M3 LR used purchase

[gotoPzero]

Pretty sure I am going to go for a M3 LR. *

Budget is max 27k.

2 options.

Option 1

I can get a mid/late 2020 car with about 40k on the clock from Tesla directly.
That will be under warranty for 18-22 months ish in theory (balance of factory + 1 year free extension).
They also upgrade to EAP for free so might add a tiny bit of value.
14 day guarantee.

Option 2

Used from either private or trade.
Prices look to be about 5-10% cheaper.
No extra warranty (I am very wary of used car warranty) so maybe 6-8 months warranty (ish).

I am thinking of going to Tesla directly?

Anyone done this?

'*

Then when you start thinking about it you start to look at SR+ LFP <edited> for similar money with half the mileage...

Edited by gotoPzero on Thursday 11th January 13:41

[gotoPzero]

Sorry when I was saying 2021MY I meant model year, my bad !

[gotoPzero]

So I meant LFP Model 3?

[gotoPzero]

Thanks I think the extra years warranty will swing it for me.
That said if I can get the equivalent car at a lower cost I will consider it.

Having now researched I think my 2 main choices are LFP RWD or China made LR.

Just need to wait and see if something comes in to stock in the next couple of weeks.

[gotoPzero]

So good news and bad.

Good first.. insurance, it seems that the LR isnt any more expensive than the SR. Thats a bonus, I guess. Both coming in about £850.

The bad news, I contacted Tesla about a car on their website with a view to buying and collecting when I come back to the UK next week.... er no. Their current lead time is 6 weeks! WTF.

This apparently is even if it says "ready for delivery".

[gotoPzero]

Any known issues with steering wheels? I am starting to look more closely now I have returned from my travels and I have noticed quite a few are showing what looks like issues with the leather (faux I assume) on the wheel.

[gotoPzero]

So had a test drive yesterday on a 21 plate LR.

They made me a "today only" offer on my car which seemed ok tbh - a touch over WBAC, so I put a deposit down and we were doing the paperwork when they decided to lower their offer on mine by 500. Bit cheeky.

So I didn't go through with it. Typical car supermarket doing car supermarket things IMO.

Will probably try motorway on mine today (think they run their sales on a Fri?).

As for the LR. Seemed decent, was like new inside Just under 30k on the clock. Steering wheel was fine. They did have others in stock which looked very tatty though. I have a feeling your average co car Tesla owner is a "it gets washed when it rains" type.

That said the one I was looking at had front PPF, so I am not sure if thats factory but I doubt it?

Drive was smooth and quiet. I like the low dash. Seats were not that supportive but its an A to B car I guess.

Overall its a lot of car for the money. If they do drop another 30% in March then I think they are probably bargain of the century at that price.

[gotoPzero]

WCZ said:

gotoPzero said:

So had a test drive yesterday on a 21 plate LR.

They made me a "today only" offer on my car which seemed ok tbh - a touch over WBAC, so I put a deposit down and we were doing the paperwork when they decided to lower their offer on mine by 500. Bit cheeky.
.

cheeky as fk, good on you for walking out.

i'd be annoyed as hell they wasted my time tbh

Yeah 2+ hours I was in there in the end. Funny they wanted the deposit up front before we started the paperwork had to be bank transfer. Would not start the paperwork till their accounts saw the money land in their account.

When I said ok send me back my deposit... "please allow 5 working days".

Yeah mick taken.

[gotoPzero]

Looking for advice ..... my car has sold... so now I really need to get my skates on to find a M3.

I am still torn between the SR+ and LR.

The SR+

I can get a 2022 with sub 20k miles.

Pros
LFP so in theory battery will be more durable
A year newer than LR
Around 2 years warranty left

Cons
Slower
No AWD
Not as much ultimate range
Not got the premium sound system
LFP does not like the cold

Will I regret a SR+? I think ultimate range is not an issue for me.
But performance.... its a while since I have had a "slow" car.

