YouTuber buys dream Tesla for $140,000, then sees jaw-dropping loss after using it for 2 years only

When automotive YouTuber Kyle Conner purchased a Tesla in 2022 for about $140,490, it was positioned as a high-end electric performance sedan. Two years later, the numbers told a different story.

The depreciation came to light through a TikTok breakdown by Chris Pearce (@thechristopherpearce), who reviewed Conner’s invoice and Tesla’s trade-in appraisal. Pearce told viewers that with 37,000 miles on the odometer, Tesla’s offer landed far below the original price.

“So with just 37,000 miles on the odometer, Tesla offered him a whopping $46,400,” Pearce said.

“That’s a loss of $94,000 or 67% of its original value.”

The appraisal figure, shown in a screenshot from Tesla, valued the once-$140,490 car at less than half its purchase price.

Pearce noted the offer came directly from Tesla and could have been conservative. “The appraisal came straight from Tesla, so it could be a lowball offer,” he said.

But even when comparing estimates from other industry platforms, the gap remained significant. “But even sites like Edmunds, or Consumer Reports wouldn’t give him more than $59,000 at the absolute highest.”

To put the depreciation into perspective, Pearce compared the Tesla to a similarly priced internal combustion performance sedan from the same year: the 2022 BMW M5 CS.

“I did us all a favor and found a comparable gas to compare the depreciation,” Pearce said.
Online, the reactions came with lightning speed. Teslaliving commented, "While they don't hold their value, Teslas hold their quality and functionality extremely well and the software keeps getting better (albeit at a declining rate the older the model gets). My 2018 S is better than it was when I bought it. Valued less for some reason but better."

To which Conner reacts, "Mine feels like it’s falling apart."

A user wrote, "Yeah I was thinking of swapping a 2023 M3 , my trade in estimate was 50% lower after only 1.3 years of ownership"

Another said, "Last time I input the VIN of my 2022 RWD Model 3, it was ½ of what I'd paid for it and the slide is only accelerating. Guess it's good that I own it outright and love it cuz it's not worth anywhere near enough to justify starting payments again."

Third commented, "man that hurts! I think my Model 3 has lost proportionally the same percentage. It’s not what I thought when I bought it. Luckily mine is holding up pretty well besides the seat cushion."