I'm trying to stretch some money I got as far as possible on options for a Tesla, so here's what I came up with. See attached image included for my preliminary options.
Here's my reasoning:
+ I need an exciting color. Blue is it, at $1,000. Second choice was Pearl White at $1,500. I miss the green & brown options, however only having one non-red exciting color made choosing very easy (I don't like red much). I'm pretty sure I would have gotten Green if it were available.
- I don't like Pano roofs that don't increase driving viewing area: save $1,500. Too bad since it increases resale value. (I love the X windshield, but that's doubly irrelevant because it's standard and I'm not ordering an X.)
- I like the more expensive wheels, but for a fast-wear consumable item that I can get any time, it's really easy not to order that $2,500-$4,500 factory option that I could get anywhere aftermarket with more, better, and cheaper options. Save $2,500-$4,500.
- I don't like NextGen seats, and the regular cloth are less bad for me (wide-boned body shape hips and torso), plus I think after 3 years with leather I also actually prefer cloth: save $2,500. Still may prefer aftermarket seats someday since I'm also tall torso and the regular cloth seats still hurts my hip bone, but less than NextGen.
- 70kWh, because +15kWh, 85kWh, 21.4% more energy, 1s faster to 60mph, & only 12.5% more range (!) for $10,000 is another good target for cost cutting, so going for a 70. I will miss the faster acceleration time (5.2s vs 4.2s), but it's not a big downgrade from my MBz E500 (~300hp). The top speed of 155mph is difficult to do safely anywhere I drive, so I think a top speed of 140mph will be more than enough, especially since I know anything near the top end isn't even sustainable in these Lithium battery cars as of yet, and California isn't building a high number of 155mph freeways this year.
+ $5,000 for dual motor means safer driving, plus in rain I hope it is less squirly than my RWD 2005 MBz with SBC. Also, helps resale value.
- $2,500 for software option (autopilot) I can turn on later for only $500 penalty is a good way to arbitrage costs right now. If I earn enough extra by delivery, I'll eat the $500. A major reason to order new is to get AP, and that and Dual Motor is why I did it, but it's a quick way to shave off initial purchase price.
- no range upgrade to 90 available for 70 ($3,000!)
- An automatic hatch for $3,000 and some good lighting seems like a good target for cutting cost to me. I would love, Love both options, but simply don't need them; they probably won't as likely save my life, health and/or costs as much as Dual Motor and Autopilot assistance will.
+ Air suspension to help me not get a bad back and bruised brain are a big deal to me, since both body parts are sensitive to bumps and would probably be much healthier with this option. This is a whopping $2,500 hit. I hope it can do predictive smoothing soon (nothing in development?).
+ Another hit with UltraHighFidelity Sound; I've heard even if I go aftermarket, the stuff that gets put in place with UHFS at $2,500 is well worth it and almost necessary, plus I discern from reading between the lines on forum posts that I will notice a huge difference playing my classical music. This is a major thing for me, and no option to defray this cost. If I liked Rock music instead, this would have been totally unnecessary. But I bite the bullet on this one.
+ Subzero Weather Package for $1,000 increases east coast resale value, which isn't super important, but I also get in my car parked outside at 4:30-5:30 AM most mornings, and hate being frigid (body shock for a few minutes in my MBz with heated seats). I'm probably stupid to make this selection because the store clerk explained to me I can preheat the car before getting to it, so I may cut this option by order time.
- I don't want rear facing seats for myself, so even though it eliminates selling to families with many children, I can't justify the initial cost at $3,000.
The total pretax cost is $83,200, and if I'm not mistaken, in California I get $10,000 total tax reduction ($7,500 fed + $2,500 state) so it becomes $73,200, before sales tax. I'm worried that sales tax puts the price beyond my reach. What is "Destination & Doc Fee"? Can I pick up at factory and do my own paperwork and save $1,200?
My alternative is an S85, no autopilot, CPO for $55,000 plus tax, no tax discount. Essentially that extra $22K (I don't know state taxes, but I add in $3K for AP) buys me three things: extended warrantee eligible (can I get this after delivery?), AutoPilot 1.0 hardware, and Dual Motor all wheel drive.
