Thoughts on Purchasing Second Hand Tesla in 2025 Considering Current Political Climate?

mavis30551 on 25/03/2025 - 15:59
Last edited 25/03/2025 - 16:07 by 1 other user

I am in the market for a new car.

I honestly would love to just buy another Camry. Was the best car I ever had, but alas FBT exemption is making me look towards EV's. (Plus my previous $30k brand new Camry is over $40k brand new now, wth is up with that!)

I've already discounted buying a new Tesla, I don't agree with Elon's political views but surely some 3 year old Tesla's coming out of 3 year novated leases couldn't be a bad deal?

If I cash in on the drop in value to Tesla and get a good deal on a few year old Tesla am I still supporting Bozo over there?

Obviously other things to consider like battery health and I'm sure depreciation will be even worse but you don't buy a second hand car worried about depreciation as much do ya.

What are peoples thoughts? They're setting fire to them in the states surely that doesn't happen here. Is buying second hand just as bad as buying new when it comes to supporting muskies ideals.

Automotive Tesla Inc

Comments

  • wetsandwich on 26/03/2025 - 13:42
    -4

    Other people's opinions would not concern me if it's the car I wanted.

    Imagine supporting China as an alternative car manufacturer, knowing that they actually kill political dissidents. I mean, politely disappear them and their entire family.. allegedly.

    Leftists have no virtue other than what the Current Thing tells them. Otherwise they would have much better targets than musk.

    And no, I don't particularly support him nor have any car at all myself.

    • mavis30551 on 26/03/2025 - 15:02
      +2

      Its impossible to exist in the global economy we have now and not buy something from china.

      Arent Teslas built in China?

      Supporting American buying chinse built?

      • wetsandwich on 26/03/2025 - 15:44
        -2

        I don't really care either way who I buy anything off, I'm just saying that people who are boycotting or even actively violently destroying Teslas are being extremely hypocritical if they aren't doing the same to Chinese models/manufacturers.

      • muzzamo on 26/03/2025 - 16:56
        +1

        To me, "build" means to the combination of the IP/Software, supporting company, processes and systems, and the physical build as it's the sum of these that make up the value of the car.

        If you take that definition then a large percentage of the tesla, even the shanghai manufactured ones, are built in America.

    • TEER3X on 26/03/2025 - 18:38
      +4

      America isn't that far off, deporting and incarcerating legal residents that oppose the fourth reich.

  • dogboy on 26/03/2025 - 14:17
    -2

    Wouldn't be seen dead in one. Can't believe there are so many people on here with no social conscience or understanding of world events and are more than happy to bury their heads in the sand. Bloody pathetic excuses for Aussies.

    • wetsandwich on 26/03/2025 - 15:45

      What about Chinese products then, knowing what they do?

      One guy in the US raised his arm and the world has to end, while China actively kills political dissidents and subverts democracy including within our country. Yet our entire economy is basically importing everything they make and no one is batting an eye - everything they're doing is fine is it?

      It's just a bit short sighted to suddenly only care about Telsa if we suddenly want to pretend we're all ethical and great people.

      Chinese companies are actually far more intertwined with the government and thus more definitively unethical, as they will all be shut down or otherwise stopped from operating if they don't toe the CCP line at any point.

      • greatlamp on 27/03/2025 - 07:57
        +2

        The CCP is the rival of the USA, not Australia. You are just parroting propaganda that you believe is free thinking. The USA manipulates our country far more than China does, all you have to do is look at mining taxes and the prime ministers (more than one) tossed out for daring to attempt reform. Or the submarine deal that creates jobs in the USA.

        Australia is loyal US vassal state. will you soon be saying that Israel is Australia's greatest ally, Iran is a theat to us, and BRICS must be stopped? Pay attention to the narratives pushed in 'free speech' media

        • 2025 on 27/03/2025 - 08:37
          +1

          Or the submarine deal that creates jobs in the USA.

          And Australia. And it shortcuts 80 years of development, sharing with Australia the technologies, designs, knowledge and improvements that sailors in the US have literally died for.

