Tesla model 3 UK prices

[Draigflag]

Finally after 3 years of waiting, I'm excited to see Tesla have released the UK pricing for the model 3. In a way I'm a little disappointed. First off, the base model in the UK starts at just under £39000. That may sound relative to the US prices, but directly converted, the $35000 base model offered in the US works out at around £27000 here. I expected a slight hike with taxes etc, but a £12000 premium, it's almost worth buying one state side and importing it, and living with the steering wheel on the wrong side.

The base price means almost any option you add that takes the price over £40000 will subject the car to a luxury car tax in the UK for the first 5 years. This works out, if I've done my homework correctly, at £320 a year, or £1600 total for the five years. This may not sound much, but one of the incentives of buying an EV is to avoid the tax, of which is actually more than it is on my Porsche Boxster than drinks like a fish. Still trying to work out of the list price is before or after the plug in grant available from the government, as Tesla prices include the grant already. Poor logic.

Another disappointing aspect is the poor warranty here. The car itself is only covered for 4 years or 50000 miles. The battery and drive train have 8 years but limited to 100000 miles on the standard battery. The model S in the US has unlimited mile warranty in those 8 years, does the model 3 too? What gives?

On a more positive note, deliveries are expected in June according to Tesla, and if I traded both my cars in and put a £5000 deposit down, I could own a basic 3, with metallic paint, for £279 a month for 5 years, with a potential fuel saving of £9500 in that time. More thought required...