Tesla’s Used-Car Store Is A Cheap Way to Get A Tesla

Just as it relies on its own stores and the Internet to sell its cars new, Tesla Motors has jumped into the used-car business on its own as well, opening an online store last week offering “pre-owned” Model S sedans in 11 cities — and, for some shoppers, potentially a good deal.

The Tesla site launched quietly last week looks less like a car dealer’s inventory and more like the Apple store’s remanufactured section. Buying the car requires a $1,000 deposit, and shoppers who aren’t located in the 11 cities around the country can get a vehicle shipped for an additional $1,500. Unfortunately for online tire-kickers accustomed to pouring over photos for flaws, Tesla doesn’t picture the actual model, but a generic representation.

The company says each used Model S it sells  comes with a four-year or 50,000-mile warranty — although most are so new they would still be covered by the original owner’s 8-year, unlimited-mile warranty if sold privately with a $100 transfer fee.

And how do the prices stack up? At first glance, not too shabbily. The least expensive Model S in inventory sits in Atlanta, a 60-kWh 2013 edition with 10,481 miles and a $61,000 price tag. A check of that model and others shows prices that straddle those offered by private sellers and dealers, with a slight bias toward undercutting. By selling its own used cars, Tesla will bring some structure to a market that’s been all over the map and give some support to its resale values — even if it never has to buy a single giant inflatable gorilla.