Here's my reasoning:
+ I need an exciting color. Blue is it, at $1,000. Second choice was Pearl White at $1,500. I miss the green & brown options, however only having one non-red exciting color made choosing very easy (I don't like red much). I'm pretty sure I would have gotten Green if it were available.
- I don't like Pano roofs that don't increase driving viewing area: save $1,500. Too bad since it increases resale value. (I love the X windshield, but that's doubly irrelevant because it's standard and I'm not ordering an X.)
- I like the more expensive wheels, but for a fast-wear consumable item that I can get any time, it's really easy not to order that $2,500-$4,500 factory option that I could get anywhere aftermarket with more, better, and cheaper options. Save $2,500-$4,500.
- I don't like NextGen seats, and the regular cloth are less bad for me (wide-boned body shape hips and torso), plus I think after 3 years with leather I also actually prefer cloth: save $2,500. Still may prefer aftermarket seats someday since I'm also tall torso and the regular cloth seats still hurts my hip bone, but less than NextGen.
- 70kWh, because +15kWh, 85kWh, 21.4% more energy, 1s faster to 60mph, & only 12.5% more range (!) for $10,000 is another good target for cost cutting, so going for a 70. I will miss the faster acceleration time (5.2s vs 4.2s), but it's not a big downgrade from my MBz E500 (~300hp). The top speed of 155mph is difficult to do safely anywhere I drive, so I think a top speed of 140mph will be more than enough, especially since I know anything near the top end isn't even sustainable in these Lithium battery cars as of yet, and California isn't building a high number of 155mph freeways this year.
+ $5,000 for dual motor means safer driving, plus in rain I hope it is less squirly than my RWD 2005 MBz with SBC. Also, helps resale value.
- $2,500 for software option (autopilot) I can turn on later for only $500 penalty is a good way to arbitrage costs right now. If I earn enough extra by delivery, I'll eat the $500. A major reason to order new is to get AP, and that and Dual Motor is why I did it, but it's a quick way to shave off initial purchase price.
- no range upgrade to 90 available for 70 ($3,000!)
- An automatic hatch for $3,000 and some good lighting seems like a good target for cutting cost to me. I would love, Love both options, but simply don't need them; they probably won't as likely save my life, health and/or costs as much as Dual Motor and Autopilot assistance will.
+ Air suspension to help me not get a bad back and bruised brain are a big deal to me, since both body parts are sensitive to bumps and would probably be much healthier with this option. This is a whopping $2,500 hit. I hope it can do predictive smoothing soon (nothing in development?).
+ Another hit with UltraHighFidelity Sound; I've heard even if I go aftermarket, the stuff that gets put in place with UHFS at $2,500 is well worth it and almost necessary, plus I discern from reading between the lines on forum posts that I will notice a huge difference playing my classical music. This is a major thing for me, and no option to defray this cost. If I liked Rock music instead, this would have been totally unnecessary. But I bite the bullet on this one.
+ Subzero Weather Package for $1,000 increases east coast resale value, which isn't super important, but I also get in my car parked outside at 4:30-5:30 AM most mornings, and hate being frigid (body shock for a few minutes in my MBz with heated seats). I'm probably stupid to make this selection because the store clerk explained to me I can preheat the car before getting to it, so I may cut this option by order time.
- I don't want rear facing seats for myself, so even though it eliminates selling to families with many children, I can't justify the initial cost at $3,000.
The total pretax cost is $83,200, and if I'm not mistaken, in California I get $10,000 total tax reduction ($7,500 fed + $2,500 state) so it becomes $73,200, before sales tax. I'm worried that sales tax puts the price beyond my reach. What is "Destination & Doc Fee"? Can I pick up at factory and do my own paperwork and save $1,200?
My alternative is an S85, no autopilot, CPO for $55,000 plus tax, no tax discount. Essentially that extra $22K (I don't know state taxes, but I add in $3K for AP) buys me three things: extended warrantee eligible (can I get this after delivery?), AutoPilot 1.0 hardware, and Dual Motor all wheel drive.
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