Tesla Model 3 vs Used Model S (#Electrifying Webinar Today!)

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Update: The webinar is over. You can now watch the recording our Facebook page. But also be sure to check out the detailed comparisons below.

♣ Date: July 29

♣ Time: 11:00 am NYC time / 8:00 am California time

♣ Location: On Zoom (register for free here) or livestreamed on our Facebook page

♣ Who: Matthew Pressman of EV Annex, Kyle Field of CleanTechnica, and Zachary Shahan of CleanTechnica (me)

As announced a few days ago, this week’s #Electrifying webinar is about getting a used Tesla Model S vs a new Tesla Model 3. With various Model 3 details unveiled last night in Fremont, California, and then on the Tesla website, we now have quite a lot to consider in order to make this choice.

In case you missed it, my original article about the webinar is on the bottom of this article, but first, here are a few Model 3 details we learned in the past 24 hours:

  1. Range options = 220 miles ($35,000 base price, delivery February–April 2018) or 310 miles ($44,000 base price, but seemingly with some other required options if you want the car between November 2017 and January 2018)
  2. Acceleration (0–60 mph) = 5.6 seconds (Standard trim) or 5.1 seconds (Long Range trim)
  3. Color options = Black (standard) or Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, or Red Multi-Coat ($1,000)
  4. Enhanced Autopilot = $5,000
  5. Full Self-Driving Capability = $3,000 more (requires Enhanced Autopilot)
  6. Premium Upgrades Package = $5,000
    • Premium heated seating and cabin materials throughout
    • 12-way, power adjustable front seats, steering column and side mirrors
    • Premium audio system with more power, tweeters, surround speakers and subwoofer
    • Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
    • Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
    • LED fog lamps
    • Center console with covered storage and docking for two smartphones
  7. Luggage Capacity = 15 cu. ft.
  8. Body = hybrid steel/aluminum
  9. Length = 185″
  10. Width = 76″ (73″ with mirrors folded)

Below are the specs for a used Model S 60 and a used Model S 85 that I just found on the Tesla website as well. For easier comparison, the used Model S specs are in bold and the Model 3 specs are underneath those and unbolded.

Tesla Model S 60 — $42,000

  1. Range = 210 miles
    … vs
    220 miles ($35,000 base price, delivery February–April 2018) or 310 miles ($44,000 base price, but seemingly with some other required options if you want the car between November 2017 and January 2018)
  2. Acceleration (0–60 mph) = 5.9 seconds
    … vs
    5.6 seconds (Standard trim) or 5.1 seconds (Long Range trim)
  3. Color = Blue Metallic Paint (good choice :D)
    … vs
    Black (standard) or Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, or Red Multi-Coat ($1,000)
  4. Enhanced Autopilot = No
    … vs
    yes, for $5,000
  5. Full Self-Driving Capability = No
    … vs
    yes, for the $5,000 above + $3,000 more
  6. Premium Features = LED cornering lights, Electrochromatic mirrors, Power folding & heated side mirrors, Power liftgate, Power seats, Obeche Wood Gloss Décor
    … vs
    $5,000 for:

    • Premium heated seating and cabin materials throughout
    • 12-way, power adjustable front seats, steering column and side mirrors
    • Premium audio system with more power, tweeters, surround speakers and subwoofer
    • Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
    • Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
    • LED fog lamps
    • Center console with covered storage and docking for two smartphones
  7. Luggage Capacity = 32 cu. ft.
    … vs
    15 cu. ft.
  8. Body = aluminum
    … vs
    hybrid steel/aluminum
  9. Length = 196″
    … vs
    185″
  10. Width = 77″
    … vs
    76″

Tesla Model S 85 — $41,200

  1. Range = 265 miles
    … vs
    220 miles ($35,000 base price, delivery February–April 2018) or 310 miles ($44,000 base price, but seemingly with some other required options if you want the car between November 2017 and January 2018)
  2. Acceleration (0–60 mph) = 5.4 seconds
    … vs
    5.6 seconds (Standard trim) or 5.1 seconds (Long Range trim)
  3. Color = White
    … vs
    Black (standard) or Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Pearl White Multi-Coat, or Red Multi-Coat ($1,000)
  4. Enhanced Autopilot = No
    … vs
    yes, for $5,000
  5. Full Self-Driving Capability = No
    … vs
    yes, for the $5,000 above + $3,000 more
  6. Premium Features = Tan Leather Interior, LED cornering lights, Electrochromatic mirrors, Power folding & heated side mirrors, Power liftgate, Power seats, Obeche Wood Gloss Décor
    … vs
    $5,000 for:

