Should I buy a 5 year old model 3?

Should I buy a 5 year old model 3?

Author
Discussion

cirian75

Original Poster:

4,429 posts

245 months

Saturday 23rd November 2024
quotequote all
£20k seems to be were the good used ones started.

Would be the LR version.

But I have no ability to charge at home, so would be reliant on superchargers etc.

Most of my driving is around town, with one big drive every other fortnight.

ShortBeardy

205 posts

156 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
probably.
I am a 60 year old petrol head. I now live in the US. First car was an MG midget and I have gone via Tr7V8 rally car, TVR350, blah, blah Elise... and currently have X150 XKR coupe and 996 cab. Earlier this year we bought a Model Y as a replacement for the old family bus (Sienna AWD) and have done 16k miles since. As a means of transport it's difficult to find fault. I'd have a Model 3 and I would buy one for my kids. Is this compelling enough?

Zcd1

544 posts

67 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
It’s a great car in many ways.

How far away is the closest fast charger?

Mark V GTD

2,529 posts

136 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
How many miles a week are you doing around town? I ran an EV without any home charging in 2022 - its possible but the issue now is the exorbitant cost. Tesla chargers are generally a bit cheaper than the others so (as queried above) it may come down to the distance to the closest Tesla superchargers.

I cancelled a Tesla order when I realised that there were no dedicated chargers anywhere close to me.

Hugo Stiglitz v2

428 posts

6 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
From what I understand Tesla's can go to quite high mileage?

cirian75

Original Poster:

4,429 posts

245 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
Zcd1 said:
It’s a great car in many ways.

How far away is the closest fast charger?
2.6 miles for Tesla Super

0.2 for an EVPower


cirian75

Original Poster:

4,429 posts

245 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
Looked at the insurance, x2 more than anything else, ouch.

Mark V GTD

2,529 posts

136 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
If the Tesla charger is that close it will just boil down to the cost. Plus the insurance of course

Chris Peacock

2,807 posts

146 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
I love my EV and if I was buying a used one the Model 3 is a great buy, but personally I wouldn't consider an EV if I didn't have home charging. The added expense and faffing lessen the appeal massively.

Gone fishing

7,593 posts

136 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
2020 were the last of the US built cars with chrome handles, no heat pump, out if general warranty and, at the risk of offending the US members in here, not great cars build quality wise. They were getting better but the car needed the significant uplift that came with the dechrome look, different interior and heat pump. Just look at the cills and check they still have paint in them, etc.

£20k is cheap, but I’d suggest if you do want a M3, get a newer RWD car, the spec will be better and the range will be comparable, especially the winter real world range.

lizardbrain

2,751 posts

49 months

Sunday 24th November 2024
quotequote all
I have a USA build and would not necessarily avoid them (for the right price) as long as you are not precious about stuff like squeaks and tinny door slams. Otherwise it drives great and software keeps it fresh.

I’ve lived without home charging it’s doable but you are missing out on one of the best features of an EV

Be sure its had suspension work under warranty. If not it won’t be far away.


Edited by lizardbrain on Sunday 24th November 22:51

the_kato

410 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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I have 2020 USA LR. Love it, but far from he best built car I've ever had. I have creak door straps on mine, but I certainly don't regret buying it. Tessie app says it's got 5% battery deg on it at 4 years and 30k miles but not entirely sure how accurate that is

annodomini2

6,934 posts

263 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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Would aim for a 21> car, the Shanghai ones appears better built and the China supplied batteries on average are fairing better with degradation.

~5%/100k, vs ~10%/100k for freemont cars,

cirian75

Original Poster:

4,429 posts

245 months

Saturday 14th December 2024
quotequote all
I went with a conventional car in the end

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

maybe in 6 years which is the plan for this car, maybe then I'll go electric.

Guopeng1

19 posts

6 months

Wednesday 19th February
quotequote all
cirian75 said:
£20k seems to be were the good used ones started.

Would be the LR version.

But I have no ability to charge at home, so would be reliant on superchargers etc.

Most of my driving is around town, with one big drive every other fortnight.
We have just bought a September 2021 model 3 LR , this is a 71 plate, which as most folk know, are also AWD.
White with premium white interior, and the nice upgraded 19 inch alloys.
65k miles, immaculate, £18,800

We also have a 72 plated model 3 RWD from new.
Also, white, with white premium interior, but the standard 18 inch alloys.

Both very good