new vs used: how to evaluate features and pricing

[artichoke.dip]

Hi all,

I'm dipping my toes into the Tesla water, trying to evaluate buying a new vs used MX.

First, a specific question: I see on Tesla inventory a used 2018 MX 100D Long Range with ~12,700 miles (midnight silver metallic, 20" silver wheels, black and white premium interior, full self-driving capability, smart air suspension, ultra high fidelity sound, HEPA air filtration system, subzero weather package, towing package, keyless entry, power lift gate, seven seat interior, carbon fiber decor, dark headliner) for $87,200 (link: 2018 Model X | Tesla). I also see that I can "design your own" new MX Long Range + (midnight silver metallic, 20" silver wheels, black and white premium interior, dark ash wood decor, seven seat interior, autopilot) for $86,490. What am I not getting? Why is the comparable used car more than the new one?

Second, a more general question: As a detail-oriented person, is there some matrix where I can easily identify features and versions based on VIN numbers, or date of manufacture, to facilitate comparing used candidates to each other or to new?

Thanks.

 

[manttium]

The short answer is: the pricing doesn't make sense (yet).

The main difference in this particular case is full-self drive, which your new price does not include. So that's an $8k difference. But no one in their right mind would think that's worth it, and would go for the new one every time.

With that said, Tesla usually prices their used vehicles high to begin with, then slowly lowers their price until someone bites. I believe there was also some pricing mismatches with the recent price reduction of the new vehicles, but that should have gone away by now...

 

[njhtran]

The short answer is: the pricing doesn't make sense (yet).

The main difference in this particular case is full-self drive, which your new price does not include. So that's an $8k difference. But no one in their right mind would think that's worth it, and would go for the new one every time.

With that said, Tesla usually prices their used vehicles high to begin with, then slowly lowers their price until someone bites. I believe there was also some pricing mismatches with the recent price reduction of the new vehicles, but that should have gone away by now...

I got a 2016 16k miles on it with FSD included $52k , 6 seat black on black. Pretty good deal overall.

 

[ElectricIAC]

Hi all,

I'm dipping my toes into the Tesla water, trying to evaluate buying a new vs used MX.

First, a specific question: I see on Tesla inventory a used 2018 MX 100D Long Range with ~12,700 miles (midnight silver metallic, 20" silver wheels, black and white premium interior, full self-driving capability, smart air suspension, ultra high fidelity sound, HEPA air filtration system, subzero weather package, towing package, keyless entry, power lift gate, seven seat interior, carbon fiber decor, dark headliner) for $87,200 (link: 2018 Model X | Tesla). I also see that I can "design your own" new MX Long Range + (midnight silver metallic, 20" silver wheels, black and white premium interior, dark ash wood decor, seven seat interior, autopilot) for $86,490. What am I not getting? Why is the comparable used car more than the new one?

Second, a more general question: As a detail-oriented person, is there some matrix where I can easily identify features and versions based on VIN numbers, or date of manufacture, to facilitate comparing used candidates to each other or to new?

Thanks.

If I was spending over 80K I would not take a chance of getting an MCU1 car when for just a bit more you can just get a 2020 with all the latest improvements.

 

[manttium]

I got a 2016 16k miles on it with FSD included $52k , 6 seat black on black. Pretty good deal overall.

Sounds like it! There are definitely some good deals to be had. You just have to wait for them until the price drops to a good enough level.

 

[ElectricIAC]

Probably a 60 or 75? Even 90D are going for 15K over that on average when they have AP2/FSD.

90D/AP1 seems to be the sweet spot for battery vs features vs pricing but occasionally see some stupid deals pop up on P90DL.

 

[ShawnA]

Hi Artichoke.dip,

There have been SUBSTANTIAL price reductions on Model X
since 2018.
They have also incorporated many "packages" into the standard car.
That is what makes the new and recently used cars very close in price...

I have a March 2018 with MCU2 that I love...
With the price reductions and new standard equipment combinations
the price on an identical 2020 new car is $20,000 less than I paid 2 years ago...

