I figured I would get some criticism for this post, but let’s see if I can come up with a way to make it more on topic than posts concerning refrigerator touch screens. The title refers to the obsolescence of the MCU1 and the potential for a replacement MCU2 that will help older Teslas avoid obsolescence for a while longer. The only known way so far to get the MCU2 upgrade is to buy a new car. At this point in time I could sell my Model S and buy a new Model 3 with an MCU2 and not pay anymore than the remainder of what I owe on my Model S. So in theory a free MCU2 upgrade. I just solved everyone’s MCU1 upgrade problem for them. Close the thread.
When you can't beat them - join them is a valid and rational strategy.
Switching to a Model 3 yields the certain outcome that you will get MCU 2 and have an army of Redditers, Facebookers and Twits ready to 'cancel' Elon if he makes the mistake of crossing them. Accelerating sustainable transport is woke - until your neighbor gets a better/cheaper car than you.
However, there are those that fight an uphill battle for a multitude of reasons.
The Model 3 is the plebeian Tesla. Compared to the S/X, far more people can afford it. Only the S/X/Roadsters have any kind of cachet. I personally do not judge people on what they have or what they don't have.
I have an August 2018 3P+, its approx 2X what an SR was at 35K and 50 percent federal credit. Looks completely the same except I have bigger panel gaps, worst aligned charge port and more unpainted areas. Model 3 is overwhelming peak Prius saturation. Prestige is a factor for some - right, wrong, or indifferent. You cannot expect a BMW 7 series driver to step down to a 3 series to get the best car.
Promises matter to some people, regardless of cost. Elon promised coast to coast driving in 2016. Customers paid a huge premium over the Model 3 at that time partially based on that promise. Despite Elon's talk about HW3/FSD being independent of the MCU, I have my skepticism about that. Know of MCU1 / AP2 retrofits? I don't. Tesla has a duty to make those buyers whole.
Elon anti-sold the Model 3, spouting the S/X being the advanced technology platforms. They would be getting the latest and greatest first - with the eventual "trickling down" to Model 3. I knew this was a complete crock the moment it came out of Elon's mouth. The Model 3 forces Tesla down a path to slow down innovation. You cannot maximize advancements while maximizing economy of scale and dealing with mass market. Tesla had to build the best 3 possible, take a lot of losses upfront doing so and hope the design can hold while delivering FSD.
Those who were led on to the S/X being the best should be made whole.
S/X buyers have huge depreciation. It doesn't make sense for them to sell off and lock in that loss for a marginal upgrade in entertainment features. They should wait until MCU 3 and get more clarity on how FSD is going to happen on those old cars.
