I imagine the story is the same for some of you. It's $101K car and $110K with tax, license and registration. That's not peanuts. I can put around $60K down and finance the other $50K. I'll get $10K back from the Fed and State incentives so I'm really only financing $40K. We have no mortgage, our kids' college savings is done and the 401K is doing fine. But still I agonize over:
1) Will Tesla go under? They've sold 21K cars, are a media darling, stock through the roof, new model coming out next year, etc. But what if Elon moves on to something else? What if he's pushed out? What if Tesla is acquired? What if just ONE car catches fire? What if the crash tests are horrible and a flaw is found that makes the Model S the most DANGEROUS car on the road?
2) It's a $100K car. How much is a fender bender? It's a wide car. Door dings and scrapes are going to SUCK! Right now our cars have been paid off forever and they just work. How much will I be bothered as an early adopter taking it in for problems?
3) What about resale value? The guarantee from Tesla has a lot of caveats. I'd go through Alliant. What if in two or three years this car is worth $40K. WOW! I just spent $70K to drive a Model S for three years!
There are so many unknowns. I know the answers to all of the above. I've been lurking on this forum for 6 months and have read EVERYTHING. I'm still going to do it and I haven't heard a single one of you state that it was a huge mistake.
My other choice was my boyhood dreamcar - 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S - but that wasn't family friendly (two kids), my wife would NEVER drive it, I'm a big dude and that's a small car, maintenance is very expensive, and the Model S absolutely SMOKES it.
Just thinking out loud here, folks. I appreciate this forum.
1) Will Tesla go under? They've sold 21K cars, are a media darling, stock through the roof, new model coming out next year, etc. But what if Elon moves on to something else? What if he's pushed out? What if Tesla is acquired? What if just ONE car catches fire? What if the crash tests are horrible and a flaw is found that makes the Model S the most DANGEROUS car on the road?
2) It's a $100K car. How much is a fender bender? It's a wide car. Door dings and scrapes are going to SUCK! Right now our cars have been paid off forever and they just work. How much will I be bothered as an early adopter taking it in for problems?
3) What about resale value? The guarantee from Tesla has a lot of caveats. I'd go through Alliant. What if in two or three years this car is worth $40K. WOW! I just spent $70K to drive a Model S for three years!
There are so many unknowns. I know the answers to all of the above. I've been lurking on this forum for 6 months and have read EVERYTHING. I'm still going to do it and I haven't heard a single one of you state that it was a huge mistake.
My other choice was my boyhood dreamcar - 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S - but that wasn't family friendly (two kids), my wife would NEVER drive it, I'm a big dude and that's a small car, maintenance is very expensive, and the Model S absolutely SMOKES it.
Just thinking out loud here, folks. I appreciate this forum.