Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register
  • We just completed a significant update, but we still have some fixes and adjustments to make, so please bear with us for the time being. Cheers!

Depreciation on LR RWD

spurs10

Member
Aug 16, 2017
278
75
Vancouver Canada
I have been thinking lately how’s the LR RWD will depreciate in a few year. With the introduction of mid range, it seems to make the LR RWD less attractive, and per Musk email to employee yesterday, his emphasis to lower the cost of model 3 makes me wonder how much is our LR RWD will cost down the road. I am not planning to keep my car for 10 year. I am hoping to trade it in for a model Y.

What you guys think?
 

AviP

Member
Feb 8, 2018
202
148
New Canaan, CT
My guess is about 20% down in the first year due to price reductions, fed tax loss and standard depreciation. If your vehicle is in a cold state such as BC, it could be worse because of the deeper electric cycles. The primary factor for cars over 8 years old will be battery replacement costs. Time will tell how BEVs fare in depreciation.
 

commasign

TeslaAdviceBlog.com
Aug 31, 2013
3,202
4,174
Davis, CA
I think it’s a unicorn in a good way. The actual EPA rating for LR RWD is 334 miles which is significantly higher than the AWD and Performance variants which are actually rated for 308 miles (Tesla advertises all long range variants as 310 miles for simplicity and to avoid confusion). Also, as Enhanced Autopilot improves and full self driving features are added, the value of the car will likely stabilize or at least not depreciate as much as a similar non-Tesla. So I don’t think the introduction of the mid range and standard range variants will negatively affect the value of the long range rear wheel drive cars.
 

ewoodrick

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2018
5,285
3,721
Buford, GA
I have been thinking lately how’s the LR RWD will depreciate in a few year. With the introduction of mid range, it seems to make the LR RWD less attractive, and per Musk email to employee yesterday, his emphasis to lower the cost of model 3 makes me wonder how much is our LR RWD will cost down the road. I am not planning to keep my car for 10 year. I am hoping to trade it in for a model Y.

What you guys think?

Honestly, I'm thinking that all of your conclusions are inaccurate. I suspect that the LR RWD will be less attractive because of the other models, it might even be more attractive, especially in the winter when the MR folks see their range decrease. The LR is built for longer range trips and fits best as the primary vehicle in a family. As opposed to the mid-range, which is best for the commuter vehicle.

Yes, the decrease in tax credit will impact it, but it has always impacted EVs.

The cheaper vehicle is for a different market. These folks are more cost constrained and won't be getting autopilot.
 

tashtibet

Member
Jul 30, 2016
486
264
fort collins, colorado
depreciation also depends on the factor how much money you add into the vehicle-ICE vehicles depreciates more due to fuel cost, parts, service & maintenance etc-while EVs do not depreciate in that pace.
 

pipestem

post-newbie
Nov 29, 2018
239
215
Center of the Universe
My guess is about 20% down in the first year due to price reductions, fed tax loss and standard depreciation. If your vehicle is in a cold state such as BC, it could be worse because of the deeper electric cycles. The primary factor for cars over 8 years old will be battery replacement costs. Time will tell how BEVs fare in depreciation.

Fed tax loss makes the used cars more valuable, marginally. The new alternative is now more expensive, increasing demand for the used cars.
 

spurs10

Member
Aug 16, 2017
278
75
Vancouver Canada
Also wanna added to the point is Tesla might furthe
Honestly, I'm thinking that all of your conclusions are inaccurate. I suspect that the LR RWD will be less attractive because of the other models, it might even be more attractive, especially in the winter when the MR folks see their range decrease. The LR is built for longer range trips and fits best as the primary vehicle in a family. As opposed to the mid-range, which is best for the commuter vehicle.

Yes, the decrease in tax credit will impact it, but it has always impacted EVs.

The cheaper vehicle is for a different market. These folks are more cost constrained and won't be getting autopilot.

What conclusion? Just have a couple thoughts in mind and want ppl to share their thought. Not making any conclusion or assumptions.
 

geometro

Member
Jun 24, 2015
366
524
Austin
I posted this elsewhere, but I was contemplating trading in my LR for AWD. Car is about 8 months old and with 10k miles on it... Tesla offered $35.5k, so I didn't make the move. Seems rather low, but perhaps they just don't want to deal with the hassle. KBB has it in the mid-40s.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: RBowen and Kanting

azred

Active Member
Apr 12, 2016
1,862
2,148
Chandler, AZ
I have one of the early LR RWD’s, built in Jan 2018. I also have a RWD Model S. And I plan to keep both for ten years or more.

As electric cars industry matures, I think the range of the MR and SR Model 3’s will be the biggest gripe of their owners and will also be a resale problem. Right now a rated range of 260 or 220 may look pretty good, especially when stacked up against the competition. But not for much longer.

As for the original poster’s plan to trade for a Model Y, I hope he/she understands it is silly to worry about depreciation if you are planning to flip any new cars in 0-4 years. You will get killed on the flip no matter what new car you are talking about. If you don’t want to get killed on flips then buy cars like 1995-98 993 Porsches that are appreciating. Driving a sweet 993 for a couple years would be a great way to wait for a Model Y and you could probably make a buck when you flip it in two years. They aren’t cheap but neither are new Model 3’s.
 
Last edited:
  • Helpful
Reactions: Cowby

CCIE

Member
Aug 31, 2017
363
655
CT
If you care about efficiency & range, the LR RWD is the best Model 3 made to date. If they never sell it in the US again, then it should be one of the more sought configurations for people who care about those things.

Buying the LR RWD has worked out great for me so far:

1. I qualify for $7500 federal credit and $3000 CT credit, neither of which is available at those levels to current buyers.
2. Color was $1000 when I bought.
3. Destination+Doc Fee was $1000 when I bought.
4. EPA range is 334 miles, which it easily exceeded in warm temps. In cold temps real-world range is more like 290... still not bad.
5. Does well in snow with winter tires (which would be needed for AWD anyway, because AWD doesn't help you stop).
 

SR22pilot

Member
Jun 16, 2014
720
1,111
Georgia
I have an AWD with 19" rims and a RWD LR with Aeros. The RWD is the trip car. It has noticeably better range. The AWD is quicker. I think the LR RWD is a wonderful car. Especially in winter, range is king in an EV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bhzmark and Hans L

novox77

1.21 Gigawatts
Nov 25, 2017
1,632
3,532
NH, MA
4. EPA range is 334 miles, which it easily exceeded in warm temps. In cold temps real-world range is more like 290... still not bad.

I frequently got 400 miles during the warm season. amazing car.

Friend of mine just got the MR, and I was sharing with him what to expect with efficiency, forgetting that they aren't rated the same. He was not able to hit my Wh/mi numbers...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hans L

About Us

Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.

Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


SUPPORT TMC
Top