Skip to main content

Short lines, no waiting: Telsa Model 3 list dropouts buy Model S

tesla model 3 list s buyers couple in line for buys two ss 1000x667
Tesla Motors
Normally, putting down a deposit on a car you can’t expect to drive for at least a year and a half doesn’t quite jibe with our carpe diem society. But when it comes to the Tesla, things are usually done differently. Hundreds of thousands of people are on the waiting list for a Model 3, and Tesla is hoping to take advantage. The electric car company is marketing its new, lower-priced Model S 60 and 60D models to the Model 3 reservations list, according to Electrek.

Think about it. You’ve already decided you want to buy a Tesla. You plopped down your refundable thousand dollar deposit. Maybe you bought a t-shirt and a hat. But then it begins to sink in: the earliest Model 3s will ship at the end of 2017. And that’s if Tesla hits all its final design and production ramp up goals — which are often questioned by anyone who isn’t a Tesla employee.

Recommended Videos

There was a short time when you could check to see where you were on the Model 3 reservation list, but that window has closed. So in the meantime, you see yourself in a Tesla in your dreams. You may want others to see you in a Tesla. Yet it’s sinking in that you might not actually get the keys to your new Tesla until 2018. Possibly even later.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

And then you get an email from Tesla about Model S versions with lower prices. Hmmm … you could have a Tesla right now.

Now that Tesla has hit its 2,000 weekly vehicle production goal, it appears the company is mining the Model 3 reservation list for Model S buyers. The re-introduced Model S 60 may appeal to buyers who have made the Tesla decision but don’t want to wait.

At a recent event for Tesla owners and guests, company representatives confirmed that “unveiling of the Model 3 increased Tesla’s visibility in several important markets and the company wanted to offer a new option to potentially reduce the wait since the vehicle is not expected to enter production until late 2017.”

One email sent to Model 3 reservation holders from a Florida Tesla store reads in part, “We are thrilled to have just launched the new Model S 60 and as a valued Model 3 reservation holder I wanted to personally reach out to invite you to University Town Center Showroom to experience Model S 60 and 60D.”

A customer story recently published on the Tesla company website recounts just such a transition, although in this case it happened while he was waiting in line to get on the Model 3 reservation list. It’s actually an intriguing tale that’s as much a couple’s love story as it is a car story.

However it happens, whether from gotta-have-it-now impatience, Tesla solicitation, or a spur of the moment change of heart, it appears that Tesla’s plans to reach more customers have been aided by the Model 3 introduction in unexpected ways. One wonders if Tesla anticipated this from the beginning.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Tesla Model 3 vs. Tesla Model Y: Bigger or cheaper?
A Tesla 3 sits parked beside an urban waterfront.

Tesla has a bit of a head start on the competition. Say what you will about panel gaps and its CEO, there's no denying that Tesla made the electric car cool -- and all in the pursuit of making them affordable enough to mass produce. And, while its lowest-priced cars aren't cheap, Tesla largely achieved that goal. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are its most affordable cars right now, and they offer that unmistakable Tesla design, with good battery and charging tech, plus a focus on a high-tech infotainment system.

But which of the two cars is actually better? Or, if neither is better, which is right for your needs? We put the two head-to-head.
Design
Tesla uses a relatively uniform design language across its lineup, and the result is that the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y look very similar. In fact, the Model Y looks exactly like what it is: a larger version of the Model 3.

Read more
The Tesla Model Y is far from my favorite EV, but I’m pretty close to buying one
Tesla Model Y One Millionth Car

I may finally be on my way toward buying my first EV. Sure, I've tested dozens of electric car models over the years, but despite that (or perhaps because of it), I have yet to buy one. But my family is growing, and my wife and I aren't so sure about carting our future kids around in an aging car that lacks the safety features of modern vehicles.

Because of the fact that we're expecting our kid in January, we have a bit of a deadline. So what are we leaning toward? Well, despite the fact that it's far from my favorite EV, we may actually end up just getting a Model Y.
Timing makes a difference
If the baby was coming along in a year's time, things might be completely different. There are a few reasons for that.

Read more
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more