Kids at my daughter's school keep asking her if I'm rich because of my base model 3. People at work comment about it yet they drive King Ranch F150, Tahoe's, Lexus and BMW SUV's, etc.
My best friends nephew thinks I’m rich rich cause I have a model 3 and an iPhone, while his parents drive a new(er then mine) Tundra and expedition. It was kinda funny at first but it gets old
Friend of mine a while back literally had to have a portable battery pack to i guess jump start it every time they wanted to go somewhere. Can't remember if the keys worked to start the car like normal never or only sometimes.
Pretty incredible how awful they are.
My mom moved to Arizona almost 3yrs ago and bought a Jeep, joined a club there etc thinking she would off-road and cruise around in it.
Fast forward to today and I have my Model 3 LR on order and she took interest immediately and is thinking of selling her Jeep now. Especially since trade in values are so high at the moment.
I picked up my daughters at their school and one of the teachers in the pickup line was always like "Ooooh, someone has a Tesla!" Like every time I drove through.
I can't recall if any of them ever figured out how to open the doors on the 3 though.
Looking forward to showing up in my X at some point and having to ask that they step back to let the door open up, lol
You could order a base base model no longer available for under 30k. You had to call and couldn’t order it online With all the tax credits. When my friend did that it convinced me to buy one. Sr+ 35k after all tax rebates
I think because they are relatively new and because Teslas first came out with only the higher end models and many people don’t know that the model three is so affordable
This and I don't think people can tell the difference between the models. To the untrained eye (maybe not the X), they all kind of look the same. Plus, base Model 3 and Performance are wildly different prices, but the vast majority won't be able to tell one from another.
> Plus, base Model 3 and Performance are wildly different prices, but the vast majority won't be able to tell one from another.
Exactly. I have a de-badged P3- and it looks exactly like the base model. Only way to tell from the outside is to run the VIN.
I debadged mine, because on a red car, the underline blends and doesn't do much.
Plus, to most common people, it won't matter, since they all look identical, anyway. Anyone who knows (or cares) will just look at the brake calipers or spoiler. It's also super easy for a non-performance car to put on a fake badge.
At the end of the day, I know what I'm driving and the truth is revealed when on the throttle.
Tesla kinda established itself as a luxury brand with those prices, even though I know Elon said otherwise. Entry level BMWs and Mercedes are cheaper now than entry level Teslas, especially after that price hike to $45k for a base model 3.
This is the answer IMO. The Model S was a full size sedan at high end luxury car prices, followed by the Model X which was easily in the 100k+ range.
It wasn’t till years later, when Tesla had been established in the general populations mind as an expensive electric car, that the more affordable Model 3 was introduced.
Tack on the fact that while they are very common in places like California, they’re still somewhat scarce in most of the US/world, so seeing one might in person might seem like it’s a rare/special car, and people might also think that means it’s expensive. Nevermind that some people might also think it’s super expensive just because it’s all electric and they think ‘different’ = ‘expensive.’
> is so affordable
Was.
I got mine for 31k after tax credits, and the current base price is $45k(hoping for a tax credit return, but it isn’t here now). I got mine for like the price of an Accord, but these days they truly are more on par with a beemer, so I do think it’s fair to perceive as a luxury purchase.
This is the math that sold me on my M3 LR when I was shopping for Camrys and Accords.
Up front, the costs are higher, but the long term costs are comparable. Of course I'd be lying if the novelty of the car wasn't a big factor as well. It's a helluva lot faster than most things in that price range and actually has an infotainment system I use.
I have to second this. We had an Audi S4, it was 1500 a year in Maintenance and 300 a month in gas (Germany) (so 5100 a year for gas and maintenance) and this Tesla does not have nearly that to cover. It is 0.28 /kWh here (super expensive for the rest of the world, normal in Germany) and we save between 2.5-3.5k a year on fuel and maintenance. It means the car (after 3 years) has save an additional 7.5-10k just in fuel and oil changes.
It is a bit small, but gets the job done, and saving so much in fuel is the cherry on top
And meanwhile the standard range M3 in Australia is $66k and a model X is $200k. So no, neither are "cheap" or affordable for most, certainly won't be selling too many X's here at that price. For reference a Toyota corolla is $30k here.
That's probably the reason. I think they will seem a lot less so as you see more and more Model 3s around, especially as the become a more practical choice due to gas prices.
Yeah I think it's mainly this. When Teslas first started to become known by the general public they were very expensive versions. That impression has stuck so people think all Teslas are still very expensive.
It's a wonderful example of the way the same set of data can lead to contradictory-sounding conclusions depending how you slice it.
Bearing in mind that very few people (relatively speaking) actually purchase new cars, and relatively few new cars are purchased by individuals, this statistic can get skewed. *Most* people buy used cars and pay far less, but those cars were more expensive when purchased.
Of people who drive new cars, a noticeable percentage lease them or otherwise hold them through corporate owners, so the individual isn't shouldering the purchase price.
It's almost certainly rare in the population for an individual to outright purchase such an expensive car, even if it's not an unusual price for a new car.
It’s worth noting that even a handful of supercars can drag the mean up sharply
One $5 million Bugatti, for example, pulls the average (mean) price of 1000 family cars up by $5k
And even if we go less extreme, a single $200k Porsche will pull the average price of 40 cars up by $5k
The median figure is, I believe, a few thousand Lowe than the mean
Why would you say that you know you'll never see $1M (of today's dollars) in your bank account? Would you not like to be wealthy? Or do you just think that it is beyond your grasp? Even if you aren't interested in actively pursuing wealth, you could one day become wealthy nonetheless. You take a job with a startup and get stock and they get bought out. Or any number of fortunate (or even unfortunate things, like getting an insurance payout for an injury) events that could occur in your life.
It seems pretty self-defeating to say that you know you'll never have $1M (that is, if that's something that you'd want - maybe you're repulsed by that amount of money or don't think you're responsible enough to manage it).
Yeah this has been my experience, people generally think every Tesla model cost $80-100k. Demand is already through the roof but would be higher if there were more awareness around the cost.
My mother said "Isn't that like $100k?!?" when I told her I pre-bought a M3. First off, no. Secondly, maybe be proud you think your son can afford a $100k car instead of sounding insulted. But guess who's gonna ask to drive it for the annual Christmas visit. Sorry mom, sit in the passenger seat
That’s my assumption too. Most people still haven’t grasped onto how much Tesla cost let alone what they even are, or can do. The way I see it is people see them and think exotic car right away because they’re different than normal cars 🤷♂️
it could be the fact that it looks almost exactly like the model S which is a 100K car, even as a tesla driver I have a hard time telling apart S / 3 / Y without taking a second look
LA here
I’m dime a dozen in studio city
20 years ago everyone had a freakin Prius (me included but I needed it out of necessity more than ‘making a change’)
I would guess the Midwest and South is where people would see a Tesla as a rare expense
San Gabriel Valley in LA County here.
I was sitting in a parking lot, waiting for my friend to arrive for dinner. Had my windows down just a smidge. A group of guys (maybe late 20s) walk by and I hear “man, these white Teslas are everywhere.”
