Tesla Model 3 Vs Model S

Why Purchase The Performance Tesla Model 3 When There's The Model S?

May. 23, 2018 9:05 AM ET Opinion

The Latest Model iii Performance version may need a rethink.

Tesla has been struggling to make production targets for the much-publicized Model 3. Tings have slowly improved over the past few months, but equally kinks in the manufacturing process are ironed out one would assume that a period of consolidation would be loftier on the agenda. Simply this is Tesla, and Elon Musk is not known for standing still. His latest proclamation of the performance variant of the Model 3 is surely to put boosted strain on the product line but he maintains that selling higher-spec models is key to Tesla'due south long-term survival.

This strategy is borne out in the estimated delivery times for the Model 3: order a base-spec version at the $35,000 starting price and a 6-12 month waiting time is projected. Add together a long-range battery, all-bike bulldoze or opt for the new Performance model and that time shrinks to betwixt 6 to 9 months. The price however goes the other way, a dual motor Model three can be around $54,000 while the Performance version is an even steeper $78,000. This pricing does include most options except the Autopilot feature merely makes the top model not only a fair scrap steeper than the base of operations M3 sedan that Elon has been comparing it to. It also brings information technology uncomfortably close to the Model S.

The $97,300 (before options or incentives) Model S 100D may be half a 2nd slower to sixty-mph at 4.i-seconds vs. iii.five, but it offers an additional 25-miles of range and Model South owners do get admission to things that aren't available on the Model 3s. Firstly there is the smart air-break system which is standard on the larger cars but equally of writing is not fifty-fifty an option on the Model 3. This situation is likely to change in 2019 just for now information technology is non bachelor. Secondly, the Model S comes with a larger 17-inch digital touchscreen and a driver display as opposed to the 15-inch unit of measurement in the smaller car.

The combined forepart and rear body cargo volume is twice that of the Model three too and the power liftgate is another feature that is standard on the Model Due south simply non even an option on the Model 3. Both cars can seat five adults in comfort but the rear facing seat selection is reserved for the Model S. All-wheel-drive, 12-way power front seats and LED foglights are part of every Model S merely are actress toll options on the Model 3. Not deal-breakers conspicuously, but worth a thought especially when y'all are looking at the highly-specced Model 3s and desire to do a similar for like comparison. Something that may also sway buyers towards the Model S is the fact that Supercharging is totally free for the life of ownership.

Model iii owners volition have to pay for the service, depending on your mileage this may also erode the price difference between the ii cars over time. The warranty on the batteries differs too, Model South owners get an 8-yr unlimited mile comprehend while Model 3 owners get the same fourth dimension bridge but merely 100,000-miles on standard batteries or 120,000-miles on long range ones. Now y'all may signal out that the Model South 100D is even so a good $20,000 more expensive than the Performance Model 3 and information technology would have a whole lot of miles to recoup those costs, but there is also the Model S 75D to consider.

It may only take a 259-mile range, just at $77,800 before any incentives or offers it actually undercuts the height-spec Model 3 making an fifty-fifty stronger case for itself. It is inappreciably slower than the 100D, giving upward just 0.1 of a second to the 60-mph dart and its 140 mph elevation speed matches that of any Model 3. Information technology as well comes with all the aforementioned features of the Model S range and even with the Premium Upgrade Package, which includes a whole host of extras, is still simply $82,800. A well-specced Model 3 may come in at around $20,000 less than that but yous would still take a slower car. Non-Performance Model 3'south practice the 0-60 mph run in the low 5-2nd range, and you lot would still have to wait up to half a year for your car.

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Resale values are a tricky thing to predict simply with many more Model 3s planning to be built, the larger car may even depreciate at a slower rate. Essentially, equally with all such things, it comes downwards to individual preferences. If y'all don't demand the actress space, are non fussed about the lack of air-suspension and are happy to wait a while, then the Model 3 still makes sense. If you want your car now, program to practice longer trips and are not bothered by slightly lower performance (compared to the Operation Model 3 that is) then either a well-specced 75D or 100D would exist the meliorate bet. The M3 may be the car that Elon wants u.s. to compare his new Model 3 to but in reality, information technology may just be and so that we don't look at the even fiercer competitor within Tesla'due south own walls.