1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Why I won't buy a Tesla Model 3

Discussion in 'Tesla' started by 4rpr15, Apr 1, 2016.

  1. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,312
    4,301
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    No, that is rather easy to beat.
    I'm glad gas is so cheap where you live such that $350 worth of gas fill last you ~9 months.
    To drive 8k miles (three quarters of your 11l-12k/year) it costs me about $162 to charge at home.
    I know of owners in Texas that pay zero as they get free electricity at night.

    Vinnie, sorry about that, I completely missed that some people are promoting the idea of "free for life" being more than a $2k option.
    I disagree with them completely. I would not be surprised if it stayed at 2k.
    Since I don't believe it will happen, you will have to address questions about the price of it at them. Of course, they have no idea either:whistle:

    As for doubling the base price to get the typical price, I haven't seen any $46k Prius running around. I just don't see that being the case.
     
    vinnie97 likes this.
  2. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
    1,056
    375
    0
    Location:
    WI
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I have a feeling that Musk will ask for a $1k deposit so the buyers can reserve the $2k free for life option.Did you care to explain what your even charging, lol.


     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,449
    11,760
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I did throw the range of numbers for the BMW 3 series earlier; $33k to $63k. As the target segment of the Model 3, that is going to be about the range of Tesla's offering.
    Doubling the base price for top of the line model is a fair assumption when viewing the BMW numbers. Keep in mind that there is more options to increase the BMW price on though; there are at least 3 engine options with an AWD option for each for example. The Model 3 will have just the one motor or dual motor option for drive train. There will surely be a performance option, but I believe that is actually just a software change. Most of the performance improvement from the basic S70 to S90 is because of the larger battery pack, which also carries the added range benefit for the cost.

    I don't think the 3 will top out at $70k, but for a reservation holder that wants to get everything, better to plan for that and be happy when its cheaper, than the other way around.

    Now that Ford seems to be moving away from the Econoline and Exxx vans to the Transits, I wonder if Tesla can revisit the Model E name.
     
  4. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,312
    4,301
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm rather surprised BMW has that large a spread.
    Anything is possible I suppose.
    My guess would be top of line Model 3 with all the extras would be $65k. I would not be surprised if it was lower than that.

    Much of the improvement in the performance model is actually from a larger electric motor. The larger battery does play a role as well.
    The 0-60mph improvement between the 70D and 90D is just under 20%.
    The improvement between the 90D and P90D (with ludicrous mode) is 33%.
     
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,175
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    as many articles have already pointed out, very little. That's because they're charging for the most, off their own solar. Whether it's completely amortized or not might be another question. Even so, with solar cost being low and getting lower, it only took us < 7yrs for pv payback. Now, if you want to concern that minority person charging w/out solar, for example, our highest tier electricity is around 40¢/kWh. But gas costs us a whole lot more here than in others. Our 2nd home (sourh of Nashville) they practically give electricity away, but gas there is about 40% cheaper than SoCal. So you really have to look at all the varying areas.

    But the question is curious - why the question - it was pointed out above, most high-performance EV drivers aren't factoring cost for electricity - & driving electric is cheaper anyway, even when electric costs are high & gas is cheap. However, with a cheaper/lower price Tesla, electricity costs might become more of an issue. That's why many believe that a low cost Tesla may bring in a bad element ... folks that continually top off a couple kWh's at superchargers any chance they can, just so they won't have to absorb that 45¢ cost off their home electricity. Many of us have already experienced that penny pinching behavior at public charging stations already.
    .
     
    #425 hill, Jun 4, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2016
    iplug likes this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,138
    50,052
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no free charging. period. that'll teach the whippersnappers.;)
     
    4rpr15 likes this.
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,175
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Ha! Last time I heard that phrase - it was on the 1960's tv show, "The Real McCoys" spoken by Grandpa. So for those of us not as old as Bisco & my self ...
    Whipper snapper - meaning and origin.
    Of course I was only 5 years old at the time

    .
     
    bisco likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,138
    50,052
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i always wondered what happened to richard crenna between the real mccoys and rambo.
     
