My wife and I have decided to have a good hard look at buying a used Model S. Our budget is £40K max (cash rather than contract or HP).
This is an unusual decision for us as we have traditionally been very careful about the cost of cars, we mostly buy relatively inexpensive but higher-spec. older cars and run them into the ground, though I have bought a new sporty model in the past (and kept it until it was worn out )
This time, we're at the time of life where we can still enjoy driving, we want something a bit self-indulgent, a bit of a luxury; that we have denied ourselves until now. Equally important are the green credentials, plus the tech, as well as the performance. We're also inspired by the road safety aspects of the tech.
I'd appreciate some feedback on the logic that is steering us towards our choice...
1. Not to worry too much about mileage as there is less mechanical complexity to wear out. Concentrate more on condition.
2. Get a dual motor model as it's less likely to slip and slide in the wet and icy conditions and dual motors are more efficient so you get a smidgen more range. They are slightly more expensive but should help maintain resale value.
3. Ideally get a car that is no more than 3 years old - a tall order but I have seen suitable examples advertised. It seems that the build quality and quality of the fixtures (like seats) and finish have steadily improved over time.
4. Avoid the big alloys and extra low profile tyres for better ride and road noise suppression and puncture resistance.
5. So looking out for deals on either a 70D, 75D or even a 85D
6. Frustratingly it looks like a facelift model is out of our price range.
We had thought about putting a deposit on a Model 3 but a) this would be a bit on the small side compared to our current Mazda 6 hatchback, which our kids regularly exploit at the end of the university year in terms of load capacity! We're also less than inspired by the minimalist interior design of the 3. And the idea of waiting doesn't appeal as our current car really needs replacing sooner rather than later.
Unanswered questions also include - used warranty options and add-ons, what to look out for, what goes wrong - opinions seem to be polarised (hey this is our time!)
I'm reasonably tech-savvy and have done a fair bit of research, but feedback from Tesla focused minds at a place like this would be greatly appreciated
Sorry for the long post!
This is an unusual decision for us as we have traditionally been very careful about the cost of cars, we mostly buy relatively inexpensive but higher-spec. older cars and run them into the ground, though I have bought a new sporty model in the past (and kept it until it was worn out )
This time, we're at the time of life where we can still enjoy driving, we want something a bit self-indulgent, a bit of a luxury; that we have denied ourselves until now. Equally important are the green credentials, plus the tech, as well as the performance. We're also inspired by the road safety aspects of the tech.
I'd appreciate some feedback on the logic that is steering us towards our choice...
1. Not to worry too much about mileage as there is less mechanical complexity to wear out. Concentrate more on condition.
2. Get a dual motor model as it's less likely to slip and slide in the wet and icy conditions and dual motors are more efficient so you get a smidgen more range. They are slightly more expensive but should help maintain resale value.
3. Ideally get a car that is no more than 3 years old - a tall order but I have seen suitable examples advertised. It seems that the build quality and quality of the fixtures (like seats) and finish have steadily improved over time.
4. Avoid the big alloys and extra low profile tyres for better ride and road noise suppression and puncture resistance.
5. So looking out for deals on either a 70D, 75D or even a 85D
6. Frustratingly it looks like a facelift model is out of our price range.
We had thought about putting a deposit on a Model 3 but a) this would be a bit on the small side compared to our current Mazda 6 hatchback, which our kids regularly exploit at the end of the university year in terms of load capacity! We're also less than inspired by the minimalist interior design of the 3. And the idea of waiting doesn't appeal as our current car really needs replacing sooner rather than later.
Unanswered questions also include - used warranty options and add-ons, what to look out for, what goes wrong - opinions seem to be polarised (hey this is our time!)
I'm reasonably tech-savvy and have done a fair bit of research, but feedback from Tesla focused minds at a place like this would be greatly appreciated
Sorry for the long post!