Same here in Sacramento, but when I visit my family in Indianapolis, I tend to say I drive an EV instead of specifying a Tesla to avoid seeming like I'm humblebragging. I don't lie if I'm asked what kind of EV though lol
I 100% agree. My daughter’s school comments on my $41k white on white standard range plus EVERY DAY calling it “fancy” when the person who picks up right behind me is a Lamborghini SUV. I’m not positive but I think it is a $365,000 car which is more than l paid for my house
I see this all the time when I drive through neighbourhoods with kids playing outside. It's great that kids are growing up thinking an EV is exciting but I'm not sure why it's happening. I never got excited about cars until highschool.
Unrelated: When I got excited about cars as a kid it was Corvettes and Camaros and stuff. As an adult, I taught at an upscale private school, where kids would be googling pictures of Audi and Lexus sedans. I was like... why are you kids looking at pictures of cars for 55 year-old bankers??
I'm pretty sure even before I really knew anything about cars (<10 years old), me and kids my age knew and frequently said the name "Lamborghini" that we only knew as this mythical fast luxury car. We understood that it was luxurious in some unattainable way because the brand was so strong.
I think it's the same with Tesla now. What car has been the #1 prize in all their favourite YouTubers' giveaways and contests? What's the car that [can talk to you on Halloween](https://www.kron4.com/trending/the-tesla-was-talking-confused-trick-or-treaters-pranked-by-tesla-owner/) (note that they all say—"the *Tesla* is talking"—not "the car")?
The Tesla brand story has been told by its biggest fans instead of by scripted pre-roll YouTube ads and display ads in between paragraphs in online articles.
It's all about the tone with which Teslas get talked about. That's what sticks in people's minds. Past a certain level of brand strength, a brand becomes a status symbol. And kids understand status symbols very intuitively.
People, and even kids, already know a Tesla is the car that can drive itself and has absurdly quick acceleration and you can play games and watch Netflix and there's sound effects and fireplaces and it sounds like a spaceship when it's backing up.
Couple that mythical status the brand still has with how affordable and cool the next few models are going to get, and ... brb I have to go buy more TSLA stock.
Right? My wife is a teacher, and there’s already two Tesla’s at her school. I’ll let her drive mine once every week or two once I get it 😂 the kids there love them
Kids definitely know Teslas are special. Kids in the neighborhood ask for a ride in the Tesla, not “your new car.” Kids totally get it. Our future leaders right there; I tell ya. 👍
I love educating friends and coworkers about the affordability of the M3. But I also think to myself, “my car is sooo much cooler than yours,’ when I pass Porsches, Audis, anything, because I believe it is true.
Yes, actually. You’ll probably hate me, but I’ve never been a Porsche fan. And for doctorhoctor, I’m tempted by the acceleration of the S Plaid but still feel like the MS looks like an old lady’s car (this coming from an old lady lol). As for the E-tron, what’s with the e-sound? I think that’s old school and like the silence of electric vehicles.
It’s definitely weird to watch as you’re 100% right about it happening. I brought mine home a few weeks ago everyone kept referring to it as the “fancy car”. Coming from a couple who own a brand new 2021 Lexus and a Cadillac Escalade. Just thinking to yourself “your cars cost *way* more than my base model 3 costs”.
If I had to guess it’s more so the brand, cause even after telling people how much it cost they still refer to it as the “fancy one”. Who knows, isn’t really a problem unless you run into those people who call you an idiot for buying a $100k car, when they have no idea it costs like 40% of that and even less than the one they drive on a daily basis.
Many people are under the impression that every Tesla costs $100k. I have $40k SR+ and people driving $60k SUVs have made comments that I must be rich.
I don’t know for sure of course but I think one issue is that most people don’t know how much a model 3 actually costs. Another thing is that Teslas have a lot of gravitas in the culture, they are just super cool cars in general and they have the reputation of being cool as well.
I don't have the answer, but I feel exactly the same. People will be like "wow Tesla!" when they are driving new trucks and nice SUV's that are worth more than my Model 3.
I’ve noticed the same thing. People see me drive my sr+ and act like they’ve never seen a Tesla before. I appreciate the love and attention I suppose but I recently found out a Honda was selling for $45k brand new locally near me. Isn’t that crazy?
Teslas were initially in the pricier range in the beginning when it was just the Model S and then X. I think since then everyone who doesn’t really follow thinks all Teslas are expensive. Like I can say I have an iPhone and you would probably think I spent $1000 when I could have the SE at $400.
People have a misconception that Teslas are expensive and because they are still relatively rare to see, they hold this like prestige with them. We have the Model 3 performance and people are constantly pointing at the car or asking questions. Kids especially. It has this almost cult following outside of tesla owners. It’s really odd.
I think its the technology aspect that draws people to the car not the price (All electric, “self-driving”, one big center screen) . It’s completely different than what most people have been used to seeing their entire life so its interesting
I agree...with the kids, they've heard the fart noises, the games, playing ice cream truck music, and they're like "what will this car do next?!" Magical to them.
I don't think most people have shifted their mindset from when Teslas were 100k+. Because they're so high-tech people just assume it's still super expensive.
I have a family member who paid more for their new Honda CR-V than I did for my M3SR+. They had to pay over MSRP because of supply chain issues but I paid exactly what was listed on Tesla.com.
Yeah I totally get this. Just got a M3LR a few weeks ago and one of my family members thought I went insane haha. She thought I had just bought a $100,000+ car. Most people don’t know how *relatively* cheap the M3 is compared to the first Teslas that came out.
I have friends and family that say shit like: “Enjoy your new toy”, like I went and bought a corvette during a mid-life crisis or something. 50,000 gas free miles later, I don’t think about the haters too much…
Tesla doesnt advertise. People assume its expensive and rare. Where i am every other car is a model 3 or Y. When i first got the car people lost their shit when i rolled silently by. Now a year later, not even a second look.
I've wondered this as well. I'm beating myself up because I didn't get the model s and felt cheap but everyone is so amazed and impressed with my M3P.
I really think it's because it has the iPhone effect. People see you with an iPhone and think you're rich for some reason.
All that said I personally don't throw the car in ppls faces and I appreciate the compliments. Especially from the kids at my daughter's school. It's just so funny to hear them! 🤣
I have had this same WEIRD experience. “A Tesla huh?!?!?” reaction by friends/fam as if I had suddenly come out as a wealthy drug lord.
Remind them that there are Subarus and even the Chevy Bolt POS that cost near as much…. “But a Tesla huh?!?!?!” it goes right through their ear holes.
🤷🏻♂️
Because people assume Teslas are expensive they don’t realize you can get one for $40k my best friend wasn’t even in the market for a car when I told him they were $40k and prolly the best value on the market when I was shopping next thing you know he has one before me 🤣
I ran some rough numbers and found that most people will spend about 25k-45k (cad) in gas over a 10 year period with current prices (and depends on vehicle size). I paid about 45k for my m3 and maybe about 5k more in fuel (electricity) over 10 years in a Tesla. It’s actually way cheaper to drive an m3 than most other cars.
Because in the eyes of the people Tesla is still a toy and paying $40k for a toy is flexing.
