What was the most money you spent on a vehicle prior to purchasing your Model S? Poll

[Jack]

My previous car cost $28,500 new in late 2001. It's got 196,000 miles on it so the sticker price for my 85 kWh non-perf Model S was about 30x the current blue book value of the previous car!

My reasons for purchasing the model S include the three reasons you listed. Additional reasons are that it is a stunningly beautiful car and it has a massive amount of cargo space.

Almost identical - my 2001 Accord EX cost about $22K. It now has 85K miles on it.

 

[ElSupreme]

If you just do purchase price (with taxes and fees). I am right under $25k. If you want to add on maintenance, modifications, annual fees, insurance, and fuel costs. I am probably right at $60k (and that was for my longer lived, and thirstier, but cheaper $23k car).

 

[ChadS]

Well, I did buy a Roadster, so the Model S is not the most expensive car I have ever purchased.

But if you only count cars I bought for myself in my pre-electric days, the most I spent was $19,500 for a very lightly used 2005 Honda Insight hybrid. 60mpg was the best I could do to reduce gas consumption back then. I enjoyed the car when I had it; but man, I sure couldn't imagine going back now. I use less (and cheaper and local) energy, AND I have a lot more fun. The really ironic part is to get the good mileage I bought the Insight for, I had to drive it like there were eggs under the pedals. But because I have carbon-free electricity sources, I have fun in the EV. So I drove the gas car the way people fear they will have to drive EVs, but I feel free with the EV. Perceptions are funny.

 

[Elshout]

Bought a 2005 Ford GT but got it at dealer cost of $129,000. The GT is one of the few cars faster than a P85. Sold it later for $172,000. Only car on which I ever made money

 

[Blurry_Eyed]

Most spent on a car before our Model S was about $33k for a 2010 Prius!

 

[highedu]

$105k for a BMW M5

 

[NigelM]

I made the poll here. somebody will merge these threads so you will have the poll too.

Thanks. Threads merged.

 

[GlennAlanBerry]

About $44K for a 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD with a 6MT. The Tesla will be a big step up...

 

[Owner]

Well, my last car purchase was a Roadster.

If electric cars did not exist.... I have no idea what I would be driving now. I can't compare the costs 1:1.

 

[highfalutintodd]

Approx. $42k for my wife's 2011 Honda Odyssey. Before that, approx $32k for my wife's Audi A4 (early 2000s). The most I've ever spent on a daily driver for myself was about $16k for my dearly beloved 1998 VW New Beetle. Damn I loved that car.....

 

[scriptacus]

$20,000 for a new 2000 VW Jetta, traded in for a few thousand on
$32,000 for a used 2007 Lexus ES350 (in 2010)
$40,000 for a new 2012 Nissan Leaf (wife's car, paved the way for the S)

Sold the Lexus to CarMax for $16,000 after receiving the Model S, which makes us an all electric family now.

 

[gray]

A couple others had a higher MSRP when new (another Porsche and a M-B SL65 AMG), but I bought them used after the depreciation cliff made them more reasonable.

If the depreciation cliff for AMGs is taken into account, you paid like $15k for it?

 

[ddruz]

A little over $40,000 including tax for a 1994 Mazda RX7 in Dec 1993.

 

[Cirion]

My Honda Accord from 2000 was round $70 000,- including taxes....

My Sig Perf will be $122 708,-
A BMW M5 starts round $350 000,-

I guess cars just cost a LOT more in Norway....

 

[outnumbered]

My Honda Accord from 2000 was round $70 000,- including taxes....

My Sig Perf will be $122 708,-
A BMW M5 starts round $350 000,-

I guess cars just cost a LOT more in Norway....

Cirion,

Your numbers clearly indicate why the MS will be so successful in Norway.

 

[nrcooled]

I bought a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution new in 2004 for 28,800 then dumped ~20k in it (2.3 stroker, 50trim turbo, etc, etc) and she made 405hp 385lb/ft. It was loud, uncomfortable, and I was terrified that the engine was going to let go every time I floored it.

It was the most money I have ever had wrapped up in a car...until the MS

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[LagunaDallas]

If the depreciation cliff for AMGs is taken into account, you paid like $15k for it?

MSRP new was $201,000, and believe it or not, I paid $39,900 for it with 50K miles when it was 6 years old. Although I had a pre-purchase inspection done at the dealer and it passed with flying colors, after 4 months I got nervous about the potential V12 repair costs and traded it when I was replacing my SUV. I got $40K trade, and in Texas we get a sales tax credit, so I actually made a $100 profit! LOL

 

[artsci]

This thread led me to think about all of my car purchases going back to my first, a used TR-3 that my brother and I bought for $800 to commute back and forth to a summer job while we were in our first years of college. Then I thought about the first new car I bought, an E-Type Jaguar through Europe-by-Car (remember that?). Drove it around the UK for a few days then turned it in to be shipped home. Cost about $4,500 as I recall, including the costs to ship it to the U.S. In today's dollars, that's worth $26,700, something close to the cost of a well-equipped Honda. At the time, it didn't seem to be a bargain, but it clearly was (provided one discounts the never-ending costs in those days of keeping a Jaguar running).

So controlling for inflation (which I think this exercise requires), the most expensive car I ever about owned was about $45,000. I could have afforded to spend a lot more, but as status was never important to me, I didn't see the point. In fact I was almost anti-status, and would never even consider a Mercedes or BMW. Most of the time, with a few exceptions, I've owned Hondas. So the Model S will be by a very wide margin the most expensive car I've bought. And I'll buy it with no or very little debt.

 

[gray]

A little over $40,000 including tax for a 1994 Mazda RX7 in Dec 1993.

One of my dream cars is an RX7 TT in dark green.

I bought a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution new in 2004 for 28,800 then dumped ~20k in it (2.3 stroker, 50trim turbo, etc, etc) and she made 405hp 385lb/ft. It was loud, uncomfortable, and I was terrified that the engine was going to let go every time I floored it.

Isn't that kind of low for a 4G63 given the mods? I've seen similar modded Evos make in excess of 450 (albeit with FP red/blacks), especially with a stroker kit. Honest question.

MSRP new was $201,000, and believe it or not, I paid $39,900 for it with 50K miles when it was 6 years old. Although I had a pre-purchase inspection done at the dealer and it passed with flying colors, after 4 months I got nervous about the potential V12 repair costs and traded it when I was replacing my SUV. I got $40K trade, and in Texas we get a sales tax credit, so I actually made a $100 profit! LOL

Sounds like you made out OK. I've hard that AMGs are like boats where you're only really happy on two days of your ownership experience.

 

[nygiants242]

For as much as people say that the Model S is only really for the upper-level/wealthy luxury market, I am quite surprised to see the polling statistics which seem to indicate that customers in general have never spent this much on a car before. Granted, this is also a forum for Tesla enthusiasts, so I would imagine in the "real world" the data may be a bit more skewed towards more expensive previous car purchases. What do you guys think?