If financing, I don't see why you would upgrade to performance with all the options. Especially if concerned what others would think.
It also depends a lot on why you are buying it.
If you are buying it to stop damaging the next generation (either on environmental, financial, or national security) or to try to prevent deaths of soldiers being put in harms way, AND are not afraid to tell people, then I don't think there is any reason not to buy it.
As a matter of fact, if you can swing it, many would say it is your patriotic/moral duty to do so.
Lol.. maybe it's his patriotic duty to buy the 60kWh or 85kWh. But the Performance model? It is *definitely* the only choice for a true red blooded American..
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In response to what income is required to purchase a Performance model? With sound household finances a lot of folks even making $50-60k could make the payments.
That said, I think it would be a horrible decision to make. When you buy an expensive car you are also buying expensive liability. That means, higher insurance costs and potentially devastating insurance deductibles for every scratch, parking lot dent and cracked windshield (to say nothing of a devastating accident). The cost of new tires alone (which you will replace with breathtaking frequency) is shocking, even if you are making a six figure salary. Do you seriously want to get into a situation where you are driving around your $100k car, with bald tires, dings, scratches and registration that's 6 months out of date because of unanticipated costs being piled on top of the hefty financial strain of the monthly loan payments?
And I'm not even mentioning the risk of some horrible design flaw where the battery spontaneously, and explosively, combusts and leaves a smoking crater in your driveway, and you are left with having to fill in the hole yourself as a bankrupt Tesla gets liquidated. Even if we set aside the wingnut scenario's, there could be some recall that crushes Tesla and leaves you with nothing.
Plus, the money you spend on any car over basic econobox transportation is just a sunk cost. In the case of a $100k car, it will be worth something like $10-15k in 6-8 years. Unless you think you can drive it (and maintain it) for 30 years that's a huge amount of money that could have made a substantial impact on your retirement.
Basically, I think the old rule applies here. If you are wondering what the cost is, it's probably too much.