85 kWh battery removed from design studio

[Andyw2100]

When Tesla was desperate to get cars sold and delivered prior to the end of 2015 to get more sales on the books, they were calling everyone trying to sell them a car, even "negotiating" on anything other than the actual price of the car (trade in values, items included, etc), they would have been really smart to announce "85 kwh and rwd options will no longer be available in 2016". For anyone that needed a battery with more than 70 kwh and was holding off, likely would have sped up their purchase to save $8,000.

I think you're neglecting one major point: Tesla wanted to stop manufacturing 85 kWh packs, and probably did some time ago. They probably continued taking orders for cars with 85s until they sold out of the 85 packs, at which point they cut off the sales of the 85s. Tesla couldn't really say "Order before February 8, 2016 if you want an 85 pack", in an effort to increase sales, because Tesla didn't know how long the 85 packs they had in stock would last, and, to be honest, they probably didn't really care.

The only thing Tesla could have done along the lines of what you were looking for would have been to announce the discontinuation of the 85, while at the same time announcing that there were a limited number still available, but that when they were gone that would be it, so if you want one, it's first come, first served. The problem with that is that it would appear really cheesy, and not in-line with what Tesla is trying to portray.

As NSXROX pointed out up thread, the writing was definitely on the wall. I think Tesla handled this just fine.

 

[wdolson]

Why don't they just do a 120 and get it over with.

Do you want a back seat? It would require another 6 modules with the current battery technology.

 

[matbl]

Really crappy decission IMHO.
Not scrapping the 85. That's understandable. But not offering the 90 as RWD. I don't want to pay the extra money for AWD but I really need the bigger battery.
Ohh well. Lease on current S85 doesn't expire until summer 2017 sp maybe they've done something else by then. Because other alternatives will not happen before that.

A 90D (Not P and not L) starts at $120,000 here...

 

[P85DBeast]

I cant believe it thank god we ordered my wife's 85D before they canceled the 85 pack but I really think they should have kept it as an battery pack option. Whats next a 100kw pack!!!!!

 

[chriSharek]

Really interesting thread. Really interesting thread. I ordered and 85 deal last year but delayed delivery waiting for my son to turn 16 and hand him the keys to my Volt. As my car has not entered production yet I am wondering now what is going to happen. I suppose they will continue to provide the 85 D until they run out of supply. I need to ask my delivery specialist for sure.

- - - Updated - - -

CPO Model S's are cheaper and better than buying brand new

I couldn't disagree with you more. The CPO models are either high-end p85 d or low end without autopilot. There is no in between. + when you factor in the federal tax credit it makes sense to buy new and also retain the unlimited-mileage warranty which I believe is given up when you buy a CPO.

 

[Tellotes]

Really interesting thread. Really interesting thread. I ordered and 85 deal last year but delayed delivery waiting for my son to turn 16 and hand him the keys to my Volt. As my car has not entered production yet I am wondering now what is going to happen. I suppose they will continue to provide the 85 D until they run out of supply. I need to ask my delivery specialist for sure.

- - -

Iam in the same boat as you. My 85D won't enter in to production until May because I selected a June Delivery. Are they going give us a 90D with a software limit to 85D? Are the going to make us decide on downgrading or upgrading? Or do they sti honor the order? I called my DS left him a VM to call back. Iam just worried of getting a hit on the value once I decide to sell it since it will be an older model that tesla no longer offers. Just for that reason I may be changing down to 70D.

 

[Justicepool]

8 year Unlimited mileage battery/drive warranty goes with the car. It is not given up when you buy a CPO. I agree with you on what is available in the CPO market.

Really interesting thread. Really interesting thread. I ordered and 85 deal last year but delayed delivery waiting for my son to turn 16 and hand him the keys to my Volt. As my car has not entered production yet I am wondering now what is going to happen. I suppose they will continue to provide the 85 D until they run out of supply. I need to ask my delivery specialist for sure.

- - - Updated - - -



I couldn't disagree with you more. The CPO models are either high-end p85 d or low end without autopilot. There is no in between. + when you factor in the federal tax credit it makes sense to buy new and also retain the unlimited-mileage warranty which I believe is given up when you buy a CPO.

 

[AMPUP]

Welcome to the Classic Club all you *85*'s :biggrin:

 

[Joules Verne]

Don't mind that they upgrade their cars at all. The difference this time though, is it costs significantly more than before. When they went from 60 to 70, the price stayed the same. Now, to get anything above 70 kwh, will cost you $8,000 more overnight. I have my car, but can see a lot of people that were close to buying, saving their pennies to do so, being very upset that they're forced to spend more money or buy an inferior car or not buy at all. Tesla used to give concessions when they forced you to buy more. Tech package removed and was cheaper with the new options you were forced to get to get the same features. 70 kwh car cost the same as the previous 60 kwh car. Things like that. This time, there are no concessions. They are charging you the $5,000 for dual motors and $3,000 for the battery upgrade exactly as before.

Right. With the market meltdown, it seems to be a bad time to effectively increase the cost of the mid-range product.

But what do I know. Maybe they anticipate less demand, and intend to makeup the revenue by getting more money for each car.

 

[bridaus]

I hate it when car companies improve their offerings, and make me pay more for more. I want to pay less for more. A lot less. And I want it now. (/sarcasm)

I'm hoping my 85D (being delivered the 22nd or so) is truly the 90 pack underneath the hood. More buffer and I paid less. You all should be jealous and throw tantrums. Bonus for tears. I'll be smiling.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I'm hoping my 85D (being delivered the 22nd or so) is truly the 90 pack underneath the hood. More buffer and I paid less.

Highly unlikely. And even if it is a 90kwh pack, it would most likely be software limited to 85kWh (or really 81kWh which is what it really is). There's no free lunch with Tesla Motors.

