Window shopping

I have two aging cars:

• 75,000 mi BMW i3-REx - fun urban town but ~$95/1,200 miles
• 150,000 mi Tesla Model 3 - fun cross country and good city cheaper to run ~$80/1,200 miles

So I've been 'window shopping' to replace the BMW i3-REx with a more efficient EV. Recently, people I trust ('Edmunds' and 'Out of Spec') made positive reviews of the Chevy Equinox so I've arranged a test drive. Then I did a trade study:


I used the EPA roll-down coefficients and a weekend BMW i3-REx benchmark, 3.9 Mi/kWh at 65 mph.

• -$8,500 - Tesla trade-in value for my paid-off Model 3 with Full Self Driving ($8,000)
• $15,000 - bought two years ago, 2017 BMW i3-REx (75,000 mi)
• $13,000 - estimate today for 2019 Model 3 (150,000 mi) battery
• $30,000 - used HW 4.0 Model 3
• $34,000 - new Chevy Equinox
• $44,000 - new 2025 Model 3
• $54,000 - new 2025 Model Y

Several things stood out:

1. Model 3 efficiency has not gone up in 6 years between 2019 and 2025.
2. Model Y and Equinox have similar efficiency and utility.
3. BMW i3-REx is significantly more efficient than the Model Y and Equinox

I am a 75 year old widower living on pensions and Social Security. A big car that I can't afford to drive is a waste sitting on the driveway.

What makes most sense is to plan to replace the 2019 Model 3 battery and get at least another 150,000 mi and 6 years of service from the most efficient car. As for efficiency of the second car:

1. BMW i3-REx (or Model S)
2. Tesla Model Y
3. Chevy Equinox (or Model X)

Bob Wilson