The guide: How to choose your new or used Tesla Model S used?

Tesla is well known for its continual changes and innovations.Over time, more cars become available on the used cars market.There can therefore be an astounding choice of cars with various characteristics.The promise of software updates suggests that all the cars are the same, which is not frankly true.

In addition, Tesla made a lot of promises, looking forward to.Thanks to this complete guide that we offer in this article, you can make your final choice concerning the purchase of a Tesla Model S, whether new or used.

Which model s?

There are essentially 7 different S models, each with a different range of batteries.To remember: Tesla also makes many changes each year.We have listed you here the different versions existing since the launch of the Tesla Model S.

Until 2016:

Since 2016:

Tesla Model S: new or used?

The purchase of an older model is a better proposal today than before the MCU recall and the upgrade option.One of the main drawbacks of Model S cars whose price was similar to that of Model 3 was the reliability and aging of part of the technology.

The owners can now pay for updates of the last (before the faceting of 2021) multimedia screen and, if the car has the Tesla automatic driver, its latest version. In all cases, it is better to take a used carwith a guarantee.In addition, the comparison of the Model S with the Model 3 is not flattering.

The advantages of model 3 are to be more agile to drive, faster overalling rates and a longer guarantee.But buying new ones is not an option for some and the availability of Tesla cars is sometimes thin in many countries.

There are a few substantial changes, but the new model is not a significant leap on the previous version.Battery technology is significantly similar, just like the new interior.The latter knows criticisms, in particular with regard to yellow and the removal of rods for indicators, lights, driving selection and automatic pilot, as we have already mentioned.

Battery size and power

After having determined the desired, new or used Tesla Model S, the battery capacity and therefore the range is the following main consideration (accepting the exterior and interior color is a personal choice).Over the years, Tesla has made cars with a wide range of batteries.

The first model has arrived with batteries as small as 40kWh, in recent years, they have been around 75kWh and 100kWh.The larger the battery, the more the car can go on a full load.

Note: on the S model, the specification of the car in terms of hifi upgrade or pneumatic suspension does not vary with the size of the battery.

Over time, the range of a given battery varies depending on a host of variables.The size of the wheels has always been a factor, but Tesla has also developed more effective versions of electric motors that added to add a few kilometers.

When choosing the battery, and this is our best advice: the range is what matters most.Cars with the largest batteries generally have better performance and a much faster load.

Automatic pilot

With the exception of the very first Model S cars before September 2014, all Tesla are delivered with a certain form of autopilot equipment.The main change between the 2 systems occurred in October 2016 when Tesla stopped using the Mobileye system and began to use its own.

In summary, the automatic pilot used previously has reached its limits, while the Tesla system is still under development and has the potential, according to Tesla, to develop a complete self-circular capacity.

What level of automatic driver?

The characteristics, especially if you use Tesla equipment, vary depending on the version of the equipment and the optional automatic driver level on the car.They are generally updated, but you can also pay to go from a basic autopilot, to an improved autopilot, even to a complete autonomous driving.

When you look at the used cars, if you want the full autonomous driving capacity, it may be better to find a car with this option level because the used prices do not always reflect the purchase price ofthe option.However, if you find a car that is also perfect at the right price, this can be an option to pay the upgrade after purchase.

There is a very simple visual hack to say if the car has the Tesla automatic pilot system or not: just look at the side rehearsals on the front wing.If they have an integrated camera, they use the Tesla system, if they just show a Tesla logo, this is the old system.

Options and upgrades

Since the launch of the S model up to around 2018, many options have been available on the model.Some of these options have become standard over time, others have been abandoned.For you, we indicate the main ones here:

Tesla Model S, new or used: what guarantee?

Model s cars are delivered with 2 manufacturer's guarantees.

One covers the battery and the engine was originally for 8 years and unlimited kilometers, since the beginning of 2020, it is only a guarantee limited to mileage.The original warranty did not include any performance guarantee, as it was indeed a failure guarantee, while the car replacement guarantee from 2020 offers a maximum degradation threshold.

The second warranty is that for everything else.It lasts for 4 years or 80,000 km.

Tesla also offered a warranty for 4 -year -old used cars, 80,000 km warranty or 2 years up to 160,000 km in total, depending on whether the number of km of the car is less than 80,000 km.Some used cars can still have part of this remaining guarantee.For more recent purchases, Tesla has changed its one -year used car warranty after the expiration of the current warranty.

You now have the keys in hand to serenely choose your Tesla Model S, whether it isneuve or used!