Is it worth waiting for 2021’s?

[Pilot1226]

Hi,

Please stare deep into your crystal ball...

Looking for input on whether or not to order now or hold off a little for improvements.

I am currently in a lease that ends January 2022, but I have found some opportunities to get out off my lease without penalty along with some positive equity (2000-3000) and none of the end lease fees since it is technically a buyout.

My state has several incentives to push people into purchasing an EV, including $5000 off the purchase price and $500 towards electrical work for charging the EV. There is no sales tax charged and you get discounted tolls on our highways which usually is a dollar or two each trip.

I don’t care so much about cosmetic changes as I do actual hardware changes. At some point there will come a time where you can’t upgrade anymore. But, retrofits can be done as needed and I don’t mind that - like the heat pump acoustic cover or illuminated door egress buttons. Another good example would be a hypothetical heated steering wheel or ventilated seats.

The car I am leasing now is fine and only 17 months old out of the 36 month term, but I don’t intend to buy it out. Let’s say I am paying $350 per month for the lease and paid nothing down, and all taxes, fees, and miscellaneous charges were rolled into the monthly payment. If I was able to save 350 * 19 remaining payments (6,650) plus take advantage of the positive equity, I am looking at between 8,650 and 9,650 ahead in the end, compared to if I wait until the lease is over and I throw them back the keys and walk away.

My wife’s car was recently paid off so we have around $750 plus the hypothetical $350 for this lease in monthly liquid capital that we can use for my lease replacement.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[DirtyT3sla]

Tesla doesn't really do model years in that way. They just add improvements to the cars as they become available. What I would wait for is battery day on September 22nd. It most likely isn't affecting 3+Y, but I would want to see what's up before purchasing since we're so close anyway.

 

[TSLA Pilot]

Concur on waiting for Battery Day and being ready to place an order ASAP at that point.

And also be very aware that if you're in NJ the funds for the EV rebate are in question--stay on this topic as $5k is a chunk of change . . . .

 

[Pilot1226]

Do you have any more info on the “state” of the EV funding? I thought this was a program extending for a couple years until it turns into “phase two”...

I was thinking if I was going to order, do it NOW ahead of battery day as I imagine they are going to have a large number of orders. I’d take the gamble with the $100 I guess?

 

[Noodles]

I didn't wait till the end of the year.
And my tesla came with wirless charging pad standard

but not USB C (aftermarket companies solved that issue)

 

[Pilot1226]

I don't mind aftermarket, I just care about things that can't be added.

A perfect example of this is my current lease. I am leasing a 2019 Subaru Forester. It has Lane Keeping and Adaptive Cruise. It doesn't have the equivalent of Autosteer.

Autosteer in Subaru is called Lane Centering, and it was added to the 2020 models. It can't be retroactively added to the 2019. If I want Lane Centering (I do), I would have to terminate my lease and either purchase or lease a 2020 or newer model, which would essentially cost me the price of the lease, which is around $12,000 for the full 36 month term.