[G8rGrl]

Deposits for the Model 3 start on March 31, 2016. Model 3 production is scheduled to begin in late 2017. So the car won't be delivered to consumers until early 2018. No one can make a decision about buying the Model 3 today based on what the cost of gas "might" be two years from now.

[Nitrousbird]

Originally Posted by PandaM3

I'm leasing an electric Chevy spark right now for commuting. After living with a cheap electric car for the past year I have to say it's been a surprisingly positive experience.

- don't have to worry about gas since I top it off at home and at work
- I save a lot in gas and maintenance
- I don't have to worry about any maintenance

That being said I'm really tempted to put my deposit in a model 3 on the 31st. Timing is perfect because my spark EV lease will be up by the time the model 3 delivers.

I just can't decide if I want the lowest model or the highest although it is a big price jump between the two. Also deciding if I want to lease or buy.

I'm still keeping my M3 and FJ as weekend toys.

Cheap? GM took a 12k crap box of a car, made it all electric with awful range and sell it for 2x the price. There are work days where I would run out of electric in that thing before making it home.

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

Cheap? GM took a 12k crap box of a car, made it all electric with awful range and sell it for 2x the price. There are work days where I would run out of electric in that thing before making it home.

I guess it depends on your situation.

My Chevy Spark is $70 a month lease after factoring in all the incentives + zero down.

I have a 25 mile commute each way so I top off at work and top off at home. In fact using a time of use electricity plan plus changing all my house bulbs to LED Philips hue bulbs... My electric bill is the same as it was pre Chevy spark EV... So yeah compared to buying has plus maintenance plus toll roads... My Chevy spark is damn cheap... It's even cheaper than paying $215 a month commuting via train for me.

[Bols]

I'm curious to see what comes but was pretty disappointed with the Model S overall (yes even with ludicrous mode, sickening experience if your driver is a bit too brake/gas happy :/) ! The waiting in line at the store is a bit over the top though lol I bet they're gonna sell their spots with the benefits or something..

Anyways an electric definitely is financially safe in my country! But I've only got a 428i with 35i muffler and leave the door open every damn time to hear the start up sound. Every reflecting surface I see I put it in sport and give it some... Sound means so much to me when it comes to driving pleasure there literally is no drive I take where I don't enjoy it! Quiet enough most of the time, growling when needed. Perfect bimmer balance! Didn't really miss it much on the diesel.. but fallen in love with it now I do drive petrol!

[G8rGrl]

Deposits are live online now: https://model3.tesla.com/

[EALm4]

I'm not a Tesla fan at all but the Model 3 is pretty sharp looking.

[OneRib]

I love Tesla like I love Apple. They are both great companies that forced an industry to step up their game and improve. I don't think either company is anywhere close to as perfect as their "fanboys" make them out to be.

Just watched the Model 3 reveal and liked most everything except the front end styling. I looks terrible. The rest of the exterior is fine and the interior was clearly not a finished product. It will be interesting to see how Tesla deals with the expected growth. There are major headaches in owning a Tesla that are minor now, but will explode exponentially once volumes increase.

Repair parts are tough to come by.
Service centers are sparse.
Supercharger stations will become overwhelmed.

These are not as big a deal when your an expensive low volume dealer. What they are trying to create is a 3/C/A4/ATS level competitor.
Roadster/Model S/Model X owners are much more likely to be able to accommodate "boutique" manufacturer quirks. Not the case at the Model 3 level.

Example: I know someone who had debris destroy their front windshield. The closest repair center was about 50 miles away and a replacement windshield was not going to be available for over 1 month.
When they did replace it, it was a windshield from an older Model S without the higher tech camera system for autopilot. Luckily the owner wanted to upgrade to a Model S P90D and they swapped cars with a buyback from Tesla. Even then they lost a few thousand on the deal.

While this person could absorb the inconvenience and cost, most Model 3 buyers would be out of luck.

I root for Tesla, even if I don't get one, because the competition will force everyone else to improve. I'm just not ready to start foaming at the mouth every time Elon Musk says something.

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by OneRib

I love Tesla like I love Apple. They are both great companies that forced an industry to step up their game and improve. I don't think either company is anywhere close to as perfect as their "fanboys" make them out to be.

Just watched the Model 3 reveal and liked most everything except the front end styling. I looks terrible. The rest of the exterior is fine and the interior was clearly not a finished product. It will be interesting to see how Tesla deals with the expected growth. There are major headaches in owning a Tesla that are minor now, but will explode exponentially once volumes increase.

Repair parts are tough to come by.
Service centers are sparse.
Supercharger stations will become overwhelmed.

These are not as big a deal when your an expensive low volume dealer. What they are trying to create is a 3/C/A4/ATS level competitor.
Roadster/Model S/Model X owners are much more likely to be able to accommodate "boutique" manufacturer quirks. Not the case at the Model 3 level.

Example: I know someone who had debris destroy their front windshield. The closest repair center was about 50 miles away and a replacement windshield was not going to be available for over 1 month.
When they did replace it, it was a windshield from an older Model S without the higher tech camera system for autopilot. Luckily the owner wanted to upgrade to a Model S P90D and they swapped cars with a buyback from Tesla. Even then they lost a few thousand on the deal.

While this person could absorb the inconvenience and cost, most Model 3 buyers would be out of luck.

I root for Tesla, even if I don't get one, because the competition will force everyone else to improve. I'm just not ready to start foaming at the mouth every time Elon Musk says something.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle the higher volume.

