Also the point the original poster was making is that ordering a P85D shows "regular" delivery time for reserved orders (whatever that may be) and selecting 5 seats instantly flicks it into the "dont-hold-yer-breath" file along with 90D or 70D selections. Seems clear to me that ordering 5 seats is an issue for some reason.
Yes, as the OP, I agree that was the point I was making. There's an "issue" with the 5-seat option that may even delay P90D orders. Whether the issue is that they don't have it fully baked yet or they are just trying to squeeze out the highest ticket cars first is anyone's guess.
Considering that the first hand-built models were delivered in late September you would have to assume they actually had their seating layouts planned for the model back in......like August and earlier of last year!!! And you would hope it was a lot earlier than that.
Not consistent with Elon time. The 6-seat option probably wasn't even considered until they got all the flack about the 7-seater not having enough linear cargo space for long items like skis (and, of course, all that lumber that some apparently like to carry around). The Sigs originally had no option but 7 seats. The 6-seat option actually showed up in the Sig design studio a few weeks *after* the Sig folks had access to it. Those with confirmed orders for 7 seats were contacted to see if they would prefer a 6-seat option. Not sure if Sigs have been retroactively offered the 5-seat option, but I doubt it. There were no 5-seaters at the reveal. I think they literally just came up with that design option within the last month. Speculation, I know, but I don't think it's a stretch.
So on the basis that they will not deliver a 5 seater until 12 months after the founder models I am gonna guess they have a new design fold-flat version on the drawing board. Makes total sense to me as so many people went bonkers over "Seatgate".
Otherwise if they actually have 5 seat, 6 seat and 7 seat parts on the shelf then why would they not sell them - unless 100% purely for the extra $4,000 markup margin and to simplify their production line?
Because they don't have those parts on the shelf. It's not just a question of omitting the rear seats for the 5-seater. If they do that, they leave a gaping hole where the current rear bench seat is. They need to have a finalized design for the rear interior (behind the 3-seat row) and that means further design work, modelling (not the Talulah kind), prototyping, then eventually programming the stampers, welders and sewing machines to make the parts that make up that portion of the interior. It's probably not a large design problem, but it does have to be done. And I think it was really a last minute addition to offer the 5-seat option (and even the 6-seat option). Otherwise, why not let the Sigs select 5, 6 or 7 seats from the beginning?
But with all due respect I think for people that have paid deposits it's already bad enough that ordering a 90D or 70D throws you to the back of the queue, and now 5 seats chucks you back down the line. I fear that not ordering the upgraded stereo will now also chuck you down the queue.........
I think we've already gone over this but prioritizing the fully loaded model of a car that is in high demand is not only consistent with what other car companies have been doing for years (I went through that with my 2006 Highlander Hybrid), but it also makes good business sense (at least as far as the economics are concerned). It does result in disappointed customers though, as well as encouraging deposit holders to spend more than they originally intended - to go for a higher priced, "more fully featured" model - in order to get their cars sooner.