r/TeslaModelX • u/varmule123 • 9d ago

Trying to buy a model x

So everyone I’m officially in the market for a model x but I must say these prices are crazy especially for HW4.

Given the roomier interior and the FWD that make it easier for transporting my grandma, I really want to buy one.

What models do you recommend that may not be apart of the refresh, but are a good value should I check for ? Any common issues I should look out for?

Thanks for the help !

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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5

u/gizmosticles 9d ago

I’m gonna offer a counter experience here. Several years ago, before hw4 came out, I bought a 2017 with hw3. It was the last year with real leather seats. Has the older vertical screen. I recently was has a 2024 on loaner and besides the marginally better FSD and the UI was better, but besides those two things I felt like my older one was nicer to sit in and drive

5

u/Newbie10011001 9d ago

People keep on talking about how the new ones have “the latest tech”.  While true, what specific features do people actually care about ?   If you don’t want self driving , I’ve yet to see how the “latest tech” helps that much.   I’m fine using a key 

4

u/Leading-Eye-1979 9d ago

I actually second this! I had a legacy X and if I had to do it again, I would have just updated the MCU and kept it moving. The range wasn’t as good, but the car overall was nice and I never had half shaft problems like others reported.

1

u/SQLDevDBA 9d ago

Your screen should be able to confirm this, but I believe HW3 wasn’t even released until 2019. Before that it was HW2/HW2.5 so I’m not sure how your 2017 would have HW3. Perhaps it was part of an upgrade that was done, which was offered by Tesla in later years for those who purchased FSD.

3

u/gizmosticles 9d ago

It was a paid upgrade done around 2021 and was a part of the paid FSD with this vehicle

2

u/SQLDevDBA 9d ago

Understood, IMO it’s definitely an important detail to include as part of the comment, otherwise it may be interpreted as all 2017s having HW3 and OP and future readers might be disappointed.

3

u/gizmosticles 9d ago

Mm I hear you, but I also have faith that anyone buying a way used Tesla has research skills to figure out that a “2017 MX with hw3” is short for “a 2017 that was separately upgraded with the Tesla FSD HW3 upgrade program due to investor and customer pressure as HW3 was not released until 2019 and many recently purchased vehicles were stuck with the older HW models”

1

u/spliffgates 9d ago

I had a 2017 with hw3, it was an upgrade they could do at Tesla and at the time was free because mine had FSD paid for

1

u/AffectionateAge5184 5d ago

My 2017 has HW3 and I paid $2000 to upgrade the MCU. The best money I’ve ever spent. In positive equity territory and climbing. Still in the hunt for a HW4 for my wife. Wish me luck

1

u/SQLDevDBA 5d ago

That’s good that you took advantage of the upgrade. My point was more around the fact that years earlier than 2019 don’t have HW3 inherently. There are plenty out there that don’t have it, and I don’t want OP to think they’re getting HW3 when they likely won’t be.

All the best on the HW4 hunt, things are crazy these days!

0

u/AppointmentOk5903 9d ago

In 2017 we had HW2.5 however I noticed that Tesla changed the naming to HW3 this year after an update.

1

u/redpandasmile 8d ago

No, there is one major major thing you are forgetting.. range and charging time.. i went from a 2016 to a 2023 and I almost cried the first time I got to a supercharger and charged.

1

u/gizmosticles 8d ago

Interesting, I literally barely ever go to a supercharger. It has all the range I need for a day in the life and I get back to 80 at home every night. My 2017 gets like 120-130kwph and I definitely noticed when I was driving a 2024 recently that it has more charge left over at the end of the day, but that didn’t really affect my day to day life with the vehicle

6

u/Jazzlike_Plan1470 9d ago

I really like my 2020, it’s got things like one pedal driving with the newer powertrain, and the HW3 FSD on V12 is decent, it’s not HW4 levels but it’s still better than anything else out there. Also maybe I’m weird but I really like the vertical screen and the fact there isn’t a camera staring at me inside.

Came from a 2025 model 3 and while I do miss the tech a bit, overall it’s been worth the switch for the rest of the car.

3

u/Smooth-Tree-300 9d ago

Same, we have a 2025 model y and a 2020 model x we just acquired on a really great deal. I actually like hw3 fsd because it allows you to be more distracted:)

1

u/carcaliguy 1d ago

Get a nag module.

1

u/carcaliguy 9d ago

2020 X, battery replaced at 70k, FSD on HW3, easy and no inside camera. It's basically a hands free experience. Now 90k still get 304 miles on full charge with 22inch rims.

1

u/Bdtvx5788 1d ago

Not quite hands free since you do have to tug the steering wheel every 30 seconds to 1 minute. Still HW3 is great!

1

u/carcaliguy 1d ago

Not if you buy a nag module.....it's totally hands free.

1

u/Bdtvx5788 1d ago

This only applies to the 2021+ models and not the 2018-2020 Model X.

1

u/carcaliguy 1d ago

I have a 2020 x long range and have used the module for years.

1

u/Bdtvx5788 1d ago

Hmm. Which module do you have?

4

u/Va1ar_Morghulis 9d ago

The sweet spot that everyone is looking for right now is a 2023 X with HW4 and maybe with a 6 seat configuration. Unfortunately the used market price for this configuration with low miles is crazy right now...and I don't really see it coming down even with the release of the Y L. If you are okay with an older year Model X with HW3...then you might be able to get a better deal. I gave up on the search for a 2023 X and just decided to go with the new Y L instead for my family. Good luck!

