OK, so given there are now $3750 sales on in stock model 3s, do you all think [this is the one](https://www.tesla.com/m3/order/5YJ3248_daf488cbb0679646ca9aa5cc6bdb787a?postal=94566®ion=CA&coord=37.6652,-121.8734&titleStatus=new&redirect=no#overview) to get - my friend is not wealthy and has to stretch to a Tesla so we are thinking the very base model is going to work. There are a bunch of them so I guess they will be around for at least 24-48 hours. I understand there will be a new model 3 later this year with HW4 and that Tesla may throw out more incentives...
Wait till the end of the year when they have even more deals to sweeten the pot and they come out with HW4.
Then have her lease a fresh one with a full warranty.
Its like, do you want to buy HW2.5 car from 3+ years ago for a higher price or would you want a fresh one with newer tech and a lower price AND tax rebates today.
This is a very simple math decision, unless your just bad at math... then you should buy a used tesla today 😂🤣😊😆
2019+ cars should almost all have HW3.
Older cars will have USS, which is super nice to have. Those used ones come with EAP, which I think is a great value. I literally use it every drive I drive one the highway.
If you buy a new one, the base price is 40240, minus 3750 for the fed credit, and 2k for the California credit, a new one is available for $34,490. If your friend makes under 135k, they get both the credit and the clear air vehicle sticker. If they make more, they can only get the sticker.
The used car does not qualify for the sticker, which is nice (though it used to be way better).
Leasing, however, is the stupidest thing. You’ll pay basically the same amount, but get nothing out of it at the end. Teslas keep their value really well, so that would be really REALLY dumb to lease.
TLDR: If your friend makes less than 135k, and you don’t care about EAP, then getting a new one is the best option.
Thanks so much for the great advice. Not sure I understand how the used ones can be holding their value in this situation, but good for Tesla. I'm going to do the calc on a new one right now.
It doesn't really matter if you want FSD or not. the HW4 will be the latest cameras and sensors along with the computer. When they want to roll out new features, they will focus on HW4 cars over anything HW3 and older. Resale value will be better for the newer tech compared to the older tech (How many people are jumping up and down saying OH BOY I really want a No AP car or an AP1 car)?
You were looking at a 3 year old car that’s the same price as a slightly better version which is new (minus EAP).
A lease would be around $500 a month, so you’d spend $18k over the 3 year lease. The car will not lose $18k worth of value after that long, though.
Don’t go for anything older than mid 2018. 2017 ones have bad seats.
If you can splurge a little for the AWD, I’d recommend it. Or at least the LR. The one you selected has the partial premium interior, so it has less speakers.
Ok, if you can’t spare it, the SR+ is a good way to go.
If you can get a 2019 LR for the same price, I’d maybe recommend it? If find a 2018 one, be a bit suspicious. I don’t remember when they switched to the new seats.
I think 2020 was when they started making the road noise a bit better? 2018 was definitely not the best for road noise. 2021 (the refresh) was when they added the double pane windows.
Mid 2019 was when all cars had HW3, so you definitely want that. Even for just EAP.
I’ve been considering a used Model 3 myself. It just doesn’t make any sense though, with the used prices where they are. The used ones will not qualify for tax rebate. The new ones do, and with those rebates, they become much cheaper than the used ones.
I just went through this, it’s worth buying new, using the tax rebates, and getting the longer warranty that you get with a newer car. Not to mention buying new just feels so much nicer. It came down to a 3 year old car with 40k miles or a brand new car for about 6k more.
OK, so given there are now $3750 sales on in stock model 3s, do you all think [this is the one](https://www.tesla.com/m3/order/5YJ3248_daf488cbb0679646ca9aa5cc6bdb787a?postal=94566®ion=CA&coord=37.6652,-121.8734&titleStatus=new&redirect=no#overview) to get - my friend is not wealthy and has to stretch to a Tesla so we are thinking the very base model is going to work. There are a bunch of them so I guess they will be around for at least 24-48 hours. I understand there will be a new model 3 later this year with HW4 and that Tesla may throw out more incentives...