Enjoy,

Shawn

 

[Bigriver]

As a detail-oriented person, is there some matrix where I can easily identify features and versions based on VIN numbers, or date of manufacture, to facilitate comparing used candidates to each other or to new?

As there are so many changes that Tesla is always making, a complete list is very difficult. But here are some highlights that I pieced together. The dates are approximate, + a month. Im sure others won’t be shy to point out what I have wrong.

• Jan 2017 - Free supercharging no longer stays with life of car; only activated for current owner.
• March 2017 - Back of Seats changed from glossy to matte
• July 2017 - 7 seat configuration changed from mono-post to bench
• Summer 2017 (?) - alcantara dash removed
• August 2017 - HW2.5
• March 2018 - MCU2
• July 2018 - Premium Upgrade Package (PUP) part of base price
• Summer 2018 - removed some configuration options, such as textile seats
• Spring 2019 - Raven introduced - motor and suspension changes (325 mile)
• Summer 2019 - black headliner (no light option)
• October 2019 - Front seats changed. No longer movable headrest
• January 2020 - long range plus (351 miles)

More helpful than the VIN is just the manufactured date, which is on the driver’s side door sticker. Tesla always shows a picture of it in its used listings.

When shopping for ones older than mid-2018, be aware that options and how they were packaged changed often. For example the auto-open driver’s door, a marquis of the model X, was once an option.

I have a Sept 2017 100D that started as HW2.5 and MCU1 and has recently been upgraded to HW3 and MCU2. I think the upgrades available (to HW3 for FSD) and MCU2 (for $2500) make the older cars viable options. Here are a few graphics that further help on autopilot and MCU changes.

 

[RedXowner]

I bought a MX P100D born on October 12, 2016. Here are the features I like best about my car, and I'm not sure they are in any particular order. Some days I really like one over the other. And of course the main thing I like is having an all-electric EV with all its built-in advantages for the environment and the reduced maintenance cost vs ICE cars.

- Free forever "premium connectivity" which allows me to play any music I want any time I want and get traffic incorporated into the onboard nav feature
- decent range on a full charge (rated for 289 when new, but obviously less now - probably 265ish)
- extremely great air conditioner
- auto-driver's door opener and closer (by depressing brake pedal)
- "enhanced" autopilot 2.0 seems to be completely adequate to me. Works great.
- Ludicrous mode acceleration (you won't get this feature in a new X for $86K)
- HEPA air filtration
- 4 year warranty from my time of purchase (Feb 2020), and 4.5 year warranty on batteries and drive train
- car will read me my new incoming texts if I want and allow me to reply hands-free
- free forever supercharging (although I must admit during COVID, I haven't made use of this feature much)
- the near saturation of Tesla superchargers that will allow me to travel pretty much anywhere in the country without waiting an unreasonable amount of time to charge on the road. I waited several years to buy a Tesla on the network to become mature, and Tesla is the only automobile manufacturer in the world to do what it has done with chargers for traveling. This eliminated every other brand of EV in the world for me
- the ability to tow my fishing boat and launch it at any boat ramp (this was also a MUST for me, so every other EV was a no-go as far as manufacturer-installed (non-after-market) towing package. Now you can also choose MY for towing
- the sun shade that installs inside to further protect the inside of the car from the sun's rays
- didn't even need to buy a charger. Car comes with its own charge cable that plugs into a 220 outlet I had installed in my garage.
- charging option that allows the car to be ready to go at a set time in the morning - meaning it always charges at night when electricity rates are lowest, and is always charged to the exact % I have chosen - for me, that's 75% at 5am.
- love the comfort of the seats with the adjustable lumbar

These are just MY preferences, and I'm sure no one else would have this same list, so I think it might be impossible to develop the list you seek that speaks to feature vs. price.

It would be nice to have the longer range (and newer) batteries. That's gotta be high on the list of things to have.

 

[artichoke.dip]

This is super helpful. Thank you!

 

[raju1300]

As there are so many changes that Tesla is always making, a complete list is very difficult. But here are some highlights that I pieced together. The dates are approximate, + a month. Im sure others won’t be shy to point out what I have wrong.