I do drive NSL roads quite a bit in the early hours and do enjoy a bit of "progress".
The other issue is I drive these roads in all weathers and I have had AWD for years for this reason.

I am likely to keep this for at least 4-5 years I would have thought.

Head says LFP, heart says LR?

[gotoPzero]

30k. But would prefer to spend 27 ish.

[gotoPzero]

What do you think about battery chemistry?

I am probably going to keep this for at least 4-5 years.

[gotoPzero]

spaceship said:

RayDonovan said:

As I mentioned earlier, I still think prices will depress heading towards Q2 2024 when the volume of 2021 LR lease models hit the market (doesn't really help you now though)..

Do you think they’ll keep dropping that much? I’m looking at LRs at the moment and there are more and more coming on each day.

They are selling, but they need to be at the lower end of the prices. I have a few on my watch list that have sold.

For LRs it seems for cars with sub 30k on the clock to get a sale I think you are looking at
2020=25k
2021=27k
2022=28k

There are virtually no 2022 cars for sale under 30k. I think once a few more come onto the market they might settle around 27k for the next few months.

The 2022 cars did (afaik) have slightly different battery ?

I think that might keep prices up?

[gotoPzero]

I think

Wheels
White interior
Tow bar
Enhanced AP
FSD
Paint

I think thats it.

[gotoPzero]

As a rule of thumb I think 2021 onwards yes but to be double sure just check the VIN.

Last letter should be C.

If its F then its USA car.

https://teslatap.com/vin-decoder/

[gotoPzero]

ghibbett said:

go the whole hog and get a Performance to maximise the potential of the Model 3.

lalalalala not listening

<loads up autotrader...>

[gotoPzero]

LivLL said:

Lastly, the battery - get it inspected both physically and via the service menu. It may be covered under warranty if the SOH gets really low but they’ll reject claims if it there is an physical damage such as dents or gouges the previous owner may have inflicted with careless driving off road or into debris for example.

I wouldn’t buy any car without checking underneath for physical damage, with an EV it’s very important to see an undamaged battery. Even just sticking the phone on a selfie stick and filming the underside is better than not looking at all.

Thank you thats very good advice and not something I had thought of.

[gotoPzero]

Well turning into a bit of a mission to find a decent car at a decent price.

A lot of the lower priced stuff is actually sold. I must have rang 3 or 4 places that told me its already sold.
I rang another 3 or 4 and getting anything from the car is not even on site to the car is currently out on loan.

I found one good private sale but missed it by an hour.

I think anything under 28k is selling. (21 plate LR).

A couple of nice cars up as private sales but they are asking 30k. Its just too much money, I guess I need to play the long game now.

[gotoPzero]

Yeah I dont think the RWD is as good a proposition as a used car.

I get why you would get one new. Its £10,000 extra for the LR.

But as a used car the price difference is more like £2,000 which is defo worth it IMO.

[gotoPzero]

RayDonovan said:

There's 117 Model 3s at BCA currently going through auction between today and next Monday/Tuesday, of that

67 LR (vast majority are 70 plates and onwards)
35 standard
Remainder performance models

Cheers, as usual I am on a time crunch. I think if I could hang on another 5 weeks it would be beneficial but I am now without a car and my wife is going into hospital in 2 weeks so I will 100% need a car.

[gotoPzero]

CharlieAlphaMike said:

gotoPzero said:

Yeah I dont think the RWD is as good a proposition as a used car.

I get why you would get one new. Its £10,000 extra for the LR.

But as a used car the price difference is more like £2,000 which is defo worth it IMO.

Ok. The price difference wasn't a major influencing factor for me. I just thought the RWD was perfect for my needs and I have no regrets

As I said in a previous comment. When looking at LR's, if AWD is important to you, check that it's actually an AWD because Tesla did release a number of RWD LR's to the market. I think they were mainly sold to the 'fleet' but clearly some will have made their way onto the used market now.

Thanks will keep an eye out! It says on the car info which motors it has so I will defo be checking!! Thanks/.