Model 3 - Dealer or not?

[Frimley111R]

Going for a LR, probably. The performance is nice but its a lot more money. We'll run it through the company and we are going for a test drive tomorrow.

For those of you with Teslas, did you lease it through the dealer or lease it independently?

[SWoll]

What term, deposit, mileage are you looking at?

[F31Simon]

Leased through a broker, quick and simple to do. Happy to recommend mine if you want a referral.

[jjwilde]

F31Simon said:

Leased through a broker, quick and simple to do. Happy to recommend mine if you want a referral.

Who did you go with? What was the deal?

[idealstandard]

I used Pendle lease, got a great deal via Lex Autolease. Arrived in December. 3 years, 10k per annum, 6 down, 420 ish a month. Did it through the business, too good an opportunity not to.

Alex

[Frimley111R]

SWoll said:

What term, deposit, mileage are you looking at?

I'm a little unsure tbh. I'm thinking 10k for 2 yrs on a LR model. I don't need any options apart from the non-aero wheels which I just really don't like.


Deals look like being around 5k in c VAT and then 450 inc VAT p/m. I've never lease before and while I am ok with this I am guesstimating mileage as the last year has been a bit unknown.

[Blue Oval84]

Frimley111R said:

I don't need any options apart from the non-aero wheels which I just really don't like.

Have you seen them with the wheel covers off and a centre cap kit fitted? Not a bad set of alloys lurking under those hideous covers. I'd not personally pay for the non-aeros but would definitely whip the covers off if I had one myself with the aero wheels.

[SWoll]

Blue Oval84 said:

Frimley111R said:

I don't need any options apart from the non-aero wheels which I just really don't like.

Have you seen them with the wheel covers off and a centre cap kit fitted? Not a bad set of alloys lurking under those hideous covers. I'd not personally pay for the non-aeros but would definitely whip the covers off if I had one myself with the aero wheels.

:Yes:

[Frimley111R]

Yep, think I'll do that. hate those covers even though I know they are there for aero reasons. Watched a vid on a guy with one who did the same and just put a centre cap and nuts caps on.

[Frimley111R]

Just had a test drive of the Performance as the LR wasn't available. The route had some motorway but its all at 500mph so minimal chance to try the power. Had one quick blip though and had the full on 'Woah!' feeling. Seriously quick. Apart from that it was very docile and easy to drive.

Dealer said they could give me a free years supercharging and 3 months autopilot if I took delivery before the end of the month on current stock - so 24hrs! Declined, bit short notice unfortunately.

Will probably get one in the next couple of weeks or at least order one...

[greygoose]

Frimley111R said:

The route had some motorway but its all at 500mph so minimal chance to try the power.

Sounds like you would need most of the power!

[Tophatron]

One thing to remember is that you can get a “Performance Upgrade” on the LR to bring it very close to the acceleration of the Performance model. Costs about £1500 from memory and can be bought after delivery via the app.

[Frimley111R]

greygoose said:

Frimley111R said:

The route had some motorway but its all at 500mph so minimal chance to try the power.

Sounds like you would need most of the power!

Lol, oops. 50mph.

[Frimley111R]

Tophatron said:

One thing to remember is that you can get a “Performance Upgrade” on the LR to bring it very close to the acceleration of the Performance model. Costs about £1500 from memory and can be bought after delivery via the app.

Yes, seen that. As much as I like the Perf model the LR is 4.4 to sixty and that'll probably be enough. Can't quite see why the Perf model is so much more pricey than the LR.

[Tophatron]

Frimley111R said:

Yes, seen that. As much as I like the Perf model the LR is 4.4 to sixty and that'll probably be enough. Can't quite see why the Perf model is so much more pricey than the LR.

The cut off for the £3000 government grant is £50k, so they've priced the LR at £49,990 in order to get it but the Performance can't as it is too expensive. That accounts for £3k of the disparity.

IMO the LR is the sweet spot of the range currently (speaking as a M3 Performance owner). The bigger brakes just end up unused and collecting rust for the most part, plus I'm nervous every time I hit a pothole with the 20" wheels. As you say, 4.4 is plenty quick enough.

[jimbouk]

Tophatron said:

Frimley111R said:

Yes, seen that. As much as I like the Perf model the LR is 4.4 to sixty and that'll probably be enough. Can't quite see why the Perf model is so much more pricey than the LR.

The cut off for the £3000 government grant is £50k, so they've priced the LR at £49,990 in order to get it but the Performance can't as it is too expensive. That accounts for £3k of the disparity.

IMO the LR is the sweet spot of the range currently (speaking as a M3 Performance owner). The bigger brakes just end up unused and collecting rust for the most part, plus I'm nervous every time I hit a pothole with the 20" wheels. As you say, 4.4 is plenty quick enough.

I would echo this, the 20” wheels combined with rubber band tyres do not make for a relaxing drive on the local roads. Absolutely pothole and kerb magnets, end up fearing every puddle is going to destroy a wheel and or tyre.

[NDA]

Frimley111R said:

Will probably get one in the next couple of weeks or at least order one...

I've just bought one... it's a very nice thing to drive.

I have owned some quick cars over the years (Ford GT type thing) and have to say the Tesla feels in touching distance up to and over the speed limit. But the performance is not really the point - it's part of the appeal, but the real appeal is relaxed motorway cruising knowing that you don't have a £100 fuel bill at the next garage. It has every function you could possibly want - the key one for me is adaptive cruise control which I've not had before. Scheduled (smart) overnight charging means it costs about £6 to fill up, no road tax, no servicing and no more garages!

Build quality is perfectly good - as good as my new Vanquish was and certainly better than my Morgan, both of which were a lot more expensive.

I would highly recommend one, I am very pleased with mine.

[Frimley111R]

Its funny but I was quite underwhelmed with it. Yes it was quick but in daily driving that's of minimal importance. It didn't drive especially well or badly, the interior is nice and tech good but it didn't offer much more than my BMW 120d 2016 does. And it lacks a hatchback, something I noticed today at the tip when following one in.

It really seemed to make it a refined cruiser/driver but utterly unemotional. There's no drama/feedback, it just goes. It's about a dull as car to drive as I have ever been in.

But that's the point I guess. Effortless silent travel for little cost and in a futuristic environment. I didn't come away thinking 'I must have one'. I'll sort something in Jan/Feb I think but I am not desperate to get one. I really thought I would be. I see a good future for ICE sports cars...

[NDA]

Frimley111R said:

It really seemed to make it a refined cruiser/driver but utterly unemotional. There's no drama/feedback, it just goes. It's about a dull as car to drive as I have ever been in.

Entirely accurate.

I doubt I'd want one as my only car. I have other cars, so the Tesla is the daily driver.

Most driving for me is on roads full of cameras, cyclists or caravans. Driving a tin box has become incredibly dull. But the Tesla does that incredibly efficiently, it's like sitting in a first class airline seat and about as involving. For something amusing on summer days, I would not turn to the Tesla.