$35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now • Hacker News Board

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#201

Post by AdrianB1 » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:46 PM UTC

plg wrote: post #180

In Canada, after tax, the most basic model with no options is almost $60,000 CAD. With all wheel drive, sport wheels, and no other options (no autopilot options at all) it is basically $78,000 CAD after tax. I can get a LOT of car for that price elsewhere. Yikes.

Providing more context would make it more clear for non-Canadians: CAD is 0.76 USD, so "almost 60,000 CAD" is almost $45,600, depending on how much "almost" is.

For even more context, it is ~ 62,000 EURO in Germany, that is "almost" $70,000. I would choose Canada instead :)

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#202

Post by gowld » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:46 PM UTC

colordrops wrote: post #73

paxys wrote: post #7

It's so shady that their advertised price includes some hypothetical "potential gas savings", and the actual price is behind a tiny "learn more" link.

Always something negative when it comes to Tesla. They finally delivered on their promise of a $35k model 3, which is a monumental achievement, and yet the top comment is about the website. Haven't seen the desktop site, but on mobile the full price of $35k is clearly visible.

Monumental achievement like the $36.6K Chevy Volt https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev-electric-car

(with longer range than Model 3)

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#203

Post by b_tterc_p » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:47 PM UTC

elchief wrote: post #101

In British Columbia you can get $5k incentive for an electric vehicle plus $5k if you destroy your ICE car. I believe you need to own it for 6 months So about $36k net CAD for the base Model 3

Why... would that make sense? We want to shift away from ICE but destroying existing cars is clearly illogical...

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#204

Post by mikeash » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:47 PM UTC

m463 wrote: post #168

sjm-yc-acct wrote: post #126

I wish they would hire the interior controls engineer that worked on the 8th gen. Mazda Protege. Simple, elegant, and ergonomic. That giant iPhone in the middle of the Tesla 3 puts a crick in my neck just from looking at the pictures.

The giant ipad is fine for people who don't want to drive, but for people who enjoy driving, an immersive experience is important. I think the people who want the performance version should get a dashboard, or the option of one. I'll bet a $3000 optional dashboard would sell like hotcackes.

What’s immersive about having a bunch of dials and gauges in front of you?

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#205

Post by scarmig » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:47 PM UTC

goshx wrote: post #111

scarmig wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before, my impression of Tesla was that it's a company that has had some struggles but is genuinely trying to do a cool, useful, good thing. After, my impression of Tesla is that it's incredibly shady and manipulative, and I have a great deal of anger at it because this page is disgustingly deceptive. You've got to get a reasonable estimate of how much less likely I'm going to purchase a Tesla in the future, but befo…

Solely on the fact that they show the cost of ownership first?

Solely on the fact that they present an imagined "cost of ownership" as the price, yes.

It's deceptive enough--and 90% of people who saw that page would say that the costs of the cars are what's listed on the right column, which makes it deceptive--that it leaves a wildly unpleasant taste in my mouth. And, in my case, it's not even close to accurate: I don't own a car right now, and any purchase would be because I actively like a particular car. The "savings on gas" is a total lie, because I'll be spending nothing on gas anyway.

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#206

Post by Pfhreak » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:47 PM UTC

Animats wrote: post #30

Tesla had to do this. They've filled the order backlog of customers who were willing to pay more than $35K. They still have many on the list who are only willing to pay the original $35K. So it's sell at $35K, cut production, or park the unsold cars in a lot. Happens all the time in automotive. Big question is, does Tesla make a profit at that price? $8K more for 50% more battery. Or $24K for an entire large battery.…

Both of your $NK more numbers include a whole lot more than just battery changes. (Including a whole additional engine and better performance in the +$23k model.)

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#207

Post by npunt » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:47 PM UTC

xienze wrote: post #85

npunt wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They've been doing that for a long time, trying to explain in TCO terms instead of sticker price. It can be somewhat misleading at times but I get the rationale.

>It can be somewhat misleading at times but I get the rationale. “Somewhat misleading”? Acting as though money saved on gas reduces your purchase price somehow is just straight up lying. The car still costs $35k when you sign on the dotted line, gas costs don’t factor into that at all. If you want to talk how much it’ll cost you after n years of ownership, talking about gas costs is perfectly valid. Purchase price th…

Disagree. Electric vehicles have a very different cost structure than gas vehicles. For vast majority of buyers this will be their first electric vehicle and market education needs to be done. There's 90+ years of gas vehicle culture education to un-do here.

Total Cost of Ownership is a legit (and even preferred) way to represent cost in most industries. It's just not common in consumer purchasing. This is a variant of TCO. They provide a good calculator where you can figure it out.

I think there's room for discussion about how prominent you make the TCO calculator and the particular copy used in that. This is why I said it was somewhat misleading, because I think it could be better. But I definitely don't think it's lying, that's awfully black and white.

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#208

Post by nickik » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:48 PM UTC

Animats wrote: post #30

Tesla had to do this. They've filled the order backlog of customers who were willing to pay more than $35K. They still have many on the list who are only willing to pay the original $35K. So it's sell at $35K, cut production, or park the unsold cars in a lot. Happens all the time in automotive. Big question is, does Tesla make a profit at that price? $8K more for 50% more battery. Or $24K for an entire large battery.…

I don't think they currently had to do this, they have just started delivery in Europe and China and there is significant demand for the higher priced models so that they could continue to do this.

I see it more as them wanting to show again that they could build up a huge order backlog as that something that pretty much no other car company can do. That would help them with the market and potential future loans.

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#209

Post by natch » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:48 PM UTC

codeulike wrote: post #102

npunt wrote: post #4

Legit: https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/28/18245165/tesla-model-3-pr... New Prices Cheap Interior Standard Range (220mi) - $35k Partial Premium Interior Standard Range Plus (240mi) - $37k Premium Interiors Mid Range (264mi) - $40k Long Range (325mi) - $43k Dual Motor Long Range (310mi) - $47k Dual Motor Performance (310mi) - $58k

So presumably they are hoping many $35k buyers will be tempted by the $37k which presumably has a better margin for Tesla

At only $2,000 more I doubt it has a better margin. I think they just want more buyers to be happier with their purchase, while still providing the $35k option they promised for those who prefer to stick strictly to that price regardless of features.

Re: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Available Now

#210

Post by mikeash » Thu, Feb 28, 2019, 11:48 PM UTC

b_tterc_p wrote: post #203

elchief wrote: post #101

In British Columbia you can get $5k incentive for an electric vehicle plus $5k if you destroy your ICE car. I believe you need to own it for 6 months So about $36k net CAD for the base Model 3

Why... would that make sense? We want to shift away from ICE but destroying existing cars is clearly illogical...

Unfortunately, a lot of well-meaning environmental incentives are illogical.