Tesla Price Drop

[whitex]

Would like to hear from others in this forum on the major price drop Tesla announced for Models S and X. S now starts at $75k and X at $80k. All paint colors are now standard. EV prices seem to be dropping across the board and competition is heating up. What do you all think about Porsche strategy as Taycan prices have gone on the other direction? Would buyers look for Taycan competition especially T now? We cannot ignore the massive super charging advantage they already have and now with these prices, T may become unbeatable. Thoughts?

Model S still has a stalkless yoke (rounded or not, still stalkless). While I could probably get used to it for normal driving, in a split-second decision driving situation, it will eventually cost me an accident, so it eliminated Tesla from my choices after 4 Model S's. My wife also ended her Tesla streak (she was going to get a new Model X last month, before test driving it and going with Q8 eTron instead). She loved her Model S'es, so would have gone with Model X in a split second if it wasn't for the yoke.

 

[whitex]

Collapse in demand? EV sales continue to grow and set records every quarter. There’s been no collapse in demand. There’s become a bit of an oversupply due to so many new models appearing, which was predicted by many pundits years ago.

Teslas and Ford EV's have experienced a drop in demand. Tesla countered with aggressive price cuts, Ford did too but not as aggressive. While Ford dealers were able to move every Mach-e off their lots a year ago, today some of them are refusing additional deliveries from the factory as they are overstocked. Demand for new cars in general (EV or ICE) has dampened due to high interest rates and COVID backlog being cleared. When I was buying my wife's Q8 eTron there were incentives on all Audis, with the Tacan's cousin, eTron GT, having $12K factory cash, $7,500 lease incentive, and a special lease interest rate - that's before you negotiate the price with the dealer. A year and half earlier they were selling at $25K over sticker.

 

[gtm]

There were other factors on the refresh that ruled out another Model S but, like @whitex , I found eliminating the stalks a serious step backwards in functionality. Plus only fanboys could tell the refresh from the outgoing version. However, in addressing the original theme of this thread, the price drop does make the car certainly worth consideration. Most drivers would never need what Porsche offers at the limits.

 

[tchavei]

Off at a slight tangent here......
But I'm very grateful to Tesla.

I am finding more and more negative / anti EV feeling out there (that's getting quite annoying).

Certainly got worse over the 2 years I have owned my Taycan and it's generally in line with the rising numbers of EVs on the road.
ICE car owners feel threatened and are turning more anti EV.

I think without Tesla (price / charging network / range / popularity etc) the pro EV argument would be a lot more difficult.

This morning I stopped by a Lidl supermarket to buy some groceries.

A guy approached me as I left the car and asked "Is it electric?" to which I answered "100%"
He then said "Fantastic car man. Congratulations"

Not everyone is anti EV. Really appreciated the guy's sincerity.

 

[f1eng]

I agree 100%

I’ve decided the best route for me is scoping out the used Taycan market rather than even considering a new Plaid.

but oh man, I need to sit down with a pen and pad and jot down all the options I need/want. It’s quite a bit….I saw the perfect car, only to realize after a few minutes of excitement that it didn’t have the performance battery….same with a few other cars with almost everything except something else I almost missed.

BUT that is one of the reasons for getting the Taycan. You can customize it how you like. The reason you can click and collect a Plaid is because it has two options…..1 of 5 colours, and two wheel options

This is exactly it.

Almost no options means wide used choice - mind you they no longer supply UK spec model S so it can only be used.

I looked for a used Taycan but never found one with the spec I wanted and since I keep a car (if I like it) a long time I bought exactly what I wanted new. Back then there was no financial saving buying used, just time.

Now prices have dropped I had a look at used ones again for interest, I have mine now.
Out of the 300 or so for sale in the UK exactly none met my criteria.
Even if I accepted having some options I didn't care about ruling out those I did not want at all left zero choices.

 

[DRR]

Life is short. I don't have to hate Tesla to like my Taycan. I traded my Model 3 Performance when I bought my Taycan, and the Model 3 was a great entry-level EV. It actually did some things better than the Taycan like using your phone as a key (which is much more convenient). But, the Taycan is a driver's car, and Teslas are by and large for people who want drama-free transportation and aren't nutty about cars. The world is a big place. There is room for both.

