I am in a like quandary about buying it. I have had my S85 for 11 months, and just hit 44,000 miles on it, after a 7600 mile trip from Lodi, California to North Bay, Ontario, Canada, and back. I bought the car to drive it.
I think that Tesla's unorthodox car company mentality does them a disservice when compared to ESA's offered by other conventional companies. Most other companies just extend the time and mileage limitatuions, while maintaining the same terms and conditions of coverage. In addition, EM says EV's are more reliable than ICE vehicles, but the Tesla ESA indicates that Tesla is not talking the same talk, nor walking the same walk. In light of Consumers Report ranking the car as Average Reliability, I am concerned about specific items like the air suspension, center display, and smaller items like the door handles.
I have had 1 Drive Unit replacement at about 24,000 miles, and it's sounds like this one is going downhill (same whining turbinesque sounds like the first, but not yet as loud). I also had the passenger side front door handle not retract, and had that fixed under warranty. It's clear that there are few options for replacement parts, and service manuals for the capable home enthusiast is out of reach, except for those in Massachusetts.
I'm going to have to reread the terms and exclusions on the ESA, and then make an informed decision as to which way to go. I think that as more and more MS's come up on their factory warranty expiration, there will be more and more that will e sold on the used car market. I have already heard from other owners saying the same thing, as well as similar comments on the TMC forum. My MS came with the autopilot and h/w upgrades, so a decision to replace it is not viable for me.
I do think that a correction on reliability and repair costs will have a more negative effect on Tesla's vehicles than any troll or naysayer in the media. That said, I still have to reiterate that I think that Tesla's policies, media communications, email responses and general lack of timely and effective communications is a major black stain on Tesla. (The lack of timely responses started with my DS, and has continued since, and has been seconded by many on this forum.)
There are others who have reached the expiration of their 4 yr, 50K warranty. How many have paid for repairs, and what has been their track record with Tesla?
Scotty