          • derrida derider on 27/03/2025 - 10:03

            @2025: Way OT, but that is purest crap. 5000 jobs@$368B= $740M PER JOB! And that is $368B we won't be spending on drones, amphibious capability, planes, etc for regional defence when we have the world's largest Muslim country plus a string of highly unstable small Pacific states on our doorstep.

            greatlamp is right. China is at most a rival to the US not Australia and we have yet again been suckered into someone else's rivalry (the story of our military history). Our interests and US interests in Asia are very very different.

            • 2025 on 27/03/2025 - 14:17

              @derrida derider: Anyone can make drones, planes and IRBs.

              Not many can make a machine that lurks underwater, capable of sigint, deploying special ops, launching underwater drones, with the capability to deliver this and western punishment via cruise missiles anywhere in the world.

              Drones are kind of irrelevant unless you have boots on the ground. As the US have shown, delivering democracy with expensive cruise missiles is a relatively risk free operation to their personnel and assets, and these subs are built for that.

              • May4th on 27/03/2025 - 22:05

                @2025:

                delivering democracy with expensive cruise missiles is a relatively risk free operation to their personnel and assets, and these subs are built for that.

                imagine drinking so much of the koolaid you say this unironically

                • 2025 on 28/03/2025 - 01:13

                  @May4th: And unapologetically. The people have spoken, and our governments are formed every 3-4 years based on that.

                  In China, the people have spoken, and it’s been deleted from their AI and history books

                  • May4th on 28/03/2025 - 06:31

                    @2025: and what relevance does that have with nuclear submarines?

                    • 2025 on 29/03/2025 - 21:55

                      @May4th: I hit send before I finished, I was leading into the fact that our decision makers were voted in, and that they have seen way more information than the average person on the street about the capabilities of these things and exactly what our neighbours are up to.

                      • May4th on 30/03/2025 - 13:32
                        +1

                        @2025: I wish I had your faith in our government.

    • Poor Ass on 26/03/2025 - 15:46
      +4

      so if you need to get an Uber and the driver rocked up in one you would cancel the trip and pay the penalty?

    • McFly on 26/03/2025 - 16:05

      You mean the kind of "social conscience" or "understanding" that the people who burn/shoot/vandalise Teslas have?

    • MessyG on 26/03/2025 - 19:48
      +3

      I do not understand how not buying a secondhand Tesla does anything meaningful for anyone suffering any kind of social injustice. I am sure that maybe for some performance artists it might be a feelgood manouvre but I'm an old hippie and I'm tired of this shit. Having a social conscience means doing some work in your field for free, for your local community. Having a social conscience means actively calling out injustice, as you see it, to the people in the room in front of you, not a bunch of anonymous people online. Elon Musk et al will never know if anyone bought a secondhand Tesla, much less profit from it, yet here we are nearly at least a decade on of yelling online and where has it gotten anyone in this sphere? Nowhere. No harm is done buying an electric car that is on balance a good buy and good for the environment.

      If people want to hit this crowd where it hurts, they need to stop spending on most discretionary products, buy everything they can secondhand, and they need to stop sharing anything about what they think online. We are all the product, everything we say, everything we think about if its online.

      • beach bum on 27/03/2025 - 06:31

        There’s more value in speaking to the anonymous hoards online than a bunch of ipso facto pretendo “hippies” that drive Subaru/ teslas in some circle jerk.

    • McFly on 27/03/2025 - 20:56
      -1

      https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/james-island-man-fa…

      Authorities said the man then threw Molotov cocktails made out of beer bottles at the charging stations, damaging them, before leaving the scene.
      “Witnesses advised that the suspect had accidentally caught their own back on fire while throwing the devices,” the initial police report stated.

      Arson and setting themselves on fire - is that social conscience or understanding of world events being demonstrated here?
      Maybe if he's put away for the 20 year maximum he might be able to work it out. Doubt it though.

