I reserved my Model 3 before the reveal, but as the months have ticket by since then, I've had the opportunity to test drive both the Model S and X, and absolutely love them (at 6'5", I prefer the windshield in the Model X but literally everything else about the Model S). I've considered buying a lower-end Model S, but can't bring myself to do so given the price difference between it and where I expect my Model 3 to come in, even after all the upgrades I plan to throw at it.
I've wondered if the price for Model S and X will come down once the gigafactory is at full production and other production efficiencies are realized (see this announcement from today: Formation of Tesla Advanced Automation Germany)... but as others have pointed out, Tesla will probably follow the Apple pricing model and keep prices for those models about the same as they are today, while adding more and more new features to them: Future Model S Pricing
So that brings me to my question. It's the year 2018 and you are ready to buy a Tesla. Pick whatever price point you want, but for the simplest comparison, let's say we go with $70k or whatever it takes to get a bare bones Model S. Can you really justify making that purchase over buying a $35k Model 3 and adding $35k worth of options to it? Granted, that might not even be fully loaded, but I am thinking that would be a pretty great car at that price point and would have far more features and would outperform the base Model S for the same price in a side by side comparison.
Sure, the mostly-loaded Model 3 is a little bit smaller, but it would almost surely be much higher performance, have a longer range, and all kinds of additional bells and whistles that the base Model S wouldn't have. So given all of that, why would someone chose to buy a base Model S instead?
IMO, the base Model S is going need to either have quite a few additional standard features or it's going to need to come down in price in order to compete with the Model 3. And either way, that means I should probably be patient and make my decision in 2018 rather than overspending for a Model S today.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
I've wondered if the price for Model S and X will come down once the gigafactory is at full production and other production efficiencies are realized (see this announcement from today: Formation of Tesla Advanced Automation Germany)... but as others have pointed out, Tesla will probably follow the Apple pricing model and keep prices for those models about the same as they are today, while adding more and more new features to them: Future Model S Pricing
So that brings me to my question. It's the year 2018 and you are ready to buy a Tesla. Pick whatever price point you want, but for the simplest comparison, let's say we go with $70k or whatever it takes to get a bare bones Model S. Can you really justify making that purchase over buying a $35k Model 3 and adding $35k worth of options to it? Granted, that might not even be fully loaded, but I am thinking that would be a pretty great car at that price point and would have far more features and would outperform the base Model S for the same price in a side by side comparison.
Sure, the mostly-loaded Model 3 is a little bit smaller, but it would almost surely be much higher performance, have a longer range, and all kinds of additional bells and whistles that the base Model S wouldn't have. So given all of that, why would someone chose to buy a base Model S instead?
IMO, the base Model S is going need to either have quite a few additional standard features or it's going to need to come down in price in order to compete with the Model 3. And either way, that means I should probably be patient and make my decision in 2018 rather than overspending for a Model S today.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.