  9. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2010
    1,430
    277
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere out there
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Yea, so you see, I just have to wonder what the plebes are expected to pay to take advantage of long-distance traveling? If not $2k, then what? That total is already well above what your average Tesla uses. This severely detracts from the appeal of the Model 3 when you make it prohibitively expensive to travel. Why have a charging network at all?
     
  10. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,175
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Why would you consider $2,000 or $3,000 to be prohibitively expensive? Don't people typically pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year for auto insurance or car insurance that typically never gets used? Year after year? To me - it seems like the same thing ..... a charging system as one's heading across the nation is a kind of insurance policy . There is a great assurance knowing that there's a system in place (& growing) that will make sure you get there in a timely manner. And if long distances are something you never do, then it's really a non-issue. ymmv. And don't forget, if you never use the supercharger system, there's a tesla adapter that allows you to use the CHAdeMO system - of which there are hundreds & hundreds across the Nation
    .
     
    #430 hill, Jun 4, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2016
  11. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2010
    1,430
    277
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere out there
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    $2k is about what I expected. It just seems like some are arguing that total as untenable due to risk of abuse. Maybe I need a timeout because it seems like I'm going in circles here.
     
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    20,175
    8,353
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    It's just dialog ... way ahead of when reality happens.
    .
     
  13. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
    1,056
    375
    0
    Location:
    WI
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    So if someone doesn't pay to use a supercharger what does the Model 3 become? A local grocery getter? Might as well get a Nissan Leaf.
     
    #433 4rpr15, Jun 5, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2016
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,138
    50,052
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    this isn't reality? :cool:
     
  15. 4rpr15

    4rpr15 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2015
    1,056
    375
    0
    Location:
    WI
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    That $1k deposit feels like $10k now. Good job Musk.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,138
    50,052
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i suppose the bolt will be the same way when it first comes out.
     
  17. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    2,456
    1,704
    0
    Location:
    Rocklin, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Is this guess ~$2k for unconditional, unlimited supercharging?

    I would guess ~$2k if there are restrictions on local supercharging and/or limited kWh/year.

    As for unconditional/unlimited charging, would suspect >$3k for such an option.
     
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,449
    11,760
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The $63k was for a 340i AWD, M Sport with all the factory options. The 3 series starts at the 318i, with 2 or 3 numbers between it and the 340i.

    The charging network is to shut up the nay sayers, and third party options would not have grown fast enough for Tesla.;)

    By Musk's comments, it sounds like plans below lifetime will be rolled out with the Model 3. So whatever Tesla prices the lifetime at, it isn't an all or nothing choice as in the early days of the S60.
    And a variations for lifetime are also possible. I agree $2k with a restriction on local use would be expected. That would put the Model 3 price around that of the Bolt.
     
  19. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    5,084
    1,782
    1
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    You drive 100 miles each way to get groceries?

    I don't understand your logic. Do you get free gas? Don't you have to pay to get gas at a gas station? How is that different from paying a fee to get a charge on your EV?

    Also, you have yet to enlighten us on why you hate Tesla, and seemingly Musk, so much.
     
    hill likes this.
  20. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    They did hide it (if you think it is hidden). Elon said "even the base model will be the best car you can buy for that price", and "supercharging is included standard".

    What was made clear as NOT being included were things like all wheel drive, longer range, auto-pilot convenience features (safety features are included), and a whole bunch of up-scale options (leather, fancy paint, expensive wheels, air shocks, quicker acceleration, plastic that looks like wood instead of like plastic).

    The base car, with the exception of supercharging, is fully fleshed out, just no tatoos, piercings, etc.

    Thank you kindly.
     
    #440 Corwyn, Jun 5, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2016
    hill likes this.