      And here's a story full of love(land)…

      A 42-year-old transgender woman who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at vehicles and spray-painted “Nazi cars” at a Colorado Tesla dealership lives with her mother due to “emotional problems” and calls herself “baby” online.
      Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, is accused of hurling incendiary devices at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Northern Colorado, and vandalizing the business and vehicles on multiple occasions with graffiti “offensive and hateful in nature,” police said.
      https://nypost.com/2025/03/14/us-news/trans-tesla-vandal-who…

  • joelmuzz on 26/03/2025 - 15:16
    +3

    Should be fine in Australia.
    Mostly just the crazy Americans being crazy dystopia.

  • cloudy on 26/03/2025 - 16:18
    +2

    Wasn't it Musk himself who recently said he cant walk past a TV these days without seeing a Tesla vandalized.

    Don't say you weren't warned by the CEO himself of how socieity feels and what may happen.

  • harrywwc on 26/03/2025 - 16:36
    +1

    peel off the tesla badges and stick on <choose marque here> and you should be good to go ;)

    • beach bum on 27/03/2025 - 06:22
      +1

      VW ? SS ? ¥ ?

  • MessyG on 26/03/2025 - 17:11
    +5

    As Ozbargains self-appointed leftie mouthpiece, I say just do it. They're objectively really good cars. Working for that knob sounds like a nightmare but he didn't build it. He led the charge and while his integrity has been shredded by ketamine and Rupert Murdoch…they're still good cars.

    No one should be vandalizing cars that were built by factory workers FFS, it's self-satisfying bullsh*t that enables no real change. Musk just doesn't hide his particularly brand of pathos but anyone with half a brain knows that once you hit billionaire mode, there is no left or right, there is just money and how to make more money, and stuff everything else.

    Buy your excellent car and enjoy it.

    • Jamiea on 27/03/2025 - 12:33
      +2

      Yeah not sure why Tesla's get all the hate when millions of people use Twitter and Starlink everyday and no one bats an eye

  • casho on 26/03/2025 - 21:21
    +4

    Constructive criticism. I need a car for - no information. My budget is - vague information. Should I buy a $40k Camry or a 2nd hand Tesla? No other cars exist. Seriously?!

  • cashless on 26/03/2025 - 22:07
    +2

    Thoughts on Purchasing Second Hand Tesla

    I am in the market for a new car.

    Make up your frickin mind

  • cfuse on 27/03/2025 - 01:49
    +1

    Keep it in the garage until the NPCs get their next current thing firmware update and move onto the next manufactured outrage.

  • beach bum on 27/03/2025 - 06:17
    +1

    Just pre-key it yourself and bash it with a few shopping trolleys from different angles and you’ll be fine , maybe spray paint a dick and balls on the drivers door if you’re really worried.👍

  • notallthere on 27/03/2025 - 06:51
    -7

    Would never drive a Chinese toaster, I have a FORD RANGER instead

    • Jamiea on 27/03/2025 - 12:32
      +4

      Username checks out

  • 2025 on 27/03/2025 - 08:32
    -2

    Current Political Climate

    Forced Labor in China’s Xinjiang Region(state.gov)

    Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes hit by Xinjiang forced labour complaint(ft.com)

    SAIC Motors(shuforcedlabour.org)

    • eddyah on 29/03/2025 - 20:35

      The workforce in USA prisons iss probably called slave labour in China.

      All propaganda

      • 2025 on 29/03/2025 - 21:50

        Yes. China’s propaganda calls it “vocational training” https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3101986/chi…

        And when the UN wished to send people there to check it all out, they were told to mind their own business. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-rights-china/china-tel…

        People are in prison in the US after due process and court proceedings. Sadly the same can’t be said for the Uyghurs in China.

        I’d assume that if the leaks and hacks of Chinese government and police files were fake, China would do more to end the “rumours”

        • eddyah on 30/03/2025 - 13:13

          I don't question there is dodgy shit happening in China.

          There's dodgy shit happening all over the place. In the NT/QLD they want to jail 10 year olds as 'criminals' to help with social problems over there.

          It's easy to look from afar and make a judgement. Much harder to be the ones on the ground trying to make a positive change.

