That sums up my thoughts pretty much exactly, right down to the spinning wheel of indecision!OK, I think I have made up my mind what I will do, I made a list of what I liked about my 2020 MP3 against and a brand new M3P.
For the new car –
Well its brand new and the full warranty period, plus -
Heated Steering wheel, electric boot, The new drive motor 3D6, Ryzen MCU3, Lithium Iron auxiliary battery, Matrix headlamps and new tail lights with two reversing lamps, Heat Pump, The door/Dash wrap around on the door cards, Laminated front and rear door windows.
Additional factors to support a new car
The very good trade in estimation from Tesla for my car (more than I paid)
Relatively small amount of money to contribute for all the above benefits.
New 72 registration plate
What I don’t like about the new car-
The possibility (that’s been mentioned) of a significant refresh of the M3 in Q4 this year
The Uberturbines – I don’t like the look of them plus they are now 9” wide (Turbines were 8.5 inches wide) but the same width tyres that have been stretched to fit – they look bloody odd
The Pirelli Tyres – much prefer the Michelin PS4s
The Chrome delete – anodised black deteriorates quickly and stains/fading appears and looks shabby – its not very durable (Nice when new though)
The plastic front wing indicators/camera units
The Alcantara insert panel on the doors of a specified white interior (I like Alcantara but if I’m paying £1000 to change from black to white then the inset panel in white leather looks classy)
The hard plastic bottom section of the door cards
The centre console (the 2021 update) I prefer the old style
Removal of passenger seat lumber support
Factors that support keeping my car-
Most of the accessories I bought for my 2020 M3p are not transferable
My car was 12 months old when I got it and the paintwork wasn’t to my standard so its been paint corrected/detailed and carnauba waxed – shines much better than new and no paint adherence issues. Looks pristine
No faults and panel gaps are pretty good, only 7000 miles and drives superbly, I love the turbines and all the Chrome, no rattles or squeaks, 2 years warranty left plus 6 years on drivetrain and battery, FSD equipped (even if it doesn’t work as advertised except on quiet motorways – it is getting better with each software update and one day I’m sure most of the niggles will be ironed out)
I can equip my car with electric boot and frunk for about £800, new rear lights with two reversing lamps and sequential indicators about £600.
I only drive around 1200 miles per year since I retired – 11 years ago. The question was asked “Ever considered just using Taxi’s” fair point – but – I love cars, love detailing them, will always own a car right up to my last breath.
Tesla remains to me the EV market leader and its charge network is superb; however, the network may well be opened up to all and that would be a negative. Tesla’s current obsession in penny pinching and removing small things from the car seems to have made them deviate from creating the very best EV they can build to one of providing something adequate to satisfy the greed of chasing profit over exceeding expectations.
Other manufacturers (VAG) are producing some real alternatives, If I wait another 12 months there may well be a new design M3P (It is about due as its on its 5th year), there may be alternatives to Tesla to consider and my car is fantastic anyway, all I can see changing is the value of mine
As you can see my head is ruling at the moment, by tomorrow – or even later today my heart may have taken over.
I’d add that I have the resistive heater which warms the car in minutes without wheezing or puffing. I have FSD now. I worry (probably unecessarily) that the beta will be suddenly unleashed in the U.K. and the price ramped up before I make my mind up.….and then there’s 3 or Y