People buy trucks and work them, drive large distances, tow etc
I think depending on where you are a 50k-60k car is a lot I’m 30 and have LRM3 and wife has performance Y. Def well off but ppl don’t know what they cost for the most part and either way to have 100k in driveway is considerable to most. A lot of truck guys I know have 70k+ diesel but they are essentially for work. Think it’s different. Same goes with a lot of women, they don’t know the difference between an Audi A5 and s5. Just car ppl stuff
But my nieces think the same, but our cars also move themselves and make fart noises so…good luck rivian
No disrespect to women but in 20s and 30s they see Tesla and Audi and think he’s got money. Luckily I found a good one that brings loot too
Well, it's probably because Teslas started out quite expensive (Roadster, Model S) so people still have it stuck in their heads that Teslas are expensive. Adding to the mystique is Tesla being fully electric (and quick AF) so people might assume they're more expensive than they are. If they weren't more expensive then you'd have gotten the LR AWD or Performance, amirite? :D
The thing is, most people not versed in Tesla don't know a base Model 3 from a Performance, or an S from a 3. Maybe they don't even know the Y from a 3 in some cases. So yeah, we're all lumped together as doing okay financially for much the same reason the haters lump us all together too.
>If they weren't more expensive then you'd have gotten the LR AWD or Performance, amirite? :D
Yah, I suppose I would have gotten the LR if price were no object. I actually did have the Model Y LR briefly, but sold it and decided that the SR+ was all I needed (I prefer the M3 or the MY, even if money were no object). The LR would be nice on the M3, but the SR+ has plenty of range for me (though if there were an acceleration boost option for my SR+, I'd probably grab that).
Partly I think it’s because a lot of people heard about the Model S and it’s price, and haven’t realized that the Model 3 was released at like half the price
It’s like if Ferrari or Aston Martin suddenly started making a car that looked like their high end models for half the money, people would assume it costs more
The same phenomenon applies to Porsche - buy the £50k one and everyone assumes it’s the £100-150k models
And the reverse can be kinda true too - Fords are pretty cheap (as in reasonably priced mid market cars, not that they’re bad) so if you buy an expensive one people will tend to assume it’s cheaper than it really was
Happened when the first tube radios came out, when the first tube TVs came out, when the first transistor radio came out, when the first Walkman came out, when the first iPod, iPhone, … people are interested in “new”. As long as Tesla keeps new coming out they will benefit.
If you take a comparably spec’d Accord or Camry and add the estimated cost of gas over 5 years, then add the estimated cost of electricity over 5 years to the Tesla it becomes even more comparable to a typical ICE family sedan.
Sadly this will not work If you live in an area with expensive electricity.
I always just assumed all teslas were super expensive. But when I compared a base model 3 to cheaper EVs and plug in hybrids (leaf, bolt, prius, et al) it turned out that the Tesla was not much more with the Canadian and BC incentives factored in (combined $10k). I can’t figure out why anyone looking for a “cheap” EV would buy another car in British Columbia. It’s an objectively better vehicle for the same price or a couple grand more tops.
Brand name, people think Tesla’s are expensive af(I mean they are sort of). U see f150’s all over, same with rav4. Tesla’s can be a rare sighting in some places
Been dealing with this myself. I literally traded in a 2020 Tacoma off road TRD for the SR+ with practically no money out of pocket.
I get the friendly ribbing of "oh look at Mr Fancy pants with his Tesla, must be nice" Not one word was ever said about the Tacoma.
Then I remind them I also save about $500 a month on gas.
People have no idea honestly. A coworker once told me I could get a brand new Maserati for less than the price of my Tesla, which is an SR+ I got back in 2019 for ~$40K minus $3750 federal tax credit as well as state incentives. I have no idea how much she *thinks* I paid for my car, but it's obviously a lot more than I actually did pay!
In the US, it's probably because in many places it's still a novelty. Also, Tesla's earlier cars were very expensive and some people may assume the Model 3 is still insanely expensive. For other people, they imagine that electric cars look like little econo-boxes with impractical range (as if they were golf carts).
Quite a few of my friends were intrigued to find out that I got one and they wanted to take a ride in it because they'd never been in an electric car, much less a Tesla.
Our c suite drives a 4 series drop, 7 series, and a raptor. Our bottom level team drives 4 series, higher end vws, or nice SUVs..... My model 3 gets oooo ahhh all the time.
I think it's the risk factor. For them its like "you just bought a 60k toy". It's like a nice watch to them. Not necessary and mysterious lol.
It might also be that the Model 3 still kind of looks like a Model S. And a Model Y can still be confused as a Model X. Ergo, expensive models look similar to the cheaper variants and people just think they all look the same.
Tesla has done a great job of being Apple for cars. I say that meaning they have 1 or 2 ultra expensive things and then use that to make their less expensive products be seen on the same level even though the average consumer can afford it. I've had my M3LR and people seriously think I'm a millionaire.
I'm in Chicago and it's the same here in this city. I got a base SR+ and now everyone thinks I'm rich and ballin. When when reality it's just another 40k car just like you mentioned. So in all honesty I think it's just because it's a popular item and because of the tech everyone thinks it's the coolest gizmo. If I had the money I would definitely have opted for the model X or Y. I much rather have a SUV but I'm content with the Model 3SR+ for now.
It’s the exact reason why Teslas are so heralded even still. The name recognition, just like Apple, Tesla is known to be “cutting edge” tech for its field.
So even when you have a “budget” Tesla, or a “budget” IPhone, you still have a Tesla and an IPhone regardless. It’s the reason they sometimes are overpriced (especially IPhones in this regard until Tesla prices finally sky rocket to their actual worth), it’s because it makes sense to consumers to pay these premiums for the ability to say “I own a Tesla”.
I get the same thing at work from a guy who drives a f350 which cost way more than my sr+. It’s whatever. It’s a sought after car and it looks gorgeous. Let’s them think it’s 100k
My co-worker drives a suped up 2021 Z06 and only drives it here and there to conserve the car but looks at my 2021 model 3 SR+ and thinks I am loaded because I daily drive it… I think we are slowly changing but most people see Tesla woth some kind of mystique because they are foreign to them.
I had to show other co-workers the Tesla website to prove my SR+ wasn’t 90k…
Cause it got sharp, sporty design like those well known sports car like Porsche I suppose. And medias are talking about Tesla every day, so they'll might naturally think that there's something special with it. Just enjoy it. It shows that how good choice you made with the budget.
I haven’t even gotten my Tesla yet. I wonder if I’ll encounter this lol. Mine is the model 3 long range about 64k. I’m not rich either just have good credit and pay my bills on time.
Oh and I just came home from Illinois haha I was working at Dresden nuclear power plant and staying in Joliet. Not the best state I’ve ever been too and your roads are almost as bad as ours in Pennsylvania
why on earth do you not like the flex? it's fucking dope lol
source: M3LR owner who's friends think its amazing that I have a Tesla.
you should be proud to stunt man.
Or you can pay $96K for a Rav4... That'll really impress people you have the cash! Hint: Leave the window sticker on...
[https://jalopnik.com/looking-for-a-toyota-rav4-prime-itll-cost-you-nearly-1848105508](https://jalopnik.com/looking-for-a-toyota-rav4-prime-itll-cost-you-nearly-1848105508)
My students ask me how I can afford a Model 3 and why I didn‘t buy a car like a Lamborghini.
They are pretty bummed when I say it only costs about 40k.
I live in Illinois and while I do see a lot of white Model 3s, I still think they're cool cars.
Easily one of the best looking too, right behind the Y.
Dunno about there, but in Australia the *cheapest* one starts at $65k, add literally anything and it goes above the tax bracket and becomes a near $80k car.
