After my experience I sat down and took a long look about how I felt and why I felt that way. Yes I was angry the way they handled my initial inquiry and trade valuation. The valuation of my 2015 P90D came in low but fairly quickly through my local Tesla center. They showed me a dual motor performance model 3 but I didnt feel it had seat of the pants low end torque that my P90D had even though acceleration times are similar. More importantly the model 3 is a major step down in interior luxury by my perception. The steering wheel is skinny and generic compared to the feeling on the model S. The central screen I just couldn't warm to. I still had my mind on a P100D but didnt want to spend big $$ on a new one. I also didnt want to work out the bugs on a new model 3. I have seen the improvements between my P90D and P100D with about 60,000 difference in serial number. I think that was a prudent call on my part.
While I paused in this paralysis by analysis. The tesla sales guy sent me an updated valuation of my trade up to 63,000 for a 2015 P90D with 40,000 miles on it. I started looking at the tax savings utilizing the trade and my trade was valued with tax savings almost 67,000. At the same time I put my vehicle online cars.com and through the forums. I could hardly even get a nibble at 67-68K. So at the time the trade was the best I could manage. I was watching the psychology of p100D owners wanting to move to the dual motor performance Model 3. I dont track my car and value brutal accleration crushing low consciousness savage Orlando drivers every day over a lighter, potentially better handling car. I can floor it all the time but where to push it in corners where I live? I observed the same experience with my GTR. I've never taken any of my performance vehicles to a track so supply in demand was in my favor.
I started looking at third party P100Ds from dealerships and individuals. None could offer the warranty and seamless trade process Tesla could. My first pre-owned sales associate was apparently very experienced vetted by the second sales associate I worked with. The first guy killed the deal a couple of times over issues that I sorted out myself. I patiently explained I was not buying the vehicle in california only picking it up there. I eventually got the answer that sales tax and my trade would be processed in Orlando, FL and Tesla would not ship the vehicle so I would have to make arrangements to pick it up. I had three days in my schedule and I used frequent flyer miles to buy a one way ticket. The day before I was scheduled to travel, my pre owned Tesla sales person told me good news and bad news. Bad news dont fly to California. Good news Tesla would ship the vehicle to Orlando and I could hold on to my P90D till it had arrived. I had not asked, demanded for Tesla to do this; Tesla resolved this on their own. Furthermore, I could look at the vehicle and decide before any transaction took place. I think that back and forth of no deal, deal, no deal, and finally deal was irritating BUT I decided to take my ego out of the equation. Yes I thought these guys are clueless and they simply do not know the car business. However I still had a nice car in my hand with no loss if they deal didn't happen. I realized that the majority of people working at Tesla are VERY young and they are working hard increasing sales and volume. Try to get a nice high end level of service at a local dealership on a busy saturday and multiply by inexperience and young sales people and that's the overall big picture. I imagined being patient with them since they were really just "kids" Dont forget historically Honda had geisha's working on the assembly line to help build their cars in the beginning. Why kick a company that is giving me something so fantastic so quickly?
When the car finally came, they still got some of the details incorrect but I made an appointment brought a standard check and looked at the car. I purchased, completed the paperwork and was out of there in under an hour.
Tesla was disorganized in the sales process but ULTIMATELY did make it happen. Tesla sold me a fairly nice low miles (15,000) P100D with a full 4 yr/50 k warranty and did give me a fair price on my trade. No one was even interested in my car on this forum or via online listing. Tesla shipped the car to me and didn't charge me a penny to ship it despite the rules; that's at least 1000$ savings. The preowned warranty +$4000. The cars options including FSD greatly enhanced my decision. The car was nicely prepped on delivery. The price was fantastic $90,900 for a car that was 2 years old versus 1250-160 K?
I have bought many nice expensive high end cars as well as cheap cars. Sometimes things went perfect and they handled me white glove conceirge and sometimes they treated me like *sugar* and ****ed up the deal. All I can say is I didn't blow up and took a lets see what will happend approach and they ultimately did me right in the end with some patience and lowering of my expectations.
You should read a little history on how Ferrari used to treat their wealthy, high end, even royalty customers. I'm not suggesting this is justified but with a new model and paradigm there will be mistakes and successes. While Tesla could take some lessons from established sales teams at Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes etc, I have been bounced around sometimes at those mainstream dealerships. Furthermore what the **** is wrong with those high end brands not offering equally competitive products. I emailed Porsche on the mission E to see when I could get my hands on one and heard nothing. Maybe their reply was lost in span. In the mean time I am enjoying crushing the competition and the people who read all the car magazines and know everything except what is the best $$ investment for the best car. Maybe that's my ego talking.
R is don’t take delivery of a Tesla in CA if you don’t live there.
