Design Studio Updates!

[yobigd20]

Not everyone in a family of car drivers has the great skills you refer to.

That's why nobody else is allowed to drive my car but me, LOL. My wife is scared of it and refuses to drive it anyway. Too much power and too low to the ground for her.

- - - Updated - - -

By the way, RE: WEBSITE DESIGN, geez these telsa web engineers need to work on their skill sets. The code for the new design studio SUCKS and very inefficient (I can actually get it in a loop and hang, LOL).

 

[brianman]

Update: Tesla already wrote me back and said they hope to know something about the costs for retrofits in a few weeks.

So probably by October.

- - - Updated - - -

Not everyone in a family of car drivers has the great skills you refer to.

Especially at 5am after a long day of work to pay for said car.

 

[Raffy.Roma]

On the European Tesla site the Design Studio Updates that are available for the USA are not available. :cursing:

 

[CyberDutchie]

Tesla already wrote me back and said they hope to know something about the costs for retrofits in a few weeks.

I talked to a Tesla specialist at the Cars and Coffee event in Menlo Park and asked about the retrofits. He said that Tesla is currently assessing demand for the various retrofits that are possible. So if you're interested in getting a specific retrofit done, please let Tesla know, people!

Btw. he also said some of them may not be possible or be just too expensive to do. I asked specifically about the Ultra Sound Package, and he didn't want to say yes or no, but mentioned that it involves new speakers (although same number of speakers) and new wiring for the speakers. Disclaimer: he also said he was not the expert on the sound packages.

 

[gym7rjm]

This is such a good decision in my opinion. As a shareholder it gives me great confidence that they will reach (and exceed) the 25% gross margin target. It also allows a much better level of customization as people are pointing out.

In the future I would actually like to see more exclusive options, especially options that separate high cost owners models from lower cost models. For example, exclusive colors or more aggressive body options that can only be bought with the performance +. For such an amazing car I still think 130k is too low for the highest end model. Because the MS is being adopted by such a large cross section of people (not just the ultra rich) I think there needs to be options that will better differentiate the top tier model. I have a friend who drives a Bentley Continental GT and he is interested in a Model S as his next car. However, I just can't see him ordering the car if there isn't something really differentiates it from other models. Some rich people want others to know they spent a lot of money on their car, so I think Tesla could capture more of that market with some simple options resulting in an exclusive model with a super high gross margin.

 

[hans]

And how would they feel looking at their precious one year out with all the wide car scratches and dings.

I think, like me, they would get these fixed so they would be back to admiring their beautiful scratch free, ding free, and bump free car.

 

[jweinstein]

Can someone please articulate the differences between the old "lighting" in the $3,750 tech package and the new $1,000 "premium interior lighting package"?

 

[AmpedRealtor]

Can someone please articulate the differences between the old "lighting" in the $3,750 tech package and the new $1,000 "premium interior lighting package"?

I was told by a Sr. Delivery Specialist that the new $1,000 lighting package contains two additional lights in the rear (2nd row) passenger area. Otherwise it is identical to what the car previously had. He also said the sound package was just a re-pricing and re-branding of the studio sound package (no hardware change), air suspension is the same product despite the new name. He said Tesla perceived the value of the sound system to be far higher than was previously asked, I politely held my tongue knowing all of the lambasting that system has taken in the forums. Apparently Tesla is unaware of any shortcomings to its studio sound package. They don't come around here often, eh?

 

[4SUPER9]

...He also said the sound package was just a re-pricing and re-branding of the studio sound package (no hardware change), ... He said Tesla perceived the value of the sound system to be far higher than was previously asked, I politely held my tongue knowing all of the lambasting that system has taken in the forums. Apparently Tesla is unaware of any shortcomings to its studio sound package. They don't come around here often, eh?

That's the same song and dance I heard from 3 different sales specialists. I am now torn between paying $2,500 for a mediocre system, vs a really lousy base system, and spending $$ to upgrade aftermarket.

On another note, the P85 door trim used to be leather. It is now vinyl, unless you get the upgraded leather package. The dash without the upgrade is unchanged (which I liked anyway).

Honestly, I get what they are trying to do here. Someone can now get a P85 and skimp on the extras, or someone can get a 60 or 85 and upgrade with the features they like that where previously only available on a P85.

I like the approach, it's the pricing that's the problem. To get the same exact car will now cost me at least $5,000 more. Make it $2,000 more and I wouldn't have be so disturbed. I bet many of us complaining here would not whine so much if it was a modest price increase. If that was the case, we'd probably all happily through them more a little money for these options and flexibility.

 

[yobigd20]

That's the same song and dance I heard from 3 different sales specialists. I am now torn between paying $2,500 for a mediocre system, vs a really lousy base system, and spending $$ to upgrade aftermarket.

I have the sound studio package, but if this was $2500 when I was ordering the car, no doubt I would have gone aftermarket. It is *not* worth $2500. Sorry Tesla. I could do better myself for half the price. And I would have put at 12" in. somewhere. lol.

