Saturday, February 15, 2020

Tesla choices: little ones and really big ones

Considering a new Tesla? You're going to face some questions that need resolution while you order. First, of course, is to use my referral code so we can each get 1000 free Tesla SuperCharger miles. Not much of an effort there, right? Obviously a brilliant choice.
The remaining questions fall into two groups: easy, and ones you should puzzle over a bit before deciding.

The easy ones are straightforward. Which model, what color, lease or purchase or finance, what tires, range, performance model or not? You can handle these with ease, even though the choices like color can be a couple thousand dollars.

Now the hard and most expensive question: Full self driving (FSD) Autopilot or not? 30 to 40% of Tesla's are purchased with FSD.
Every Tesla has some Autopilot features you'll enjoy, but Tesla's hoped-for fully automatic self-driving is a fairly expensive purchase that also means you're placing your trust in Elon actually delivering what he's promised...and he's behind, having said the end of 2019 would be the target.
There are two Tesla Autopilot packages. The first is "Level 2" and it is standard on all their cars. Tesla calls this "Autopilot." No extra charge. The second is Autopilot Fully Self Driving...Autopilot FSD. Level 2 is pretty cool, delivering driving aids not yet available elsewhere: a driver assistance system that enhances safety and convenience behind the wheel. Used properly, Autopilot reduces every driver's overall workload:. eight external cameras, a radar, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a powerful onboard computer provide an additional layer of safety to guide the car.
Autopilot FSD is a work-in-progress. Tesla has been releasing software upgrades piece--by-piece, giving clients many of the neat stuff now. Summon, Navigate on Autopilot, freeway onramp to freeway offramp automation, games on the car's screen, Internet access and more. Price for Autopilot FSD as of February 2020 is $7,000, a large percentage of the overall investment being made. Generally speaking, Tesla keeps this premium feature less expensive by a couple thousand at time of purchase versus afterwards.
My Recommended Buying Strategy:
I've seen Tesla make their best packages available at a quarter's end, as they try to meet production and sales goals. Sometimes Elon has tossed in unlimited free SuperCharger miles, sometime a free color upgrade. Sometimes Tesla has brought Autopilot FSD down thousand dollars or so. Otherwise, don't expect any price breaks regardless of your buying situation. No military discounts, etc.
Please use my referral code to order, and get your free thousand mile Tesla SuperCharger credit: https://ts.la/wes21573

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