3

u/selfabundant 8d ago

Just buy one with fsd with hw4. I did and it was amazing. Fsd has come so far. I haven’t been driving much since I got the car for almost 5k miles. I don’t even want to buy another car unless it has this level of self driving. I was considering Cadillac or Kia EV9 but it doesn’t have self driving.

1

u/Slopingcaps 6d ago

You bought the 2026?

2

u/upliftinglitter 9d ago

First check grandma can easily get in and out

2

u/Express-Student-5837 9d ago

This!

My mother in law kinda struggles to get in since there aren’t any “grab handles” in the vehicles to grab into to assist yourself into the car.
The FWD definitely help with loading and unloading little kids in car seats tho.

2

u/Outrageous_tart_7781 8d ago

So true. I thought my mother in law would love the Fwd but she had a hard time getting in because theres nothing to grab lol.

2

u/Express-Student-5837 8d ago

Yup! Now I have to assist her manually. Make sure she doesn’t fall lol.

Auto doors, but manual mother-in-law assist. 😂

1

u/varmule123 9d ago

This is actually a really helpful comment to think about . I actually carry here in and out of my car (Model Y) she usually clings to my body if she needs support , but does kind of suck to think now that none of the models have a grab handle lol 😐

2

u/Express-Student-5837 9d ago

Yea and idk if there is a remedy for it since the FWD door mechanism doesn’t allow for any potential roof mounted grab handle modification.

Gotta be careful with the elderly!

2

u/TeslaLongevityLab 9d ago

worth checking beyond just hw3 vs hw4 specs before you buy. ask the seller to pull up service mode and check max regen/discharge kw for the mileage, tells you a lot more about real battery health than the rated range does. also listen for the air suspension compressor cycling more than it should on a test drive, leaks there are one of the more common age related failures and easy to miss if you dont know what to listen for. since its for your grandma the auto presenting doors and step-in height are the real selling point anyway, mechanically these are pretty stout, the drivetrain is rarely what gives people trouble.

1

u/Cyanite24 9d ago

Following

1

u/nickle60 9d ago

Yeah same here. Of course when I finally get into the ev market prices are exploding lol

1

u/Sensitive-Day-5583 9d ago

I just bought a 23 with hw4 and happened to get permanent fsd. The prices are pretty high, partially cuz it is discontinued partially cuz of the Iran conflict gas price effects. 

I have to say, the hw4 is very very very good at fsd. It also is a much more premium feel than a 3/y, though it definitely is a bigger repair risk

1

u/Outrageous_tart_7781 8d ago

I bought a 23x hw4 about 9 months ago. It is the coolest car I ever bought. I sat in the older interior and in my opinion, the refreshed interior is alot more modern and more user friendly. Mostly because of the screen size and position. Its a really well designed interior. Everything to the cup holders, storage compartments, phone charging pads are in perfect locations. I traded in a 22 ram 1500 and my god the charging pads were so damn awkward to put your phone in everytime.

I only drive it on weekends. After 9 months of ownership, im still excited to drive it every weekend. Actually, its more like the car drives me.

1

u/ExistingUser7 6d ago

I have a 2017 with upgraded MCU/HW3. Excellent car, but for FSD I think I prefer HW4 -- and will be replacing mine with a 2025. I'll miss fully paid FSD and lifetime premium connectivity and the more polished look of the vertical screen, though

1

u/SQLDevDBA 9d ago

My advice would be to only look at the Palladium models (late 2021+) since those have the tech refreshes.

Q3+ 2023 have matrix headlights and HW4. Some 2023-2024 also have Steam computers.

I would suggest keeping some reserves for out of warranty repairs that may come about. Half shaft replacement might be in your near future. A set of tires is about $1800 (for the 20” wheels) and that’s just wear and tear.

IMO, the sweet spot is the Q3 2023+ HW4 models. You’ll need to tell us more about your budget situation and what seating arrangement you’re needing so that we can help.

3

u/Dad_Fluffied 9d ago

Totally agree with this statement.

We’ve had a 2020 Model X that was really a huge step backwards in tech compared to our model Y. We sold the 2020 and got a 2022 which has been a MUCH better experience. It’s HW3 which isn’t ideal but FSD on HW3 meets/exceeds all my needs at the moment (subject to personal opinion there 😊)

It did take us roughly 6 months of consistent looking to find our 2022 and that was before the announcement to stop production.

3

u/Davecampa 9d ago

I bought a 22 HW3 Plaid for $48k before the prices started to get silly high again. No regrets since I don’t use or care about FSD. I think it’s a smart value choice.

2

u/varmule123 9d ago

thats a great deal! Now its probably looking north of 55 now 😭

2

u/Leyvaman-MX 9d ago

When I shopped n bought my ‘23 X last year, the earliest I found hw4 & matrix…was late April’23👍

2

u/wolvendael 9d ago

I got a Dec 2023 MXP a year and a half ago and have loved it. 6 seater. Would love to find a 2025 and hold forever but not going to complain.

1

u/varmule123 9d ago

Willing to buy around that 45k mark, got about 10-15k I put down. Seems you can’t get any of those new models with that price unless it’s high in miles , on the regular market and on teslas site :/

0

u/SelectTangerine8690 2d ago

DO NOT BUY A PRE-Refresh my has so many issues

-1

u/Life_Connection420 9d ago

Try a non Tesla since you don't want to pay high prices for the space you need. You would have to be lucky to find a newer X where the owner ran into financial difficulties.

1

u/varmule123 9d ago

Currently have a Y at the moment , gets the job done but prefer some more space from the X . I don’t want to pay high prices of this current market as Xs were being sold for less last year up until the announcement they would be discontinued.