LLink Before LaunchReal-owner Tesla referral guide

Why we chose the Model 3 over the Model Y.

There are two of us. Our dogs fit in the back seat. We prefer the Model 3's look, and our Kia EV6 gives us extra space when we need it. That made the 3 the right Tesla for our household.

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Read our reasonsModel 3 & Y referral guide
Our Quicksilver Tesla Model 3, the car we chose for our two-person household
Our actual Quicksilver Model 3

Buy for your household, not somebody else's.

The Model Y gets plenty of attention. Our decision was more personal: what would fit the people, dogs and cars already in our life?

We did not need the larger car.

There are two of us, and the dogs fit fine in the Model 3's back seat. For our ordinary drives, we were not trying to solve a space problem. Buying a larger Tesla simply because it offered more room would not have made that room more necessary.

We liked the Model 3's look better.

This part is preference, and I think that is a perfectly good reason to choose a car. We liked the shape and proportions of the 3 more. In Quicksilver, it became the car we wanted to see in our driveway. You can read more about that feeling in our first 100 days with the Model 3.

The EV6 already covers extra space.

We still have the Kia EV6. When we need the extra space, that option is already available. The Tesla did not have to take on every possible job by itself. Our Model 3 vs. Kia EV6 owner comparison explains what living with both has been like.

Would the Model Y fit your life better?

Our choice makes sense with two cars. Your Tesla may need to do everything.

If you regularly carry more people, larger dogs or more luggage, give the space question real weight. Try the seating and loading arrangement you will actually use. Check where the dogs and their restraints would go, then add the luggage rather than imagining an empty car.

Our dogs fitting in the 3 does not tell you whether yours will. We are sharing our purchase decision, not claiming a back-to-back Model Y road test. A demo drive and a practical space check will tell you more about your own needs.

In our September 100-day story, we wondered whether a Model Y might be a future road-trip car. That possibility does not change why we chose the 3 this time. We can enjoy what we have and still keep an open mind about what comes next.

For sales context, Tesla reported 478,237 Model 3 and Model Y deliveries combined in its October 2 third-quarter report. That report does not separate Model Y deliveries. A large combined number is interesting; it cannot decide which car fits your household.

Our latest FSD experience

Update, October 31: we are now on FSD (Supervised) 14.3.13. The random right-turn-lane signals that crept into 14.3.12 appear fixed so far, Standard mode stays much closer to the speed limit, and Hurry mode has been good on the highway. Read the 14.3.13 review.

On October 24, with the Halloween update and FSD (Supervised) 14.3.12: Right-lane behavior feels better, although it sometimes moves over for an exit later than I would like. I still step in when an earlier safe move makes more sense. Read the October 24 FSD field note for the full context.

FSD remains supervised. The driver must stay attentive and ready to take over. Our software experience is part of why we enjoy the Tesla; it is also something we keep evaluating as versions change.

Model 3 or Model Y: our answers

Why did you choose a Model 3 instead of a Model Y?

There are two of us, our dogs fit in the Model 3's back seat, we prefer its styling, and we already have a Kia EV6 for extra space.

Is the Tesla Model 3 big enough for dogs?

Our dogs fit comfortably in our Model 3's back seat. That is our household's experience; check your own dogs, restraints, passengers and luggage before deciding.

Does your referral link work for the Model 3 and Model Y?

Not anymore. On October 24, 2026, my Tesla referral page displayed three months of FSD (Supervised) for eligible Model 3 and Model Y orders. As of October 31, it no longer shows a benefit for vehicle orders. If you already own a Tesla, see how the free FSD month works.