Genius. Didn't even think of this.
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Tesla Model 3 - OT - The cheap one
- Thread starter mcfrank
- Start date
Genius. Didn't even think of this.
Nerd_Incognito
Member
My hopes have been completely dashed.
35K for the base RWD
5K for autopilot
1K for a color other than black
9K for longer range battery
5K for Premium Package
$55,000 is way out of my price range. :'(
35K for the base RWD
5K for autopilot
1K for a color other than black
9K for longer range battery
5K for Premium Package
$55,000 is way out of my price range. :'(
they actually made good on their $35k car with 200+ miles range. you, me, and everyone else wanting all the extra goodies don't somehow invalidate or make liars of Tesla. Not saying you're calling them liars. but plenty of people are quoting the fully specced price as some major downfall not expected.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Love the interior. Release date is an odd time for me. Hmm.
Nerd_Incognito
Member
I mean, perhaps mine (our) expectations were entirely too high, but not even having standard interior features is a big bummer. The initial reveal price of 44K for the extended range RWD option on the Friday night stream was a better pill to swallow. But seeing that price jump up closer to 60K? Heartbreak.
$35K should be out of most people's price range. That's nearly $45K CAD, which can get you a Mercedes or Benz or whatever other luxury car people who like to flaunt their wealth buy (with some options to boot).
Did people expect to get a maxed car for 35k? Auto pilot prices have been known for a long time. The range increase is really fairly priced (see chart on previous page), Tesla has always charged for paint. The only real complaint I can see is the glassroof not being standard since it was somewhat implied that it was at the first reveal.
for the US market, the average price American's spend per new car is $34k, so Tesla likely priced this around this number so it's priced into the general market range.
45K CAD is hardly flaunting your wealth. People need to get realistic at what a new car costs these days. Their are very few luxury cars in the 45K range. You can get an entry level model of a luxury brand at that point. Any kind of premium options is going to push you past that mark.
Well, Tesla got bitten by its own hype machine.
It was kinda obvious some things would be sacrified to reach that price point (and lets be honnest, what you get for the entry price seems more than fair), but Tesla is hyped so much that people where expexting S-class quality and options in a 35k car.
Justto clarify: Mercedes is the consumer car brand of the Daimler company.
Smallest class at Audi/bm/Mercedes start at 17-20k... A fully loaded A3 is under 40k, unless you go for the Rs version.
You don't actually consider the A3 a luxury sedan do you? It's basically a Jetta, your average, car and its 40K.
what? in the US the cheapest Audi/BMW/Benz is like $32k if not more. and Audi RS3 which is about to launch in the US is a $60k car.
SteveMeister
Hang out with Steve.
Checked my delivery estimates again today, and my window for dual motor AWD changed from Nov '18-Jan '19 to Sep '18-Nov '18. Went ahead & saved that as my preference.
Can the extended range and autopilot be purchased after the fact?
Yeah, the prices for this stuff is still beyond even the upper middle class bracket. Maybe in 5-10 years regular people will be able to get an autopilot electric car.
Autopilot by default is $5000. If you opt to not go for it and install it later (since it's a software upgrade), the price increases to $6000. The same goes for the full on self drive upgrade which is $3000 to install initially but $4000 if you get it after the fact.
I think you can upgrade the battery after, but that would likely require a visit to the service center and likely cost a heck of a lot more since it's not at all a software upgrade. I believe this is true since the weight of the 310 model is more than the weight of the 220 model. If it was just some software limiter on the battery the weights would be the same.
no way is that even true. upper middle class folks are buying Model S and Model X. The high end Model 3 is definitely people who are in the middle class though.
brochiller
Member
brochiller
Member
Also, when comparing prices to other cars, you shouldn't be including the autopilot or self driving. That's something no other car offers in the level of a Tesla and is cutting edge technology. Of course you're going to pay a premium for it.
Also remember that electric cars cost far less in fuel and maintenance. Also that Tesla have held their value extremely well to this point and should last a very long time with their lack of moving parts.
Also remember that electric cars cost far less in fuel and maintenance. Also that Tesla have held their value extremely well to this point and should last a very long time with their lack of moving parts.
diablos991
Can’t stump the diablos
This is targeted firmly towards the middle class.
Upper middle class car price range is $70-90k ish.
Average new car transaction price in the US is $33,000
You forgot the $1000 mandatory delivery fee
I know how you feel I went from yay a Tesla for 35k, to I want
-Full Self Driving +10k
-Solar Roof who knows
-AWD who knows
But don't forget there still might be some tax credit left
RustyNails
Member
I think I'll skip Autopilot feature. Wait for it to be more robust and maybe cheaper down the road.
Ultrarobotninja
Member
I was thinking of getting exactly the same setup, but I have seen speculation online that since they are prioritizing the upgraded battery and that there is a good chance the federal tax credit will all be used up by the time the stand battery cars are delivered.
