When it comes to electric drive, people don’t just buy the vehicle, they also buy the charging infrastructure. Of these, Tesla’s is arguably the best. Let’s see today Nice price or no dice The Model 3 is priced well enough to jump on board.
I have to say yesterday’s vote in my opinion 1989 BMW M3 Convertible there was a small protest. Remember, this is not a “Paris is Burning” protest. Instead, it was a quieter, more civilized counterpoint to the E30’s crazy turn at M3 prices in general. Ours was one of the rarest cars, and of course that generates a premium—supply and demand and all—but the $127,500 asking proved to be too much of a premium for most of you, and a whopping 92 percent No Dice loss.
Expensive or not, yesterday’s M3 evoked a simpler time. At that time, cars were unapologetically analog, one could only guess the sweeping electronic revolution of the time with rudimentary on-board computers and simplified engine controls. At the time, electric cars were only driven by weirdos and eco-conscious people willing to adapt to the platform’s many shortcomings.
Today, things are quite different. Even the cheapest and simplest cars have multiple computers and many high-tech gadgets. At the same time, fully electric cars have entered the mainstream. Much of this momentum is due to Elon Musk (sorry for the visuals) and his car company, Tesla. In less than a decade and a half, the upstart automaker has gone from a stumbling startup to one of the most heavily capitalized and prolific companies on the planet. Its two mainstream models, the Y and the 3, are the number one and number two best-selling cars in California, respectively. Globally, the Y outperformed all other cars in the first quarter of this year.
Tesla’s recent surge in sales is partly due to deep price cuts the company is offering on its two best-selling products. Thanks to market adjustments, this increased sales of both new and used models. Today we take a look at one used car and see if it’s priced low enough to make it a bargain or a dud.
This 2020 Tesla Model 3 a long-range model, which means there’s a motor at each end and a 75kWh battery under the floor. The rear permanent magnet motor and front induction motor combine to offer 393 horsepower and 307 lb-ft of torque. And because it’s electric, that torque is basically available from zero rpm. It can do this for a while, like Long Range 355 volt lithium ion the battery can provide more than 300 miles of range between charges. The EPA gives a fantastic rating of 333, but take that with a grain of salt. Add in the ability to drop at home or fast top up on Tesla’s trusted Supercharger network, and it’s not just a viable replacement for an ICE car, it’s a pretty impressive option in its own right.
The 2020 edition means this car lacks some of the niceties of the latest Model 3s. Tesla has updated the Model 3 for the 2021 models, imbuing the newer cars with heat pump HVAC instead of resistance heating, as well as some welcome interior trim and tech changes. These first generation cars also have bright trim, while the newer ones have all-black.
Other notable features of the car are the red paint, which was $2k new on the car, and the 19-inch Sport wheels. Because of their less efficient nature, these eat up your total mileage, but they look a lot better than the plastic-capped 18-inch Aero wheels.
While the exterior is stock, the base black cabin is not. Accessories include a carbon fiber headliner on the dash, matched with similar caps on the steering wheel. The big news, however, is the matching aftermarket yoke that replaced the 3’s traditional wheel. This is a matter of personal taste, but it does brighten up the interior a bit. The factory items – the ‘Vegan Leather’ upholstery and the piano black center console trim – are in great shape. Heavy duty rubber floor mats protect the tissue paper disguised as carpet on the floor.
According to the ad, the car has driven 47,100 miles, or just over 15,000 per year. That’s standard enough and bodes well for the future that an all-electric car means annual mileage with ICE dogs. However, this mileage means that the basic warranty is about to expire. The drive unit and battery are guaranteed for eight years or 120,000 miles, so the essentials still apply. The car comes with a title and an asking price of $31,100.
Well, that’s still under the $35,000 that Elon promised us we’d see in the Model 3, but that never materialized until now. However, a lightly used version may be just as good as new, and even cheaper here.
But is it a good deal? How about this Tesla treat for $31,100? Or are the newer ones better when you consider the tax breaks and discounts?
You decide!
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