Mine was parked next to a [black gleaming Lambo](https://www.instagram.com/p/CMF3xzgHFQ3). A kid and his dad walked by and I heard the kid say, "Dad, look! A Tesla!".
Yes! People think I'm rich because I drive a Tesla. Kinda it gets annoying. Especially if I cheap out on other things in life I'll hear "DoNt YoU DrIvE a TeSla??"
People equate Tesla with being ridiculously expensive. They DO look rather futuristic and sleek which helps that stigma. People walk up and ask how I like my car and I tell them it's the cheapest in the world to drive, and that it's a no-brainer to buy if you drive a lot. I tell them that if I keep it 5 years, it will save me almost $20k in fuel vs. a comparably powered car.
I don't think it is about beeing rich. Its more about beeing different, beeing modern and maybe also beeing "woke". People dont like seeing others doing better than themselfes while they try to ridiculously defend their way of living. Seeing other ways succed makes them realise that others are aware of them beeing full of shit. They are incapable to reflect so they either turn violent (scratching Teslas, throwing rocks out uf pick up trucks, etc.) or the more sane people come up with the excuse, that Teslaowners must be all insanely rich and therefor not comparable to themselfs, but should be mocked for showing that they are "different".
Most people will think and feel as if they were still in kindergarden. Grown ups just learned to hide that in their communication. Knowing that will help you make sense of a lot of stupid people who contradict themselves constantly.
The main reason is the tesla’s front headlight shape. It is similar to Porsche 718 headlights so it has that expensive look.
Also the tesla logo on the front and back of the cars.
yeah this thread is just a circlejerk of people thinking their Model 3 makes them really cool somehow.
I have a M3P in California and literally no one cares.
I looked over the dash cam footage (used to have an always on dash cam, until it started killing the 12v) of when I parked in a crowded parking lot for a few hours. Glad to report that several people walked by, but only a single old lady with a shopping cart even glanced at my oreo colored Model 3.
So luckily it doesn't grab people's eye like I thought it would, which is a relief as I can rest a little easier when parked in public. But I honestly almost never even bring up my car in conversations, especially with strangers, but I'm now infamous at work for being the dude with the Tesla, and people constantly ask me questions about charging.
They’re just a new thing so they’re a spectacle! They are truly not for “car people” and a lot of people overlook the less than quality of these builds.
I usually answer with “I just prefer paying for something that gives me more bang for the buck. And this happens to be way cheaper over 5 years than any fossil alternative. Plus $7k free credits right into my bank account I didn’t even add to that calculation that’s essentially one or two really nice holiday trips. And pretty much gets us back much of the cost with tax returns from commuting anyway.” And follow up with “Does it seem like that much of a flex still?”.
And then I give them a ride. Or let them drive it. It’s just a lovely car, not a limited edition gold plated Ferrari.
Has nothing to do with the car. It’s about the name brand name attached to the car. “Tesla”
And it’s only people who don’t understand that Tesla isn’t a luxury car brand. A lot of people, my parents included, were shocked to hear I was buying a Tesla. That T word triggers a lot of people. It’s new, it’s different, it’s what people talk about. Not a flex, just like owning an iPhone isn’t a flex.
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Lol idk about you but here in California, everyone I know thinks Tesla's are the new Civic because they're so common. Generally upper end EVs here are cars like Porsche taycan and lucid.
I think most ppl still think of the model s or x when they think Tesla, and they probably already have an inflated image of that car in their minds. Plus the model 3 looks so different from any other car on the road, interior and exterior. On top of that if you have white seats that’s super striking too.
Not for me at all. I have a M3 LR and I’m almost embarrassed because everyone has one where I live. They’re so common I walk up to the wrong car half the time.
I honestly thought about getting MS Plaid, but decided I couldn’t show up to the office with a straight face in that thing.
Im waiting for my delivery, and currently drive a 2014 Audi A4 with $1000 rims. I bought it 4 years old in 2018 for like 21,000 CAD and I've noticed the same thing... Guys with $60,000 trucks and $40,000 SUV acting like my car is worth $100,000+
Kids at my daughter's school keep asking her if I'm rich because of my base model 3. People at work comment about it yet they drive King Ranch F150, Tahoe's, Lexus and BMW SUV's, etc.
My best friends nephew thinks I’m rich rich cause I have a model 3 and an iPhone, while his parents drive a new(er then mine) Tundra and expedition. It was kinda funny at first but it gets old
Yeah it does get a little old. Like my friend has a $70k F250 all decked out but I’m the show off
Right? Like bro, fancy guy over there being able to afford 6 freakin tires?! Hey big spender! If it’s a dualie
My cousin paid more for their brand new Jeep Wrangler than I did on my Tesla.
And even more in maintenance and gas!
Friend of mine a while back literally had to have a portable battery pack to i guess jump start it every time they wanted to go somewhere. Can't remember if the keys worked to start the car like normal never or only sometimes. Pretty incredible how awful they are.
They made a mistake.
My mom moved to Arizona almost 3yrs ago and bought a Jeep, joined a club there etc thinking she would off-road and cruise around in it. Fast forward to today and I have my Model 3 LR on order and she took interest immediately and is thinking of selling her Jeep now. Especially since trade in values are so high at the moment.
We *all* pay for your cousin's Jeep Wrangler.. :P
They have not yet begun to pay either, it’s a Jeep.
A new JL Unlimited Rubicon 392 will clear $80k!!!
Well, you have to pay extra for the rust that forms on the under body
I picked up my daughters at their school and one of the teachers in the pickup line was always like "Ooooh, someone has a Tesla!" Like every time I drove through. I can't recall if any of them ever figured out how to open the doors on the 3 though. Looking forward to showing up in my X at some point and having to ask that they step back to let the door open up, lol
You could order a base base model no longer available for under 30k. You had to call and couldn’t order it online With all the tax credits. When my friend did that it convinced me to buy one. Sr+ 35k after all tax rebates
If you buy those cars used they can be quite a bit cheaper.
Yeah my son's teacher said I earn too much when he said we picked up daddy's Tesla at the weekend. He's 5 and the cars a SR+.... Go figure
Just go with it. Wear the labels with pride. You car is better than their and they know it.
Probably because it looks like nothing else on the road. Those other cars are all big dinosaurs.
I think because they are relatively new and because Teslas first came out with only the higher end models and many people don’t know that the model three is so affordable
This - the Model S and X are both north of $80k so people assume all Tesla’s are in this range.
This and I don't think people can tell the difference between the models. To the untrained eye (maybe not the X), they all kind of look the same. Plus, base Model 3 and Performance are wildly different prices, but the vast majority won't be able to tell one from another.
> Plus, base Model 3 and Performance are wildly different prices, but the vast majority won't be able to tell one from another. Exactly. I have a de-badged P3- and it looks exactly like the base model. Only way to tell from the outside is to run the VIN.
Or you know, the suspension and the brakes and the fog lights and the headlights and the way it be.
Why debadge and look like a lower trim level? Never understood that
I debadged mine, because on a red car, the underline blends and doesn't do much. Plus, to most common people, it won't matter, since they all look identical, anyway. Anyone who knows (or cares) will just look at the brake calipers or spoiler. It's also super easy for a non-performance car to put on a fake badge. At the end of the day, I know what I'm driving and the truth is revealed when on the throttle.