Off the top of my head I can already think of one situation where I lost my wallet and my phone thus locking me out of my own damn car at least 3 hours away from my house that's a problem man!
So put the RF card with your keys and not in your wallet. This whole thing is pretty silly what happens when you lose everything?
Peter Ian Staker
Member
Europe gets the Mercedes A class, BMW 1 series and Audi A1 all for sub 20k base price.
For many of us that stood in line in the U.S., this car will be $7,500 cheaper with the full tax credit. Other countries have credits that will help as well.
Then you're looking at potentially saving between $300-$1300 a year on gas depending on prices and how much you drive. If I keep the car for 10+ years as I plan to (drove my last car for 15 years), that's at least $10k saved at current gas rates.
I realize this doesn't make the car magically affordable for most people—and if you didn't already reserve one, you won't get any credit—but with the savings I mentioned, for me it will end up being around $17,500 less than a similarly priced gas car at the end of the day.
Then you're looking at potentially saving between $300-$1300 a year on gas depending on prices and how much you drive. If I keep the car for 10+ years as I plan to (drove my last car for 15 years), that's at least $10k saved at current gas rates.
I realize this doesn't make the car magically affordable for most people—and if you didn't already reserve one, you won't get any credit—but with the savings I mentioned, for me it will end up being around $17,500 less than a similarly priced gas car at the end of the day.
Full tax credit should be available through the first half of next year, according to what I've heard (doesn't sound like they'll hit the 200,000 mark until early 2018). That said, I'm actually considering changing my upgrades to get the long-range battery and drop autopilot, which I'd buy at a later date after saving up for it.I was thinking of getting exactly the same setup, but I have seen speculation online that since they are prioritizing the upgraded battery and that there is a good chance the federal tax credit will all be used up by the time the stand battery cars are delivered.
SteveMeister
Hang out with Steve.
Note that this is a tax CREDIT, not a rebate. The $7500 is removed from your taxes owed for that year, so depending on how much that is, you might get a refund based on federal taxes paid.
Come on man....what if I put it with my keys and forgot where my keys were!
I once left my keys to my Model S at home . . . and I was in a parking garage and discovered that I also left my phone in the car (as I can unlock and start the car with my phone). I went over to one of the security dudes in the parking garage and asked to borrow his phone. I downloaded the Tesla app on his phone, logged into my account, unlocked my car, then logged out / uninstalled the app.
So really all you need is anybody's smart phone and you can unlock / start your car! I also now have the app on my mom's phone, so next time I get in a bind, I can borrow someones phone, call her, and then she can unlock it.
Thanks, fixed that.
Oh huh, I also see a date pushed up by a couple months for the AWD option.
Is there going to be an easy way to find out what tax incentives you qualify for at time of purchase? I'd consider the RWD $49,000 option if I could for sure qualify for the $7,500, but I'm fairly clueless as to how all of that works.
Meanwhile I can lease a Fiat 500e for $49/m.
You could probably buy a bicycle for $49...and your point is?
Take the base car.
I think the autopilot can be unlocked later. The battery might also be able to be unlocked later (can someone confirm), it's the same battery in every car isn't it?
illiniguy05
Member
TheOctodad
Member
Right now I drive a fwd Corolla and it's okish in the snow.
Anyone know how a RWD Tesla operates in the snow? I'd love to get the AWD, but the one-two punch of 5k more + losing the $7,500 credit might be too much.
Anyone know how a RWD Tesla operates in the snow? I'd love to get the AWD, but the one-two punch of 5k more + losing the $7,500 credit might be too much.
It's got to be within most middle class's price range?
And it's not even about flaunting your wealth at the 35k mark, it's kinda basic inside. What you do get is an emission less vehicle. That's the biggest draw for me.
Meanwhile I can lease a Fiat 500e for $49/m.
Yeah, but then you're driving a Fiat.
plus it's tiny and you gotta pay $5k+ out the door to get that $49/mo cost, once taxes are included. and I believe it's like 80-90 miles per charge.
Bustanen
Member
RWD cars generally don't drive well in snow. Without winter tires you'll have a hard time getting the car even to move.
andrerobot
Member
Those are not luxury cars. They're economy cars.
Unknown Soldier
Member
But I've been carrying around my wallet for decades now and I've never lost a credit card out of it.
THE CARD KEY IS DIFFERENT I SWEAR WHAT IF I LOSE IT
and lose your phone at the same time as well.
While I agree with RWD being not as good as FWD in the snow, tesla is a bit different in that the weight is more evenly distributed vs an ICE car. I don't think you can say that a RWD ICE car and a Tesla RWD would be the same in snow.
RWD Model S have generally performed well in the snow with snow tires. The motor can react to slip almost instantly compared to gas cars. Obviously AWD will always be better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-3C772Fuc
Also, here's a good comparison to the other cars in the 3's class.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-31/driving-tesla-s-model-3-changes-everything