So, I'll concede a lot of your DIDN'T wait and got your Model 3s this year - congrats! For the rest of you, IF you think you will indeed end up with a Model 3, what drove you to wait and not get one this year (and thus miss out on the full rebate - assuming you were eligible for it?)
I know for me is was a combination of things including:
1. Already have a Model S - This was probably the biggest driver. When you already have a Tesla, if you can look past the excitement of a new ride, the Model 3 is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The Model 3 is a really nice car, but I already have an electric car that "looks and drives like a Tesla" (i.e. I wasn't coming from a Camry, Prius, 3 series, etc.) so that gee whiz factor is a bit less. This is true even though my car is 5+ years old (2013 CPO P85+). It also helps that the "S" looks better of course. If I wasn't already driving the "S", I am almost certain I would be in a Model 3 now.
2. The Money - Not, it isn't that I was waiting for a $35K car, it's that I knew I would likely get either the Dual Motor or Performance Dual Motor car. Either of those (particularly the latter) is a lot of coin. When I started to put that up against what else I might spend that money on I came up against my dang mortgage (we are really close to paying the house off) and buying a massively depreciating asset vs. putting that money towards the house started to gnaw at me. Yes, I know there are better investments (although the current market STINKS), but I have yet to run into anyone who says "Man, I really regret paying my mortgage off early". Spending the money on a Model 3 right after I get the mortgage paid off is essentially no different than doing it right before, but psychologically it feels better to pay the mortgage down first!
3. The Quality Concerns - Most folks know the early Model Ses and Xes both had more quality issues (frankly, they still aren't perfect). While I think the 3 is generally better "at launch" than the S or X were at their respective launches, it is apparent they are still working stuff out. It certainly doesn't help that my preferred color is Multi-Coat Red and, for whatever, reason Tesla seems to be struggling painting that color on the Model 3 line (note my S is MCR). Sure, some stuff can be fixed after-the-fact by the service centers, but not all of it will be or is "easily" fixed. That brings me to...
4. The Hardware Revisions - Man, there have been a decent amount of hardware revisions since the car was introduced - some more public than others. Some are quality related, while others appear to be design changes. This is above and beyond the "features" like the availability of dual motors or the white interior. I mean sheesh, the dang seats changed in the Spring. Beyond this there are all the other things I think they are flat out tweaking along the way (which likely should have been taken care of before release). As an example, most of us are aware of the suspension change at the end of last year to soften up the way too firm suspension the car originally came out with. However, beyond that the online catalog tells a further tale - the struts on the RWD cars appear to be on revision "G" suggesting several additional changes. Other parts show various revisions too. I'm sure some are trivial (and perhaps even just clerical), but I'm guessing others are "fixing" some aspect of the car. Speaking of suspension changes, that brings me to...
5. Air Suspension - I am pretty sensitive to the ride quality/handling balance - and always loved the sport suspension on my older BMWs - on cars (I do LOTS of test drives before I buy). I don't think the Model 3 rides terribly, but I do think the air suspension has the potential to improve it. Indeed, it was a "must have" feature when shopping for my CPO Model S after doing back-to-back test drives on Model Ses with coils vs air. I was bummed when the dual motor cars did not ship with the air suspension and it got pushed to 2019.
Anyway, losing at least half of the federal rebate and possibly even more, really does STING, and I recognize I may very well look back on this as a $3800+ mistake, but it is what it is. Ironically, my wife and I are vacationing in San Francisco soon and plan to take a tour of the Tesla factory...so I'll have a bit more "non buyer's" remorse after that I'm sure!!
So, why did you guys wait?
<Note: No need for the "I didn't" posts!)
I know for me is was a combination of things including:
1. Already have a Model S - This was probably the biggest driver. When you already have a Tesla, if you can look past the excitement of a new ride, the Model 3 is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The Model 3 is a really nice car, but I already have an electric car that "looks and drives like a Tesla" (i.e. I wasn't coming from a Camry, Prius, 3 series, etc.) so that gee whiz factor is a bit less. This is true even though my car is 5+ years old (2013 CPO P85+). It also helps that the "S" looks better of course. If I wasn't already driving the "S", I am almost certain I would be in a Model 3 now.
2. The Money - Not, it isn't that I was waiting for a $35K car, it's that I knew I would likely get either the Dual Motor or Performance Dual Motor car. Either of those (particularly the latter) is a lot of coin. When I started to put that up against what else I might spend that money on I came up against my dang mortgage (we are really close to paying the house off) and buying a massively depreciating asset vs. putting that money towards the house started to gnaw at me. Yes, I know there are better investments (although the current market STINKS), but I have yet to run into anyone who says "Man, I really regret paying my mortgage off early". Spending the money on a Model 3 right after I get the mortgage paid off is essentially no different than doing it right before, but psychologically it feels better to pay the mortgage down first!
3. The Quality Concerns - Most folks know the early Model Ses and Xes both had more quality issues (frankly, they still aren't perfect). While I think the 3 is generally better "at launch" than the S or X were at their respective launches, it is apparent they are still working stuff out. It certainly doesn't help that my preferred color is Multi-Coat Red and, for whatever, reason Tesla seems to be struggling painting that color on the Model 3 line (note my S is MCR). Sure, some stuff can be fixed after-the-fact by the service centers, but not all of it will be or is "easily" fixed. That brings me to...
4. The Hardware Revisions - Man, there have been a decent amount of hardware revisions since the car was introduced - some more public than others. Some are quality related, while others appear to be design changes. This is above and beyond the "features" like the availability of dual motors or the white interior. I mean sheesh, the dang seats changed in the Spring. Beyond this there are all the other things I think they are flat out tweaking along the way (which likely should have been taken care of before release). As an example, most of us are aware of the suspension change at the end of last year to soften up the way too firm suspension the car originally came out with. However, beyond that the online catalog tells a further tale - the struts on the RWD cars appear to be on revision "G" suggesting several additional changes. Other parts show various revisions too. I'm sure some are trivial (and perhaps even just clerical), but I'm guessing others are "fixing" some aspect of the car. Speaking of suspension changes, that brings me to...
5. Air Suspension - I am pretty sensitive to the ride quality/handling balance - and always loved the sport suspension on my older BMWs - on cars (I do LOTS of test drives before I buy). I don't think the Model 3 rides terribly, but I do think the air suspension has the potential to improve it. Indeed, it was a "must have" feature when shopping for my CPO Model S after doing back-to-back test drives on Model Ses with coils vs air. I was bummed when the dual motor cars did not ship with the air suspension and it got pushed to 2019.
Anyway, losing at least half of the federal rebate and possibly even more, really does STING, and I recognize I may very well look back on this as a $3800+ mistake, but it is what it is. Ironically, my wife and I are vacationing in San Francisco soon and plan to take a tour of the Tesla factory...so I'll have a bit more "non buyer's" remorse after that I'm sure!!
So, why did you guys wait?
<Note: No need for the "I didn't" posts!)