📖 7 min read
“ If anyone wants to steal a Tesla, tell me. ” That is how this review kicks off, with a joke that instantly tells you the vibe: this is going to be equal parts car talk, real ownership reality, and some spicy opinions about where the EV world is headed.
In this episode of the PakWheels review series, host Sunil chats with Hamza, a Tesla owner in Pakistan, about his 2019 Tesla Model S P100D. It is a proper enthusiast-spec Model S: fast enough to make your organs file a complaint, but practical enough to be used as a city car, if you understand what an EV is actually good at.
Hamza’s car is a 2019 Model S, P100D, all-wheel drive, and the performance version. The headline number is ridiculous:
0–100 km/h in 2.25 seconds with Ludicrous Plus (Sunil initially says under 2.8, Hamza corrects it with the “2.25” bomb)
That one figure basically explains why people buy this variant.
Ownership Timeline and Usage: Bought in 2023, Not Driven Much
Hamza bought the car in 2023 and says it has been about three years. Surprisingly, he has only driven it around 5,000 to 6,000 km in his ownership because it mostly stays parked at home. He travels out of the city often, so he uses a second vehicle for those trips.
Later, the conversation also mentions the car is currently around 42,000 km, and it was around 36,000 km when he purchased it, so it was bought used, and he has added a relatively small amount of mileage.
He bought it for “3.35 crore” . His main reason was simple: at the time, he felt Tesla was at its peak in EVs best range, best performance, and the “top” electric car experience.
Sunil asks if Elon Musk’s aura influenced the decision. Hamza says yes, he was impressed before, but not anymore, joking that Musk has become “conservative.”
Also important: Hamza did not want just any car, he specifically wanted an electric car, and this was his first EV.
Coming From a Range Rover World
Before Tesla, Hamza was and still is a Range Rover owner. That matters because it frames his expectations: when you are used to premium SUVs and their “surprises,” you judge reliability and maintenance differently.
The EV Addiction: “Once You Get Used to Electric…”
Three years later, when asked if the “fun” is still there, Hamza says yes:
it is still a very fun car to drive
once you get used to EV driving in the city, going back to a petrol car feels like “driving pain”
it is eco-friendly for the pocket ( running cost feels better)
They also mention the classic EV-owner arc: early days you launch it constantly, later you drive it more politely, though Hamza admits he still does a speed run sometimes because 2.25 seconds is insane.
They joke that the Model S design stayed so consistent that a 2015 Model S looks almost identical parked next to the 2019. Sunil notes changes came later, and they mention a facelift arriving around 2021.
Here is where the owner experience gets interesting because it is unusually calm:
One small issue: water condensation in the rear light (specifically the inner quarter light area)
He sourced a replacement from Dubai, found it used, and solved it
No maintenance required in three years
No brake pads either, because regenerative braking helps the pads last longer (and the car hasn’t been driven heavily in his ownership)
For anyone used to German luxury cars, this sounds like witchcraft.
Autopilot in Pakistan: “Best,” But Still Scary
Hamza uses Autopilot , and they even demonstrate it: the car steers and drives on its own. Hamza says Tesla’s Autopilot is the best .
Sunil, however, admits he feels a bit scared using it. That tension is honest: Autopilot is impressive, but trust takes time.
Maps and Internet: How It Works
Maps are not coming from a phone connection. Hamza uses a dedicated internet device that stays connected, so navigation stays live.
Sunil notices the car is a Japanese import. Hamza says the main difference is simply right-hand drive versus left-hand drive. Charging hardware standards come up, and they discuss adapters and compatibility quirks, including:
and needing converters like CHAdeMO converter and Type 2 to CCS
The key takeaway: imported Teslas can work fine, but charging standards and adapters can become part of your personality.
Battery and Charging: 100 kWh and Around 8 Hours at Home
Estimated full charge time: about 8 hours
But Hamza makes a more practical point: nobody charges 100 percent daily. For his daily use, he says the car usually charges enough in about 2 hours.
They also discuss public charging with converters:
he says speed does not drop on the commercial charger with the converter
the bigger issue is not speed, it is economics
Both of them praise the sound system heavily:
even without a famous brand label like Harman Kardon or Bose, the stock speakers are excellent
the cabin materials that feel premium
seating capacity and overall comfort
Sunil calls it the best-looking Tesla, and they throw shade at newer smaller Teslas:
Model 3 and Model Y feel like they were made to be taxis
compared (jokingly) to a “Honda City electric version”
What’s Missing: Practical Annoyances
Hamza’s complaints are small but real, the kind owners notice every day:
interior should have more space
missing rear armrest , which feels unfair to back-seat passengers
That is the human side of the Model S: it is rocket-fast, but not perfect at being a “normal sedan.”
A big myth gets challenged: someone says the Tesla app does not work in Pakistan. Hamza replies: it works for him.
he can control home charging settings, including charge percent and amps
So the takeaway is not “it never works”, it is “it depends on setup.”
Range: Claimed Versus Real Life
500 km on a full charge But he usually drives 20 to 80 percent, and at 80 percent the car might show around 380 km, yet real-world driving gives him 320 to 340 km.
They talk about parts availability and price perceptions:
some people claim Tesla parts are cheap
Sunil mentions buying a used lock part for 1,000 dirhams
Hamza says yes, prices can be high, but compared to Range Rover ownership, it feels familiar because Range Rover is basically a subscription service for surprise parts
Hamza also mentions Sharjah as a great market for parts, and that sourcing yourself can make things reasonable.
White Interior: How It Stays Clean
Hamza’s interior is white, and Sunil asks how he keeps it clean. Hamza’s simple answer: he drives less and keeps it cleaner. White seats require attention, there is no magic.
The Big Debate: Are Chinese EVs Taking Over?
Hamza says he likes trying new tech and admits Chinese cars have improved massively. They mention older Chinese cars where parts would basically fall off, but today:
interior quality and features are strong
some Chinese options offer a lot more than traditional choices at similar price points
They argue Chinese EVs have disrupted the market:
half the price (sometimes less)
and that this “Chinese revolution” has hit resale values across brands
Hamza’s opinion: China is now ahead in EVs. Europeans might survive on legacy, but others could struggle. They also roast Tesla design direction and call the Cybertruck ugly, ugly on purpose, but still ugly.
A common complaint is that EV adoption is slow because charging stations are missing. Sunil and Hamza push back with nuance:
the charging network is gradually coming
government may require chargers at petrol stations
EVs in police fleets could boost adoption
he has used commercial charging roughly 10 times (mostly early on before home charger installation, and for a few Islamabad trips)
after home charging is installed, public charging often does not make economic sense
EVs are primarily urban mobility vehicles
the bigger issue is people do not understand EV basics like consumption and kWh
home electricity around Rs 50 per unit
with solar possibly Rs 10–12 per unit
public charging in Lahore around Rs 100–110 per unit (roughly double)
And they make the lifestyle point: most people are not driving 300 km daily in the city, so nightly charging solves the problem for typical use.
he is not expecting miracles on resale
but he hopes it will sell somewhere near what he paid
currency devaluation also plays a role
This review lands on a clear conclusion:
The Model S P100D is an absurdly fast, surprisingly low-maintenance, extremely enjoyable city car, especially if you can charge at home. But in Pakistan, it should be treated as a lifestyle choice, not a one-car-for-everything solution.
Or in simpler terms: it is a rocket. Just make sure you have somewhere to refuel the rocket, preferably at home.
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