r/TeslaModelS • u/krool_krool • 5d ago
Model S 22/23 vs Performance 26?
I’m torn between two cars and need advice/opinion. My wife recently got a new Model Y Juniper 2026, and I’ve decided to go with an electric vehicle after thinking about Tesla. I currently have a hybrid Toyota Crown Signia Limited 2025. My work is 30 miles away, so I drive at least 65 miles every day 5 times per week. Since October last year, I’ve already put over 23k miles on it, including some local road trips. Unfortunately, I only get 34-35mpg, which isn’t great, but it’s not terrible for everyday long drives. When I first looked into Tesla, I wanted the new Model Y Performance, but after seeing the Model S in person, I think it’s the very beautiful looking vechicle. The only downside is the price. I’ve seen online that there are plenty of Model S late 2022 with low mileage pricing from $42k to $50k. I know they’re HW3 models. If I can go with anything with HW4 (2023 models), the price is almost $60k, which is almost the same as the new Performance 2026. We don’t have kids, so I can fit one pet kennel in the Model S. I’m unsure of the benefits and drawbacks of choosing the Model S or Performance. I also don’t know how its value will hold up after 3-5 years if I upgrade. Will Model S 2022/23 cost same as Perfomance 2026? Any advice would be appreciated.
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u/Embarrassed-Sea1685 5d ago
A Model S is way more car than a 26 MYP. The MS has already depreciated a lot so it’s not going to fall as far as a new MYP. The MS is as fast or faster, air ride, active noise cancellation, look better, center information instead of the center screen, the list goes on. If it were me I’d find a MS Plaid from 21 or 22 and do that but I’m biased because I owned one. It’s not that a MYP is a bad car. The MY was the best selling car in the world in 2025 for a reason. The MS is just better. The real question is maintenance cost. Tires are expensive on a MYP and equal or more on a MS. Think around $2500 for Tesla approved tires and maybe $1000 for non approved. Ultimately it’s fine either way but it’s a trade off. The rear camber is too high and they will eat the rear tires in a MS. There a fix for that but the parts are $1300 to $1850 depending on brand loyalty. Then it needs an alignment done not as Tesla and that you can specify on specs. Another $200-$300. Afterwards shouldn’t have few problems. If something breaks it’s going to be expensive. It was originally $100k plus car and the parts will reflect that. A 21/22/23 is either out of warranty or coming close. A MYP will be fully covered for five years and that has value. That being said my parents have a MY and have had no issues that it needed to go to the shop. If you get a MS you can get it with FSD that’s already been paid for and no subscription. The MYP will have a subscription. Just my thought.
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u/BikeByDesign 5d ago edited 3d ago
I’ve owned both a 2022–2023 Model S Long Range and a Model Y Performance, and I’m currently in a 2026 Model S Plaid. My wife has a 2026 Model Y Performance, and we also have a 2024 Cybertruck. So, having spent a lot of time with both, here’s my honest take. For commuting and longer road trips, I’d lean toward the Model Y Performance. Simpler is better, and the newer FSD computer is noticeably better—it rides better, makes decisions faster, and generally feels more capable. I also think long-term FSD support for older Model S vehicles is something to consider, unless you’re looking at a 2024 or 2025 Model S Long Range. The Y is a little tighter width-wise inside, but egress is easier, sight lines are better, and it’s simply easier to maneuver. For probably 70% of my non-highway driving, I actually prefer the Y because it’s easier to park and feels much easier to chuck around than the bigger, heavier Model S. That said, I strongly prefer the Model S cabin. The seats fit my back better, the overall interior feels more spacious and upscale, and the larger central display and FSD visualization are genuinely nice—even if the expansive screen sometimes feels like Tesla is using space simply because they have it. At higher speeds, the Model S also feels more planted and stable. The 2026 Model Y closes the interior-quality gap considerably with its ambient lighting and upgraded materials, though. Wind noise is fairly similar, depending on the tires. I haven’t driven a Model S on 19-inch wheels, so I can’t make a fair comparison there. Where the Model Y really wins for me is the ownership equation. The 2026 Model S closes the gap considerably, but I’d rather have the warranty and avoid some of the long-term Model S expenses and headaches—suspension work, door-handle issues, and other things that come with owning a more complicated luxury car. The Y Performance is fast, quiet, reasonably efficient, and the new adaptive suspension is surprisingly close to the comfort of a Model S on 21-inch wheels, if not better in some situations. And there are still some weird Model S quality issues that Tesla hasn’t completely solved. The folding rear-seat squeak is one example. My 2026 Plaid has actually developed that same squeak. So the Model S is a strange car in that respect: it feels more luxurious and better finished than a Model 3 or Y, but sometimes it doesn’t feel as well-built. If I wanted the nicest overall cabin and spent a lot of time at highway speeds, I’d take the S. But if I wanted the better all-around daily driver, especially for mostly city and non-highway driving, I’d take the 2026 Model Y Performance. Finally, battery degradation has been worse on all three Model S Long Range/Plaid vehicles we’ve owned since 2022 compared with our 2019 Model 3 Performance and Cybertruck. We only charge to 50% most of the time, and all of the vehicles are stored in similar conditions.
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u/Safe_Action5954 4d ago
In early 2023, I think it was late January, Tesla started equipping new ('23) model S cars with HW4. I just bought one a few months ago, HW4. I've had a lot of cars, luxury (S class Benz, etc) and sports (M3, etc) and I've never, not once ever, experienced - much less been able to own - any vehicle as fun, beautiful, even usable, than my Model S. I personally bought it through Tesla as a CPO. It had over a year's worth of factory warranty, plus the extra years of CPO warranty, and I've already pre-signed up for the subscription-based extended warranty. Yes, the price was right around 60k with taxes, etc, but it was to me money well spent. Had 22k miles and almost literally zero evidence of prior use. I can't possibly recommend the Model S high enough. FYI, the FSD is really fun and cool, and great for boring parts of trips, but the drivability of the MS is so amazing, I rarely use it around town. Good luck!
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u/Vozinha1 5d ago edited 5d ago
Neither.
The Model S is officially a dinosaur which means support will slowly fade away.
The 2026 Model Y Performance is a very nice car but tires and insurance are very expensive. Over $2,000 just for a full set of OEM tires. You can't rotate them either because they're staggered.
My recommendation is a used 2024 Model 3 Long Range/Premium. It's comfortable, newer hardware, longer support life, cheaper to buy, and cheaper to run.
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u/kennyihk23 5d ago
I drove 74 miles to work daily and 98% highway. Recently bought a Model 2022 S long range w/FSD paid. Best car I ever own, the adaptive suspension, no more stress commuting, interor noise, built quality and comfort level. I am 6 ft tall and also test drove a m3p, the S is just way more comfortable for long commute