
Tesla is rarely removed from the headlines for the time being. Nothing new there, actually, besides now it’s for all of the fallacious causes. Whether or not it’s Elon Musk’s political ambitions or a product line-up in want of revitalising. Gross sales are mentioned to be tanking, and past the up to date Mannequin Y there hasn’t been a major new product launch in yonks. It’s unprecedented for the model.
Not so way back it appeared like the great occasions would not cease rolling. On prime of automobiles that have been properly forward of the competitors throughout the board – sooner, extra environment friendly, cheaper, even when these rivals got here years later – there was the Supercharger community to assist them. The Mannequin S and Mannequin 3 particularly demonstrated to hundreds that an EV was viable on a regular basis transport for them. And on the different finish of the size, because of derivatives just like the Plaid and Mannequin 3 Efficiency, it frequently reset the benchmark for what an electrical automotive might do. Tesla’s total legacy within the historical past of electromobility is past query. However a automotive firm is sort of a shark: if it isn’t frequently transferring ahead, it dies.
Nonetheless, as sharks go, it is a biggie. And when it boomed, Tesla bought plenty of automobiles, with some early adopters racking up some severely chunky mileages in comparatively small intervals. In 2025, because of an overheated EV market usually, that has resulted in some very inexpensive choices. Granted, there have been Nissan Leafs and Renault Zoes accessible for just a few hundreds kilos for years now, however they aren’t actually the form of electrical automobiles you’d wish to use past a metropolis. However the prospect of a Mannequin 3 from £10,000 is a very totally different kettle of fish.
This one isn’t ten grand, nevertheless it’s not far off both at £11,475. It has the additional benefit of being a Twin Motor automotive, too; there are many rear-wheel drive automobiles round, which in Lengthy Vary type will give probably the most miles, however this does appear like a best-of-both-worlds state of affairs. It doesn’t hand over a lot to the rear-drive automobiles when it comes to vary, but with 475hp it isn’t far off the devoted Efficiency mannequin. Right here’s the place the devoted Tesla consultants can chip in with their finest suggestions, after all. Given what’s being requested, it appears to supply so much.
The 2019 automotive in query has solely ever been pushed by one proprietor, who coated 139,000 miles in that point. So you may want a battery well being report, simply to verify it hasn’t been completely depleted by a great deal of quick charging, however lots seems good: the one MOT advisories have been completely for tyres, there’s mentioned to be some service historical past, and the famously sparse inside appears to have lasted fairly properly. Even the bolsters look wonderful.
For sure, nobody is lusting after a fridge-white Mannequin 3. Even when it’s lastly changed – even permitting for its significance within the Tesla annals – this isn’t future traditional materials. However in the event you’re the form of one that laughs within the face of a) excessive mileages and b) battery life, this would appear to supply beneficiant helpings of efficiency, vary and minimal working prices, on prime of a very low buy worth. And an affordable to keep up on a regular basis automotive frees up extra finances for the enjoyable one…
SPECIFICATION | TESLA MODEL 3
Engine: 75kWh battery, rear synchronous motor, entrance induction motor
Transmission: Single-speed, all-wheel drive
Energy (hp): 475
Torque (lb ft): N/A
MPG: as much as 350 miles WLTP
CO2: 0g/km driving
Yr registered: 2019
Recorded mileage: 139,000
Value new: £46,990
Yours for: £11,475