Tesla. New vs used?
Discussion
I took up the chance of a Tesla test drive yesterday, and at last drove an S100D. There was also an X there, which I looked around, sat in, but did not drive. Overall impression of the S was that although a large car it packs a real punch, has brakes to match, and flows well down winding roads. Negatives for me were slightly uneven panel gaps around the boot, and poor Alcantara trim around an air vent or speaker. I took a colleague, who also loved it but was not a smooth driver and managed to make me feel pretty car sick, not something I have suffered as an adult before!
The X was frankly pretty cool and is so unlike anything else that it appears to have arrived on one of Elon’s space ships. Quite bulky in appearance, but airy and light inside thanks to the high front screen.
The sales guys were great, and petrol heads to boot. Full credit to Tesla for getting really enthusiastic and knowledgable people on board.
Obviously Tesla want to shift new units, and their finance deals are interesting, albeit the headline price is rather more than I have ever considered spending.
Has anyone here bought a used CPO Tesla? Tesla seem to hide the used stock, and then talk it down in terms of the earlier models being a bit less well made. Is for example an older P85D at say 48k worth buying, or are the later post facelift cars that much better?
The X was frankly pretty cool and is so unlike anything else that it appears to have arrived on one of Elon’s space ships. Quite bulky in appearance, but airy and light inside thanks to the high front screen.
The sales guys were great, and petrol heads to boot. Full credit to Tesla for getting really enthusiastic and knowledgable people on board.
Obviously Tesla want to shift new units, and their finance deals are interesting, albeit the headline price is rather more than I have ever considered spending.
Has anyone here bought a used CPO Tesla? Tesla seem to hide the used stock, and then talk it down in terms of the earlier models being a bit less well made. Is for example an older P85D at say 48k worth buying, or are the later post facelift cars that much better?
gangzoom said:
If I didn't need the people carrying ability of the X I would go for a used AP 1.0 Hardware P85D Model S. It has more than enough speed for public roads and is less than half the price of a new P100D. A prefacelift P85D in white still looks aweason in the flesh.
Happy car hunting!!!
Thanks gangzoom, I have been following some of your threads, good content thanks.Happy car hunting!!!
How is the real world range on your X? We have a Leaf for round town, so
I am familiar with range anxiety on longer trips. Even though one may not run out having some spare when it is cold, dark, and range is down is comforting!
Still undecided on S or X, I prefer the S styling, but we have 3 kids and I am used to just chucking everything in the back of my disco, some compromise needed but I suspect budget will be what decides for us!
Heres Johnny said:
To help give you advice it would be good to know whether range is important to you (as in some parts of the country charger coverage isn’t great), if performances matters (4s to 60 doesn’t mean it’s a rocket ship at 70mph), tech, if finance matters (the new cars have good deals but you’re paying more to start) etc..
Thanks Jon. Yes, I have been on your site a few times, useful! Edited by Heres Johnny on Saturday 17th February 06:13
Range wise I would like a real world 240-250 miles, in order to be reasonably future proof and not having to divert too often. 100D would be great but is I think beyond my budget, so is a question of finding what is next best.
We are in the SW, and are about 15 miles from superchargers where I live and also at work. A bigger 'fuel tank' would enable me to use these to visit once or twice a week or so and power more of my normal journeys. We have a 7kw type 2 charger at home already, so that is not a bad starting point for other charging.
I like 'quick' but range is a higher priority, unless we are just trading 10-15 miles off. Tech wise I think things are moving so fast there will be something else in 3 years, so I want AP but am not so concerned as to whether it is AP1 or 2. I know Tesla give OTA updates, but they will still want to encourage people to trade up.
Finance wise, the sirens are calling me to blow it all on an X100D. Sensible head on (like most of us I am hesitant about taking a large amount of debt even if cheap on a depreciating asset - and having a year or two ago had a life threatening illness I wouldn't want to leave my wife to deal with a finance company) is saying borrow less or go full cash and buy either an S P85D, or S 75D. Tesla did have an S75 RWD up this week for around £50k, but it went off the site within 2 days. Nice problem to have though!
Heres Johnny said:
You’ll not get 240 miles out of anything other than a 100 battery the way you plan to drive, you might get 240 out of a 90D in one go, conditions would need to be perfect to get that out of a 75, but it’s relatively peanuts to charge at home so trying to super charge once a week and do nothing in between isn’t really the way to go. As an aside, P cars range will be down by 5-10% on the figures above and larger wheels the same again, a P90D on 21” wheels is about 15% down in total against a 90D on 19”. X tend to be a further 10% down.