Couldn’t agree more. I give Tesla credit where it’s due. My wife’s Model Y Performance is an awesome car that exceeds previous cars like the X3M, AMG GLC that we’ve owned. Tesla is a tech company that has become a very good car company. Build quality is on par with the Germans. Tech is superior. Add the superchargers and you can understand why they are building new factories while other legacy car makers are saying EV sales are down. Having said that, there is no better looking car IMO than my Taycan. Plus it’s a Porsche annd all the precision that come with that. I didn’t buy it for the tech, but I sure wish we could charge at Tesla superchargers.

 

[Chas1]

It’s also tough because what else is there? Merc and BMW have basically decided looks don’t matter. Polestar is still a one horse show….interested to see what the 5 actually is in production form. The Koreans are nice…but going down market has its share of drawbacks. I’ve been agonizing for the past couple of months, and this price cut makes it harder. I’d happily jump to an RS6, but just can’t go back to gas

That’s exactly how I feel, years of being a petrol head and I enjoy classics but a fossil fuelled vehicle as a daily driver feels like a backward step, not to do with climate change per se, but certainly for cleaner emissions but really just because they feel like better vehicles and Taycan underlines that more than any other ev I can think of.

 

[Zcd1]

The 1020 HP tri-motor Model S Plaid is now less expensive than even the base RWD Taycan. (!!)

 

[whitex]

The 1020 HP tri-motor Model S Plaid is now less expensive than even the base RWD Taycan. (!!)

If you want power for straight line acceleration, you cannot beat this price. Will pull away from even Taycan Turbo S, with or especially without launch mode.

 

[violuma]

If you want power for straight line acceleration, you cannot beat this price. Will pull away from even Taycan Turbo S, with or especially without launch mode.

I suppose, but I don't know anybody who commutes primarily on abandoned airstrips.

 

[whitex]

I suppose, but I don't know anybody who commutes primarily on abandoned airstrips.

Some people get a kick out of leaving $200K+ sport cars in the dust at the lights, highway onramps, or passing on highways.

 

[PorscheCH]

Some people get a kick out of leaving $200K+ sport cars in the dust at the lights, highway onramps, or passing on highways.

good for them and those with a Challenger SRT Demon 170. Until a few seconds later in Europe, when there are a few real bends (even on the autobahn) and the Plaid's standard brakes provide a different kind of last-rites thrill

 

[whitex]

good for them and those with a Challenger SRT Demon 170. Until a few seconds later in Europe, when there are a few real bends (even on the autobahn) and the Plaid's standard brakes provide a different kind of last-rites thrill

You can get all the Taycan handling options on a Taycan CT4. Those who pay for a Turbo S obviously value power, including launch mode for straight line acceleration (since without launch control Turbo S premium over Turbo is wasted).

 

[gtm]

Some people get a kick out of leaving $200K+ sport cars in the dust at the lights, highway onramps, or passing on highways.

I know I certainly did every once in a while. Does it really make sense to attack corners at the limit on public roads? Most would agree it does not. Does it make sense to demonstrate the superior driving dynamics of a Porsche at 130 mph on a public road (short of the Autobahn). Again no. A 0 to 70 or 30 to 70 sprint can frequently be done quite safely and is thrilling in a Model S. It was easier to enjoy the performance that the Tesla was good at more than the performance that my Taycan excels at. I acknowledge that the Taycan has a level of overall performance and refinement that the Tesla doesn't match, and I'm not going back to Tesla. But damn do I miss that instant snap your head back acceleration. The current pricing will entice a fair number of people to take a look at all the Tesla models.

 

[LongLive959]

Sledgehammer vs a scalpel. Both can be enjoyed in different ways both have their benefits/enjoyments. We know which one is more refined….but to each their own. The price cuts will tempt some. Neck-breaking speed is thrilling. So is carving up curves. Tho I can count on my fingers how many times I’ve floored it….really for me comes down to how quickly I want a new set of tires - it gets expensive quick. Scalpel please.