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First of all, I'm new to the forum, but huge kudos to forum owners/moderators, very clean-looking forum, ability to quickly login with FB/Twitter/Google accounts is amazing.

I have about $20k to spend and according to ev-cpo, there were a few Teslas which sold for about $21k, I'm hopeful I'll be able to find a 2012-2014 Model S for about $20k (willing to have it delivered or fly and drive it home from anywhere in US) if not CPO, then clear title private sale.

I originally started thinking about the 2017 Chevy Volt (top of the line, loaded can be had for about $15k-$16k), but also looked at other PHEVs and the good choice for me would be the 2018 Honda Clarity (ignoring other alternatives because of the compromised cargo space and/or the looks and/or the reliability issues with their PHEVs). The 2018 Clarity will probably be a few grand below Tesla, but still close to $20k in their top of the line trim.

I've read the forum and seen suggestions to stay away from MS older than 2015, but I'm still (perhaps naively) thinking that $20k Model S would be a better purchase than $20k Honda Clarity in terms of cost of ownership for the next 5 years, so I'd welcome feedback, especially from people who bought 2012-2014 models used.

95% (if not 99%) of my trips are within 25 miles return, so even a PHEV would dramatically cut down on my gasoline use (which, unlike electricity, is pretty expensive where I live). My apartment complex already has 2 chargers installed and planning on adding another one and we have an assortment of EVs/PHEVs already. I've only seen both slots occupied once over the last year, so I know I'll be able to plug in. With the PHEV I might actually be able to plug it into the nearest 110 outlet in the parkade as I already have permission to charge an electric motorcycle this way.

Opinions? Should I get Volt/Clarity and get a used Model Y in 3-5 years? Or do you think the older Model S would serve me better for 5 years and its depreciation will be lower than Clarity's?

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