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Tesla Opens Orders To All US and Canadian Model 3 Reservation Holders (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: For people who put down a $1,000 deposit for a Tesla Model 3 as long as two years ago, the big day has arrived. Specifically, the day has arrived when they can give Tesla another $2,500 and then wait a few more months for their car to arrive. Days before the end of the second quarter, Tesla is now allowing all reservation holders in the United States and Canada to place orders for the Model 3. Customers will be able to choose between several variants of the Model 3 -- including the high-end "performance" model -- as well as choosing colors and option packages. However, the low-end version of the Model 3 with its long-promised $35,000 price tag isn't available to order yet.

Each customer will get a specific delivery estimate based on the model they choose and their position on the waiting list. A typical delivery window is two to four months. While the original $1,000 Model 3 deposit was fully refundable, customers who pay the extra $2,500 will be locked in three days after placing an order, the company told CNBC. That isn't a new requirement -- a Tesla spokeswoman told Ars that the company has long asked customers to pay a $2,500 deposit when they order other Tesla models.

7 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Getting mine Monday! by Idou · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For those of you debating whether to order now and splurge on the long range model, waiting for the 35K model likely means you will not get the full tax credit. The impact of this may be more than you think. Not only do you get to take the tax credit for this year when you buy now, but if you wait until the tax credit expires to sell your (now used) car, the resale value should increase by close to the tax credit amount. So it really does make sense to buy now (35K + 15K = long range Model 3 now).

    Of course, now that they are opening orders to everyone. . . you probably want to closely look into the probability of getting your car in time to take advantage of the full tax credit. . .

    --
    Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
    1. Re:Getting mine Monday! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Going to post this as AC because I'm sure the haters will be out in full force. I got mine a few weeks ago and it was better than I expected. For context, I have a 2016 Porsche 981 GTS (everybody please put down your pitchforks) so my standards are set pretty high. The model 3 is totally worth the wait and is definitely worth the money. I am pretty sure that the Model 3 can trash the 981 at just about any metric and in fact a slightly modified Model 3 just ate a 981 race-ready Boxster at a time track event and won the event overall. It is 2/3 the price of the Porsche fully-loaded too!

      It is a totally unassuming car but it is brilliantly designed. So much so that I'm considering getting rid of the Porsche as there is just no reason to own it. It feels like a dinosaur when I get in it now.

      The parking garage at my condo has free regular 110v plugs, and they don't mind us charging cars with them, so to date I have paid absolutely nothing for "fuel". At 110v it would take two and a half days to charge it from empty (it charges at a rate of about 7km/hr at 110v and the 80% range is about 450km), but I just plug it in when I get home and it is ready for me the next time I want to use it. On average I just don't drive more than 7km/hr/day so it works out. Of course there are many other charging options a lot of them free (my local airport parking has free EV charging and you can leave your car there and plugged in the entire time you are away). The parking garages in this area also have free EV charging.

      The seats are great. The interior is really nice - the glass roof is beautiful! I love the minimalist dash. I would give the touchscreen controls a 7/10. They could do a lot to improve that and they are slowly making some positive changes to it. Very usable though. The handling is adjustable and I find it very responsive. It is a fun car to drive. I have found no fit and finish problems despite the reports - the body panels all line up and the tolerances are great and the inside trim is quiet. No squeaks or rattles. The car is so quiet that you do notice tire noise when you are driving.

      I wrote to Tesla asking them when the whole LTE music streaming and free map updates and live traffic was going to end and they were going to start charging me, and they said "Never. Enjoy!" Turns out that this offer expires for people who get their cars after July 1st. Most of it will still be free, but they will offer a premium level after some period of time that you will have to pay for that will give you music streaming and traffic. Updates will be done over wifi unless they are a safety issue in which case they will eat the cost of the LTE update.

      I'm rambling probably. Enjoy your car in good health! It really feels like it is the next generation of the automobile.

    2. Re:Getting mine Monday! by Rei · · Score: 3, Informative

      If you had actually been paying attention to me you'd know I live in Europe, and the Eurospec Model 3s aren't yet available, so how would that be me?

      --
      Why must all aquatic villains play the organ?
    3. Re:Getting mine Monday! by Idou · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Thanks, I enjoyed your post. You hit many good points, but I am compelled to add one more: purchase experience. . .

      I do not think I will ever be able to get near a car dealership again after experiencing how buying a car should be. . .

      --
      Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
  2. Re:Humbug... by Rei · · Score: 3, Informative

    It's also an econobox that can't supercharge.

    People want a car, not a hair shirt. Don't get me wrong, Bolt is fine for a subset of users. But don't pretend that it's a replacement for the Model 3.

    --
    Why must all aquatic villains play the organ?
  3. Re:Car Pact & NAFTA by fluffernutter · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Furthermore, Trump calls the Canadian dairy tariff one-sided, yet he seems completely unwilling to acknowledge the fact that American farmers are subsidized as well. The difference is that Canadian dairy farmers are assisted by people actually buying their products and are weighted in a way to control production based on demand. American farmers are paid for by American tax dollars whether you consume dairy products or not.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  4. Re:I want one... by Luckyo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Modern new cars need minimum mechanical intervention over first few years of their lives. It increases as they age, but used cars cost far less regardless.

    50k-ish USD is going to buy several decades of mechanical interventions for a decent used car, which will only set you back a few thousand. And Tesla, while cheaper to maintain, is by no means free over its life cycle.

    So yes, all current Teslas are luxury vehicles by definition.