- - - Updated - - -

I am just worried of getting a hit on the value once I decide to sell it since it will be an older model that tesla no longer offers. Just for that reason I may be changing down to 70D.

I really don't think you should worry about this. Car makers change their line-ups all the time. And by the time you go to sell, the 70 and 90 batteries will most likely will also no longer be offered (or maybe the 90 as the entry-level battery).

Just because Tesla stopped making the 85kWh battery really shouldn't affect resale value for that reason.

 

[cman8]

Really interesting thread. Really interesting thread. I ordered and 85 deal last year but delayed delivery waiting for my son to turn 16 and hand him the keys to my Volt. As my car has not entered production yet I am wondering now what is going to happen. I suppose they will continue to provide the 85 D until they run out of supply. I need to ask my delivery specialist for sure.

- - -

Iam in the same boat as you. My 85D won't enter in to production until May because I selected a June Delivery. Are they going give us a 90D with a software limit to 85D? Are the going to make us decide on downgrading or upgrading? Or do they sti honor the order? I called my DS left him a VM to call back. Iam just worried of getting a hit on the value once I decide to sell it since it will be an older model that tesla no longer offers. Just for that reason I may be changing down to 70D.

I talked to my DS and he said it wont matter that I ordered the 85. It will be built as said, no bait and switch. Im sure if you ordered the 85 you will get the 85 regardless. I think it would be cool to have the firmware limited 90kwh battery with the option to upgrade later. That would make most sense if they did phase out the 85 completely without manufacturing or remanufacturing them.

 

[Electroman]

Most likely there will be a price cut on the 90D that will bring it closer to now defunct 85D

 

[David29]

Most likely there will be a price cut on the 90D that will bring it closer to now defunct 85D

My guess is the opposite: They'll keep the higher price because they are still losing money and the higher sales prices will help a bit.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally, rated range didn't change when you selected the 90 kWh battery. It just said something along the line of "range upgrade increase range by 6%." The numbers listed yesterday were from the 85D and P85D, and the numbers listed today are from the 90D and the P90D.

I am wondering if one reason for the change to drop the 85s, or more precisely for the timing of when to do so, was that they waited until they had an official EPA rating on the 90s. Now they can officially report a range and show a solid basis for the difference in range between the 70D and 90D and hence demonstrate the value of the price difference.

 

[chriSharek]

So I got the call today from Tesla to inform me of the impending discontinuing of the 85 I ordered. Basically there are 2 options (or get a 70 if you consider that an option):

Option 1) Get the car I ordered (85D) but take delivery by March 31st. The pros as I see it are it's cheaper by the $3k and I can lock into the 1.99% for 72 months (which also sunsets on 3/31 I was told)

Option 2) Upgrade to the 90D by paying the $3k upgrade. If I can postpone delivery and get the car WHEN I wanted it, those 2 months of car payments will pay for the $3k upgrade. Right now, I'm leaning this way. Also, getting the latest and greatest for resale value will be nice.

I'm also considering to eliminate the premium audio and using that "credit" to pay for the upgrade to the 90. I can put in the aftermarket subwoofer later.

 

[P85DBeast]

Well who ever wanted an 85D,85, P85D, or P85D is totally out of luck now you better buy a CPO car. So to be honest if you were going for and 85D why not get the P85 or P85+ over the 85D im mean same performance. Your just losing 5 miles of range and maybe some options you wanted like AP but you could find a P85 car with AP if you look hard enough for it......

 

[HankLloydRight]

Option 2) Upgrade to the 90D by paying the $3k upgrade. If I can postpone delivery and get the car WHEN I wanted it, those 2 months of car payments will pay for the $3k upgrade.

You're still making the same number of payments, no? You're just deferring the $3k upgrade cost forward, and you don't have use of the car for those two months as well. You're still paying for the upgrade, though.

 

[Joules Verne]

I hate it when car companies improve their offerings, and make me pay more for more. I want to pay less for more.(/sarcasm)

It's not outrageous to expect products to improve over time while the costs remain the same or even decrease.
It's sort of how the technology industry works.

That said, competition is usually a factor, and Tesla doesn't have any. So there's that.

 

[Brass Guy]

Tesla probably had this (85 phase-out) planned with the development of the 90. Dropping RWD though, I don't see a reason for it at all.
For anyone talking about streamlining production, they still offer a 70 (RWD). There's only one part (assembly to be precise) that would differentiate a 70 from a 90, and a different setting in the software.
Who knows, I would not be too surprised to see the 90 come back in a few months.

 

[Tellotes]

So I got the call today from Tesla to inform me of the impending discontinuing of the 85 I ordered. Basically there are 2 options (or get a 70 if you consider that an option):

Option 1) Get the car I ordered (85D) but take delivery by March 31st. The pros as I see it are it's cheaper by the $3k and I can lock into the 1.99% for 72 months (which also sunsets on 3/31 I was told)

Option 2) Upgrade to the 90D by paying the $3k upgrade. If I can postpone delivery and get the car WHEN I wanted it, those 2 months of car payments will pay for the $3k upgrade. Right now, I'm leaning this way. Also, getting the latest and greatest for resale value will be nice.

I'm also considering to eliminate the premium audio and using that "credit" to pay for the upgrade to the 90. I can put in the aftermarket subwoofer later.

I just got the call as well! Im over here thinking hard on what to do! My DS is trying to get me a 70D to test drive, but it wont be until this weekend. The Tesla rep on the phone told me I need to make a decision by end of day tomorrow. Pretty ridiculous giving you such a short time to make such a serious decision. Now what you said above about removing the UHFS and paying for the 90D doesnt seem so bad.....