Tesla Announces $35,000 Model 3 Now Available; Closing Most Retail Locations

Good to see the $35k model is here.  The Standard Plus seems like a better deal, I could see big demand for those.

this will become the litmus test to see if muhrican consumers are willing to skip the dealer.

Just now, regfootball said:

this will become the litmus test to see if muhrican consumers are willing to skip the dealer.

And to see if muhricans that are not Tesla fanatics to adopt EVs...

Tesla fans will and did pony up for the top trimmed Model 3. Waited and waited and waited for it to arrive. All kinds of quality problems and Tesla fans  bought the Model 3...

Now that the 35 000 dollar one has finally arrived, of course there will be more Tesla fanatics buying it...

But now, we will see for realz how many EV buying muhricans there really are. 

EV haterz had all kinds of excuses using the Bolt sales as evidence that there are no EV buyes in 'muhrica. 

EV defenders say that the Bolt is just not a real competitor to the Model 3 and is just a compromised vehicle...and that the Bolt is just not the right tyoe and sized EV...

Well, the 35 000 dollar Model 3 is upon us. 

The Model Y soon will be open to reservations...

NOW is the time to see if the future really is with EVs...

1 hour ago, balthazar said:

Took exactly 3 entire years from the unveiling to having the $35K version available. Model 3 is due for a refresh next year and the bulk of it's pre-orderers haven't even gotten their first car yet.

I don't want to hear another mention ever again that GM is slow to produce an unveiled production-intended vehicle.

I don't know what you are talking about...I am still waiting for the gorgeous concept cars of the 50s and sixties to make it into production.

Me too- it's were all my windfall billions will go; building semi-production '50s concepts.

I wonder if Tesla will EVER have enough money to afford building a concept vehicle.

They built a concept rocket. The idea that sending a car in space is the only way to make it the fastest car ever....

Now that this is here, it will be interesting to see how many of my coworkers who are Apple faithful to the core and talked about if they could not have an iCar, they would buy a Tesla once the $35K version was ready actually buy.

I can now say where is your Tesla? ?

8 hours ago, balthazar said:

Me too- it's were all my windfall billions will go; building semi-production '50s concepts.

I wonder if Tesla will EVER have enough money to afford building a concept vehicle.

I still wonder if Tesla will survive...

11 hours ago, balthazar said:

 

I don't want to hear another mention ever again that GM is slow to produce an unveiled production-intended vehicle.

Like the mythical mid engined Corvette...

When was the ME vette originally announced for production again?
There's a difference between toying with a concept behind closed doors, and making a public official announcement it's going into production. 99.99999% of consumers have no idea of the long ME corvette proposals going back to '73.

Just now, balthazar said:

When was the ME vette originally announced for production again? 

2 years ago? 5 years ago?  i don't know...seems like they've been talking about the upcoming C8 for years... (I still think they are going to cancel it before it's ever shown). 

I've NOT seen any official announcement / stage unveiling from Chevrolet yet. Drew?

11 minutes ago, balthazar said:

When was the ME vette originally announced for production again?
There's a difference between toying with a concept behind closed doors, and making a public official announcement it's going into production. 99.99999% of consumers have no idea of the long ME corvette proposals going back to '73.

So True, I honestly have no idea how long GM has had rumors and talked about a mid engine corvette, but it seems to me to have been since the 70's or 80's. So if 1973 was the start, then WOW, talk about a freakin long Gestation period. ?‍♂️

The Model 3 was unveiled March 2016. The first deliveries were July 2017. 

Ford is even worse with their whole GT500, Ranger, and Bronco situations. 

The C8 has been spotted testing in September 2018 and it supposedly a 2020? 

10 minutes ago, balthazar said:

I've NOT seen any official announcement / stage unveiling from Chevrolet yet. Drew?

Nothing official of when they will unveil the mid engine corvette, but Mark has confirmed the product is real, just not when.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/08/mark-reuss-publicly-acknowledges-mid-engine-c8-corvette/

I HONESTLY think this closing of stores and reduction of having people to work with will HURT not Help Tesla.

While I am not a fan of their style, I personally think they are all very ugly and the Polestar 2 is far better looking than the Tesla 3, being one that HAS to check for leg and head room, I will NEVER be an online order person. 

GIVE ME my dealership where I can stop, look, ask questions, go home and sleep on it and then come back to finalize what I want.

So lets see out of curiosity if bare bones Model 3 makes financial sense.  (Specially for you  @balthazar  )

Model 3 has converted fuel economy of 128 mpg city/ 117 mpg highway (supposedly equivalent kWh to mpg)

Lets take bare bones Honda Accord, it will be about $10-12k cheaper than Tesla and it has fuel economy of 30 mpg city/ 38 mpg highway

Tesla of course is RWD and much faster than Accord but lets say for the average consumer it doesn't matter

Lets take average for Tesla 120 mpg and average for Honda  35 mpg.

