MS lease until M3

[roperld]

When my 2012 LEAF's lease expires in May 2015 I am considering leasing the MS85D for 3 years, at which lease end I would lease the M3 for the next 3 years.

• Will M3 be available by then?
• Will I be too enthralled with the MS85D that I will be unhappy reducing to the M3?

I am 79, so I am thinking of splurging for three years and then scaling back. I may not be able or allowed to drive for very many more years.

I have enjoyed driving for 63 years many different cars, including several hybrids, AWDs and Acuras etc.

 

[Doug_G]

We have no idea when the M3 will be released. Whatever Tesla currently says, add 1-2 years.

Most likely there will be an M3 variant similar in performance to the P85D. Knowing Elon it will probably be even faster. But that's an assumption of course!

 

[bluenation]

you may be, by far, the most senior member of this forum. and possibnly any major EV forum

welcome!

many ppl here will swear that the 3 is coming 2017. i think 2018 is more realistic. and if you dont want to experience early adopters remorse (like those from the D announcement), buying for 2019 or 2020 delivery would be better.

 

[Cattledog]

By the elegant simplicity you used to pose your question, I imagine you are a good and generous soul. Great things await you after this world, but while still here, and still able, lease a Model S for 3 years. I have absolutely no doubt - you will not regret it. When May of 2018 comes, maybe Tesla will have M3, maybe they won't; maybe you'll want it if they have it, after 3 years of MS maybe you won't; but you'll have had three joyous smiling years driving MS, and I can tell you have earned it and deserve it. Enjoy!

 

[roperld]

Thank you for your good advice.

In case you are interested, I have been a promoter of electric cars for several years:

• I had a ZAP Xebra PK for several years. I tried converting it to LiIon, but failed. I gave it away! ZAP Xebra PK of L. David Roper
• I had our 2005 Prius converted to a Hymotion plug-in. My granddaughter now drives it. Roper Prius Hymotion Plug-In Conversion
• I tried to have our 2006 Highlander Hybrid converted to a Plug-In Supply system, but it did not work properly. I uninstalled the system and sold the LiIon batteries. Roper Highlander Hybrid Plug-In-Supply Conversion
• I leased a 2012 LEAF SL for 3 years. http://www.roperld.com/Science/LEAFRoper.pdf
• I have test driven the Tesla S60, the BMW i3 and the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive (now named the Mercedes B250 e), in order to decide which electric car to lease next. I am considering the Kia Soul EV, also.
• I have a web page about electric cars, http://www.roperld.com/science/ElectricCarsMusings.pdf. I update it regularly.
• I used to teach courses for the local YMCA about hybrid cars.
• I often arrange showings of plug-in cars for a local sustainability week.

I am a retired physics professor at Virginia Tech. My field was particle-physics phenomenology (analyzing large data sets from large accelerators using powerful computers Roper resonance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). I also did some research on nerve excitation and resources depletion, and still do the latter. http://www.roperld.com/science/minerals/minerals.htm

 

[ModelX]

Wow! Impressive! I'm sure you will make a decision that works well for you.

 

[Calvin.K]

When my 2012 LEAF's lease expires in May 2015 I am considering leasing the MS85D for 3 years, at which lease end I would lease the M3 for the next 3 years.

• Will M3 be available by then?
• Will I be too enthralled with the MS85D that I will be unhappy reducing to the M3?

I am 79, so I am thinking of splurging for three years and then scaling back. I may not be able or allowed to drive for very many more years.

I have enjoyed driving for 63 years many different cars, including several hybrids, AWDs and Acuras etc.

If you lease a Model S 85D for 3 years right after your Leaf the lease would expire around May of 2018. Which would be cutting it close if you wanted to jump right to a Model 3, since the volume ramp of the Gigafactory is still unknown. However if the battery factory does start producing cells by the end of 2016 it would be possible for the model 3 to be in volume production by the end of 2017 but that is the soonest I would expect the Model 3.