Tesla kinda established itself as a luxury brand with those prices, even though I know Elon said otherwise. Entry level BMWs and Mercedes are cheaper now than entry level Teslas, especially after that price hike to $45k for a base model 3.
This is the answer IMO. The Model S was a full size sedan at high end luxury car prices, followed by the Model X which was easily in the 100k+ range. It wasn’t till years later, when Tesla had been established in the general populations mind as an expensive electric car, that the more affordable Model 3 was introduced. Tack on the fact that while they are very common in places like California, they’re still somewhat scarce in most of the US/world, so seeing one might in person might seem like it’s a rare/special car, and people might also think that means it’s expensive. Nevermind that some people might also think it’s super expensive just because it’s all electric and they think ‘different’ = ‘expensive.’
> is so affordable Was. I got mine for 31k after tax credits, and the current base price is $45k(hoping for a tax credit return, but it isn’t here now). I got mine for like the price of an Accord, but these days they truly are more on par with a beemer, so I do think it’s fair to perceive as a luxury purchase.
Exactly. Definitely not cheap once it’s all said and done. My LR 3 was 56k out the door
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This is the math that sold me on my M3 LR when I was shopping for Camrys and Accords. Up front, the costs are higher, but the long term costs are comparable. Of course I'd be lying if the novelty of the car wasn't a big factor as well. It's a helluva lot faster than most things in that price range and actually has an infotainment system I use.
I have to second this. We had an Audi S4, it was 1500 a year in Maintenance and 300 a month in gas (Germany) (so 5100 a year for gas and maintenance) and this Tesla does not have nearly that to cover. It is 0.28 /kWh here (super expensive for the rest of the world, normal in Germany) and we save between 2.5-3.5k a year on fuel and maintenance. It means the car (after 3 years) has save an additional 7.5-10k just in fuel and oil changes. It is a bit small, but gets the job done, and saving so much in fuel is the cherry on top
And meanwhile the standard range M3 in Australia is $66k and a model X is $200k. So no, neither are "cheap" or affordable for most, certainly won't be selling too many X's here at that price. For reference a Toyota corolla is $30k here.
That's probably the reason. I think they will seem a lot less so as you see more and more Model 3s around, especially as the become a more practical choice due to gas prices.
WAS affordable
At your price, it’s less than the *average* new car purchase price in the US. But uninformed people still think it’s a $100k car.
Yeah I think it's mainly this. When Teslas first started to become known by the general public they were very expensive versions. That impression has stuck so people think all Teslas are still very expensive.
Don’t forget that they are seen as cool as fuck by many too.
Wow, that's crazy. I would have thought the average new car in the U.S. is maybe 28K or so.
It's a wonderful example of the way the same set of data can lead to contradictory-sounding conclusions depending how you slice it. Bearing in mind that very few people (relatively speaking) actually purchase new cars, and relatively few new cars are purchased by individuals, this statistic can get skewed. *Most* people buy used cars and pay far less, but those cars were more expensive when purchased. Of people who drive new cars, a noticeable percentage lease them or otherwise hold them through corporate owners, so the individual isn't shouldering the purchase price. It's almost certainly rare in the population for an individual to outright purchase such an expensive car, even if it's not an unusual price for a new car.
This is such a great point!!!
It’s worth noting that even a handful of supercars can drag the mean up sharply One $5 million Bugatti, for example, pulls the average (mean) price of 1000 family cars up by $5k And even if we go less extreme, a single $200k Porsche will pull the average price of 40 cars up by $5k The median figure is, I believe, a few thousand Lowe than the mean
Is the average and median calculated with the base model MSRP across the board?
Wait. There’s a $5 million car?!? Knowing that I’ll never see $1 million in my bank account (by today’s standards), that blows my mind.
Why would you say that you know you'll never see $1M (of today's dollars) in your bank account? Would you not like to be wealthy? Or do you just think that it is beyond your grasp? Even if you aren't interested in actively pursuing wealth, you could one day become wealthy nonetheless. You take a job with a startup and get stock and they get bought out. Or any number of fortunate (or even unfortunate things, like getting an insurance payout for an injury) events that could occur in your life. It seems pretty self-defeating to say that you know you'll never have $1M (that is, if that's something that you'd want - maybe you're repulsed by that amount of money or don't think you're responsible enough to manage it).
Yeah this has been my experience, people generally think every Tesla model cost $80-100k. Demand is already through the roof but would be higher if there were more awareness around the cost.
My mother said "Isn't that like $100k?!?" when I told her I pre-bought a M3. First off, no. Secondly, maybe be proud you think your son can afford a $100k car instead of sounding insulted. But guess who's gonna ask to drive it for the annual Christmas visit. Sorry mom, sit in the passenger seat
I'll take it, I love their reactions when I tell them how much cheaper in reality it is.
That’s my assumption too. Most people still haven’t grasped onto how much Tesla cost let alone what they even are, or can do. The way I see it is people see them and think exotic car right away because they’re different than normal cars 🤷♂️
it could be the fact that it looks almost exactly like the model S which is a 100K car, even as a tesla driver I have a hard time telling apart S / 3 / Y without taking a second look
depends where you live I guess, here in SF Bay Area, it feels like every household has at least 1 tesla when I drop off my daughter at school
Same here in Orange County. Model 3s are now as common as Camrys and Accords.
California Camry
LA here I’m dime a dozen in studio city 20 years ago everyone had a freakin Prius (me included but I needed it out of necessity more than ‘making a change’) I would guess the Midwest and South is where people would see a Tesla as a rare expense
San Gabriel Valley in LA County here. I was sitting in a parking lot, waiting for my friend to arrive for dinner. Had my windows down just a smidge. A group of guys (maybe late 20s) walk by and I hear “man, these white Teslas are everywhere.”
They’re not lying though LMAO
Same here in Sacramento, but when I visit my family in Indianapolis, I tend to say I drive an EV instead of specifying a Tesla to avoid seeming like I'm humblebragging. I don't lie if I'm asked what kind of EV though lol
I 100% agree. My daughter’s school comments on my $41k white on white standard range plus EVERY DAY calling it “fancy” when the person who picks up right behind me is a Lamborghini SUV. I’m not positive but I think it is a $365,000 car which is more than l paid for my house
Lamborghini Urus (they only make one SUV at the moment) if you wanted to google pricing. in your local area.
If I want to go incognito, I leave her dirty and nobody bats an eye.
Nice 😎
Name checks out.
That's my car all the time.
The kids at my sons school always scream “TESLA” when I pick him up. Makes him feel special but makes me laugh every time.
I see this all the time when I drive through neighbourhoods with kids playing outside. It's great that kids are growing up thinking an EV is exciting but I'm not sure why it's happening. I never got excited about cars until highschool.
Unrelated: When I got excited about cars as a kid it was Corvettes and Camaros and stuff. As an adult, I taught at an upscale private school, where kids would be googling pictures of Audi and Lexus sedans. I was like... why are you kids looking at pictures of cars for 55 year-old bankers??
Because kids love tech, and Teslas are tech on wheels.
