How I Would Buy It – 2019 Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 is the most important Tesla vehicle to date - and now finally available for $35,000. However, we will see what impact the upcoming Model Y CUV will have in a market that's crazy over crossovers.

I interrupt your regularly scheduled day for a special “How I Would Buy It” segment – Tesla has announced that the Model 3 Standard Range is now available. This is the $35,000 version of the Model 3 that has long been promised. Elon Musk’s vision was for cars to one day be charged by solar panels and powered by electricity alone. Being the smallest of the current Teslas, the Model 3 is a very key model for the company in accomplishing that goal, but its price has still been outside the range of “affordable” for many shoppers. So, what do you sacrifice when you get a “base model” Model 3?

What Do You Get?

Shown: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Mid or Long Range; Standard Range Interior w/Cloth Seats

A Standard Range Tesla Model 3 comes in two flavors: Standard Range and Standard Range Plus. The regular Standard Range model officially starts at $36,200 with destination and has a range of 220 miles. Standard features vs. other Model 3s are a manual adjusting steering wheel, cloth seats, and a more basic dashboard – though you still get the giant touch screen. The Standard Range Plus version costs an extra $2,000 and adds 20 miles of range for a total of 240 miles, an extra 10 MPH to the top speed for a total of 140 MPH and cuts the 0-60 time by 0.3 seconds for a time of 5.3 seconds. You also get an upgraded interior with heated front seats, leatherette seats, upgraded audio, and LED fog lights. All Standard Range models are Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD). The Plus version is a worthwhile upgrade, I say.

For My Money…

If my money were on the line, I’d get the Model 3 Standard Range Plus version with Solid Black paint, 18-inch Aero Wheels, the Black and White partial premium interior, and Autopilot.

Note that any color besides black on the Model 3 will cost you extra – between $1,500 and $2,500 extra to be exact. There’s also only a few colors to choose from – black, grey, blue, white, and red. The black/white interior adds $1,000 vs. all-black, and 19-inch sport rims are available for an extra $1,500.

Adding Autopilot or Full-Self Driving Capability after delivery jacks up the cost of those options significantly, but I feel Autopilot alone for $3,000 will be enough for most people. Ditto the 240-mile range. My drive to work every day is 6 miles, 12 miles round trip. I could charge up once, maybe twice a week basically before going any long-distance places or back home to see family. Given this, a Standard Range Plus Model 3 might be in my future… The federal rebate is now $3,750 for Teslas, and other EV rebates vary by state. This likely won’t increase or be renewed soon, as Congress is currently fighting over the boarder wall and not EV credits. The estimated price for the one I built was $41,000 before rebates, with a two week delivery time (I would take that last part with a BOTTLE of salt given Tesla's history and the fact that Model 3 is officially the best-selling luxury car in the U.S. now).

In the Pipeline

The Model Y will cost slightly more than a Model 3. You could say 

Tesla's lineup will officially be "S3XY" once the Model Y releases.

Tesla says that the Model Y crossover, based on the Model 3, will be revealed March 14^th, 2019. Are you excited for the next vehicle in Tesla’s lineup? I’m quite interested myself in seeing where its pricing and performance falls, especially since the Standard Range Model 3 is a rather decent value with rebates and when comparing its range with some other EVs. Tesla is continuing to redefine the auto industry.

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