The Model 3 looks okay, but could have been better. We'll see if any changes come to the production version. The back end looks a bit too stumpy from the sides and the proportions are more Model X than Model S (though not as bad as the X, the X just looks completely awkward from all angles). The front is definitely missing something though (as is the Model X).

[Bols]

Well.. it's official.. the Model S is still the only good looking tesla out there lol.. the 3 looks awkward from almost all angles! Kind of like they pressed 2 models together and then let the metal press channel get his hands on it a few times.. Good thing they still have more than a year to redesign it

[dzvero]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

I'm curious. If you run out of gas on say a highway in the middle of nowhere, you can call AAA etc and they come with a gas can of gas. What do you do if the electric dies?

They have can's with electricity, same ones you buy tomatoes in

[newoldbeemer]

Ok, then I'm not the only person who thinks its ugly. Good to know.

Doubtless it will be an extraordinarily good car. But the looks aren't doing it for me. Especially the rear.

I like the Model S now .

I bet the torque will be addictive though. I hope to hoon in one of these sometime .

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Ok, then I'm not the only person who thinks its ugly. Good to know.

Doubtless it will be an extraordinarily good car. But the looks aren't doing it for me. Especially the rear.

I like the Model S now .

I bet the torque will be addictive though. I hope to hoon in one of these sometime .

The front end is plain ugly. I have yet to see a designer truly take the packaging advantages of electric cars and turn it into a styling hit. The Model S is the best looking of the bunch, but all Tesla front ends leave something to be desired. One thing I'm interested to see is as their volume increase, are they able to get third party part suppliers to build bespoke parts. Lots of lighting opportunities when you don't have to worry about cooling an engine.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

It's a total cost that is the problem with electric. You typically need to go 200k for the savings to make sense even with a hybrid vs a normal similar gas version.

Yeah it's hard to make the "it makes financial sense" pitch with these things, but a starting price of $35k is pretty compelling, although I'm sure that gets you a model with the bare basics.

[Never_Enough]

It's ugly IMO, but I'm sure production model will be better. Over 100k pre-orders on it so far...

[W///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

I love Tesla like I love Apple. They are both great companies that forced an industry to step up their game and improve. I don't think either company is anywhere close to as perfect as their "fanboys" make them out to be.

Just watched the Model 3 reveal and liked most everything except the front end styling. I looks terrible. The rest of the exterior is fine and the interior was clearly not a finished product. It will be interesting to see how Tesla deals with the expected growth. There are major headaches in owning a Tesla that are minor now, but will explode exponentially once volumes increase.

Repair parts are tough to come by.
Service centers are sparse.
Supercharger stations will become overwhelmed.

These are not as big a deal when your an expensive low volume dealer. What they are trying to create is a 3/C/A4/ATS level competitor.
Roadster/Model S/Model X owners are much more likely to be able to accommodate "boutique" manufacturer quirks. Not the case at the Model 3 level.

Example: I know someone who had debris destroy their front windshield. The closest repair center was about 50 miles away and a replacement windshield was not going to be available for over 1 month.
When they did replace it, it was a windshield from an older Model S without the higher tech camera system for autopilot. Luckily the owner wanted to upgrade to a Model S P90D and they swapped cars with a buyback from Tesla. Even then they lost a few thousand on the deal.

While this person could absorb the inconvenience and cost, most Model 3 buyers would be out of luck.

I root for Tesla, even if I don't get one, because the competition will force everyone else to improve. I'm just not ready to start foaming at the mouth every time Elon Musk says something.

Agreed. Although I have to say they seem to have priced it right though.

I just don't see myself owning one yet.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by W///

Agreed. Although I have to say they seem to have priced it right though.

I just don't see myself owning one yet.

If they come in under 40K, it's a homerun. A 60K 3.1 sec 0-60 sport edition will be coveted, especially if they can improve on the driving dynamics.

I should look into getting the stock on the next dip.

[David70]

Originally Posted by OrangeZ06

Over 100k pre-orders on it so far...

I read somewhere that pointed out that 100k pre-orders at $1,000 each = $100 million dollar interest free loan. Tesla had a number of reasons to try to make the reveal as big as possible, both for sales and for creating a big loan.

It will be interesting how many problems will come from trying to compete in the market that cares a lot more about the financial benefits and how big the market is when a large part of the population realizes that buying this car means warranty/repair could be a long drive.

[John Tanglewood]

I love Teslas. My dad has the first roadster, and now he has the Model X.

My uncle has a Model S and just got an X. I really love where Tesla is trying to go with how a car fits into our lives.

That being said I am ALL over the Model 3, but sadly I love sports cars too much that I don't think it's possible to replace a sports car like the M3 with a Model 3. And I cannot afford to have a 3rd car since I already have a beater to haul the dogs around.

I suspect this will be a growing dilemma now that the car is at this lower price point. Practicality vs. sports. The package is becoming more enticing and more affordable, so the debate gets stronger.

[KingOfJericho]

They're already delivering Model Xs?

[John Tanglewood]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

They're already delivering Model Xs?

My dad has had one since the beginning of March. I'm in CT.

Only seen 1 other around here so far.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

My dad has had one since the beginning of March. I'm in CT.

Only seen 1 other around here so far.

Yeah I'm local to you and haven't seen any. The website still says "latter half of 2016" which is why I was surprised. I'll keep my eyes peeled!

I did see an R33 Skyline flying down 5th avenue yesterday. That was a bit of a shocker.

[Red Bread]

Seen three X's in Dallas. One looked like it was already falling apart. One rear door wasn't latched right, the roof was detached on one side and some minor trim looked like it was coming off. It's also Panamera kinds of ugly.