Longtime lurker here, this is my first post, so please be gentle. :biggrin:
I just turned in my previous car that I was leasing, and have decided to splurge on a Tesla which I have been researching to death for the last year. Test drove one last month and fell in love. My budget unfortunately is pretty limited, probably in the 60-70k range (after any tax credit, before tax and license, etc.)
So i am torn at the moment whether I should by a new 60 (I have priced out one with tech, supercharger, wood decor at $78,700 before credits) or try to find a slightly used 85. So here are the pros and cons I have come up with:
New 60
Pros:
New car
$10,000 tax credit/rebate
I can configure however I like
AUTOPILOT
Cons:
May not have as many options as if I buy used
Large depreciation first year or two
Have to wait until 2016 to get $7500 federal credit
Used 85
Pros:
Might cost less than new 60
Longer range
I don't have to wait for tax credit/rebate
Possibly more features (panoramic roof, etc.)
Slower depreciation/possibly better resale value
Cons:
Not new
Likely will not get exact configuration I want
No tax credit
Shorter warranty due to age of car
Based on past driving I only see about 3-4 times a year where I would be traveling enough to need a supercharger, so I am not sure how much important having the extra range would be, but am I thinking the resale value later on (I plan on keeping a long time) might hold better with an 85. My other concern is how much I will lose out if I don't have autopilot if I go the used route. I don't think the whole self-driving thing is that important, but the TACC and other safety features are attractive to me.
I have tried looking for inventory S60's the last month or so but they are few and far between. The small handful available only have discounts of roughly 2-3k and they usually have had something added to them that I don't need (rear facing seats - I don't have kids, etc.) that wipes out any discount.
I keep going back and forth on this, so I though I would ask the board for some advice. Thanks in advance, I have already learned a ton reading on this site.
I just turned in my previous car that I was leasing, and have decided to splurge on a Tesla which I have been researching to death for the last year. Test drove one last month and fell in love. My budget unfortunately is pretty limited, probably in the 60-70k range (after any tax credit, before tax and license, etc.)
So i am torn at the moment whether I should by a new 60 (I have priced out one with tech, supercharger, wood decor at $78,700 before credits) or try to find a slightly used 85. So here are the pros and cons I have come up with:
New 60
Pros:
New car
$10,000 tax credit/rebate
I can configure however I like
AUTOPILOT
Cons:
May not have as many options as if I buy used
Large depreciation first year or two
Have to wait until 2016 to get $7500 federal credit
Used 85
Pros:
Might cost less than new 60
Longer range
I don't have to wait for tax credit/rebate
Possibly more features (panoramic roof, etc.)
Slower depreciation/possibly better resale value
Cons:
Not new
Likely will not get exact configuration I want
No tax credit
Shorter warranty due to age of car
Based on past driving I only see about 3-4 times a year where I would be traveling enough to need a supercharger, so I am not sure how much important having the extra range would be, but am I thinking the resale value later on (I plan on keeping a long time) might hold better with an 85. My other concern is how much I will lose out if I don't have autopilot if I go the used route. I don't think the whole self-driving thing is that important, but the TACC and other safety features are attractive to me.
I have tried looking for inventory S60's the last month or so but they are few and far between. The small handful available only have discounts of roughly 2-3k and they usually have had something added to them that I don't need (rear facing seats - I don't have kids, etc.) that wipes out any discount.
I keep going back and forth on this, so I though I would ask the board for some advice. Thanks in advance, I have already learned a ton reading on this site.