        • May4th on 30/03/2025 - 13:31

          People are in prison in the US after due process and court proceedings.

          tell that to the plane loads of alleged gang members who were deported with cuffs without any judificial oversight

  • Freitag on 27/03/2025 - 09:05
    -4

    I've got a Mazda CX5, would much prefer a Tesla but can't afford one at the moment. I personally don't think Elon is that bad, or worse than other CEOs so it doesn't factor in for me. What are peoples problems with him? He shares his opinions on X, shoots from the hip, didn't like Biden/Kamala, tries to save the US government money? TBH sounds like he could be an Ozbargainer

    • buffalo bill on 27/03/2025 - 09:50
      +5

      You believe he cares about saving the US government money? He has borrowed heavily against his Tesla stock and its dumped for various reasons, then he has embezzled money from Tesla to pay for his bills and special K (look into their financial discrepancies). He's in bed with Trump to make sure his ass stays out of prison. He's not doing this for fun or any sort of economical exercise but every now and then it plays into his ego and you get a little seig heil salute.

      When you look into all his claims you see what a massive fraudster he is and he hasnt actually invented anything himself. He uses his presence to manipulate markets for additional quick hits. He doesnt give a fck about anyone apart from himself.

      • dins on 27/03/2025 - 10:04
        -2

        Too many booster shots?

        • buffalo bill on 27/03/2025 - 10:08
          +3

          Only the amount required to make an accurate assessment.

          • dins on 27/03/2025 - 11:38
            -4

            @buffalo bill: Worked that out all by yourself did ya very impressive. Hilarious too not gonna lie!👏

  • Frosty17 on 27/03/2025 - 10:02
    +1

    Some actual sensible comments in here, can't believe it.

  • urahara on 27/03/2025 - 10:09

    Elon in a R3+@Rd . You ar smart,you should support Labour guzzling your tax payers amount by pumping gas while profits are kept by big corpos.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEd6jdG6ykQ

  • R4 on 27/03/2025 - 11:25

    In 2025:
    Elon - bad
    Xi - good

    Pathetic.

  • tomlikesbeetroot on 27/03/2025 - 13:51
    +2

    Tesla owner here, don't really follow the news so not completely aware of political implications of my car.
    It's a nice car, no doubt you will enjoy the purchase. Maybe not a premium luxury car, but compared to others in the price range I like it.
    All controls via the touchscreen is not a huge concern for me, I actually like the fact that the touchscreen is still usable whilst driving at speed so that my passenger can set navigation etc. 2 main gripes with the car, the lack of indicator stalks is annoying, and the auto wipers do not sense rain very well.
    The price of new teslas has dropped significantly, so most likely that has hurt the resale value which sucks for me, but good for OP.

  • Nebargains on 27/03/2025 - 18:32

    I guess you've seen Tesla cars and dealerships being vandalized on social media, what you don't see on social media is the other 99% that are fine.

    Just spent a couple of weeks in the US and didnt see a single vandalized Tesla or dealership. Haven't seen any here either.

    • cloudy on 29/03/2025 - 18:51
      +1

      Elon himself says he can’t walk past a screen without seeing a Tesla being on vandalised. Maybe Elon is on social media too much and knows nothing about his cars

  • radradrobotank on 27/03/2025 - 20:09

    I drive a Tesla around Sydney and no one gives me any trouble. I'd recommend a Tesla, I doubt you'll be disappointed. Chinese EVs are good value but for most first time EV owners a Tesla is still a better option. Also consider a novated lease for the tax advantages if applicable to you.

  • Alexxx on 27/03/2025 - 23:00
    +1

    I wouldn't right now.
    I've had a carsales search set up with alerts for AWD EVs under $50k in NSW for a couple of months, normally I would get an email every few days for another car being added. Over the last week or so 4-5 Tesla's have been added each day.
    These are probably cars that are getting their price reduced rather than new cars being added but it does show the value is reducing.
    These are mostly model 3 long range or performance, no model Ys so far.

    • blupool on 28/03/2025 - 23:16

      The new Y is here. They might be upgrading.
      I'll be upgrading myself after 3 years from MYLR
      AWD MYLR was $80-$85k and you are waiting for it to come down under $50k ? not bad..