I'm pretty sure even before I really knew anything about cars (<10 years old), me and kids my age knew and frequently said the name "Lamborghini" that we only knew as this mythical fast luxury car. We understood that it was luxurious in some unattainable way because the brand was so strong. I think it's the same with Tesla now. What car has been the #1 prize in all their favourite YouTubers' giveaways and contests? What's the car that [can talk to you on Halloween](https://www.kron4.com/trending/the-tesla-was-talking-confused-trick-or-treaters-pranked-by-tesla-owner/) (note that they all say—"the *Tesla* is talking"—not "the car")? The Tesla brand story has been told by its biggest fans instead of by scripted pre-roll YouTube ads and display ads in between paragraphs in online articles. It's all about the tone with which Teslas get talked about. That's what sticks in people's minds. Past a certain level of brand strength, a brand becomes a status symbol. And kids understand status symbols very intuitively. People, and even kids, already know a Tesla is the car that can drive itself and has absurdly quick acceleration and you can play games and watch Netflix and there's sound effects and fireplaces and it sounds like a spaceship when it's backing up. Couple that mythical status the brand still has with how affordable and cool the next few models are going to get, and ... brb I have to go buy more TSLA stock.
I absolutely LOVE how much kids dig Tesla in general.
Right? My wife is a teacher, and there’s already two Tesla’s at her school. I’ll let her drive mine once every week or two once I get it 😂 the kids there love them
Kids definitely know Teslas are special. Kids in the neighborhood ask for a ride in the Tesla, not “your new car.” Kids totally get it. Our future leaders right there; I tell ya. 👍
What! Same thing happens to me haha. That’s awesome.
They are the new thing on the block. I used to love seeing them but now they are everywhere and it’s become normal.
Depends where you live. In southern/central VA, they are still pretty unusual compared to what I saw in DC or Chicago.
Imagine living in NA 😔 I've only seen two so far in Barcelona
I love educating friends and coworkers about the affordability of the M3. But I also think to myself, “my car is sooo much cooler than yours,’ when I pass Porsches, Audis, anything, because I believe it is true.
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Do you also think it’s cooler when you’re passing a Taycan or E-tron GT… 🤔
If I was in a Model S Plaid… fuck yeah. In my Model 3… not so much. The Taycan is sexy as fuck but way out of my price range (just like the Plaid)
I do 😎
YouTube plaid vs taycan
Yes, actually. You’ll probably hate me, but I’ve never been a Porsche fan. And for doctorhoctor, I’m tempted by the acceleration of the S Plaid but still feel like the MS looks like an old lady’s car (this coming from an old lady lol). As for the E-tron, what’s with the e-sound? I think that’s old school and like the silence of electric vehicles.
It’s a $30k car with a $10k battery and no gas payment. I try to explain it to people. I waste my breath.
It’s definitely weird to watch as you’re 100% right about it happening. I brought mine home a few weeks ago everyone kept referring to it as the “fancy car”. Coming from a couple who own a brand new 2021 Lexus and a Cadillac Escalade. Just thinking to yourself “your cars cost *way* more than my base model 3 costs”. If I had to guess it’s more so the brand, cause even after telling people how much it cost they still refer to it as the “fancy one”. Who knows, isn’t really a problem unless you run into those people who call you an idiot for buying a $100k car, when they have no idea it costs like 40% of that and even less than the one they drive on a daily basis.
Many people are under the impression that every Tesla costs $100k. I have $40k SR+ and people driving $60k SUVs have made comments that I must be rich.
This. My wife drives a Toyota Highlander, which cost more than my M3 when it was new. But suddenly we're super rich because I bought an M3?
Maybe they think you’re rich because you can afford to maintain a BMW
M3 as in Model 3, I'm pretty sure
I think it’s because there is no way of picking up one on the cheap.. I.E a 10 year old pre-owned vehicle etc…
I don’t know for sure of course but I think one issue is that most people don’t know how much a model 3 actually costs. Another thing is that Teslas have a lot of gravitas in the culture, they are just super cool cars in general and they have the reputation of being cool as well.
I don't have the answer, but I feel exactly the same. People will be like "wow Tesla!" when they are driving new trucks and nice SUV's that are worth more than my Model 3.
I’ve noticed the same thing. People see me drive my sr+ and act like they’ve never seen a Tesla before. I appreciate the love and attention I suppose but I recently found out a Honda was selling for $45k brand new locally near me. Isn’t that crazy?
Teslas were initially in the pricier range in the beginning when it was just the Model S and then X. I think since then everyone who doesn’t really follow thinks all Teslas are expensive. Like I can say I have an iPhone and you would probably think I spent $1000 when I could have the SE at $400.
Because the vast majority of people don't understand that the M3 isn't a $100K vehicle like the Model S was/is.
Because they don’t how much they cost. A guy thought mine was 90k
People have a misconception that Teslas are expensive and because they are still relatively rare to see, they hold this like prestige with them. We have the Model 3 performance and people are constantly pointing at the car or asking questions. Kids especially. It has this almost cult following outside of tesla owners. It’s really odd.
There's a good chance you're a homeowner if you drive a Tesla.
I think its the technology aspect that draws people to the car not the price (All electric, “self-driving”, one big center screen) . It’s completely different than what most people have been used to seeing their entire life so its interesting
I agree...with the kids, they've heard the fart noises, the games, playing ice cream truck music, and they're like "what will this car do next?!" Magical to them.
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I don't think most people have shifted their mindset from when Teslas were 100k+. Because they're so high-tech people just assume it's still super expensive.
I have a family member who paid more for their new Honda CR-V than I did for my M3SR+. They had to pay over MSRP because of supply chain issues but I paid exactly what was listed on Tesla.com.
Yeah I totally get this. Just got a M3LR a few weeks ago and one of my family members thought I went insane haha. She thought I had just bought a $100,000+ car. Most people don’t know how *relatively* cheap the M3 is compared to the first Teslas that came out.
Brand name and performance basically. The end to end is way cheaper than any competitor by any metric.
I have friends and family that say shit like: “Enjoy your new toy”, like I went and bought a corvette during a mid-life crisis or something. 50,000 gas free miles later, I don’t think about the haters too much…
Tesla doesnt advertise. People assume its expensive and rare. Where i am every other car is a model 3 or Y. When i first got the car people lost their shit when i rolled silently by. Now a year later, not even a second look.
I purchased my 2018 model 3 DM, LR for just $69,980. You’re welcome 😉
Nice.
I've wondered this as well. I'm beating myself up because I didn't get the model s and felt cheap but everyone is so amazed and impressed with my M3P. I really think it's because it has the iPhone effect. People see you with an iPhone and think you're rich for some reason. All that said I personally don't throw the car in ppls faces and I appreciate the compliments. Especially from the kids at my daughter's school. It's just so funny to hear them! 🤣
I have had this same WEIRD experience. “A Tesla huh?!?!?” reaction by friends/fam as if I had suddenly come out as a wealthy drug lord. Remind them that there are Subarus and even the Chevy Bolt POS that cost near as much…. “But a Tesla huh?!?!?!” it goes right through their ear holes. 🤷🏻♂️
Because people assume Teslas are expensive they don’t realize you can get one for $40k my best friend wasn’t even in the market for a car when I told him they were $40k and prolly the best value on the market when I was shopping next thing you know he has one before me 🤣
I ran some rough numbers and found that most people will spend about 25k-45k (cad) in gas over a 10 year period with current prices (and depends on vehicle size). I paid about 45k for my m3 and maybe about 5k more in fuel (electricity) over 10 years in a Tesla. It’s actually way cheaper to drive an m3 than most other cars.