I personally think buying used helps avoid the worst depreciation, new is good if you want the finance or you’re putting it into your company for tax benefits, whereas pre March 17 cars will have unlimited supercharging that stays with the car, after then the unlimited supercharging stops when the car changes hands, it has zero VED, after then it’s £310 a year, if you buy from Tesla you’ll get a fresh 4 year warranty unless the cars over 50k miles.
I could push you to new in the hope you’d use my referral but I’m not.
Thanks Jon, good advice. Your website is interesting, some AUC cars seem to have been in stock at Tesla for 9 months. In a normal world these would find their own level, the lack of transparency on pricing and risk of paying well over actual value is a bit of a concern. Hoping to talk to an AUC person next week...I personally think buying used helps avoid the worst depreciation, new is good if you want the finance or you’re putting it into your company for tax benefits, whereas pre March 17 cars will have unlimited supercharging that stays with the car, after then the unlimited supercharging stops when the car changes hands, it has zero VED, after then it’s £310 a year, if you buy from Tesla you’ll get a fresh 4 year warranty unless the cars over 50k miles.
I could push you to new in the hope you’d use my referral but I’m not.
Leading on from my first post; Tesla very kindly lent me a car over the weekend, which was great as it meant I could see how it works in normal life in terms of fitting kids (9,12,14) in etc.
The good news is that a Model S works for the five of us fine. The bad news is that Tesla say they are putting up their PCP rates this week by 0.7%. A bit of a pain as I did not really want to buy immediately, however the cheap rates really do make a difference. Decisions!
I have also enquired about a used AP1 75D at Hill Moren, has anyone dealt with them? I would probably still want some finance, has anyone secured a decent PCP rate outside of Tesla?
The good news is that a Model S works for the five of us fine. The bad news is that Tesla say they are putting up their PCP rates this week by 0.7%. A bit of a pain as I did not really want to buy immediately, however the cheap rates really do make a difference. Decisions!
I have also enquired about a used AP1 75D at Hill Moren, has anyone dealt with them? I would probably still want some finance, has anyone secured a decent PCP rate outside of Tesla?
Heres Johnny said:
Tesla deals come and go, the pressure of changing finance rates is probably linked to selling a new inventory car before the quarter close. Once we’re into the next quarter there may be new deals (but there might not).
Hillmoren stock is usually Tesla stock they’ve sold out to the trade. I bought one from them and it was ok, but only because I knew what I was looking at and the car was 5k cheaper than any other and 8k cheaper than Tesla we’re advertising it for a month earlier. I’m still waiting for my free charger and the last email I had from them was ‘do you still want it?’
There are a lot more new inventory cars knocking around than they have listed so if you are going down that route then take a look here: it also lists most of the used cars outside the Tesla network.
http://savemylegs.com/tesla/forsale.html
There are a few new inventory, pre reg cars for around 70k, you just need to be ok with Tan interior. That’s 10k more than hilmoren but full warranty, slightly newer and the later version on AutoPilot. If Tesla deliver on their AutoPilot promises will be worth something in the future.
Thanks. Were Hill Moren open to negotiating when you bought?Hillmoren stock is usually Tesla stock they’ve sold out to the trade. I bought one from them and it was ok, but only because I knew what I was looking at and the car was 5k cheaper than any other and 8k cheaper than Tesla we’re advertising it for a month earlier. I’m still waiting for my free charger and the last email I had from them was ‘do you still want it?’
There are a lot more new inventory cars knocking around than they have listed so if you are going down that route then take a look here: it also lists most of the used cars outside the Tesla network.
http://savemylegs.com/tesla/forsale.html
There are a few new inventory, pre reg cars for around 70k, you just need to be ok with Tan interior. That’s 10k more than hilmoren but full warranty, slightly newer and the later version on AutoPilot. If Tesla deliver on their AutoPilot promises will be worth something in the future.
Edited by Heres Johnny on Tuesday 13th March 06:41
The end result of all the above is that I have just bought a very lightly used Model S 100D. Very happy with it, it has all the spec I would have wanted but would not have wanted to pay list price for.
I didn’t buy from Tesla (being told that a P85D was priced ‘razor sharp’ in the mid 60’s by their latest used sales guy rather ended that idea), but did get some good advice from Richard Symons, he is certainly someone I would be pleased to deal with in the future.
Just waiting to get the car added to my Tesla account next, enjoying it, it is silly fast yet when you want to chill with AP and great audio you can. Still have my old Porsche 968 for fun, driving the two back to back tonight was interesting, Tesla could still learn a few things about how well made some cars used to be!
I didn’t buy from Tesla (being told that a P85D was priced ‘razor sharp’ in the mid 60’s by their latest used sales guy rather ended that idea), but did get some good advice from Richard Symons, he is certainly someone I would be pleased to deal with in the future.