• Jan 2017 - Free supercharging no longer stays with life of car; only activated for current owner.
• March 2017 - Back of Seats changed from glossy to matte
• July 2017 - 7 seat configuration changed from mono-post to bench
• Summer 2017 (?) - alcantara dash removed
• August 2017 - HW2.5
• March 2018 - MCU2
• July 2018 - Premium Upgrade Package (PUP) part of base price
• Summer 2018 - removed some configuration options, such as textile seats
• Spring 2019 - Raven introduced - motor and suspension changes (325 mile)
• Summer 2019 - black headliner (no light option)
• October 2019 - Front seats changed. No longer movable headrest
• January 2020 - long range plus (351 miles)

More helpful than the VIN is just the manufactured date, which is on the driver’s side door sticker. Tesla always shows a picture of it in its used listings.

When shopping for ones older than mid-2018, be aware that options and how they were packaged changed often. For example the auto-open driver’s door, a marquis of the model X, was once an option.

I have a Sept 2017 100D that started as HW2.5 and MCU1 and has recently been upgraded to HW3 and MCU2. I think the upgrades available (to HW3 for FSD) and MCU2 (for $2500) make the older cars viable options. Here are a few graphics that further help on autopilot and MCU changes.

View attachment 568992 View attachment 568993

Thank you for the detailed explanation this was very helpful. I have a quick question which you may be able to answer. I went ahead and purchased the 2018 Model X 100D looks like the manufacture date is 05/2018 so I guess I missed Premium Upgrade Package (PUP). How do I know if it has it? Also, my front doors don't auto-open when I approach the X also they don't open when I double-tap the top twice. Is it because I don't have PUP? Is there a way i can get Tesla to add it?

 

[djillusion]

Thank you for the detailed explanation this was very helpful. I have a quick question which you may be able to answer. I went ahead and purchased the 2018 Model X 100D looks like the manufacture date is 05/2018 so I guess I missed Premium Upgrade Package (PUP). How do I know if it has it? Also, my front doors don't auto-open when I approach the X also they don't open when I double-tap the top twice. Is it because I don't have PUP? Is there a way i can get Tesla to add it?

does it have the red brake calipers?

 

[Bigriver]

the manufacture date is 05/2018 so I guess I missed Premium Upgrade Package (PUP). How do I know if it has it? Also, my front doors don't auto-open when I approach the X also they don't open when I double-tap the top twice. Is it because I don't have PUP? Is there a way i can get Tesla to add it?

In the car main screen menu, under vehicle, does it have the Auto Door option? Maybe you have it, and it is just turned off. If you don’t have it, I don’t know if it can be added by Tesla after the fact; I’ve never heard of anyone doing that.

I think in May 2018 the PUP also included the premium stereo system (which can be seen in Software menu —> additional vehicle information) and the winter package, which includes heated steering wheel and heated back seats. So a few more things that would determine if your car has the PUP.

does it have the red brake calipers?

Red brake calipers are the Performance. In this case the question is about the Premium Upgrades Package.

 

[ngng]

Thank you for the detailed explanation this was very helpful. I have a quick question which you may be able to answer. I went ahead and purchased the 2018 Model X 100D looks like the manufacture date is 05/2018 so I guess I missed Premium Upgrade Package (PUP). How do I know if it has it? Also, my front doors don't auto-open when I approach the X also they don't open when I double-tap the top twice. Is it because I don't have PUP? Is there a way i can get Tesla to add it?

check your vehicle settings

 

[ElectricIAC]

Thank you for the detailed explanation this was very helpful. I have a quick question which you may be able to answer. I went ahead and purchased the 2018 Model X 100D looks like the manufacture date is 05/2018 so I guess I missed Premium Upgrade Package (PUP). How do I know if it has it? Also, my front doors don't auto-open when I approach the X also they don't open when I double-tap the top twice. Is it because I don't have PUP? Is there a way i can get Tesla to add it?

They could add it but it’d be more expensive than just selling and buying one with..

This is why I bit the bullet and bought a Raven Standard Range over a used 90D or 100D at the end of the day. I knew all the features I wanted (besides ventilated seats) would be standard.

Other than my usual range gripes, it’s every bit as good as the Long Range.