At average of $3 per gallon driving 12000 miles a year will cost $300 in Tesla and $1029 in Accord.  So the difference is $729 per year and it will take almost 14 years to make up the price difference.  Considering Tesla requires less maintenance (no oil changes, transmission, less brake wear out) it might go down to 10 years optimistically.

So on paper it doesn't make financial sense compared to base common sedan.

Personally though, I think I would rather drive base Model 3 than Accord. 

33 minutes ago, ykX said:

So lets see out of curiosity if bare bones Model 3 makes financial sense.  (Specially for you  @balthazar  )

Model 3 has converted fuel economy of 128 mpg city/ 117 mpg highway (supposedly equivalent kWh to mpg)

Lets take bare bones Honda Accord, it will be about $10-12k cheaper than Tesla and it has fuel economy of 30 mpg city/ 38 mpg highway

Tesla of course is RWD and much faster than Accord but lets say for the average consumer it doesn't matter

Lets take average for Tesla 120 mpg and average for Honda  35 mpg.

At average of $3 per gallon driving 12000 miles a year will cost $300 in Tesla and $1029 in Accord.  So the difference is $729 per year and it will take almost 14 years to make up the price difference.  Considering Tesla requires less maintenance (no oil changes, transmission, less brake wear out) it might go down to 10 years optimistically.

So on paper it doesn't make financial sense compared to base common sedan.

Personally though, I think I would rather drive base Model 3 than Accord. 

I like the idea of the thing being charged up and ready to go every morning.

A purchase of a Model 3 is almost like a tribute to Elon Musk. Just getting a Model T was a nod to Henry Ford.

Also I think this version availability has nothing to do with being able to actually manufacture the standard model.

It has everything to do with the Polestar 2. That thing is going to be the first real competitor to Model 3. And it also sells online only. 

48 minutes ago, Suaviloquent said:

A purchase of a Model 3 is almost like a tribute to Elon Musk. Just getting a Model T was a nod to Henry Ford.

Also I think this version availability has nothing to do with being able to actually manufacture the standard model.

It has everything to do with the Polestar 2. That thing is going to be the first real competitor to Model 3. And it also sells online only. 

Given how nasty the F and I guys are when you buy a car at a traditional dealership, I will feel no sorrow if they go the way of the dodo bird.

5 hours ago, ykX said:

So lets see out of curiosity if bare bones Model 3 makes financial sense.  (Specially for you  @balthazar  )

Model 3 has converted fuel economy of 128 mpg city/ 117 mpg highway (supposedly equivalent kWh to mpg)

Lets take bare bones Honda Accord, it will be about $10-12k cheaper than Tesla and it has fuel economy of 30 mpg city/ 38 mpg highway

Tesla of course is RWD and much faster than Accord but lets say for the average consumer it doesn't matter

Lets take average for Tesla 120 mpg and average for Honda  35 mpg.

At average of $3 per gallon driving 12000 miles a year will cost $300 in Tesla and $1029 in Accord.  So the difference is $729 per year and it will take almost 14 years to make up the price difference.  Considering Tesla requires less maintenance (no oil changes, transmission, less brake wear out) it might go down to 10 years optimistically.

So on paper it doesn't make financial sense compared to base common sedan.

Personally though, I think I would rather drive base Model 3 than Accord. 

Car & Driver piece is stating the '$35K' is actually $36,200 with the destination charge. Not sure offhand if that's commonly tossed in with a random MSRP or not. I'm willing to forgo that addition for this discussion. However what I am NOT willing to forgo is the included tax credit. $35,000 plus $3750 is $38,750.

On the Accord side you have oil changes (At $50 per, times 1.6 changes per year: $80, most other maintenance is minor or deferred to the 75K or 100K miles interval.
3 reportedly costs about $200/ 10K miles in electricity, but don't forget you are also paying more tax on the purchase, more in insurance, around $1000 to upgrade your electric in the garage... these add to the bottom line too.

And EV will never work for me for a number of reasons, but it might for my wife. I just don't see a clear cost advantage at this point. Maybe in 10 years.

So Tesla moved a solid 25,250 Model 3s in Dec. Of course, even Musk was saying 'buy now- tax credit cut coming Jan 1!'.
Seems people did just that.

What happened in Jan?? Sales slide 75%, to 6500 units.

What happened in Feb?? Sales slid another 12%, to 5750 units. Now, Tesla's monthly sales volumes traditionally turn 'volatility' to 10, but this is back to May-June sales numbers, in the peak of the "production hell".