Just waiting to get the car added to my Tesla account next, enjoying it, it is silly fast yet when you want to chill with AP and great audio you can. Still have my old Porsche 968 for fun, driving the two back to back tonight was interesting, Tesla could still learn a few things about how well made some cars used to be!
DJP31 said:
Congratulations! Richard Symons is excellent and highly regarded. He will do very well, and especially whilst Tesla are such a shambles with their CPO’s. Have you joined the closed Facebook group? Plenty of good info in there.
I agree about the build quality, definitely room for improvement but for me it fine, and the rest of the car more than makes up for the odd dodgy panel gap or two.
Thanks, have just messaged the closed FB group. Ran the kids to school today, which made them happy!I agree about the build quality, definitely room for improvement but for me it fine, and the rest of the car more than makes up for the odd dodgy panel gap or two.
BishBosh said:
Well done Biggles, great car.
I couldn’t stomach the cost of a new one either...nor could I pay for a CPO car from Tesla so ended up with one from Hillmoren.
Quite a high miler for only 1.5 years old but still well within Tesla warranty and also in for free supercharging as well as zero tax. It’s a P90D with an extremely high options list. Looking at the price this car sold at originally it would seem that I have got it for around £40k less than the new price.
So far can’t fault the service from Hillmoren, took my part ex in without issue and drove off with the Tesla all within an hour or two. A couple of issues that have arisen since and they have arranged a service / inspection with Tesla very quickly which will hopefully sort these out.
As for home charging a new unit is being installed on Tuesday (within 2 weeks of having the car) along side the one I have already for my i3 and all free of charge so very quickly arranged.
On my visit the Tesla I’ll arrange for the car to be registered to me so I can use the Tesla app, I’ve emailed them twice now with my details without a response....poor.
Just joined up the face ache Tesla forum and looks like a good lot of info there too.
So far so good and enjoying the car so thumbs up for me.
Sounds like a good car that you got BishBosh, Hill Moren seem to get some nice stock. I couldn’t stomach the cost of a new one either...nor could I pay for a CPO car from Tesla so ended up with one from Hillmoren.
Quite a high miler for only 1.5 years old but still well within Tesla warranty and also in for free supercharging as well as zero tax. It’s a P90D with an extremely high options list. Looking at the price this car sold at originally it would seem that I have got it for around £40k less than the new price.
So far can’t fault the service from Hillmoren, took my part ex in without issue and drove off with the Tesla all within an hour or two. A couple of issues that have arisen since and they have arranged a service / inspection with Tesla very quickly which will hopefully sort these out.
As for home charging a new unit is being installed on Tuesday (within 2 weeks of having the car) along side the one I have already for my i3 and all free of charge so very quickly arranged.
On my visit the Tesla I’ll arrange for the car to be registered to me so I can use the Tesla app, I’ve emailed them twice now with my details without a response....poor.
Just joined up the face ache Tesla forum and looks like a good lot of info there too.
So far so good and enjoying the car so thumbs up for me.
I messaged Tesla Friday about adding the car to my account, not holding my breath though. Do let me know if you get a breakthrough or helpful contact at Tesla in the meantime.
My car is only on 4k miles, though is nearly a year old; looking at what they do on the service I may hold off until I have some warranty work to do at the same time....
Biggles111 said:
Sounds like a good car that you got BishBosh, Hill Moren seem to get some nice stock.
I messaged Tesla Friday about adding the car to my account, not holding my breath though. Do let me know if you get a breakthrough or helpful contact at Tesla in the meantime.
My car is only on 4k miles, though is nearly a year old; looking at what they do on the service I may hold off until I have some warranty work to do at the same time....
I called Tesla last week, got put through to someone in Holland, and got the email address to contact to transfer the car to my account, which happened this morning, nice when things work. Have enjoyed playing with the 'summon' feature; a giant remote controlled car! Only downside is that I had unlimited charging until the car transferred over, and am on the standard 400kWh pa included now, which I guess more of us will have as time goes by and at least keeps the superchargers available for when really needed. I messaged Tesla Friday about adding the car to my account, not holding my breath though. Do let me know if you get a breakthrough or helpful contact at Tesla in the meantime.
My car is only on 4k miles, though is nearly a year old; looking at what they do on the service I may hold off until I have some warranty work to do at the same time....
Just need the roof bars next before we go on holiday in August, if anyone has a set for a facelift model that they don't need let me know...
BishBosh said:
Update,
Bizarrely I just got an email this morning confirming the car is now registered to my account. So that sort that out then....
Great news, do have a play with the Tesla app if you have not already, the Summon feature is quite cool though fairly limited...for now!Bizarrely I just got an email this morning confirming the car is now registered to my account. So that sort that out then....
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