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SPEAKER: Though Tesla
doesn't advertise it,
you can allegedly get a
Model 3 for around $35,000.
We should know because we got
roasted by the Tesla community
when we said the base price
was actually closer to $40,000.
Also we know because
we bought one.
In this video, we're going
to show you what we got
and the process it took
to actually get it.
Before we do, hit Subscribe
and visit Edmonds.com
to find your next perfect car.
The confusion
stems from the fact
that Tesla's own website says
the true cost of the least
expensive Model 3
is around $41,000.
Now, for true costs,
we're going to say
that includes destination
fees that you have to pay,
but excludes
potential gas savings
and the financial incentives
that vary from state to state.
So how do you get
the $35,000 model?
That's what we
wanted to find out.
So a few of us on
staff just pretended
we were normal customers
who went to Tesla stores
and talked to Tesla
sales reps over the phone
and in online chat rooms.
What we found out is that this
so-called off-menu process
is just kind of a thinly
veiled personalization
or customization program.
It's how you get the spoiler
removed on your Model S,
and it's how you get the Model
X in a six seat configuration
with a center console.
So what about this
$35,000 Model 3?
Well, the Tesla
reps that we talked
to told us that it
actually starts life
as a standard range plus car.
Then Tesla disables some
features, reduces the range,
and de-contents the interior to
make it a standard range car.
Tesla also tells us that you can
add back some of these features
during the course of ownership.
So there's the car.
And it actually looks pretty
good for being a base model.
It has 18-inch wheels.
And it's got this
white paint, which
is the only free color choice
you get with the off-menu Model
3.
Next, let's take a look at
some of the features that
are and aren't different
with this particular car.
The biggest exterior
difference--
they look like fog lights.
They aren't fog lights.
The other big
mechanical difference
is the stereo system.
If you look through the speaker
grills, you can see speakers.
But if you hop inside and turn
on the stereo and put the fader
all the way to the
rear, there's nothing
coming out of these speakers.
I suspect that's because,
if you pull this trim away,
here's where the amplifier
and subwoofer would
be on a normal Model 3.
But there's nothing here, except
this black piece of plastic.
What do the kids say?
My much younger Cameron says
there's the boom, boom, bap,
and there's none back here.
OK, boomer.
The other thing we're missing--
horror of horrors--
are the floor mats.
No jokes.
There's just no floor mats.
Let's talk about
some of the features
that you may be surprised
you still get in this car.
And we were surprised
by one of them.
And that's
traffic-based navigation
with satellite imagery.
We were surprised
because the Tesla
reps we talked to said that just
wasn't available in this car.
And it turns out it is available
for 30 days, after which point
you have to pay $10 a
month to get it back
in a group of features Tesla
calls "premium connectivity."
We'll probably be doing that.
You also get a dashcam.
You still get sentry mode.
And never mind that
little error there.
It just means we have the
wrong USB dongle plugged in.
You still get power-adjusting,
heated front seats
that are really comfortable.
And, unfortunately, you
still get piano black
trim in the center console.
And I'll show you why that's
terrible by simulating a week's
worth of use right now.
It's gross.
So what software
features are you missing?
Well, range is one thing.
This car has an advertised
range of 220 miles.
But because Tesla
recommends you charge
the batteries to 90%, that
leaves you with 198 miles
or so.
Let's just call it 200
miles of effective range,
which isn't too bad if you
have close, consistent access
to a charger.
The other thing you lose
out on is autopilot and full
self-driving.
Instead of smart
cruise control, you
have dumb cruise control that
works the traditional way.
You pull the stalk down
twice and adjust the speed
once you're over
30 miles an hour
to match the flow of traffic.
I actually kind of prefer that.
But if we so desire to get
full self-driving and autopilot
through the handy
Tesla app, we can
by paying quite a sum of money.
Before we start talking
about the buying process,
we can already make
some quick comparisons
with this car against
the 2017 Model 3
we had in our long-term fleet.
We put about 20,000
miles on that car
and we have 1,100 or so
on this one right now.
Immediately, we can tell
you that these seats are
much better, both in
terms of construction
and the material they
wrap the seats with.
It's just a more
comfortable place to sit.
The interior is quieter.
And the whole car
is better assembled.
Tesla is getting better
at building these things.
Lastly, it rides better, too.
But now let's walk through
the buying process.
So is this off the menu
Model 3 really $35,000?
If you look at
the Monroney, yes.
And then you have to add
the dock and destination
fee for $1,200 or so.
But, technically,
yeah, it's 35 grand.
So, yay, Tesla.
And it seems like a
pretty strong deal so far.
We really have enjoyed
driving this thing.
Unfortunately, the buying
process wasn't as appealing.
Our goal was to trade in our
2017 Model 3 Standard Range
Plus.
Tesla has a really
nifty trade in process
that you can start online.
You just submit details, photos,
and, poof, you get a price.
Ours was $38,000.
That was great.
It meant we could transform our
2017 Model 3 into a 2020 Model
3.
We made the order
in early November
because all the Tesla sales
people were recommending
we get our order in
as early as possible
so we could take delivery
before December 31
so we could keep the
$1,875 tax benefit that
was going to expire in 2020.
It was a major selling
point that never happened.
Come December, we're
anticipating delivery
and have to reappraise our
Model 3 because we're still
driving the car, as you would.
And we exceeded the
mileage and date limits
for the original appraisal
because we're still waiting
for our new car to be built.
We got appraised at $35,500.
We lost nearly 3 grand in value.
So we parked the car for
the rest of the month
while we waited for our
new car to be built.
And that's a luxury most
consumers don't have.
On December 17, we
received an email
telling us to choose a day
for potential delivery.
And one of the options
was Christmas day.
We didn't pick that.
But we made our selections
and replied back.
We didn't hear anything
for another 10 days.
So we replied to
Tesla on December 27
asking, hey, what's
the deal with our car?
The rep emails us and
says, hey, there's
no car attached to
your account yet.
But there's still a good
chance we could take delivery
before the new year.
Unfortunately, on December
31 at 12:06 in the morning
we finally get word
that the factory
was unable to build our car.
We don't hear anything
until January 14,
when Tesla puts an appointment
on our calendar for delivery
on the 16.
So that tax credit?
Gone.
And there's nothing
we can do about it.
Tesla doesn't offer
anything to compensate,
not even an apology.
And, look, we get the end
of the year's a busy time.
People need vacations.
So do we.
The issue we have is
that Tesla used this
as a major selling point and
was unable to deliver on it.
Look, we're car reviewers,
we're record critics,
but we're also Tesla customers.
This is the fourth
one we've owned.
We even have two preorders on
vehicles that don't exist yet.
We're--
Yeah, scratch that.
Immediately after
filming this, we
got word that our Model
Y was close to delivery.
So make that only one new model
that doesn't quite exist yet.
And now back to the video.
We're brand faithful
diehards, right?
We put our money where
our collective mouth is.
And there's a lot
we like about Tesla.
Some of the processes
around trade in and delivery
are really cool.
The cars themselves
can be excellent.
There's a lot of
welcome attributes
that you can't get from
traditional automakers.
But the buying process isn't
always smooth for car shoppers.
That's all behind us now.
We're looking forward to running
this in our long-term fleet
for the next year.
And, uh, scratch this, too.
Look forward to this
Model 3 getting replaced
by our new Model Y very soon.
Check our website for
more updates there.
And stay tuned on this channel
for more about this car.
Make sure to hit
Like and Subscribe,
and visit Edmonds.com to
find your next perfect car.
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