Let me know if anyone sees an op-ed wondering ''can Tesla turn the sales slump around??' anytime in March. ;)

14 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Car & Driver piece is stating the '$35K' is actually $36,200 with the destination charge. Not sure offhand if that's commonly tossed in with a random MSRP or not. I'm willing to forgo that addition for this discussion. However what I am NOT willing to forgo is the included tax credit. $35,000 plus $3750 is $38,750.

The tax will be charged on any other car as well.  Of course taxes on $25k car will be smaller than on $35k.

I think with some decent options it still will be a $40k car.  Would I pay right now $35-40k for Tesla?  No, there are many other options at the moment that better suitable for my needs for the money.

However, the point is in another 5 years or so the car market will start looking differently.

6 hours ago, balthazar said:

I've NOT seen any official announcement / stage unveiling from Chevrolet yet. Drew?

It has been spotted in very complete form out testing. 

2 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Given how nasty the F and I guys are when you buy a car at a traditional dealership, I will feel no sorrow if they go the way of the dodo bird.

I totally agree as Ford sales person is like the worst to deal with out there. So pushy, arrogant and uninformed about their products details.

I have no problem when bad dealerships go away. But for me, I have certain needs as you know and being able to actually sit in one and test it out will always have me going to a dealership over on-line buying.

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

It has been spotted in very complete form out testing. 

I thought I was being QUITE specific when I stated "official announcement of production".
Trade/enthusiast chatter and spy shots are not official.

Buick showed the Wildcat mid-engine concept, fully functional, in numerous settings, plus it saw a ton of press. But it was never announced it was going into production. Therefore, the 'production clock' never started. As opposed to March 2016 and the Tesla Model 3.

9 minutes ago, balthazar said:

I thought I was being QUITE specific when I stated "official announcement of production".
Trade/enthusiast chatter and spy shots are not official.

Buick showed the Wildcat mid-engine concept, fully functional, in numerous settings, plus it saw a ton of press. But it was never announced it was going into production. Therefore, the 'production clock' never started. As opposed to March 2016 and the Tesla Model 3.

I like this Buick Wildcat.

I never knew this concept existed. 

Thank-you Balthy, this is a nice Birthday present you gave me. Now I will google and learn! 

Happy Birthday, Peanut

I googled and learned that the engine is a 3.8 liter Buick V6  reworked by McLaren. No surprise there.  One could clearly see its Buick's 3800 and no surprise that McLaren was the builder of the engine when one figures out that the concept was showcased in 1985. 

What surprised me was that this concept was showcased in 1985...as a Buick mid-engined affair.  Before The Corvette Indy ME and the Oldsmobile Aerotech. Sure there was a couple of mid-engined Corvette concepts in the 1970s, Buick got into that game too ahead of Oldsmobile. Impressive. 

Another thing that surprised me was this Buick was not a fast concept like the Aerotech was. I thought maybe that numbers would rival and beat the Buick GNX numbers. But no. Below the GNX numbers and a tad higher than the Grand National numbers making this concept pretty boring for stats comparisons...

It was supposedly high tech inside though...

Im glad to have read about it. Again, thanx Balthy for always giving me something new to see! 

My pleasure! Lots more out there too!

I certainly would not say being between the GN and the GNX (quicker than the Corvette that year) is in any way "pretty boring" If you recall the 1/4 mile stats pic from '79 I posted, 1985 was just starting to come out of a terrible era for performance. And the Olds Aerotech was a performance bomb- didn't it do 200 MPH with the Quad-4? Off the charts.

RE the Wildcat - Aerotech - ME corvette concepts... I think the Divisions were still coming off of their recently-stripped autonomy and were still able to eek out some headstrong moves like these 3.

17 hours ago, balthazar said:

I thought I was being QUITE specific when I stated "official announcement of production".
Trade/enthusiast chatter and spy shots are not official.

Buick showed the Wildcat mid-engine concept, fully functional, in numerous settings, plus it saw a ton of press. But it was never announced it was going into production. Therefore, the 'production clock' never started. As opposed to March 2016 and the Tesla Model 3.

Then no, it has not.  Though with the sightings that have popped up, patent drawings that have leaked, even the keyfob has been shown, I'm inclined to believe that it is coming.  Concept cars aren't typically seen out on proving grounds because they have nothing to prove. Not in the last 20 years anyway. 

I agree that it's coming! Too much ancillary evidence, as you mentioned. Plus I've never seen as much testing for ANY of the other ME Corvette programs.
I just hope the FE version remains alongside of it- the current car blows me away in person.

Seems china does not like the custom descriptions so clearing of the model 3 has stopped.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47463003