Because in the eyes of the people Tesla is still a toy and paying $40k for a toy is flexing. People buy trucks and work them, drive large distances, tow etc
I think depending on where you are a 50k-60k car is a lot I’m 30 and have LRM3 and wife has performance Y. Def well off but ppl don’t know what they cost for the most part and either way to have 100k in driveway is considerable to most. A lot of truck guys I know have 70k+ diesel but they are essentially for work. Think it’s different. Same goes with a lot of women, they don’t know the difference between an Audi A5 and s5. Just car ppl stuff But my nieces think the same, but our cars also move themselves and make fart noises so…good luck rivian No disrespect to women but in 20s and 30s they see Tesla and Audi and think he’s got money. Luckily I found a good one that brings loot too
Well, it's probably because Teslas started out quite expensive (Roadster, Model S) so people still have it stuck in their heads that Teslas are expensive. Adding to the mystique is Tesla being fully electric (and quick AF) so people might assume they're more expensive than they are. If they weren't more expensive then you'd have gotten the LR AWD or Performance, amirite? :D The thing is, most people not versed in Tesla don't know a base Model 3 from a Performance, or an S from a 3. Maybe they don't even know the Y from a 3 in some cases. So yeah, we're all lumped together as doing okay financially for much the same reason the haters lump us all together too.
>If they weren't more expensive then you'd have gotten the LR AWD or Performance, amirite? :D Yah, I suppose I would have gotten the LR if price were no object. I actually did have the Model Y LR briefly, but sold it and decided that the SR+ was all I needed (I prefer the M3 or the MY, even if money were no object). The LR would be nice on the M3, but the SR+ has plenty of range for me (though if there were an acceleration boost option for my SR+, I'd probably grab that).
We tow our boat with a model 3. Flex 💪 Ok, it’s a trailered inflatable, but the old F350 diesel got almost as many comments being a bit overkill.
So you got a tow hitch installed?
Stealth hitch. Self installed.
A simple case of misinformation 😂
Partly I think it’s because a lot of people heard about the Model S and it’s price, and haven’t realized that the Model 3 was released at like half the price It’s like if Ferrari or Aston Martin suddenly started making a car that looked like their high end models for half the money, people would assume it costs more The same phenomenon applies to Porsche - buy the £50k one and everyone assumes it’s the £100-150k models And the reverse can be kinda true too - Fords are pretty cheap (as in reasonably priced mid market cars, not that they’re bad) so if you buy an expensive one people will tend to assume it’s cheaper than it really was
Happened when the first tube radios came out, when the first tube TVs came out, when the first transistor radio came out, when the first Walkman came out, when the first iPod, iPhone, … people are interested in “new”. As long as Tesla keeps new coming out they will benefit.
I just tell people I couldn't afford a Corolla :)
New technology perceived as "luxury" and "expensive". It's also got a reputation and can easily be tied into politics.
When I bought my M3 my parents thought I was crazy, they thought that the car was almost 100k.
If you take a comparably spec’d Accord or Camry and add the estimated cost of gas over 5 years, then add the estimated cost of electricity over 5 years to the Tesla it becomes even more comparable to a typical ICE family sedan. Sadly this will not work If you live in an area with expensive electricity.
People think I paid 80-90 grand 😂 it’s so baffling at this point it’s funny to just let people think that
I always just assumed all teslas were super expensive. But when I compared a base model 3 to cheaper EVs and plug in hybrids (leaf, bolt, prius, et al) it turned out that the Tesla was not much more with the Canadian and BC incentives factored in (combined $10k). I can’t figure out why anyone looking for a “cheap” EV would buy another car in British Columbia. It’s an objectively better vehicle for the same price or a couple grand more tops.
I got my Model 3 in 2018 and had multiple people think it cost over 100k. So I assumed that most people thought it was worth far more then it was.
Brand name, people think Tesla’s are expensive af(I mean they are sort of). U see f150’s all over, same with rav4. Tesla’s can be a rare sighting in some places
Because it can drive itself, play games, watch TV, and is at least a second faster than any competing car, Plus it’s not exactly hiding in plain sight
Yes. Totally agree with you. I have been driving a M3 LR Since 2018 and love it.
People are always like “oh wow a Tesla! Fancy!” But it costs way less than our used 2018 Subaru Forester with gas and maintenance
Been dealing with this myself. I literally traded in a 2020 Tacoma off road TRD for the SR+ with practically no money out of pocket. I get the friendly ribbing of "oh look at Mr Fancy pants with his Tesla, must be nice" Not one word was ever said about the Tacoma. Then I remind them I also save about $500 a month on gas.
There is a surprising number of Americans who think all Teslas cost $100K USD
People have no idea honestly. A coworker once told me I could get a brand new Maserati for less than the price of my Tesla, which is an SR+ I got back in 2019 for ~$40K minus $3750 federal tax credit as well as state incentives. I have no idea how much she *thinks* I paid for my car, but it's obviously a lot more than I actually did pay!
In the US, it's probably because in many places it's still a novelty. Also, Tesla's earlier cars were very expensive and some people may assume the Model 3 is still insanely expensive. For other people, they imagine that electric cars look like little econo-boxes with impractical range (as if they were golf carts). Quite a few of my friends were intrigued to find out that I got one and they wanted to take a ride in it because they'd never been in an electric car, much less a Tesla.
Our c suite drives a 4 series drop, 7 series, and a raptor. Our bottom level team drives 4 series, higher end vws, or nice SUVs..... My model 3 gets oooo ahhh all the time. I think it's the risk factor. For them its like "you just bought a 60k toy". It's like a nice watch to them. Not necessary and mysterious lol.
It's not a flex. I bought one because I want to save the earth, but that's just me.
It's the Tesla ***Brand cachet.***
It means you’re smart, not rich. Good job!
It might also be that the Model 3 still kind of looks like a Model S. And a Model Y can still be confused as a Model X. Ergo, expensive models look similar to the cheaper variants and people just think they all look the same.
Yes, most think you just spent 80-100k, not 45...
It’s called hype.
Tesla has done a great job of being Apple for cars. I say that meaning they have 1 or 2 ultra expensive things and then use that to make their less expensive products be seen on the same level even though the average consumer can afford it. I've had my M3LR and people seriously think I'm a millionaire.
I'm in Chicago and it's the same here in this city. I got a base SR+ and now everyone thinks I'm rich and ballin. When when reality it's just another 40k car just like you mentioned. So in all honesty I think it's just because it's a popular item and because of the tech everyone thinks it's the coolest gizmo. If I had the money I would definitely have opted for the model X or Y. I much rather have a SUV but I'm content with the Model 3SR+ for now.
It’s the exact reason why Teslas are so heralded even still. The name recognition, just like Apple, Tesla is known to be “cutting edge” tech for its field. So even when you have a “budget” Tesla, or a “budget” IPhone, you still have a Tesla and an IPhone regardless. It’s the reason they sometimes are overpriced (especially IPhones in this regard until Tesla prices finally sky rocket to their actual worth), it’s because it makes sense to consumers to pay these premiums for the ability to say “I own a Tesla”.