  • pao2x on 28/03/2025 - 05:53

    The real question is why do you need a new car if you have a fairly recent camry? Those things are nigh immortal

  • pn09 on 28/03/2025 - 08:18
    +1

    I'd be wondering what the insurance premiums for Teslas are going to be like if some of the protests come to Australia

    • buffalo bill on 28/03/2025 - 13:47

      6k per year+

      • TightAssDude on 28/03/2025 - 20:13
        +1

        rubbish, I’m paying 1.9 K which is less than I was paying for my Toyota Camry

        • mapax on 28/03/2025 - 20:48
          +1

          Unless you’re living in the future how do you know that is rubbish?

        • buffalo bill on 29/03/2025 - 02:53

          Im going off someones reported premium quote of 5.5k this year. Sales have dropped reportedly to around 1/4 in Australia, so its not unfeasable they decide in future not to support the market.

          • klaw81 on 01/04/2025 - 17:58

            @buffalo bill: My annual premium is about $1400 for full comprehensive with agreed value.

            When I had a minor panel repair late last year, the local body shop told me Tesla replacement panels were no more difficult to obtain than many other brands.

    • shroomish on 04/04/2025 - 14:51

      I read about some guy looking into capitalising on a used tesla but they have been getting bricked so often in the US the premiums are sky high.

  • monty168 on 28/03/2025 - 15:40
    +1

    I have been considering a used Model 3 also, ~$30k with FBT exemption is a great deal!

  • TightAssDude on 28/03/2025 - 20:12
    +2

    I drive a 2024 model three, and it’s the best car I’ve ever driven.

    Further, I’ve driven 12,000 km and have spent $40 in charging costs. Used to drive a Toyota, was costing me $80 per week plus service and other maintenance costs.

    if you like the car, go for it. Don’t listen to the haters.

  • nikey2k27 on 29/03/2025 - 07:27

    You could just put some Aldi badge on it.

    https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/why-tesla-owners-are-reba…

    • altman on 31/03/2025 - 16:00

      Did they get their car on a Wednesday or Saturday?

      • Euphemistic on 31/03/2025 - 16:07

        Didnt really need a new car, but the middle aisle always gets me.

  • tinnybastard on 29/03/2025 - 12:41

    Does OP live in North America?

  • MrThing on 29/03/2025 - 22:47
    +1

    BYD better value

  • klaw81 on 01/04/2025 - 12:18
    +1

    I bought a used Tesla about 18 months ago, at a very substantial discount on the RRP. It's been absolutely outstanding - my wife and I love driving it, we have zero complaints about quality or reliability, and it's been very effective in lowering transport costs.

    Compared to spending a similar amount on a hybrid Camry which was our other option, we're very much in front. If you can find a Tesla that suits your needs at a good price, I'd say go for it.

    Apart from a mild ribbing from a few friends and some brain-dead comments online, I haven't experienced any public backlash or seen any genuinely concerning behavior in Australia. I think most Australians have sufficient intelligence to realise that owning a Tesla is not a political statement.

    PS If somebody wants to take out their anger at Musk, feel free to torch my car. I'll get a very nice insurance payout for way more than I paid, and I'd probably just buy another one. But I'd happily consider other brands if I could find similar value elsewhere.

    • bobolo on 01/04/2025 - 13:43

      where is it? just make sure you got all your coins and wallet out etc

    • mavis30551 on 05/04/2025 - 10:33

      Did you buy with cash or novate lease with the FBT exemnption?

      I was looking into cost and one thing that shocked me was insurance was quoted at like 4k for some places.

      Crazy high, how much you paying for insurance?

      • klaw81 on 10/04/2025 - 14:01
        +1

        I bought with cash from a private sale - novated lease was about a wash for my situation.

        My annual premium is about $1400 for full comprehensive, with agreed value significantly higher than my buy price. But some quotes I got were crazy high.

  • shroomish on 04/04/2025 - 14:45

    This question was looked into by a guy in the US who reported back that while youre getting a good discount on a used tesla, the insurance premium is through the roof as anyone with a brick can deem it a suitable substitute for Elons face.

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