In most markets it is cheaper to buy new then it is to buy used. I sold my Tesla Model 3 for 5k more then I bought it for after owning it for around 3 years. All I did was swap tires, zero maintenance after about 35k miles.
I have an order in for a Model Y as of 3 price increases ago (6k in increases I think), so I feel good about that already too, haha.
My 3 sold for more than I paid for it as well. Even counting a full wrap and two sets of wheels/tires my TCO was incredibly low for 2.5 years of ownership on a new car. My three month old Y is likely worth $10k or more in resale profit right now, not that I plan to sell it.
What people don’t fundamentally seem to understand about EVs is there is no inherent limit to their usefulness. With so much software defined a used one is basically as good as a new one, with only minor differences that only car geeks would care about. An old 3 vs a new one is basically a heat pump and power lift gate. And $10k in MSRP. Electronically commutated motors will run basically forever. As long as they aren’t crashed the drivetrains will outlast the bodies, and still have valuable components when the bodies are retired.
We don’t know yet what the long term situation looks like, but for the next few years anyone who wants to run through a chain of new EVs for near zero TCO likely can.
For anyone who still believes that buying new cars will lead to financial destruction - Please, don’t buy any. It will make it far easier for me to get them.
Viper GTS