Is the Model 3 your most expensive car?

[ölbrenner]

Without PUP, steering wheel and seats are going to require manual adjustments. Those adjustments are probably going to be quicker to do than going through the touch screen interface.

With or without PUP, either way the seats are not controlled via touchscreen UI.

I've not seen it documented anywhere that the standard model will have manual steering wheel adjustments (which would definitely be a plus), only that the PUP package adds driver profiles via power adjustable steering column (which does not necessarily mean the standard does not have a power adjustable steering column):
Standard: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=Q2xNd09Wam91b29IZVJNNDFBeFYyYktpcFJPbVln
PUP: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B...v-Cs_7d1-o1qapnt9JUqZvd0nlaozU1E=w528-h553-no

Reference please to manual steering on standard.

 

[azred]

I thought my 2016 75S would easily be the most expensive. Net of the tax credit, it was low $60s. When the Trumpists get rid of the tax credit this year, there is a chance a comparably equipped 3 will be nearly as expensive. So much for the mass market Tesla.

 

[Neo_fd3s]

Nope. Have bought cars in this price bracket. But if it weren't for the Model 3, I'd be going to maybe a base model Versa. I'm not interested in spending on vehicles, or anything anymore (just hoarding my money waiting for the economy to tank, which I know it will sooner or later).



Fine as long as they aren't "stretching" to buy a Model 3.

Little rule of thumb: never stretch to buy anything. Full stop. No exceptions. I've seen too many posts on EV sites of people stretching and spending thousands extra for this car and relying on tax credits. They're better off buying a used Volt or something like that.

Another rule of thumb: the price you pay on your car should never exceed 50% of your annual income. Anyone who makes less than $70,000 a year should walk away from the 3.

While you do make a valid point, I don't totally agree. I wouldn't have my PRHT Miata if I followed your advice. Yes, there are people out there who blindly want the "new shiny thing". But I'm not one of those. Those type of people pay for a pricy car for 2yrs and then want to move into an even pricier car after those 2yrs.
I'm mainly moving into the 3 because my Miata has seen a lot of road time. She's got 245k km's on the clock and I've been through some major maintenance with her this past year. I took a good survey of her and before I go spending more money on her, I noticed it would probably be better to get a new vehicle.
I'm pretty sure this Tesla will go well beyond 10yrs my Miata has without doing any crazy maintenance. Just tires and charging her up.

 

[internalaudit]

With or without PUP, either way the seats are not controlled via touchscreen UI.

I've not seen it documented anywhere that the standard model will have manual steering wheel adjustments (which would definitely be a plus), only that the PUP package adds driver profiles via power adjustable steering column (which does not necessarily mean the standard does not have a power adjustable steering column):
Standard: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=Q2xNd09Wam91b29IZVJNNDFBeFYyYktpcFJPbVln
PUP: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B...v-Cs_7d1-o1qapnt9JUqZvd0nlaozU1E=w528-h553-no

Reference please to manual steering on standard.[/QUOTE

You are right. I misread the fourth bullet point on your second link. I initially thought it to be power adjustable seats, steering column and side mirrors when it fact is actually reads custom profile for those three things.

I mean, in the PUP, it's a given that all these three things are power adjustable so the corollary (my guess) would be that they aren't power adjustable in the Standard model.

I won't get to customize until late 2018 or 2019 so by then, things may have been rejigged.

 

[internalaudit]

While you do make a valid point, I don't totally agree. I wouldn't have my PRHT Miata if I followed your advice. Yes, there are people out there who blindly want the "new shiny thing". But I'm not one of those. Those type of people pay for a pricy car for 2yrs and then want to move into an even pricier car after those 2yrs.
I'm mainly moving into the 3 because my Miata has seen a lot of road time. She's got 245k km's on the clock and I've been through some major maintenance with her this past year. I took a good survey of her and before I go spending more money on her, I noticed it would probably be better to get a new vehicle.
I'm pretty sure this Tesla will go well beyond 10yrs my Miata has without doing any crazy maintenance. Just tires and charging her up.

I can guarantee you if you purchase the ESA before your first four years are up, that the M3 maintenance and repair will be cheaper for its first eight years.

I'm not so sure from the ninth year and onward. If the Right to Repair is not offered, all bets are off because Tesla shop rates are on the high side.

This is not a staid Toyota we are talking about. My three ICEV Japanese vehicles (02, 11, 16) have not had issues with the ICE and transmission besides some excess motor oil consumption on my 02 Civic which seem to have gone away after I switched to Mobil 1 high mileage synthetic motor oil.

 

[ölbrenner]

I mean, in the PUP, it's a given that all these three things are power adjustable so the corollary (my guess) would be that they aren't power adjustable in the Standard model.

My guess is they will keep power mirrors and power adjustable steering wheel (only without profile capability). IMHO from a manufacturer point of view I can save money going to manual seats; but deleting a few mirror and steering wheel sensors/motors only to have to add extra mechanisms/knobs/revised door & dash panels, and have another version of the UI to maintain, doesn't make much sense.

We shall see.

 

[internalaudit]

My guess is they will keep power mirrors and power adjustable steering wheel (only without profile capability). IMHO from a manufacturer point of view I can save money going to manual seats; but deleting a few mirror and steering wheel sensors/motors only to have to add extra mechanisms/knobs/revised door & dash panels, and have another version of the UI to maintain, doesn't make much sense.

We shall see.

If that was the case, all the more reason not to bother with PUP then as I will only be missing the memory seats.

Hopefully that'll be true since Tesla is not a volume and flexible producer unlike Toyota and Honda whose trims have significant nuances between Canadian and American models. They save on not putting certain things like TPMS in Canada and heated steering and front windshield defroster in the States.

 

[Pkmmte]

I stretched to get a lease on a base Model S in 2015, and will now get a maxed out 3 for a little less money.

Your Model S lease should be ending this year, right? Have you ordered your 3 yet? I'm looking to take over someone's lease...

 

[RayK]

Assuming that I get the full $7500 (Fed) + $2500 (CA) credits if I get a First Production LR PUP with paint and standard wheels, then yes, it will be about $8K more than the 2000 E46 I bought new. Got a good deal then on the Bimmer as I purchased online through CarOrder.com.

 

[gambit48]

Assuming that I get the full $7500 (Fed) + $2500 (CA) credits if I get a First Production LR PUP with paint and standard wheels, then yes, it will be about $8K more than the 2000 E46 I bought new. Got a good deal then on the Bimmer as I purchased online through CarOrder.com.

Have you heard anything on the $2500 CA credit? They ran out of money a while ago, and I haven't heard on the news (or dug through this site) to see what updates there are.

I'm not counting on that $2500. If it were the full $7500 + $2500, then it would still be my most expensive car, but not quite as much. Well, relatively. Taxes on an extra $10,000 is still quite a bit and I actually hadn't planned on buying a car as expensive as my current ones anymore (Honda and Lexus). So much for that idea.

 

[SageBrush]

Are people taking the passage of time into account ?
I bought a Prius in 2004 for $26k. The Model 3 is shaping up to cost about the same in 2004 dollars

That just amazes me to no end

 

[RayK]

Have you heard anything on the $2500 CA credit? They ran out of money a while ago, and I haven't heard on the news (or dug through this site) to see what updates there are.

My understanding was that the money ran out for the fiscal year 2016-2017 (ending in 3rd quarter I believe). I assumed that funding would be restored for the next FY but that may be a mistake. I couldn't find any definitive answer on the DriveClean website.

 

[xav-]

Most expensive by far for us. 2 of our cars combined. The "cheap Tesla" definitely is not that cheap... but hard to resist

 

[mpbruin108]

no, got the model S back in 2013 and paid almost 100k for that. No financing or leasing back then. Money earned by betting on Tesla stock back when it was $30/share. =)

 

[ratsbew]

My current car (the most expensive I've owned) cost about $14,000. I'm prepared to spend $50,000+ on my Model 3. I've been super conservative my whole life when it comes to spending money so I can easily afford the Model 3, but it will still feel wrong.

 

[Thomas Edison]

My current car (the most expensive I've owned) cost about $14,000. I'm prepared to spend $50,000+ on my Model 3. I've been super conservative my whole life when it comes to spending money so I can easily afford the Model 3, but it will still feel wrong.

My thoughts exactly, except for the it feeling wrong part.

 

[Austindude]

I bought a new Porsche 911 cabriolet years ago and it was in the low $80's but until last month the last car I bought was the base model Nissan Versa S at just below $14K brand new. The Versa, which I sold last month when I bought my S 70, was a perfectly practical car but the Model S and the Model 3 are luxury toys that I want, not need.

 

[smartgroup]

Just checked. Model 3 is more than my 2007 Mazda 3. LOL. I love both though.

 

[Twiglett]

I’ve come really close to buying more expensive cars but have always found something that stopped me.
Came really close with a Model S a few years ago but it was much too big for me.
Got bitten EV bug anyway and got my Leaf.
Model S is still too big, hence Model 3.
This is the first car that the entire family is behind and finances are in good shape, so.......

 

[xav-]

I bought a new Porsche 911 cabriolet years ago and it was in the low $80's but until last month the last car I bought was the base model Nissan Versa S at just below $14K brand new. The Versa, which I sold last month when I bought my S 70, was a perfectly practical car but the Model S and the Model 3 are luxury toys that I want, not need.

I did not know one could move from a brand new 911 convertible to a base Nissan Versa S