Posted on 02/28/2019 3:16:45 PM PST by Moonman62
We are incredibly excited to announce that the standard Model 3, with 220 miles of range, a top speed of 130 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration of 5.6 seconds is now available at $35,000! Although lower in cost, it is built to achieve the same perfect 5-star safety rating as the longer-ranged version, which has the lowest probability of injury of any car ever tested by the U.S. Government.
In addition, we are introducing the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, which offers 240 miles of range, a top speed of 140 mph, 0-60 mph acceleration of just 5.3 seconds and most premium interior features at $37,000 before incentives. For 6% more money, you get 9% more range, more power, and an upgraded interior.
To achieve these prices while remaining financially sustainable, Tesla is shifting sales worldwide to online only. You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide. We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isnt needed. You can now return a car within 7 days or 1,000 miles for a full refund. Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free. With the highest consumer satisfaction score of any car on the road, we are confident you will want to keep your Model 3.
Shifting all sales online, combined with other ongoing cost efficiencies, will enable us to lower all vehicle prices by about 6% on average, allowing us to achieve the $35,000 Model 3 price point earlier than we expected. Over the next few months, we will be winding down many of our stores, with a small number of stores in high-traffic locations remaining as galleries, showcases and Tesla information centers. The important thing for customers in the United States to understand is that, with online sales, anyone in any state can quickly and easily buy a Tesla.
At the same time, we will be increasing our investment in the Tesla service system, with the goal of same-day, if not same-hour service, and with most service done by us coming to you, rather than you coming to us. Moreover, we guarantee service availability anywhere in any country in which we operate.
Were also excited to announce that were implementing a number of firmware upgrades for both new and existing customers. These upgrades will increase the range of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 to 325 miles, increase the top speed of Model 3 Performance to 162 mph, and add an average of approximately 5% peak power to all Model 3 vehicles.
Tesla is committed to making not just the best electric cars, but the best cars, period. And our products are the reason we continue to rank #1 in Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey and have every single year since Tesla was first eligible to be included in 2013. Both Model 3 Standard and Standard Plus are available starting today at Tesla.com.
And I can still buy a Mercedes E63 AMG cheaper, have nicer exhaust music (because the electric toy car has none), and go faster. Gas? Who cares! Completely worth it.
In before the Tesla bashers show up.
I well remember when hybrids were sneered at. “Never last” they said.
People say the same thing about Teslas and other electric cars now.
People are very short sighted.
Wall Street analysts tore down a Tesla Model 3 and found 'significant fit & finish issues'
By Graham Rapier
Aug. 23, 2018
MarketInsider
UBS has published the final lap of its complete teardown and analysis of a Tesla Model 3 to compare it to the competition.
Despite winning the first two laps powertrain and electronics the bank said Elon Musks newest sedan came in last place behind the Chevy Bolt and BMW i3 when it came to build quality.
"Our teardown experts noted numerous Model 3 quality issues including inconsistent gaps & flushness throughout the car, missing bolts, loose tolerances, and uneven & misaligned spot welds," the team of analysts led by Colin Langan wrote in a note to clients Thursday.
"The car scored 'below average' on the fit & finish quality audit which looked at >1, 500 gap measurements," UBS' Colin Langan wrote in the note to clients. "The team also found the body-wind noise was 'borderline acceptable.'"
However, it IS the best car for falling asleep drunk behind the wheel.
How is a $100,000 Mercedes cheaper than a $35,000 Tesla?
My son has a Tesla 3. Overall, I think the car can be an excellent purchase for the right intended usage. I was disappointed in the build quality. The alignment of the body panels is not as good as major car companies.
And I can still buy a Mercedes E63 AMG cheaper....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Really?
A quick look at the inner webz tells me... “The 2019 Mercedes-AMG E-Class has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting just shy of $73,500 for an E53 Sedan...”
So please. Go buy me one for less than 35K. I’ll pay you a $5,000 buyers premium.
Hoo boy. Some people.
Im currently driving the extended range Model (310 miles / AWD) and its a fabulous car! The wife ran errands in it today and its hard to get her out of it.
Interesting, but I am not really interested until I get 400 mile range and a recharge in 15 minutes or less. “Hybrid” and gas still superior.
Old news. Here’s someone who tears down and analyses cars for a living interviewed today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APWx9t9Km94&feature=youtu.be
You cherry picked a 6 month old article. And to be fair, even Consumers Reports failed the Tesla 3.
Until vast improvements were made.
So those old reviews are now pointless.
The Tesla 3 is one of the top 5 best selling cars in the US.
Had the market not been thoroughly distorted by the government I don’t think hybrids would have gone anywhere and electric cars would be a long way from going anywhere.
I woulda very one of these for my wife, because she hates driving and isn’t really good at it (she’s totaled two vehicles I have her.. the 350k mustang ran perfect though)
But that cost for a spare car is still quite or there.
I’m not interested in a forty minute video.
The comments some it up, I think.
When Sandy says after his team pulled down the tesla model 3, some of his workers went out and bought the vehicle for themselves pretty much says it all
It is much easier when governments give you billions.
Our US government has always had Big Union in mind over what the average buyer wanted and needed.
Europe has always had the edge with better more affordable vehicles for sale. And now that edge has moved to China.
Meanwhile the US is crazy stupid about spending $65,000 for pick up trucks that will be killing us when gas hits 4 and 5 bucks a gallon.
I am neither a Tesla fan nor detractor. The issue I see is that electric cars have short legs and are overpriced relative to gas burners. At the same time, I doubt very many people are too hung up on fit and finish for their daily drivers. The important question is powertrain reliability - will it leave the owner by the side of the road? I get the impression that by that standard, Teslas have been pretty dependable.
When Musk said getting the Model 3 produced at $35,000 was “incredibly difficult” his marketing people had to be smashing their own faces in with their fists.
Unbelievable.
fine in warm climates. Cold winter? batteries suck in cold weather especially if you have an unheated or no garage.
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