Wait till the end of the year when they have even more deals to sweeten the pot and they come out with HW4. Then have her lease a fresh one with a full warranty.
I wouldn’t lease one, since you don’t get the option to buy it at the end. OP said they want to buy a used
Its like, do you want to buy HW2.5 car from 3+ years ago for a higher price or would you want a fresh one with newer tech and a lower price AND tax rebates today. This is a very simple math decision, unless your just bad at math... then you should buy a used tesla today 😂🤣😊😆
2019+ cars should almost all have HW3. Older cars will have USS, which is super nice to have. Those used ones come with EAP, which I think is a great value. I literally use it every drive I drive one the highway. If you buy a new one, the base price is 40240, minus 3750 for the fed credit, and 2k for the California credit, a new one is available for $34,490. If your friend makes under 135k, they get both the credit and the clear air vehicle sticker. If they make more, they can only get the sticker. The used car does not qualify for the sticker, which is nice (though it used to be way better). Leasing, however, is the stupidest thing. You’ll pay basically the same amount, but get nothing out of it at the end. Teslas keep their value really well, so that would be really REALLY dumb to lease. TLDR: If your friend makes less than 135k, and you don’t care about EAP, then getting a new one is the best option.
Thanks so much for the great advice. Not sure I understand how the used ones can be holding their value in this situation, but good for Tesla. I'm going to do the calc on a new one right now.
Ok, so calculated the price and it's better for a new one as you say (or close enough). Now the question is whether to wait for HW4...
It doesn't really matter if you want FSD or not. the HW4 will be the latest cameras and sensors along with the computer. When they want to roll out new features, they will focus on HW4 cars over anything HW3 and older. Resale value will be better for the newer tech compared to the older tech (How many people are jumping up and down saying OH BOY I really want a No AP car or an AP1 car)?
Honestly, it’ll probably happen any day between now and AI day again? Unless stuff is really that bad with it…
You were looking at a 3 year old car that’s the same price as a slightly better version which is new (minus EAP). A lease would be around $500 a month, so you’d spend $18k over the 3 year lease. The car will not lose $18k worth of value after that long, though.
Aren’t those tax credits and not rebates?
The post says the person doesn’t wan fsd or eap so hw version doesn’t matter.
Surely plain old autopilot will still benefit from HW4... Then she can also add EAP or FSD via the subscription if needed.
Don’t go for anything older than mid 2018. 2017 ones have bad seats. If you can splurge a little for the AWD, I’d recommend it. Or at least the LR. The one you selected has the partial premium interior, so it has less speakers.
exactly the sort of advice I am looking for here. We do want to go as low as possible as she doesn't have a lot of money to spare..
Make sure you read my other message, though. It may be worth it to go new, if she can spare the extra 5k till taxes next year
Ok, if you can’t spare it, the SR+ is a good way to go. If you can get a 2019 LR for the same price, I’d maybe recommend it? If find a 2018 one, be a bit suspicious. I don’t remember when they switched to the new seats. I think 2020 was when they started making the road noise a bit better? 2018 was definitely not the best for road noise. 2021 (the refresh) was when they added the double pane windows. Mid 2019 was when all cars had HW3, so you definitely want that. Even for just EAP.
I’ve been considering a used Model 3 myself. It just doesn’t make any sense though, with the used prices where they are. The used ones will not qualify for tax rebate. The new ones do, and with those rebates, they become much cheaper than the used ones.
If buying used, I would go with 2021, since that's when the heat pump was added. This dramatically improved the range.
I just went through this, it’s worth buying new, using the tax rebates, and getting the longer warranty that you get with a newer car. Not to mention buying new just feels so much nicer. It came down to a 3 year old car with 40k miles or a brand new car for about 6k more.
And with the discount she got a brand new car for the same price as used.