Got a Tesla Model Y LR AWD 19" wheels this week. Only options I took were Paint and Tow Hitch.
Reasoning behind it?
1/ Tesla Model Y prices went down significantly (I'm guessing following bad Q1, 2024 results / excess inventory); this might change for Q2 with all the Tesla lease and cash incentives to purge the excess inventory available right now
2/ Now that I can charge at home (SFH vs Condo), this is not a roadblock anymore
3/ Sold the Condo over fair market value (in my NW anyway)
4/ Tesla gave me a trade-in estimate (before making the purchase) higher than my Corolla FMV (in my NW anyway)
5/ This year I got lower income and qualify for $7.5k federal tax credit
6/ When I plug the Y purchase + Condo sale in my NW (counting $20k 'drive out of the parking lot' depreciation, based on Edmund's TCO calculator), I'm down $600 (including the 'Upgrades' below), which is not a big deal. I alway try to be close to $0 this when I buy a car.
Basically I was sold when Hertz gave me a 'Manager Special' M3 RWD as a one day rental (one way trip to the airport). I can see this is the future, though it's unsettling and I understand some people prefer a traditional instrument cluster, etc... Also I don't necessary share Mr Musk business ethics, political opinions, etc...
My short list was:
a/ Model Y LR AWD
b/ Model Y Performance
c/ Model 3 Performance
Because they all qualify for federal tax credit at time of writing (though today M3P went up $1k and is just $10 shy of $55k / limit).
After trying the MYP and M3 RWD at a Tesla store 2 weeks ago, I preferred the handling of the M3 but the acceleration of the MYP was mind blowing.
In the end I think I made the reasonable choice Option a/ which is the least expensive of the 3 above; I paid cash.
The MYP with the 21" wheels was a bit bumpy, MYP and M3P (20" wheels) are staggered wheels and I had the experience with another car, this makes the tire wear unevenly, you cannot obviously rotate front and rear. Plus of course 20" and 21" tires are more expensive than 19" tires (MY LR AWD has 4 wheels of the same size).
Also I compared the yearly cost between the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Tesla Model Y LR AWD, here is my math FYI
| 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid | 2024 Model Y LR AWD |
| Insurance per year | $1,344.00 | $1,198.00 |
| Gas per year | $860.66 | |
| Miles per kwh | | 3.45 |
| Kwh rate | | $0.14 |
| Electricity per year | | $608.70 |
| Tire | | $1,300.00 |
| Service | $1,000.00 | |
| | |
| TOTAL | $3,204.66 | $3,106.70 |
This is for 15k miles per year. And I paid Toyota $1000 last year (3 services) just for 'manufacturer recommended maintenance' which is outrageous I think!
I think I'm pessimistic with the MY tire (replaced after 15k miles / 1 year), we shall see.
I was getting 61mpg with the Corolla! (Gas is estimated at $3.50 above).
Here is the breakdown from the Tesla invoice:
| Y LR AWD Tow White | $34,000.00 |
| Pearl White | $1,000.00 |
| LR AWD | $13,990.00 |
| Tow | $1,000.00 |
| Destination | $1,390.00 |
| Order | $250.00 |
| Car Price | $51,630.00 |
| Reg | $250.00 |
| Battery | $1.50 |
| Reg Service | $28.00 |
| Tire | $4.00 |
| Sales Tax | $2,176.13 |
| Total Cost | $54,089.63 |
| Order Deposit 05/15/2024 | -$250.00 |
| Payment 05/16/2024 | -$30,139.63 |
| Credit | |
| Toyota | -$16,200.00 |
| Fed Incentive | -$7,500.00 |
| Real Cost | $46,589.63 |
As always (LOL) I will do couple of upgrades
| Wall Connector | $300.00 |
| Install | $495.00 |
| Invisible Mask | $350.00 |
| Windshield Sun Shade | $35.00 |
| Screen protector | $40.00 |
| Paint Touch Up Kit | $60.00 |
| Spare wheel + tire | $445.00 |
I found the Wall Connector on eBay, new for $300 instead of $450 on the Tesla website
Install is a bit expensive based on my discussion with Tesla at the show room (they say 300-500)
I will install front bumper Invisible Mask PPF myself, I'm done it on the Corolla, this is extremely difficult to install, but the result is perfect: not a single paint chip after 30k miles.
I also recommend getting a spare wheel + tire [this is on eBay as well] (I had that on the Corolla as well), since there is no spare tire on the Y (same situation with the Corolla). I got many flat tires here on the Treasure Coast, the last one (before I purchased the spare wheel for the Corolla) was a 6 hours deal between the time I called roadside assistance and the time I got home, never again!
I'm debating having the Wall Connector installed outside of the house or inside the garage, any experience / recommendation will be welcome.
