Jennie
Member
At 3 months ownership, I love the Model S. Will break up my experience so far in a few posts.
To start...(might be boring for gear heads...)
Buying/trading experience:
I was going to consign/sell my previous car (BMW 640i) through a local company because I heard that Tesla underpaid for trades compared to traditional dealerships. When the local company couldn't come close to what I wanted for the car I asked Tesla about trading. They agreed to my trade almost sight unseen.
I arranged test-drive via internet inquiry. I had option of going to Tesla service center but chose instead to have the Tesla 'consultant' (or whatever the approved term is!) bring the program car to my house to test drive.
Like any sales transaction, there was some up-selling. (yes, I know not supposed to call it 'selling' here in Texas) We had planned to buy CPO but the consultant steered us toward a program car. The bad news is that while you have a choice of any program car in the nation, they sell fast. By the time we agreed to one in our planned price range, it had already sold. The good news is that it was end of the quarter so Tesla discounted several options on another program car in an effort to get the inventory out the door. I believe all told, it took three days from paying my reservation to receiving the car. (also delivered to my house, consultant even programmed HomeLink for me). When I hear about people waiting years for Model 3s and Powerwalls I wonder if my speedy experience is a Tesla record!
My consultant guided me through process but as per Texas regulations and Tesla practice, the buying/selling was online. No sitting in a dealership waiting for paperwork or being pressured to buy extended warranty or service contract. (none really needed or available w/Tesla anyway)
I didn't get a temporary tag with car. The day after I received it, i got a California DMV certificate that I put in my back window. I drove around without even temporary tags for at least a month without any problem. I finally contacted Tesla and they sent me temporary tag the next day; permanent tags came a week later...of course, being the car people we are, I had already removed the front plate bracket.
To start...(might be boring for gear heads...)
Buying/trading experience:
I was going to consign/sell my previous car (BMW 640i) through a local company because I heard that Tesla underpaid for trades compared to traditional dealerships. When the local company couldn't come close to what I wanted for the car I asked Tesla about trading. They agreed to my trade almost sight unseen.
I arranged test-drive via internet inquiry. I had option of going to Tesla service center but chose instead to have the Tesla 'consultant' (or whatever the approved term is!) bring the program car to my house to test drive.
Like any sales transaction, there was some up-selling. (yes, I know not supposed to call it 'selling' here in Texas) We had planned to buy CPO but the consultant steered us toward a program car. The bad news is that while you have a choice of any program car in the nation, they sell fast. By the time we agreed to one in our planned price range, it had already sold. The good news is that it was end of the quarter so Tesla discounted several options on another program car in an effort to get the inventory out the door. I believe all told, it took three days from paying my reservation to receiving the car. (also delivered to my house, consultant even programmed HomeLink for me). When I hear about people waiting years for Model 3s and Powerwalls I wonder if my speedy experience is a Tesla record!
My consultant guided me through process but as per Texas regulations and Tesla practice, the buying/selling was online. No sitting in a dealership waiting for paperwork or being pressured to buy extended warranty or service contract. (none really needed or available w/Tesla anyway)
I didn't get a temporary tag with car. The day after I received it, i got a California DMV certificate that I put in my back window. I drove around without even temporary tags for at least a month without any problem. I finally contacted Tesla and they sent me temporary tag the next day; permanent tags came a week later...of course, being the car people we are, I had already removed the front plate bracket.