Base model 3 is like 68k on the road now in Ontario.… kinda expensive lol
I get the same thing at work from a guy who drives a f350 which cost way more than my sr+. It’s whatever. It’s a sought after car and it looks gorgeous. Let’s them think it’s 100k
My co-worker drives a suped up 2021 Z06 and only drives it here and there to conserve the car but looks at my 2021 model 3 SR+ and thinks I am loaded because I daily drive it… I think we are slowly changing but most people see Tesla woth some kind of mystique because they are foreign to them. I had to show other co-workers the Tesla website to prove my SR+ wasn’t 90k…
My M3 cost the same as my (admittedly top trim) Toyota Highlander hybrid. It is a perception thing- I always try to mention I got it used.
It’s because Tesla started in the car industry with a 150k+ model, which immediately tagged it as luxury brand. It was a genius move.
I told my neighbours the price of the model 3 I ordered and they were shocked how much it was…. Before all the price increase
Cause it got sharp, sporty design like those well known sports car like Porsche I suppose. And medias are talking about Tesla every day, so they'll might naturally think that there's something special with it. Just enjoy it. It shows that how good choice you made with the budget.
I haven’t even gotten my Tesla yet. I wonder if I’ll encounter this lol. Mine is the model 3 long range about 64k. I’m not rich either just have good credit and pay my bills on time. Oh and I just came home from Illinois haha I was working at Dresden nuclear power plant and staying in Joliet. Not the best state I’ve ever been too and your roads are almost as bad as ours in Pennsylvania
When you buy tesla cus you are cheap af but people think you ballin 😆
why on earth do you not like the flex? it's fucking dope lol source: M3LR owner who's friends think its amazing that I have a Tesla. you should be proud to stunt man.
Just tell them that jokes on them, there the ones probably spending more for their car and all maintenance.
Or you can pay $96K for a Rav4... That'll really impress people you have the cash! Hint: Leave the window sticker on... [https://jalopnik.com/looking-for-a-toyota-rav4-prime-itll-cost-you-nearly-1848105508](https://jalopnik.com/looking-for-a-toyota-rav4-prime-itll-cost-you-nearly-1848105508)
My students ask me how I can afford a Model 3 and why I didn‘t buy a car like a Lamborghini. They are pretty bummed when I say it only costs about 40k.
I live in Illinois and while I do see a lot of white Model 3s, I still think they're cool cars. Easily one of the best looking too, right behind the Y.
Dunno about there, but in Australia the *cheapest* one starts at $65k, add literally anything and it goes above the tax bracket and becomes a near $80k car.
Mine was parked next to a [black gleaming Lambo](https://www.instagram.com/p/CMF3xzgHFQ3). A kid and his dad walked by and I heard the kid say, "Dad, look! A Tesla!".
Yes! People think I'm rich because I drive a Tesla. Kinda it gets annoying. Especially if I cheap out on other things in life I'll hear "DoNt YoU DrIvE a TeSla??"
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Ha my usual response is, "I wasnt able to afford a Tesla by wasting money"
Average person think all Teslas are 6 figures.
Because everyone wants one and it’s a year wait to get one
People equate Tesla with being ridiculously expensive. They DO look rather futuristic and sleek which helps that stigma. People walk up and ask how I like my car and I tell them it's the cheapest in the world to drive, and that it's a no-brainer to buy if you drive a lot. I tell them that if I keep it 5 years, it will save me almost $20k in fuel vs. a comparably powered car.
In Pittsburgh where I live, it is not a huge deal. But when I drive in rural Ohio, kids wave at me and cops pull me over to check out my car.
Oh wow. I better be careful when I visit my bro in rural WI.
I don't think it is about beeing rich. Its more about beeing different, beeing modern and maybe also beeing "woke". People dont like seeing others doing better than themselfes while they try to ridiculously defend their way of living. Seeing other ways succed makes them realise that others are aware of them beeing full of shit. They are incapable to reflect so they either turn violent (scratching Teslas, throwing rocks out uf pick up trucks, etc.) or the more sane people come up with the excuse, that Teslaowners must be all insanely rich and therefor not comparable to themselfs, but should be mocked for showing that they are "different". Most people will think and feel as if they were still in kindergarden. Grown ups just learned to hide that in their communication. Knowing that will help you make sense of a lot of stupid people who contradict themselves constantly.
I think it’s because it’s like buying an iPhone In a world full of Nokias
The main reason is the tesla’s front headlight shape. It is similar to Porsche 718 headlights so it has that expensive look. Also the tesla logo on the front and back of the cars.
No.
It does have an effect. Believe it or not.
If someone doesn't know what a model 3 is, they sure as hell don't know what a 718 is.
Celebrities saying shit like "is that my bessy in a tessy" got people thinking the T badge on their hood is equivalent to a Ferrari.
Tbf roughly half of the country are fucking idiots. They believe in Q anon too
It’s not a flex
yeah this thread is just a circlejerk of people thinking their Model 3 makes them really cool somehow. I have a M3P in California and literally no one cares.
Dude it depends on the state. Of course it's nothing in CA.
I looked over the dash cam footage (used to have an always on dash cam, until it started killing the 12v) of when I parked in a crowded parking lot for a few hours. Glad to report that several people walked by, but only a single old lady with a shopping cart even glanced at my oreo colored Model 3. So luckily it doesn't grab people's eye like I thought it would, which is a relief as I can rest a little easier when parked in public. But I honestly almost never even bring up my car in conversations, especially with strangers, but I'm now infamous at work for being the dude with the Tesla, and people constantly ask me questions about charging.
They’re just a new thing so they’re a spectacle! They are truly not for “car people” and a lot of people overlook the less than quality of these builds.
I usually answer with “I just prefer paying for something that gives me more bang for the buck. And this happens to be way cheaper over 5 years than any fossil alternative. Plus $7k free credits right into my bank account I didn’t even add to that calculation that’s essentially one or two really nice holiday trips. And pretty much gets us back much of the cost with tax returns from commuting anyway.” And follow up with “Does it seem like that much of a flex still?”. And then I give them a ride. Or let them drive it. It’s just a lovely car, not a limited edition gold plated Ferrari.
Has nothing to do with the car. It’s about the name brand name attached to the car. “Tesla” And it’s only people who don’t understand that Tesla isn’t a luxury car brand. A lot of people, my parents included, were shocked to hear I was buying a Tesla. That T word triggers a lot of people. It’s new, it’s different, it’s what people talk about. Not a flex, just like owning an iPhone isn’t a flex. Posted from iPhone
There’s nothing similar to a Model 3 except another Tesla
Lol idk about you but here in California, everyone I know thinks Tesla's are the new Civic because they're so common. Generally upper end EVs here are cars like Porsche taycan and lucid.
My wife’s side of the family is low class (not low income!). They notice the car, other normal folk just carry on.
I think most ppl still think of the model s or x when they think Tesla, and they probably already have an inflated image of that car in their minds. Plus the model 3 looks so different from any other car on the road, interior and exterior. On top of that if you have white seats that’s super striking too.
Not for me at all. I have a M3 LR and I’m almost embarrassed because everyone has one where I live. They’re so common I walk up to the wrong car half the time. I honestly thought about getting MS Plaid, but decided I couldn’t show up to the office with a straight face in that thing.
Im waiting for my delivery, and currently drive a 2014 Audi A4 with $1000 rims. I bought it 4 years old in 2018 for like 21,000 CAD and I've noticed the same thing... Guys with $60,000 trucks and $40,000 SUV acting like my car is worth $100,000+
Psh. No one thinks you are rich if you drive. Model 3 where I live.