    • Premium heated seating and cabin materials throughout
    • 12-way, power adjustable front seats, steering column and side mirrors
    • Premium audio system with more power, tweeters, surround speakers and subwoofer
    • Tinted glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
    • Auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors
    • LED fog lamps
    • Center console with covered storage and docking for two smartphones
  7. Luggage Capacity = 32 cu. ft.
    … vs
    15 cu. ft.
  8. Body = aluminum
    … vs
    hybrid steel/aluminum
  9. Length = 196″
    … vs
    185″
  10. Width = 77″
    … vs
    76″

Rather interesting to me — given the focus of this webinar — Tesla included a few updates to its website that very clearly push people to consider a used/inventory Model S.

On my “My Tesla” page, there’s now this line: “Delivery Estimator — Learn more.” Clicking that link, I get to a page that asks me to pick the battery size I want and whether or not I want AWD. Right below that, and quickly followed by a red “See Inventory” button, the page reminds me, “Superior performance and range with Model S.”

(Hint, hint.)

For more context and commentary on this topic before jumping into the chat today, here’s the original #Electrifying webinar announcement:


Used Tesla Model S vs Tesla Model 3 (#Electrifying Webinar)

With Tesla Model 3 now in production, we’re having a lot of fun. The naysayers have not exactly quieted down (they actually seem louder than ever), but yet another major milestone they said was impossible is already in the rearview camera. New details on the Model 3 are coming out on Friday along with the final unveiling of the production version of the car. There will surely be some fun surprises. However, more or less, we know what the Model 3 is offering.

A question many consumers are wondering is basically right up there in the headline — would it be better to get a new Tesla Model 3 or a used Tesla Model S? Frankly, it’s a question I think about a lot and wonder myself. There is no objective right answer — different needs, interests, and abilities result in difference answers. But Matthew Pressman of EV Annex, Kyle Field of CleanTechnica, and I are going to discuss the tradeoffs and nuances of the models in our next #Electrifying webinar.

♣ Date: July 29

♣ Time: 11:00 am NYC time / 8:00 am California time

♣ Location: On Zoom (register for free here) or livestreamed on our Facebook page

Kyle, Matt, and I each have or have had a Tesla Model S in our stables. Matt, cofounder of Tesla aftermarket company EV Annex, also rode in the Model 3 on unveiling night, while Kyle and I stood on the test track for a couple of hours filming and photographing the beauty. Each of us has spent far too much time obsessing over any additional Model 3 details that pop out and blogging about many of them. But a topic that doesn’t seem to have gotten enough attention is the challenge of choosing between a new Model 3 and a used Model S.

Before launching into the discussion on Saturday, here are just a few items to consider:

Cash Money

  • The base price of a Model 3 is supposed to be $35,000.
  • There are currently 17 used Tesla Model S sedans for sale on Tesla’s USA site priced between $42,500 and $49,500. (Of course, there are many more priced higher, there are used Teslas on other sites as well, and cars are added/removed from the used car pool every day.)

Supercharging

  • Tesla Model 3 buyers get a limited amount of free Supercharging each year, after which there’s a fee to charge.
  • Of those 17 used cars mentioned above, 16 of them include unlimited free Supercharging.

Autopilot

  • All Tesla Model 3s include hardware that could make them capable of fully autonomous driving (eventually).
  • Not too many (if any) “low-priced,” used Model Ss have such hardware at this point.

Dimensions

  • Tesla Model 3 length x width = 185 x 76
  • Tesla Model S length x width = 196 x 77

Other comparisons can be seen on Tesla’s site.


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Zachary Shahan

Zach is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director, chief editor, and CEO. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao. Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA], NIO [NIO], Xpeng [XPEV], Ford [F], ChargePoint [CHPT], Amazon [AMZN], Piedmont Lithium [PLL], Lithium Americas [LAC], Albemarle Corporation [ALB], Nouveau Monde Graphite [NMGRF], Talon Metals [TLOFF], Arclight Clean Transition Corp [ACTC], and Starbucks [SBUX]. But he does not offer (explicitly or implicitly) investment advice of any sort.

Zachary Shahan has 7324 posts and counting. See all posts by Zachary Shahan