What’s the sweetest deal available on a Tesla today?

[hemiarch]

Is it a $15k 2018 3 with hw3 FSD?
a RWD new Y demo?
a 2024 Y with HW4 ?
an S or X at the end of production with free supercharging and FSD? An early refresh S with lots of range and maybe purchased FSD?
the no longer available $60k Cybertruck? Although this is technically not a kosher answer because that deal is not gettable by whoever is reading this.
what do you think. State your case why.

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[once-set]

You’re one day too late for the sweetest deal of them all.

 

[hemiarch]

You’re one day too late for the sweetest deal of them all.

That’s a valid opinion but as I said, has to be a reproducible deal.
One that another forum member could go find tomorrow.
Came close to pulling the trigger on a third one too but ultimately decided against it.
The deal was compelling, I’ll give them that. Especially initially, before they went all captain douchebag on the FSD transfer which was wholly illogical and an unforced PR error in my opinion

 

[hemiarch]

Seriosuly though. Let’s say your buddy comes over to your house tonight and says , “hey man, what do you think is the best deal on a Tesla right now? I don’t care if it’s new or used, just want to know what someone like you who’s been driving them a while recommends.”

 

[YDR37]

Seriosuly though. Let’s say your buddy comes over to your house tonight and says , “hey man, what do you think is the best deal on a Tesla right now? I don’t care if it’s new or used, just want to know what someone like you who’s been driving them a while recommends.”

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion, but I think Tesla struck the right balance between affordability and features with their least expensive vehicle. A new Model 3 Standard RWD in Stealth Grey with 18" wheels and 321 miles of range is $36,990. I can live with cloth seats, only 9 speakers, and a manual-adjust steering wheel. Any rear passengers can get by without heated seats or a touchscreen, and they will be perfectly OK if they have to adjust the vents manually.

It's obviously not the biggest or fastest or most luxurious Tesla, and it might not be ideal for families. But for a lot of people, a Model 3 Standard RWD could easily satisfy actual daily driving needs for less money than any other Tesla. Or most other new cars for that matter -- the average new car price in the US was over $50,000 in December 2025. The M3 Standard RWD is priced 25% below that level.

Perhaps there are better values on used Teslas, but I'm not too familiar with the used market.

 

[hemiarch]

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion, but I think Tesla struck the right balance between affordability and features with their least expensive vehicle. A new Model 3 Standard RWD in Stealth Grey with 18" wheels and 321 miles of range is $36,990. I can live with cloth seats, only 9 speakers, and a manual-adjust steering wheel. Any rear passengers can get by without heated seats or a touchscreen, and they will be perfectly OK if they have to adjust the vents manually.

It's obviously not the biggest or fastest or most luxurious Tesla, and it might not be ideal for families. But for a lot of people, a Model 3 Standard RWD could easily satisfy actual daily driving needs for less money than any other Tesla. Or most other new cars for that matter -- the average new car price in the US was over $50,000 in December 2025. The M3 Standard RWD is priced 25% below that level.

Perhaps there are better values on used Teslas, but I'm not too familiar with the used market.

Yeah. I might agree with that with respect to the hardware 4 but the RWD Y seems like a much more compelling buy to me.

 

[YDR37]

Yeah. I might agree with that with respect to the hardware 4 but the RWD Y seems like a much more compelling buy to me.

$3,000 more for a slower vehicle with no panoramic roof is compelling? As the saying goes, state your case why.

State your case why.

 

[ABILISK]

I don’t know all the used deals out there, so I’m going to go with what you can order new from them today. If some random person asked and refused to tell me anything about their needs or budget, I’d have to recommend the Y Premium AWD. Best bang for the buck IMO.

 

[YDR37]

Perhaps there are better values on used Teslas, but I'm not too familiar with the used market.

One good reason for maybe going with a 2025 demo or used vehicle: you could get Autopilot, which Tesla no longer offers on new vehicles. Wonder if Tesla strips Autopilot out of used vehicles before reselling them.

 

[hemiarch]

$3,000 more for a slower vehicle with no panoramic roof is compelling? As the saying goes, state your case why.

Not referring to that monstrosity. I mean the premium RWD Y. I think the extra space and functionality justifies the initial outlay over the 3. 350 plus miles of range is impressive for something with that much utility.

 

[Cayden Thompson]

I'd say an OG used Model Y with HW4.
I swear the pre-refresh MY look better, especially the front end. Also, the seats are more plush/comfortable. You can get them used at absolute bargain prices.

I have a 2021 MY and took the new one for a text drive a few weeks ago. I was actually excited to get back in mine because the seats are just so comfortable. I like the old steering wheel better also. It's fatter and feels better in the hand

 

[hemiarch]

I don’t know all the used deals out there, so I’m going to go with what you can order new from them today. If some random person asked and refused to tell me anything about their needs or budget, I’d have to recommend the Y Premium AWD. Best bang for the buck IMO.

So why the AWD over the RWD premium? Not saying I disagree, just, if you don’t live In a snowy place, is it just about acceleration?

 

[ABILISK]

So why the AWD over the RWD premium? Not saying I disagree, just, if you don’t live In a snowy place, is it just about acceleration?

The acceleration certainly doesn’t hurt the case, but I would feel much better about trusting FSD with dual motors. Mostly talking about in the rain. The extra motor can control the front wheels’ traction and all that good stuff. Just seems safer. And only $4K more. That barely does anything to the monthly payments.

 

[Black306]

I’ve been itching to get an older Tesla just so I can tear into the battery. So I’m looking at an early Model S. They’re hovering around $10k, battery is relatively easy to R&R, and failures are pretty well documented. For someone that tinkers, an older clean S with free supercharging is a pretty good deal.

 

[carsly]

Pre-refresh Y is hard to beat.

I picked up a used 2023 Model Y Performance from Tesla and it was like-new inside and out. Had about all of the updates to the first-generation Y including the better suspension, padded door pockets, updated phone chargers, etc. and it was/is one heck of a vehicle for the money. The only thing I missed was ventilated seats, the pleather can get a little sweaty. A snap-in sunshade for the pano roof helped quite a bit.

This was my one year review:

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