There will certainly be people who will sell the tesla 2020 roadster a few months after it is released. So would it be better to buy a slightly used tesla 2020 roadster than to put in the deposit for $50,000 now (it is now April 27, 2018) ? The benefits of buying the slightly used one include the following: 1. You save some money since it is a used car 2. You probably get the car sooner than the people who just put in the deposit for this month in April. You are already about 5 months behind in the line. The drawback includes: 1. It is used 2. There likely will be some defects that super early adopters will encounter with the car I already put in my $50,000 for the new roadster. However, I only placed the deposit 2 weeks ago so I am really behind. I will probably encounter many Tesla 2020 roadsters on the road before I get mine........if the Model 3 is any indication.
If people who put deposits down are still waiting for cars, you're going to be paying more than MSRP not less. I doubt it will hit the Ferrari level, but the few early cars that do hit the open market go for waaay more than MSRP.
Let's revisit this in 2020/2021. I don't think there will be such a big premium for 'first production' Roadsters. In fact, I don't think there will be any premium at all. Anyone who wants one now can just put a down payment today at MSRP and get the car in 2020. I really don't think the existing reservation list is so deep that the wait for someone even reserving today is going to be that long. That said, I intend to sell my referral award 'founder's edition' right off the line (i.e. new, not used). I would be thrilled beyond belief if they are going for more than MSRP when the time comes. So while I believe there won't be a premium, I sure as hope there will be.