2023 Model S Purchasing Advice Needed

[Akimoto]

Nice buy, congrats!

 

[TLLMRRJ]

If you're concerned with depreciation, why not lease the new one and call it a day? With zero down, on a LR Tesla lease vs. finance shows a $27/mo difference for 10K mi/year.

Occasionally, dealers/manufacturer's make a mistake in their predictions and offer lease rates that don't cover the actual depreciation, but not very often. They do this for a living, and if they screw it up every time, they wouldn't be in business. So if you are concerned about depreciation, the last thing you want to do is lease a car, because in that case, you are paying for their calculation of the worst case depreciation prediction for that car over 3 years plus a nice profit for them on top of it. At the end of the lease, you have no equity, no car, and you paid a boat load of depreciation and profit.

 

[unk45]

I personally would want S that still has parking sensors. But the new S has HW4 AP and newer cameras. So new is probably better for long term potential.

I wouldn’t make decision based on free Supercharging. With that commute, you will probably enjoy convenience of charging overnight in your garage at low rates, rather than visiting Supercharger (unless you want to save a few $$ per month).

With new you can also get the wheel instead of yolk. YMMV

I would opt for the new one in that situation, partly because of the newer equipment, but also because the difference in effective cost seems modest. Although neither has yolks, those being one prime part of an egg/(not S just poor humor), the option between Yoke and conventional steering wheel might be material. FWIW, after nearly two years of a Yoke I would pay extra to have one. Visibility is improved and they become habit-forming for some people.

Of course choosing a used one would appeal to some people too.

In the end it does come to your personal preference; here on TMC you'll find we seldom have the same view of that topic.

 

[Mohamed Gobara]

What is everyone doing about the front end vibration and camber issues?

 

[Mohamed Gobara]

FYI.

3.99% financing is no longer available

 

[ucmndd]

Occasionally, dealers/manufacturer's make a mistake in their predictions and offer lease rates that don't cover the actual depreciation, but not very often.

Truthfully, luxury makes have thrived for years on artificially high lease residuals. It’s a deliberate business model and why you see often far greater than 50% lease rates for brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc.

1) High residual keeps the payments low and opens up an entire market of ballers on a budget that would otherwise be out of reach.
2) High residual guarantees the car comes back to the dealer at the end of the lease, meaning the lessee needs a new car that the dealer is happy to put them in (usually another lease)
3) Dealer eats a tiny bit on the returned car but moves another new unit to keep their numbers up and manufacturer allocations coming
4) Dealer performs “716 point inspection” on lease return, does some very minor refurbishing, then sells lease return as a “Certified Pre Owned” at a significant premium to offset most/all of the hit on the residual.

Tesla doesn’t play this game much any more but they definitely have… there were some absolutely bonkers lease deals on P100Ds in ~2017 ish.

 

[Carsly2]

Thanks to everyone, im out of the race. Ended up finding a 2022 Tesla Model S LR in red with cream interior with 9k miles at a local carmax for 73k. Thought it was a good deal so I jumped on it. Easier for me to deal with financing.

Has the 19” wheels and the updated headlight and tilt screen

pics?