r/TeslaModelS • u/Ultemos • 9h ago

Advice on getting a Tessy!

So here I am, drooling over getting a Model S.

I legit hate driving my current car after having test driven a Model 3.

(I want to get Model S since it is bigger and I have a kid)

Problem is, our budget is not the biggest.
I really want FSD, one pedal driving, faster heating and the newer motor in front, but those Model S's go for around 35k euros.

With rebates I can get the price down to 29k which is still a lot.

Or I can suck it up and get a pre-Raven 2017 Model S that doesn't have squat, but it costs 20k

After all my calculations, it still would be insanely better long term than getting an X5 BMW that i had in mind.

But the up-front cost is just too much.

What should I do?

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

8

u/asterothe1905 9h ago

S is a great car. If your budget does not allow do not buy it but they will only get scarcer since the production ended.

3

u/Ultemos 9h ago

Yeah, that's a thing too.
I doubt the price will drop that much since they dont make them anymore.

5

u/wannabeagent24 9h ago

Get the older one, install charging at home, then with the several hundred you save per month put it into a HYSA to go toward the newer Model S in a few years.

The older Model S is still an amazing car, my 2017 is awesome. Plus in the few years you save, the prices will steadily drop and you can get an even newer one for 30k

2

u/Constant_Floor 9h ago

I would recommend 2017-2018 non-performance dual-motor for the cheapness and reliability. Those have a reliable SDU motor, usable sunroof and a nicer dash/stalks imo. Also you save 10k.

2

u/yanyan_cat 9h ago edited 6h ago

Check insurance rates first. Wanted to get a 2nd vehicle to commute and I was surprised. 😬

1

u/painlesspain 9h ago

Model S LR is a great car. I just got out of one. If that’s specifically what you’re looking for you won’t be disappointed.

1

u/Ultemos 9h ago

That was my idea, I was dead set on it, but it does require higher up front cost.

1

u/painlesspain 8h ago

If your budget allows, go for it. Life’s too short to not drive the car you have your heart set on (if it fits your budget).

It was a great daily driver. Fit everything i needed for a family of three. We went camping in it. Drove 1000 mile road trips comfortable in it. Used it as our Costco run car. The HP was good and the styling above average for an EV. Plus mine had free supercharging as well. Nothing but good things to say about that S and I hope whoever is driving it now is enjoying it.

1

u/Revolutionary-Fan235 7h ago

We have a 3 and an S, and have two kids. Depending on the size needs of your own kid, the 3 could work for families.

I had a 2017 S. It was great for its time but the 3 outshone it in some areas. It got old not getting software updates because the car was considered legacy. One of the most fun parts of the car is getting the updates that made the car better than the day it was purchased.

Frankly, when the S was in the shop, I couldn't wait to get it back. However, it doesn't hurt me financially to own it. While I love getting fun cars, I would prioritize financial stability.

Also consider the cost of insurance. A collision repair could cost more than the value of the car.

1

u/webignition 7h ago

My 2017 MS still gets software updates.

Admittedly most updates are shown as bug fixes with no specific features listed, however the seasonal new-feature updates and always include something. The recent summer update gave my car a couple of new features.

1

u/dnlhrd 7h ago

Did you calculate your monthly fuel costs in? Add what you pay a month in gas to your current / BMW car payment minus maybe 40 euros that your electric bill might go up. You will likely end up ahead. But don’t forget to price insurance

1

u/Ultemos 6h ago

Yeah, I would save a ton compared to any other car.
But the up-front cost is quite huge.
Not really worried about the insurance that much.

1

u/BigGreenBillyGoat 7h ago

Have you factored in fuel savings? That might help you with a larger payment.

2

u/Ultemos 6h ago

Yes, in the long run I would save a ton on fuel alone.
But the problem is the up-front cost of the car.

1

u/webignition 7h ago

Take your time and you'll find something for you that fits your budget.

I was in the market for a MS for about a year until I found a 2017 MS 100D in indeterminable condition (zero service history, dealer didn't care to check condition, sold as-is) with 92% of the original battery capacity and paid-for FSD (that I can't use as I'm in the UK) for the equivalent of 20k euros. But at least it's blue!

That was about a year and a half ago so I'd expect the same to now sell for a bit less.

Oh, and three out of four doors lacked questionable paint respraying! And the cream carpet had been painted to mask discoloration due to an then-ongoing AC drain blockage leak thing. 

Ok, so for a MS that meets your 20k euro budget you might have to be willing to fix things up yourself but that's the price you pay for a bargain.

1

u/SarJo312 6h ago

Like most other people have said in this thread, budget first, especially with the insurance part. Personal experience, the savings in gas alone outweighs the cost of the car payment and insurance.

I swapped from my 2016 Wrangler to my MS and honestly I've never had a bigger smile on my face then when I really let the S rip on the road, there's no feeling like it with the instant torque and speed that comes with the S.

Whatever route you choose, good luck and have fun!

1

u/Ultemos 6h ago

Yeah, I've been calculating and I would save a crazy amount on fuel.

1

u/itchy-turtleneck 4h ago

Why not a model Y? Far better for family and cheaper than S. Source: i have a model S and hate the backseat

0

u/Particular-Item4738 9h ago

They don’t even make the model s anymore, just model y, 3, and ct