(Replying to PARENT post)

Tesla's hold their value at a higher rate than internal combustion vehicles [1]. They're also orders of magnitude cheaper to operate per mile [2] (electricity as fuel gets you down to ~3-7 cents/mile, not including maintenance which is limited in a powertrain with only a handful of moving parts).

> Not to mention the fact that it is being used as a rental requires disclosure upon sale

Only in some states is this disclosure required.

[1] https://electrek.co/2016/09/13/tesla-model-s-value-retention...

[2] https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/costs.pdf

👤toomuchtodo🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

3-7 cents per mile is not "orders of magnitude" cheaper. Total burdened cost per mile (including insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc.) for cars today is about 55 cents per mile these days per the IRS.

The fuel only cost for a car that gets 25 mpg (which is not great fuel efficiency) is currently at around 12 cents per mile assuming $3/gal gas. Maintenance may be lower with an electric car but, in the case of Tesla, it's a luxury car brand with expensive sole-source parts and there's the big question about battery costs over time.

👤ghaff🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

This is awful logic. What happens if there's another financial downturn, causing you to not be able to sell your car? What happens if the price of oil goes way down, causing the value of Teslas to drop dramatically?

If you can't afford the car without others paying for it, you probably shouldn't sign for the loan. Hell, you shouldn't be able to get one in the first place.

👤daeken🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Teslas hold their value because the supply is low and the waiting list is very long.

A lot of the cars are resold at prices that are very close to a new listing, this isn't that different than many other high end cars with limited production (although these tend to be at higher price brackets than the model S).

As far as the cost per mile goes the fuel costs are not the biggest factor.

Insurance cost, cost of financing/ROI loss and the devaluation of the vehicle are considerably more important when calculating the per mile costs of owning a car.

👤dogma1138🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

It doesn't matter that they hold their value at a higher rate than ICVs. When you go to sell it, you're comparing it to other Teslas.
👤JustSomeNobody🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

A 30 mpg car with $3 gas costs $10k per 100k miles to fuel.

In other words, the operating costs for a Tesla do not make up for the premium price of the vehicle. You're buying a luxury car, not paying upfront for operational expense. When they release the 3, things will be different.

👤colechristensen🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Slightly off topic, but does know if you can claim the same mileage deductions on your tax return for an electric vehicle as you can for any other?
👤chatmasta🕑9y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I don't think the average Tesla owner cares about "cheaper to operate". I have a weird feeling the average Tesla owner has a classic, gas guzzling, vechicle/vechicles in their multi-unit garage.

Teslas are a rich man's car.

I'm waiting for the day it becomes a poor/middle class vechicle.

I know I won't buy a used one until they open up the parts supply, and open up the operating system. I don't see that day coming. I really wanted one a year ago. I figured they must have a few that have been wrecked. I wanted to put one back on the road, with a salvage title. I found it's practically impossible.

As to holding their value, yes--they are commanding high prices, even used. They are a rich man's novelty. If a rich man can get deal on a used car, why not pay bite. It's a small demographic sector of society. It's a niche market right now.

My hope is in the future all electric vechicle manufactures are required to open up their software, so guys like myself can buy in the secondary market, tweak, and get these used electric cars back on the road, in a cost effective way.

(Dissabled the AI if you think if the Tesla, or federal government fears guys, like myself, will tinkering with it. I can live without the AI. I do want a cheap, used, electric vechicle.)

👤icantdrive55🕑9y🔼0🗨️0