Likely buying used: Differences to be aware of

[FlyingCookie]

I'm just trying to be helpful. I don't think anyone here would want to see you follow that plan and then find out after the fact you can't get the ESA. Yes, the factory warranty still applies.

I'm very glad that you're being helpful, too! (Even though I may complain about not being able to buy a $80K car for $40K with no downsides...) I'm also glad to hear that the factory warranty does still apply. As it seems that the most common failures are with the drive unit in the non-D cars, or early failures of the MCU, door handles, and such, part of me is wondering if by the time the factory warranty expires all the things that are likely to break haven't already broken...

There had to be something wrong with that particular car, the suspension, or the tires were worn and/or over-inflated, or the road surface was bad, etc. The P85+ does have a tighter feel for the road (or rougher as some people describe), but some of us prefer that connected-to-the-road feeling. But it's not roller-coaster rough. The sound insulation in P85+ is no different than any other Model S (built around the same time). Also, comparing any Model S with 21" wheels and summer performance tires is going to sound louder than any other Model S with 19" wheels and all-season touring tires. My point is, these issues, for the most part, are NOT because it's a P85+, other than the tighter handling and firmer ride.

I do prefer being connected to the road, but not so much that I "jiggle" on the interstate. My current car has some pretty stiff coils on it, so I'm not expecting a land-yacht ride or anything near that. I prefer to feel the road and be able to fly around curves, but also have a nice smooth ride on the interstate.

I've taken my P85+ on several 1000+ mile road trips. I don't think I'd ever describe it as "miserable". But YMMV, of course!

I highly doubt i'll actually find the ride to be bad, but I've thought that about cars in the past and then taken them on a test drive and hated them. I really enjoyed the short around-the-block test drive I took in September, and I expect to enjoy driving the car for 12 hours come Christmas time. My main concern is that I tend to make 6+ hour drives in one shot with no breaks, due to my current car having a 500+ mile range, so I'm not sure if I'll acclimate to having to stop at Superchargers for 30 minutes every few hours. Some people have said it greatly reduces stress while on long trips, but as I've never really gotten out of a car after a long trip and been exhausted, I'm not sure I'll benefit the same way from the forced stops. (I make regular trips to Florida, Atalanta, North Carolina, Chicago, Mississippi, and some other random areas, so most of my time will be spent on the interstate)

 

[NOLA_Mike]

but as I've never really gotten out of a car after a long trip and been exhausted,

Ahhhh, the rally cry of the young...

It won't be that way forever.

 

[FlyingCookie]

Ahhhh, the rally cry of the young...

It won't be that way forever.

You got me. 22 years old at this point, so I've got a few years before I have to really worry about that... So that's most of why I'm so willing to sit AP out this time... get a "cheap" Tesla while I get everything else in order, and then in four or five years, when the price on everything has dropped (or Tesla dies, or the US dies because of Trump...) I'll go ahead and jump for AP. That being said, if AP can be had for a good price, I'll go for it. I'm just not willing to spend another $15K on a car to get it, and then not have any of the other features I'll really enjoy.

 

[robby]

Given how much you drive, I'd encourage you to visit a store and try AP before making this decision. I drive 20k miles/year and AP has been life changing. Highway traffic is a lot less stressful and I'm much more able to focus on audiobooks or technical phone calls -- it allows me to reclaim productive time that is otherwise lost. I would give up every other option before AP.

I'm not saying you should definitely get it, but my experience has been sufficiently positive that I'd encourage anyone who accrues many highway miles to try it before deciding.