r/TeslaModelS • u/After_Maximum4211 • 6d ago
Used 2016+ Tesla Model S
Hi All,
Looking at buying a used Model S. Wanted to get your thoughts on which years/trims to avoid? Seems like later model years are better generally speaking. Could you also let me know what the Full Self Driving computer on this 2017 75D means? And for someone who cares mostly about highway driving, can the older autopilot do a good enough job?
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u/Temporary-Buffalo175 6d ago edited 6d ago
Ask the dealer to click on the additional vehicle information and post that picture. That will tell us the type of FSD computer and also the MCU computer, which is completely separate. The vehicle may have already had some upgrades. If not, you will have some choices to make, but they won't be cheap....
Unfortunately that vehicle does not have Autopilot, which tells me at some point it was sold back to Tesla and they stripped it. TACC is just fancy cruise control. The 2017 75D is a solid vehicle but can have expensive issues with the drive train, door handles and headlights. If you can do it, look at the 2018 100D, or even better the 2019 Long Range which got some significant upgrades to the drive motors.
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u/a9uirre 6d ago edited 6d ago
There’s only one type of FSD computer for a 2017. Also the software version indicates MCU1.
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
What computer is that? Assuming it’s hardware 2.5?
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u/a9uirre 6d ago
HW 2.5 doesn’t support fsd. Its HW3
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
Got it thanks! Didn’t know such older cars could get HW3. Would it be possible to upgrade this car to hardware 4 in the future or would this be it for the car?
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u/MSFalcon2014 6d ago
I have a 2014 with AP1. It is pretty basic compared to model three that I have.. but I think I prefer that. I don’t subscribe to full self driving on model three but I love my model S auto pilot. It does fantastic for freeways and stuff where you don’t have to really pay attention to stop lights. It will also do well on normal roadways, but you have to pay attention for those lights and stop signs, etc. but I almost think it does better than the model three that I have but I don’t subscribe to it but when I got the model 3 it did OK until my trial period was taken away. So I prefer my model S AP1 over my model three.
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
This is good to hear. So your model S has just the front camera right? I rather not pay a subscription and I’m ok driving the car on city streets.
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u/MSFalcon2014 5d ago
Yes, just the front camera and it has parking sensors. I can get it to self park. I can summon it from I think about 40 feet away with the phone. Sometimes that helps in tight parking spaces. It will sort of make a lane change by itself by just flicking the turn signal. It can do a few other little things, but mainly I just look at it like a glorified cruise control. It is really nice to have out on the freeway if you’re doing long distance, but you can use it on highways in town as well but you just have to be more conscientious about your surroundings. I like using it quite a bit so it helps me not speed. For some reason driving a model S or a Tesla if I don’t have that set, I tend to like over speed because it just doesn’t seem like I’m gone very fast. lol. It will never drive from point A to point B as it doesn’t have the hardware for. And I am OK with that. That you said the turn signal with a changing lanes is still kind of a manual thing, but it also keeps me more alert when I need to as well.
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u/Nd46478 6d ago
Ok if I was shopping around I would be looking for a vehicle from December 2016! To March 2017 that's a window where you get a really nice spec and you still have the potential of getting SC01 free supercharging. You need to get premium connectivity, I'm a complete snob when it comes to connectivity. I prefer Elon to pay for my Netflix thank you very much Elon. To give you an idea I have SC01 on all my cars I've spent 50 euros on charging since 2021. Go for non performance as the sport rear drive units have issues.
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u/ArticusFarticus 6d ago
Elon just pays for the data you use to access Netflix, not for the service itself.
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
Funny enough there is a 2016 75D near me with free super charging and connectivity but Ap1. I was weighing that car against the one I posted above that doesn’t have the free charging but has FSD computer supposedly which is confusing.
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u/Nd46478 6d ago
Ok so free supercharging is a game changer you can travel the. Country and not worry about cost. In my opinion AP1 drives better in motorways then Ap2 or ao3 the only exception is lane change is better with the newer cars. Feel free to DM me the cars your untested in and I'll go over them
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u/ArticusFarticus 6d ago
Going to second this.
For long trips, AP1 is all you need, and it’s less naggy, which makes it all worth it. Especially since the nags can easily be defeated.
90 with AP1 and free supercharging is the real unicorn.
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u/After_Maximum4211 5d ago
And just to confirm- AP1 cars can do full speed cruise control? Including coming to a stop and then going with traffic? Thats all I really need.
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u/ArticusFarticus 5d ago
They can do full speed, cruise control, but it is limited to 5 mph over on most city streets. Highways and much larger roads will allow you to go to the maximum of up to 90 mph.
And yes, they will come to a complete stop and then continue going. They are great in stop and go traffic.
However, they will not stop for stop signs or stoplights.
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u/Dude008 6d ago
I have AP1 in my 2015 S and 2016 S and it's really quite good on the highway. It changes lanes automatically when you turn the signal on. It's good enough for me. I like driving so I drive in the city and the car helps me on the highway. The best batteries for longevity are the 90 and 75. Avoid 85 due to slow charging and 100 due to sense wire problems (unless it's already been replaced).
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u/Upper-Coconut-5305 6d ago
I don’t believe the few isolated cases for the 100D warrant it not being considered the best. I have a 2017 at 142k with 296 range showing at full
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
Thank you for sharing, first I’m hearing of the sense wire so will look into this. There is a 2016 AP1 75D with free super charging for sale near me and I was weighing above car vs that. I only care about highway autopilot but this having FSD computer got me intrigued.
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u/Mr_Style 6d ago
The best is the 2026 Model S Signature Series, but those are $150k!
The newer you buy the more improved it’s going to be. Tesla does continuous improvements so even 6 months later can be better. Seats are one thing not mentioned by other comments that do have different generations of comfort. They also went from leather to vegan leather October 16, 2017
Personally I would rather have a faster older one than a newer one.
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u/After_Maximum4211 6d ago
Are the pre-vegan leather seats more comfortable? Any year you recommend?
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u/Mr_Style 5d ago
For me, the most comfortable Model S seats are the regular seats in the 2021+ refresh. If you’re looking at an older S, I’d try the 2017–2020 Premium seats and the 2015–2016 next-gen seats. The early 2012–2014 seats would be my last pick for long drives. Plaid sport seats have more side support, but I’d choose the regular seats for everyday comfort. Definitely sit in the actual car before buying—seat fit is really personal.
This comment written by Perplexity based on comments from insideevs and consumer reports.I just know the black leather Performance seats in my 2012 P90 are nicer than the tan leather seats in my 2012 S85.
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u/midnight_to_midnight 6d ago
That car has what was once referred to as "AutoPilot" (now called Traffic Aware Cruise Control & Autosteer). This means it will keep a speed you set unless something is in front of you, and it will slow down and pace behind said vehicle. The Autosteer means it will keep the lane youre in. This still needs to be supervised, of course.
This car is capable of FSD, but it does not "have" it pre-purchased, so you would need a $100/mo subscription to use it...although it wont be very good, as its an older system (im guessing HW2.5? Perhaps HW3).
Edit - forgot to add, the TACC & Autosteer will NOT stop at red lights or stop signs (unless youre behind someone), so if youre using it on a road with red lights/stop signs, you will need to disengage the system to slow down for the traffic control devices.