 

[cwerdna]

This I see as somewhat unfortunate for the following reason. ICE manufacturers basically option you to death...you think you are getting a great car but you have to get option after option. What that does is dramatically improve margins. What was nice about when I ordered was there were basically just a few options and you were done - this path is going down the more traditional ICE purchase path. Great for company and margins, not great for consumers.

Depends on the automaker.

When I got my 02 Nissan Maxima GXE, there were either no or virtually no options available on that trim. Despite it being the base trim, I had standard HID headlights, cruise control, power windows and locks, power driver's seat, trip computer, etc.

I looked into an Acura TL at the time, and there were a whopping 4 combinations possible: non-Type S and Type-S, with and without navigation system. ALL of them came w/leather, sunroof, heated memory power seats, CD changer, etc.

I just recently started leasing a '13 Leaf SV. There really aren't that many option choices. There are 3 trims: S, SV and SL. The only package on the lowest trim (S) is the charge package. On the mid-trim (SV), there are only 2 packages: LED + quick charge port, premium package. I got both. On the highest (SL), premium is the only package choice.

On the Prius, the trim levels go from Two to Five + Persona. Each of them really only has 0 or 1 package choice. Click Build under Toyota Prius 2013 | Hybrid Car.

From what I've heard, it's automakers like BMW and/or Mercedes who make many things optional.

 

[Saphire]

All I know is I'm doing a Happy Dance that my order was confirmed prior to this price increase! Had I waited a few days, Tesla would've priced me out of the model S. As a consumer I'm very disappointed in the pkg pricing and options available, if you purchase leather seats the interior should match, not pay an additional $1000. The wood finish $600, no change in the sound system, pano roof, air suspension just re-pricing. If this didn't work out in my favor I would be looking at another car sorry Tesla.

 

[jerry33]

I have the sound studio package, but if this was $2500 when I was ordering the car, no doubt I would have gone aftermarket. It is *not* worth $2500. Sorry Tesla. I could do better myself for half the price. And I would have put at 12" in. somewhere. lol.

At $950 the Sound Studio was quite a bargain as OE sound systems go. At $2500 not so much. I'm very pleased with mine. Perhaps there are shortcomings but unless the tire noise was completely eliminated, I doubt that I could tell the difference (with the car parked it would be a different story but I'm not going to sit in the car just to listen to music). Of course, if the price was then as it is now, I wouldn't be getting a Model S. An additional $10K (which is what I would pay for just what I have now) is over two month's take home pay.

 

[AustinPowers]

On the European Tesla site the Design Studio Updates that are available for the USA are not available. :cursing:

But in contrast to the US design studio, the European one works, and quite fast too ;-)

 

[Raffy.Roma]

But in contrast to the US design studio, the European one works, and quite fast too ;-)

Ok but I hope that we won't have to wait too long to have the Design Studio Updates in Europe.

 

[montgom626]

The bottom line is there has been HUGE price increases...huge.
Before: Leather Interior $1500
After: Leather interior $1500 (seats) + $2500 Dash/doors/armrest = $4000
If you had a P, that was included, along with Alcantara headliner (now $1500) and "Performance Seats" ($1000 upcharge from $1500 standard leather seats). So if you ordered a P before, you got $6500 of included interiors which is now not standard - plus you got active air, which is another now $2250, carbon fiber spoiler, now $1500, and fog lamps, $500...They've lopped off $10,750 of what was formerly standard inclusions in the P which are now optional...wow.

I am glad I ordered my P85 early.

- - - Updated - - -

My car is in production. Tesla tells me that, in my specific case (others will vary), I would have to pay the "new" price if I wanted to exit the current production point and get the parking sensors.

So, is it worth $6,000 or more to get parking sensors? I guess not.

You can get a nice paint job for 6K USD

 

[vfx]

A sales associate in LA said the the new sound system has speakers that are now not built in-house.

 

[AnOutsider]

The bottom line is there has been HUGE price increases...huge.
Before: Leather Interior $1500
After: Leather interior $1500 (seats) + $2500 Dash/doors/armrest = $4000
If you had a P, that was included, along with Alcantara headliner (now $1500) and "Performance Seats" ($1000 upcharge from $1500 standard leather seats). So if you ordered a P before, you got $6500 of included interiors which is now not standard - plus you got active air, which is another now $2250, carbon fiber spoiler, now $1500, and fog lamps, $500...They've lopped off $10,750 of what was formerly standard inclusions in the P which are now optional...wow.

Having not kept a record, did the BASE cost go down?

 

[ddruz]

Having not kept a record, did the BASE cost go down?

No change in base car price, but xenon headlights and HD backup cameral are now standard on base car.

 

[Mayhemm]

I can't speak to the 60KWh base car because I haven't been tracking it, but the base cost for my Canadian P85 dropped by $3500.

Still not enough to cover the cost of the now-optional items, but not insignificant.