FUD (Fear, uncertainty and doubt) propagated by Teslapologists (a.k.a. Elon fanboys). I did price a Tesla model 3 Performance and it came out similar to my i4 M50 at equivalent equipment. After my test drive of the Model 3 there was no doubt in my mind anymore - BMW is a much better car and value for the money.

 

A whole lot of hyperbole too I think. One guy I was talking with from Australia was telling me the base price for an edrive 40 was 110 000 AU...that in Canada is 54 990 and the Canadian dollar is just a little higher than the AU dollar. I think people are just repeating talking points and haven't actually checked prices recently.

 

Keep in mind a few things.

The eDrive40 offered in Canada is bare bones, no heated seats, no comfort access, no memory seats, no alarm system, no PDC, ... and the list goes on.
To make it a decently equipped car you need to add the Premium Essential package for $9,400 at a minimum.

Having said that our exchange rate is at a disadvantage but car companies in general adjust price to the local economies, they might sell cheaper here but their running costs are cheaper also and even some manufacture here but sell elsewhere at a higher price so is a balancing game. Except that Tesla does not have enough worldwide presence yet to do that so their prices follow mostly the exchange rate.

What I mean by that is that in Canada BMW adjust their prices to the local economy making them relatively cheaper to Tesla since they don't do it here.

I believe that in Europe the gap is way bigger in favour of the Model 3. And Australia is a whole other market, their car prices are nuts, likely one of highest worldwide.

I do think the M50 is a bargain if you are looking for a car with such horsepower and acceleration.

 

Overall it seems we're pretty lucky in Canada for the price we're charged for these. I noticed with Polestar as well, the price was very good in Canada comparing to other places including the USA given the exchange rate when I was considering that car a couple of years ago or so.

I can't help but think even a really stripped down eDrive 40 would be a satisfying car.

yeah FSD isn't very impressive for what I've seen and the BMW driving assist pro get the very top euro ncap rating while standard Tesla Auto Pilot only gets a middling grade while the FSD gets you more bells and whistles, the driving assist pro is likely the safer system (thus better too IMO)

 

Tesla's biggest claim to fame is the FSD, which really isn't. Its still level 2 I believe.
BMW driver assistance systems aren't really that far behind when you remove the hype.
So factor out the driver assistance systems and compare the cars otherwise.
I think the BMW will win that comparison.

Dan

As for price comparison, consider that Tesla does not use a dealer model. Different costs.

 

Anyway over $80,000 is not a cheap car, I could get something very good for $60,000 on ICE car.
I am doing the move to EV for my grandchildren to get a clean planet.

 

yes...exactly. I've had to readjust my thinking of what I'm willing to pay for a car. Our past most expensive car was a new Mini Countryman and I think that was around 38 000 CDN. Where I live in Saskatchewan, I feel like people need to be seeing these EVs and for my friends to get a chance to drive one and ride in one too. Maybe I'm doing a little bit of evangelizing but I'm trying to be subtle about it. I have no grand children or children though so it's also a no kids dividend 🤣

 

My 2c...
You can only compare the Tesla Model 3 with a BMW when it comes to the engine and its charging capabilities. Otherwise, no comparison is realistic.
You have to admit, the Tesla is a toy, farting, and burping whenever it has a problem. BMW on the other hand is a stylish car. Just the name...B M W...beautiful...
Tesla just has, IMHO, two fantastic qualities, and that is its engine for starters. No one can beat the Tesla in acceleration. BMW tried, but failed because of the weight of the i4 (The Tesla was built from scratch, while the i4 needed the 4-series chassis).
The second winner in the Tesla is the battery and its fantastic charging xxx (the xxx stands for speed, possibilities, network,...)
Nobody can beat that either.
But when you look at the rest... sorry but...Tesla is not a car, it's a toy...
It fails on (compared to BMW) quality on the material used, seats don't give you enough support, there are almost no options (compared to the endless list of (expensive) options for the BMW), there's no HUD, audio is so-so, there are no towing possibilities, you name it...
I thought about choosing the Tesla M3LR as my next company car, and if I had chosen the Tesla M3LR, I would have been driving it by now (maybe without USB ports), but in the end, I'm glad I went for the i4. Still waiting, but still happy nonetheless...

Edit: Picture this:
You and your partner are going to the grocery store, but when you arrive at the store, you decide to stay in your Tesla, because you want....to play "The Need For Speed", not only IN your car, but also ON your car...
Can you then imagine the faces of the people who see you twisting and turning your steering wheel while on your huge tablet on the dashboard, the game is displayed, and everybody can hear those loud roaring game cars through the speakers...
If I saw someone doing this, I would film it. That evening his @ss would be on Youtube !!!!

 

No wonder there was a BMW advert for the i4 with delivery Autumn 2023 when they start at 55,000 Canada dollars, that’s about £33,000 in the uk at the current exchange rate, the price here is £51900! In Australia it’s 99,000 Australian dollars plus on the road charges with taxes is I think over 110,000! The m50 I ordered is £63900 here and 125,000 Australian dollar that’s about 137,000 on the road, same car in Canada is 72,000 Canadian dollars. Canadian dollars maybe about 10% higher at 1.70, to the pound Australia I think about 1.85 to the pound, BMW must be losing a fortune selling i4 in Canada!

 

I was just thinking it was a lot of Tesla fans making a mountain out of a mole hill but in fact, we do get a great deal in Canada.

 

So I priced out a TM3P.
Blue with white interior and FSD.
$75,990 (US) + Tax and license makes it about $85k

My car fully loaded (Tanzanite with cognac leather and carbon fiber) is right at $80k and with all the driver assist puts it on par with L2 Tesla.
Add tax and license and it's $90k

I won't even factor the $7500 tax credit

So the difference is $5k
I can start removing things that you can't get on a TM3P and get cheaper.

1. HUD can't even get a guage cluster on a TM3, $1k
2. Laser lights, $1k
3. Leather, $1.5k
4. Performance wheels and fender extensions $2500.

That's $6k and I'm $1k cheaper than a fully loaded TM3P.

If I keep my configuration and factor in the tax credit I'm about $2.5k cheaper than a TM3P.

So anyone in the US that thinks a TM3 is cheaper than an i4 of any equivalent variant is mistaken.

Yeah, I know the Tesla has nominally more range.
But it also doesn't have adaptive suspension and a few other things that the BMW has that I can't remove, so we will call it a wash.

You get better quality. Better service network. Better car.


Waiting on my Tanzanite M50!

 

I wouldn't include FSD, but the recent price increases of TM3 definitely make the price difference much smaller!

 

If you don't include FSD you can dump all the BMW tech and with the $7500 tax credit (US) the i4 is still going to be cheaper.

Waiting on my Tanzanite M50!