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Buying a used Tesla 3 advice...
- Thread starter regazzoni
- Start date
This may seem like a strange question but for anyone who has bought used, were you able to pick up from the Tesla location where it is or did it have to be shipped? The online search shows a number of used ones nearby, but both nearby stores say they don't have any in stock and can't seem to give a clear answer where they are actually located.
I had 27k VIN and the seats were great.
I'd probably avoid any vin under 10k though if you want to make a cutoff.
if i put a deposit down to hold a used tesla car....does tesla allow for a test drive if i decide to fly out and pick up the vehicle as part of my inspection? Also is a price of $42,500 for LR RWD with 3700 miles with the upgraded 19' wheels / white and black / interior a good price? No FSD.
$45.9k is/was base price for LR RWD + $1500 19" wheels + $1500 white interior + $1200 Doc+dest fee = $50.1k is the theoretical price for it New. I would add the fed/state tax incentives you would've received for a New vehicle ($1875- $6875) and remember the $1200 fees dont apply to used vehicles.
So in my example $50.1 - $4375 = $45725 NEW vs $42500 USED. I know this is not a straightforward comparison since the LR RWD is no longer available but this is how I would assess if it is a "Good Price". You are saving about $3200 buying used vs new, you can decide if that represents a good value but when you take into account those who purchased the vehicle received full $7500 federal tax credit, used vehicles are priced relatively high in general...
Side note: If you wouldnt have upgraded to 19" wheel and/or white interior if buying new, then the price difference is effectively $0. Just some food for thought
I'm in Texas so no State incentives. So with your buildout of a new LR RWD at 50.1. I would've just been eligible for the federal incentive. So i'm now comparing (50.1-1875) : LR RWD 48225 New vs 42500 used.
But the issue i'm having is LR RWD is no longer available (otherwise id buy new)...so the only way for me to get the upgraded range is get the LR AWD which is 48000+.
So im torn between the SR+ but want the extra range of the LR but don't want the extra costs of the AWD.
I'm in your boat too! I just want the extra range and right now am sitting with an order for a SR+. I keep looking at used LR RWD cars that have 7,000 or less miles on them (so about $41 to $42k) but Washington state offers a $2500 tax credit on new cars that are $45k or less. So if there was just some way to get the LR AWD with destination at $45k I would jump on it (I've asked about having AP un-bundled and then buying that back after delivery but Tesla doesn't seem to be able to do that any more. Anyone with a sales/owner advisor out there that can un-bundle AP from a LR AWD and discount it enough to get to $44,990 out the door I'll jump on it! (And then buy back AP as soon as the car is delivered
)I'd love to buy a discounted LR model Used but the factors that have me hesitating are:I'm in your boat too! I just want the extra range and right now am sitting with an order for a SR+. I keep looking at used LR RWD cars that have 7,000 or less miles on them (so about $41 to $42k) but Washington state offers a $2500 tax credit on new cars that are $45k or less. So if there was just some way to get the LR AWD with destination at $45k I would jump on it (I've asked about having AP un-bundled and then buying that back after delivery but Tesla doesn't seem to be able to do that any more. Anyone with a sales/owner advisor out there that can un-bundle AP from a LR AWD and discount it enough to get to $44,990 out the door I'll jump on it! (And then buy back AP as soon as the car is delivered
- Used vehicles listed by Tesla are very early VINs and I don't want to deal with issues of the earliest models- targeting post June 2018 (which is hard since it's barely a year old). This could be more a perceived than real risk but it does give me hesitation.
- Losing out on "free money" from tax incentives feels irresponsible - even though I'm taking advantage of depreciation
- The cost of the used models are not sufficiently lower than new models in my opinion. The fact that some of these models are being sold for more than some of these owners paid with tax incentives makes me think it isnt a good deal.
I've got all those concerns too, which is why I haven't cancelled my SR+ order... but every day I debate it while I'm waiting.
What would you consider *not* an early VIN? I think the highest I've seen on there is ~35,000.
FastFreddie
Member
Purchased 2018, LR RWD, for $42,000 from Tesla, Houston, mainly since it is no longer available new. Did not want the AWD because of decreased range and more things (motors and driveline) that can go wrong, plus live in South Texas, really do not need AWD....
Debating that right now, approx $42k to $43k, hoping for 5k miles or less and as high of a VIN as I can get, usually what I see is ~20,000 but I’ve seen as high as ~35,000 range. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience? The pictures make the cars look amazingly well detailed/cleaned, did yours have any scratches or paint issues? Did it look new and feel new? Any issues when you took delivery, and did Tesla fix them with little to no fighting, or did they sell it “as is”? What VIN range were you able to get?
My budget allows for a brand new SR+ with blue on white, or a “gently” used 2018 LR RWD. I think 240mi will work in my life, but I don’t look forward to 30+ min supercharging sessions on occasional road trips. If I switch over to LR RWD ABetterRoutePlanner shows the longest supercharger session would be ~9 minutes, and that’s with arriving at my destination with ~65 miles (which I feel like is a super comfortable buffer so I don’t need to go find charging right away; think of dinner reservations or play/other show starting soon after I get into town, etc)
TomServo
Active Member
I have noticed Tesla isn't re-setting the pre-owned Model 3 warranty back to ZERO like they are doing on the Model S. I wonder why the difference in pre-owned warranty coverage? So one could lose several months of warranty coverage buying a pre-owned Model 3. Something to consider.
FastFreddie
Member
Delivery next week, 33...vin range, produced 6/18, has clean car fax and photos look like new, has remaining warranty, once again was planning on purchasing new but that model is no longer available so forced me to buy used from Tesla.....
Honestly my experience was pretty shitty and maybe even worse than buying from a traditional dealership. From them wanting a blank check to spending over 1 hour to get the paperwork done. Could be the delivery center that just sucked.
As far as the actual car, there were imperfections but being a used Model 3 that was expected.
1) The Chargeport door would not close, the delivery specialist immediately took it to the back to have it replaced.
2)Center console had severe scuffs(not a big deal since its going to be covered by Carbon Fiber).
3)Steering wheel leather is peeling (I scheduled an appointment to have this fixed)
4) Window washer had no washer fluid
These issues are something to be expected on a used car, given that it falls under the new car warranty they were addressed. But now the most recent one that has me worried. My passenger Fog Light was out and I thought it was just a bulb. Drove it to the service center and they took the Model 3 in took it apart and found that the fog light wire had been chewed. I have no mice in my garage, there are two other vehicles in my garage which were just serviced with no issues. This leads me to believe that the previous owner had mice issues given the 4,500 miles put in 1 year it would seem it was not driven often and sat in garage or outdoors (Northern California). Now I am worried that other issues will begin to appear.
Luckily for me the service center has been Outstanding, they ordered the wiring harness and will do an inspection of the whole car to make sure there is no more damage or nesting.
Now, this only happened after I asked to see the “70 point inspection” they claimed they performed on the vehicle. They didnt have it or know where to get it. I have called Tesla and gotten the run around that they cant release it. California law says that a vehicle cannot be “Certified” if a copy isnt provided to the buyer.
My suggestion to you is to ask for the 70 point inspection prior to delivery. Take your time inspecting the vehicle (I did not do this). Address any issues on the spot and dont feel forced to take the car home with you.
Yes the car smells new.
