According to interviews in the past month, they will keep to their earlier pledge of $35k as a maximum starting price for the base model, and at least a 200 mile range on a single charge. No pics available yet, no other details that I’ve found, other than some general statements that they expect it to intro at less than $35K and more than 200 mile range.
As of Mar 31, you’ll be able to get on a waiting list with a one thousand dollar deposit, with deliveries beginning in late 2017. Current Tesla owners will be moved to the top of the list.
What equipment, performance, or other things would it take for you to decide to take the plunge?
For me, among them would be free recharges at their Superchargers for the life of the car, as they now offer on the Model S. Also, a hefty and comprehensive warranty. And an auto-pilot.
I’ll probably get one. I’m sure it will be very cool. The long wait is the only downside. And, I don’t want an auto-pilot. Do we still get a $7,500 tax credit? That would make it almost free…
I would rather have their SUV, but I’m not sure when that hits the streets.
I think there’s only a few states that offer really attractive tax credits for buying an electric car. Plus, since Tesla has been selling cars at a fairly healthy clip, it’s almost certain that the $7,500 Federal tax credit is only going to be available for just a fraction of the likely Model 3 buyers. That tax credit is going to phase out for Tesla in roughly early 2018, when Telsa “says” the Model 3 will be available.
My next car is going to have a plug. However, since Tesla is the number one U.S. company in terms of failing to deliver, I have no interest in reserving a Model 3, for several reasons:
It’s going to be late. You cannot possibly convince me that deliveries will begin on time.
Even if deliveries begin on time, they are going to deliver to people who want the totally tricked out versions first.
They are also going to start deliveries in California, and expand to the rest of the country later. Being in DC, well, who knows when the car will be available here.
There are more competitors in this space, so I have more choices. Sure, the Bolt is a possibility, but it is a smaller car… with the trade-off of actually getting the $7,500 tax credit. There’s more plug-in hybrids coming on the market each year. The attractiveness of leasing an electric car that’s actually available today, or buying a plug-in hybrid that’s substantially cheaper, is way more apparent than giving Elon $1,000 in hopes that three years from now I might - MIGHT - be able to buy one of his cars.
That being said, the car after my next car might be a Tesla. They are wonderful products.
I’m completely sold on electric drivetrains because I think they’re fun. However, batteries are expensive, and I my personal opinion is that the Model S is a $25k car with an $80k price tag owing to those batteries. My fear is that the Model 3 will feel like a Chevy Aveo but cost as much as a 3-series.
Also, I live in coal country, so there’s not much in the way of warm environmental fuzzies to running on electricity. I’ll probably own an electric car within the next 15 years, but I’m not going to be an early adopter on this one.
I get the impression that over ten score have in fact already done that. Not using dealerships, and pricing for the well-heeled, “hitting the streets” is a little less visible than with more conventional vehicles.
A manual transmission and a $15k price point. But I do want one, …eventually. Okay, maybe it doesn’t need a transmission, but can they find a way to make it more fun to drive than a golf cart?
I’ll be putting my deposit down on 3/31 the morning of the announcement. It’s refundable so there’s not a big risk.
I expect to pay somewhat more than the $35k base cost. If they have a loaded model with autopilot, extended range, higher performance, and dual motors for <$60k, I’ll likely get that. If the features are more expensive, I’ll be more judicious. Autopilot is probably at the top of the list but I’ll have a hard time choosing among the others. I don’t need ludicrous mode but I want something a tad faster than my 3-series.
Free supercharging is not a super-high priority for me. I’ll probably use it only a few times a year; the rest of the time I can charge at home. I’m willing to pay $25 or so on the occasions that I need it.
When it’s available, if it looks as sharp as the model S and X do (within reason), and the price is really kept to a reasonable level—competitive with say, the Chevy Volt—I’m sure my wife and I will consider it.
The one thing Tesla got right, imo, is where they put the charging port. Many other electrics and PiHs put the port forward, I guess because that is where they put the batteries.
Why would that matter? Because, should an enterprising enterprise or homebuilder construct some sort of compact trailer or roof rack with a generator in it, to facilitate really long trips, the plug would fit nicely back out of the way, rather than in front of the driver.
Assuming, of course, that the car would be good with charging in motion.
The Volt will turn on, but won’t go into gear, if it is plugged in. I assume the Tesla is the same. (probably to prevent driving away while attached–which I attempted once by mistake)
They’re saying late 2017? Adding in their usual delays that puts it square in 2018. A lot can happen before that.
If I had the money it would take a test drive and immediate availability to purchase it or any other car.
Back when I had the money for a new car I was trying to choose between 3 different makes. I waited a couple of weeks for one of them to come in for a test drive. Then I moved on.
