New Owners: What was your last car? How much more was the MS than that car?

I had a Chevy Volt. Totally loaded came to about $43K ish brand new. So my 85D was about $67K more than my previous car. I still can't believe I spent that much on a car, neither can my wife.

BMW 535i
About +80K

2008 - Mazda 3 for 19k
2012 - Audi A5 for 45k
2013 - P85 for 101k
2014 - P85D for 135k

Tesla is really bad for the checkbook ......

2004 Acura TL, ~75k

tesla-lwobker-tco - Google Sheets

2007 Zenn NEV, ~23k including one replacement lithium battery pack.

Honda Civic Hybrid 07
~75K 60kWh with every option

urbanscribe said:

fascinated by this article (previously posted)


[+] what was your immediately prior primary car before getting (and presumably primarily driving) the MS?
MAKE - MODEL - YEAR

[+] the premium, if any

DEFINED as [how much you paid for the MS] LESS [then-current value of the prior car]
in $

​

no need for the exact old/new $ details, just the difference

Click to expand...

Traded my 2009 Cadillac CTS in to Tesla in March of 2013. I think Tesla kinda low-balled me on the trade-in value. They never once even looked at the car, and just gave me a number. I had planned on trying to sell privately, but Tesla "surprised" me by calling me quite a bit before my expected delivery date telling me my car was already in and ready for delivery.

Difference after trade-in, including taxes and the Ontario $8,500 EV rebate was just under $85k. That number is about 40% more than I paid for the Caddy brand new (with no trade)!

2011 Chevy Tahoe LTZ
+$80k

The Tahoe was close to $50k brand new.

Hyundai Elantra 2007, Still have it 100,000+ miles
~75K-80K 60kWh

80K-16K =64K more.

Now planning to get Model 3 to replace the Hyundai in 2018 or 2019.

1) Toyota Prius v 2013.
2) $73k premium. (The Prius sold for $20,000 exactly, my Model S was $93k when all was said and done, not counting the tax credit.)

I personally wouldn't consider a normal luxury car. To spend all that money only to end up with something that guzzles gas is just something I wouldn't want to do. I love the Model S because it's a great car that's also extremely efficient. (And yes, the monetary savings from not buying gasoline is tiny, but it's not just about the money.)

2014 Ram 1500
+ 32,000

2011 Nissan Leaf - $33k
2015 MS - $76k
+$43k

1979 -- $900 for a 64 Mustang
1981 -- $6000, Chevy Camero
1988 -- $12k, Toyota Celica
1997 -- $17k, Toyota Tacoma (with camper)
2008 -- $40k, Prius T6
2015 -- $90k, Tesla

Our previously-purchased car was a 2010 Tesla Roadster, which would throw this off. But, the Roadster was primarily mine while my wife primarily drives the Model S.

Just considering my primary vehicles (which seems more applicable to the OP's question), I went from a used 2005 Honda Insight (the most expensive car I had ever purchased for myself) to a Tesla Roadster. The value difference when I bought the Roadster was $95,400. I will admit it took me a while to wrap my head around that.

My previous three cars all were more expensive than was my Tesla.

2015 Yukon Denali 75000 ( I paid 69000)
+ 2014 Cadillac ELR 79000 ( I paid 48000-7500 fed tax incentive= 40500 for it as it had been languishing on the dealers lot for over a year)
sold the Denali outright for 63000, so that one cost me 6000 for 6 months of use.
traded in the ELR to Tesla for 40000 ( $500 for six months of use ),
so 63000+ 40000= 103000
Tesla 85D = 102700
so pretty much a wash. (in Missouri we get excise tax credit for the trade so it only cost me $36 for tags and tax) Also, I save about 1000 per year on insurance premium)

I think I have everyone beat

2002 Honda Civic EX = $17,000 out the door inc. sales tax.

11 years later...

2013 Tesla Model S P85 $109,000 out the door inc. sales tax

2010 Toyota Prius. ~$80k difference.

1994 Honda Accord (My very first car) bought it for $14000 and drove it until I got my Model S. Ended up donating the Honda.
~ $90000 difference