Decided to start a new thread where Hawaii owners can share experiences with Tesla whether it be the car, service and the SC, sales, etc. I think these stories sometimes gets lost in our general Hawaii Owners thread.
I'll start...this is a long one..
As many of you know I recently picked up a new ocean blue 70D. I was without a Tesla for two anxious and sometime stressful months.
When I ordered my 70D, I didn’t want to pay for the then $5,000 premium package just to get a power lift gate I wanted, so opted out. Then decided I should try the manual lift gate at the SC. I hated it. It was heavy, bulky and not easy for me to use. Susan mentioned that there was still a push to get the PLG separated out of the premium package so I decided to wait a couple weeks until the end of the month before paying the change fee and adding the overpriced PLG package.
The day BEFORE I was going to change my order, my car went into production! From following the delivery threads, I figured I had at least another week before production. I rushed to contact my DS to see if I could still add the Premium package but she said it was too late.
I couldn't see myself paying so much $$ for a car with a manual lift gate that I would resent the whole time I owned it. I emailed Jerome G. who is in charge of Customer Satisfaction that night and let him know my issues with the PLG and that I would not take the car without it. He responded (within a few hours!) and said they would do everything they could to make sure I was satisfied with my new car! My email was forwarded to the production and regional sales managers who also got back to me quickly..but alas it was too late in the production for them to do a last minute change
My options...order a new one which they would expedite but lose my $2,500 deposit or they could find me an inventory car in Hawaii or California.
I opted to see what inventory cars were available first. Susan said she would be looking for me. My anxieties and stress levels increased as I was in Tesla limbo for almost a week until she found me the perfect car in California. Yay! She said it was difficult to find my configuration because the new color inventory cars were snatched up once available for sale. So I was lucky. The car was is likely one of the first 70Ds produced as I've seen several pictures posted of it on the forum right after the new color and 70D was announced. It had everything I wanted with the addition of upgraded cyclone wheels. But with the showroom discount it was a good deal.
I reserved right away and the wait for delivery and the race to get my car before Papafox ensued
SO…the LESSON LEARNED is NOT to wait to make any changes to the car if you decide you need to make one. OR just make sure your order is exactly what you want the first time! Unfortunately I got caught in the middle of some major changes to the MS. Overall, I am extremely impressed with the prompt responses from the Tesla corporate office and regional managers. At what other car company do the execs personally respond to your email and within a few hours!
But of course, all the anxiety and stress was forgotten once I saw my car for the first time
I'll start...this is a long one..
As many of you know I recently picked up a new ocean blue 70D. I was without a Tesla for two anxious and sometime stressful months.
When I ordered my 70D, I didn’t want to pay for the then $5,000 premium package just to get a power lift gate I wanted, so opted out. Then decided I should try the manual lift gate at the SC. I hated it. It was heavy, bulky and not easy for me to use. Susan mentioned that there was still a push to get the PLG separated out of the premium package so I decided to wait a couple weeks until the end of the month before paying the change fee and adding the overpriced PLG package.
The day BEFORE I was going to change my order, my car went into production! From following the delivery threads, I figured I had at least another week before production. I rushed to contact my DS to see if I could still add the Premium package but she said it was too late.
I couldn't see myself paying so much $$ for a car with a manual lift gate that I would resent the whole time I owned it. I emailed Jerome G. who is in charge of Customer Satisfaction that night and let him know my issues with the PLG and that I would not take the car without it. He responded (within a few hours!) and said they would do everything they could to make sure I was satisfied with my new car! My email was forwarded to the production and regional sales managers who also got back to me quickly..but alas it was too late in the production for them to do a last minute change
My options...order a new one which they would expedite but lose my $2,500 deposit or they could find me an inventory car in Hawaii or California.
I opted to see what inventory cars were available first. Susan said she would be looking for me. My anxieties and stress levels increased as I was in Tesla limbo for almost a week until she found me the perfect car in California. Yay! She said it was difficult to find my configuration because the new color inventory cars were snatched up once available for sale. So I was lucky. The car was is likely one of the first 70Ds produced as I've seen several pictures posted of it on the forum right after the new color and 70D was announced. It had everything I wanted with the addition of upgraded cyclone wheels. But with the showroom discount it was a good deal.
I reserved right away and the wait for delivery and the race to get my car before Papafox ensued
SO…the LESSON LEARNED is NOT to wait to make any changes to the car if you decide you need to make one. OR just make sure your order is exactly what you want the first time! Unfortunately I got caught in the middle of some major changes to the MS. Overall, I am extremely impressed with the prompt responses from the Tesla corporate office and regional managers. At what other car company do the execs personally respond to your email and within a few hours!
But of course, all the anxiety and stress was forgotten once I saw my car for the first time
Last edited:
