Is this 2016 a good buy?

[Tutsmcgee]

Hey all!

Sorry for the newbie question, but wasn't sure where else to ask. I'm new to Teslas but have been doing some reading mentioning certain hardware versions that one should look into when purchasing used.

I'm currently looking at this one:

2016 Model S | Tesla

www.tesla.com

Is this considered a good model year to buy? Anything I should look for, or ask?

Thank you for any help!

 

[Draketurner]

I think its a good buy...I was looking at buying it earlier but I think I will hold off (for personal reasons). Its a good price for a great car with a decent amount of warranty left. FSD paid for. White/white is my color preference. It (probably) still has MCU1 and needs a new memory chip but the new chip is free now.

No idea what kind of shape its in though since no pictures and Tesla allows quite a bit of damage on their used cars.

 

[domodan]

Yeah, I’d try to see pics of it if at all possible and make sure to do a history check. Any damage it would have would be cosmetic, but they consider stuff acceptable that I sure wouldn’t.

Odds are it’s a really nice, clean car.

 

[Tutsmcgee]

Yeah, I’d try to see pics of it if at all possible and make sure to do a history check. Any damage it would have would be cosmetic, but they consider stuff acceptable that I sure wouldn’t.

Odds are it’s a really nice, clean car.

Thank you. From a "version" standpoint, is there a way to tell which hardware/software version it has, or which suspension? I read that I should look for FSFD, version 3.0, etc. So just trying to learn more about that

 

[Draketurner]

Thank you. From a "version" standpoint, is there a way to tell which hardware/software version it has, or which suspension? I read that I should look for FSFD, version 3.0, etc. So just trying to learn more about that

So this has HW3.0 (or it is eligible for a free upgrade) because it has FSD paid for. It has a smart air suspension (not the newest 'Raven' suspension) but its an adjustable air suspension.

 

[fcastrillo86]

Use the Options Lookup tool on EV-CPO here: https://ev-cpo.com/lookup

They have an excellent database to help you filter cars with features you are looking for. According to the lookup tool, the car with that VIN number (it's in the listing's URL bar) has AP 2.0 hardware, FSD, and Smart Air Suspension.

 

[Tutsmcgee]

Awesome, thank you! Is there a noticeable difference between this air suspension and Raven? Is Raven on 2017 onwards only?

 

[Tutsmcgee]

Use the Options Lookup tool on EV-CPO here: https://ev-cpo.com/lookup

They have an excellent database to help you filter cars with features you are looking for. According to the lookup tool, the car with that VIN number (it's in the listing's URL bar) has AP 2.0 hardware, FSD, and Smart Air Suspension.

Great site, thank you!

 

[Draketurner]

Awesome, thank you! Is there a noticeable difference between this air suspension and Raven? Is Raven on 2017 onwards only?

Raven is 2019+ im pretty sure, those cars have a totally different front motor (permanent magnet motor) and the raven suspension. It is supposed to be a huge difference in ride quality plus those cars have more range.

 

[sorka]

Looks like a pretty good deal to me.

 

[Tutsmcgee]

Thank you all for the help and information!

 

[2101Guy]

one additional note: Performance models of that year have a known issue with a faulty seal on the rear drive unit. If caught early, I think it's an easy fix. If not caught early, can be a very expensive repair. And its possible it could start leaking when under warranty, not get detected, and cause rear drive unit failure post warranty.

Nothing to be paranoid about, but I'd read up on it and get it inspected right after purchase (or before by Tesla if possible) if it were me. I'd then get it checked once or twice a year to be proactive.

Around page 173 post #3434 of this thread gives details

Model S Technical / Mechanical Issues

A quick update to that seized up motor that I posted some pictures of earlier. We managed to get the rotor pressed out today, and it looks pretty nasty... We'll try to clean it all up as best we can with the hopes of salvaging this drive unit.

teslamotorsclub.com

That said? That car looks to be a good deal

 

[Tutsmcgee]

Is it always so hard to buy from tesla?? Apparently there are no pictures of the car, and the car is in some warehouse so I can't even look at it before buying. I guess that's normal for tesla, but I've never bought a car without looking at it!

Additionally, it's hard to get answers. I asked if the previous owner already paid for FSD, do I have to pay $10,000 as well? No answer. I asked about the faulty seal mentioned above in performance models. No answer. They only answered my question about pictures saying no pictures.

Do I just buy it blindly and hope for the best?

 

[Draketurner]

Is it always so hard to buy from tesla?? Apparently there are no pictures of the car, and the car is in some warehouse so I can't even look at it before buying. I guess that's normal for tesla, but I've never bought a car without looking at it!

Additionally, it's hard to get answers. I asked if the previous owner already paid for FSD, do I have to pay $10,000 as well? No answer. I asked about the faulty seal mentioned above in performance models. No answer. They only answered my question about pictures saying no pictures.

Do I just buy it blindly and hope for the best?

Yes it is always that hard. In reference to FSD, it is included on this car. The $10,000 is paid. You can tell this because it is listed as "Full Self Driving Capability" if it wasn't paid, it would be listed as "Autopilot"

For the motor seal, the car has a warranty still so don't worry about that. You can have it checked out under warranty and repaired if necessary.

Its super frustrating that Tesla stopped doing pictures of used cars. Its definitely a risk to pay the nonrefundable $500 on a car you cant see. That said, if you like this one and its what you want, go for it. Worst case, it has damage you don't view as acceptable and you refuse delivery. Then you CAN transfer the $500 to another used car from what I've been told.

 

[Tutsmcgee]

I'm close to pulling the trigger

One more question though (and thank you all for the help so far!!). How do I know if this car has the summon and sentry features? Is it includes with this version? I couldn't tell from evcpo

 

[henderrj]

I'm close to pulling the trigger

One more question though (and thank you all for the help so far!!). How do I know if this car has the summon and sentry features? Is it includes with this version? I couldn't tell from evcpo

Yes. If it has full self driving then it has those features. As already stated you may have to pay the $1,500 to upgrade from the older MCU to the newer one. But that's well worth it by all accounts.

 

[Tutsmcgee]

It (probably) still has MCU1 and needs a new memory chip but the new chip is free now.

Is the new chip MCU2? Isn't that $1500? Or do I have it mixed up with something else?

 

[Draketurner]

Is the new chip MCU2? Isn't that $1500? Or do I have it mixed up with something else?

No MCU2 is a new center screen/driver screen + whatever else comes with that. The new memory chip is an EMMC and is free under recall.

 

[gigawatt1010]

Being that it's 2016, I wonder if it has FUSC? It's a good deal regardless, but FUSC would compensate for the lesser range than the newer ones have.

I think the unicorns are very few 2016/2017 100D (Performance or not) with FSD, MCU2 upgrade and FUSC. Those are really not far off from the newer cars and if you're someone that drives a lot, FUSC is awesome.

 

[Draketurner]

Being that it's 2016, I wonder if it has FUSC? It's a good deal regardless, but FUSC would compensate for the lesser range than the newer ones have.

I think the unicorns are very few 2016/2017 100D (Performance or not) with FSD, MCU2 upgrade and FUSC. Those are really not far off from the newer cars and if you're someone that drives a lot, FUSC is awesome.

If this was privately owned by the original owner, it would have FUSC most likely. Unfortunately, this is a Tesla owned used car so it was stripped off. It only has pay per use supercharging.