d dreamed of owning for years.
It wasn’t an easy call, but deep down, I knew something had to change.18 months after swapping it for a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance, I have zero regrets.The savings, efficiency, and driving thrills make it one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Related The Highest-Mileage Tesla Model 3 In The World The Tesla Model 3 with the highest mileage in the world has surpassed impressive limits, showcasing durability and long-term performance.Posts By Adam Gray High costs pushed me to rethink Trading my BMW for a Tesla just made sense I bought my BMW M2 in February 2023 for £33,000 (about $45,000).I’d been a fan of the OG M2 ever since reading rave reviews from fellow automotive journalists following its launch in 2016.
It was the most I’d ever spent on a car, but receiving the keys to my Long Beach Blue beauty felt like a bucket-list moment.Reality hit just days later at the gas station, though.That tiny tank drank fuel like nobody’s business, and filling up felt like a second job.
A few months in, a service wiped out even more of my wallet.Maintenance, insurance, depreciation—everything about this car was expensive.I loved spirited weekend drives, but 18 months of ownership made one thing clear: it was time to rethink.
The search for a smarter, more practical performance car was on.Related How BMW Takes the Fight To Tesla With the New 2026 iX3 BMW has just revealed its all-new 2026 iX3, a sleek electric SUV designed to rival Tesla with cutting-edge tech, bold design, and impressive range.Posts 1 By Tyler Dupont Finding a smarter, faster alternative Why the Tesla Model 3 Performance made perfect sense I had a clear checklist for my next car: it had to be more efficient and practical than the M2, still feel a bit luxurious, and keep performance at its core.
I looked at several Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz models, but any of those options would have landed me in the same expensive situation.The more I thought about it, the more moving from ICE to EV made sense.Having reviewed a Tesla in 2021, I couldn’t stop thinking about trading the M2 for a Model 3 Performance.
The switch that saved me big on fuel and thrills After weeks of hunting, I finally found the exact spec I wanted just a few hours from home.The M2—with all its M Performance carbon goodies—sold quickly, clearing the way for me to pick up a 2021 Model 3 Performance for £28,500 (about $39,000).My friends couldn’t believe it, but I was thrilled with the swap.
The Model 3 Performance is four-wheel drive and sticks to the road like glue, unlike the M2, which became a handful the moment it rained.Acceleration is a thrill, too.The Model 3 Performance hits 0–60 in about 3.1 seconds, and everyday driving feels quick and responsive.
Charging at home changed everything.With a home charger and an EV-specific electricity tariff, a full charge costs just £6 ($8), compared with £80 ($109) for a tank of gas in the M2.Maintenance has been a dream.
In 18 months of ownership, the only thing I’ve had to replace is a full set of tires—which is the car’s only drawback, since being four-wheel drive it chews through them faster.No oil changes, fewer moving parts, and minimal upkeep make ownership far less stressful than my BMW ever was.On top of that, the Tesla keeps surprising me with over-the-air software updates and convenience features I didn’t expect.
Whether commuting or hitting the weekend roads, it’s fast, efficient, and low-stress—exactly what I needed.Related BMW vs.Mercedes vs.
Audi: The most reliable luxury brand revealed When it comes to dependability, the 2025 J.D.Power rankings give BMW, Mercedes, and Audi a clear order.Posts 2 By Adam Gray The smart choice adds up Why trading the BMW for a Tesla just works On top of fuel and maintenance savings, insurance has been another win.
Granted, it’s not as cheap as I initially hoped, but that’s because it’s still a performance car, and replacement parts can be tricky if an accident were to happen.Another big advantage is peace of mind.Unlike my M2, which demanded constant attention and careful driving, the Tesla is low-stress, predictable, and reliable in day-to-day use.
Finally, owning an EV has simplified life in ways I didn’t expect.No more frequent trips to the gas station, fewer surprise bills, and the car’s ease of use makes commuting, errands, and weekend drives less of a hassle.Related Forget the Mazda MX-5—this is the most fun Japanese sports car Maybe not as well-known, but just as grin-inducing.
Posts By Tyler Dupont It's not perfect—and that matters The frustrating parts of owning a Tesla every day I can’t speak for the U.S., but charging infrastructure in the UK is slowly getting where it needs to be.Tesla’s Supercharger network is a huge advantage, although in the North East of England they’re still few and far between, and my experience with third-party chargers hasn’t been great.More often than not, public chargers are either out of order or running well below their advertised speeds.
Using a Tesla Supercharger feels like being part of an exclusive club—they’re fast, reliable, and easy to use.I expected range anxiety to be a major downside of EV ownership, but it hasn’t been as bad as I feared.Home charging covers most day-to-day driving, and Superchargers are easy to find when traveling further south.
Cold weather, however, has been my biggest frustration.In summer, I can get close to 280 miles on a full charge, but that figure is more than halved during the long UK winter months.Subscribe to the newsletter for real EV ownership insights Thinking about swapping a petrol performance car for an EV? Subscribe to the newsletter for practical, experience-based guidance on charging, maintenance, insurance and real-world costs—so you can weigh performance and savings with confidence.
Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can unsubscribe anytime.Depreciation has also been a tough pill to swallow.
Losing around £9,500 (about $13,000) in value hurts, even knowing that EVs tend to drop faster than traditional petrol cars.I’ve definitely caught the EV bug and can’t see myself going back to ICE full-time, unless it’s for a weekend toy like a Miata or Porsche Boxster.That said, being in negative equity on my Model 3 Performance means I won’t be switching cars anytime soon.
Related The 2026 BMW M240i Proves You Don’t Need an M2 to Have Fun The 2026 BMW M240i delivers thrilling performance, sharp handling, and everyday comfort—all without the M2’s hefty price tag.Posts 1 By Tyler Dupont Would I do it again? Absolutely Who should—and shouldn't—make the same switch Knowing what I know now, I’d still make the switch from the M2 to the Model 3 Performance without hesitation.It hasn’t been perfect, but the long-term savings, daily convenience, and stress-free ownership easily outweigh the downsides.
For drivers who care about performance but are tired of unpredictable running costs, this kind of switch makes a lot of sense.You still get rapid acceleration and engaging driving, just without the constant worry of fuel prices, servicing bills, or surprise repairs.Home charging is the real game-changer.
If you can charge overnight, own a driveway, or have reliable access to workplace charging, EV ownership becomes incredibly easy and affordable.Without that, the experience becomes far more frustrating and expensive.This kind of move also suits people who actually use their car every day.
Commuters, frequent drivers, and anyone piling on the miles will feel the benefits much faster than someone who only drives occasionally.That said, this swap isn’t for everyone.If you love the sound, feel, and character of a petrol engine, an EV may never fully replace that experience.
Likewise, if you live in an area with weak charging infrastructure or rely entirely on public chargers, the transition will be tougher.For me, trading the BMW for a Tesla wasn’t about giving up on performance—it was about finding a smarter way to enjoy it.I still get speed, comfort, and modern tech, but now it fits my lifestyle and my finances far better than my old M2 ever did.
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