Hearing about the D just 9 days after taking delivery of P85+ merits a switch!!!

[MsElectric]

I read a suggestion somewhere that seemed a nice solution: Schedule hardware upgrade announcements every 4 months. (Feb, June, Oct)

Seemed a really good solution for everyone. It lets buyers understand announcement timing when making ordering plans, and thereby experience less remorse or feeling of being blindsided should the announcement be about a feature they find particularly appealing.

It also allows Tesla to continue their process of continuous improvement, and regular PR opportunity.

I think this is a really excellent idea. As much as I feel when you order a car you get the car you ordered, I feel for those who bought a loaded P85 or P85+ and miss out on the acceleration of the P85D. When you normally buy a car you know they are on a 6-7 year model redesign with a facelift somewhere in the middle. I love Tesla's concept of continuous improvement and I agree that it is the way to go but I think it would be more fair for their customers to have some heads up when and what they plan on doing.

We waited 2 years to order a Model S because we really wanted to AWD. We almost bought an A8 because we didn't know how long the wait would be. I think some rough idea about upcoming features coming out in the next 6 months would be helpful. I a sure they can do this in a way to not affect sales where everyone is constantly waiting for the next big thing.

 

[Killface]

Schedule hardware upgrade announcements every 4 months. (Feb, June, Oct)

Not a bad solution from the consumer's point of view, but then we'd all just wait until immediately after the announcements to order. Dealing with 90+% of orders during the first week of February, June, and October could be a pain for Tesla. They would either have to be at peak production capacity during those times and slowly taper off until the next announcement (an extremely inefficient employment structure) , or spread the deliveries out over the 4 months. And considering how much people already bitch because their car came 2 weeks later than someone else's who ordered after them, I'm not sure this would result in any fewer angry whiners than we currently have today.

 

[lolachampcar]

Tesla,

You're a bunch of engineers running a company. There are some good things about that but please do not fall into the trap of telling people what and when you are going to deliver the next XYZ. Remember your supercharger commitment experience. You're are not good at timelines and delivery promises. Please continue to do things as you are, that is, announce it when it is done. Oops, that worked for the all wheel drive but probably does not apply to the autopilot features which, as far as I can tell, is pie off in the distant sky.

 

[NOLA_Mike]

Tesla,

You're a bunch of engineers running a company. There are some good things about that but please do not fall into the trap of telling people what and when you are going to deliver the next XYZ. Remember your supercharger commitment experience. You're are not good at timelines and delivery promises. Please continue to do things as you are, that is, announce it when it is done. Oops, that worked for the all wheel drive but probably does not apply to the autopilot features which, as far as I can tell, is pie off in the distant sky.

LOL I'm imagining a whole gaggle of Tesla engineers huddled together cringing as Elon was talking about all these "features"...

Mike

 

[PlanB]

Clearly you don't understand. Your assumptions on the intent, logistics, and prejudiced surrounding the time line from purchase to delivery are superfluous at best. You offer no contribution to this discussion thread topic, and your comments seem based purely on your own indisposition about your situation. Unless of course living in SC you have an inside understanding of the manufacturing process of tesla's here in California?? I didn't think so.

I agree with you and your original post X1000. This is not a simple upgrade it is a whole different car.

 

[CarlK]

What they do is up to them but if they know their target demographic they should do everything to make this right as I'm sure most of us will be purchasing multiple tesla's as we believe in the company and for me am heavily investing in the stock as well.

Is that a threat? Yes it is a threat. Let us know if it works because I'd like to make similar threat to Tesla too.

 

[breser]

Is that a threat? Yes it is a threat. Let us know if it works because I'd like to make similar threat to Tesla too.

I'd say that point especially applies to the 4 Tesla household guy who took deliveries of 2 vehicles in the same week, one with and one without the sensors.

 

[gene]

I just went on the Tesla site to build the car that I would now want 18 months and 30k miles after receiving my S. I'd build it the very same as I did originally. I actually hate the way the sensors look, they totally stand out and ruin the smooth and sleek looks of the car, I'd rather keep the full frunk and simplicity of the 2wd system (0 to 60 in 5 seconds is already damn fast). I'd much rather drive the car myself than be forever watching that the auto drive is not making an error.

I pray that when I ever need another Model S, I can still get it without those ugly sensors on the bumpers!

 

[MoeMistry]

^^^ This.

I paid far more than any fully-optioned Model S for my Roadster Sport ... and it has been completely eclipsed by better charging technology, better batteries, better interior, roomier, faster, better tech, blah blah blah. I could always wait for the next best thing, and I'd still be waiting. Instead, I've been driving a Tesla. That's 3.5 years of fun that the latest technology can't give me, no matter how cool it is.

And I KNOW that once I take delivery of my Model X, it will quickly be surpassed by cooler and newer features on the next Model X to be shipped ... but I will still be driving the Model X I paid for. And I'll have had a lot more fun in the meantime than those waiting around for the next cool new feature. I'm not going to spend my life worrying about what other people received that I may or may not have received - as long as I received what I paid for. That just seems like a not fun way to spend my life.

Well-said Bonnie. As many have mentioned, if you love the car, this won't be the first one. Drive what you have now, enjoy it, wait a little longer until the next generation comes that has the bells and whistles you cannot live without.

 

[TexasEV]

If the OP really wanted autopilot, he could have waited to buy the car until that feature was announced. Same with AWD. He bought a car without autopilot or AWD and now is unhappy about it. How much he paid for it is irrelevant-- the car he ordered was worth that price to him when he ordered it and will perform just as well as he expected. I can understand the disappointment but I don't get the anger or the expectation that Tesla give him something different than what he ordered.

 

[DriverOne]

While not an identical situation, perhaps Apple's handling of the original iPhone price cut shows a way forward. "Steve Jobs apologized and offered $100 credits ... to customers who shelled out $599 for the ... iPhone this summer, only to have the company unexpectedly slash the price $200"

Jobs added that "the technology road is bumpy," and there will always be people who pay top dollar for the latest electronics but get angry later when the price drops.
"This is life in the technology lane," Jobs said.

Apple responds to backlash, offers store credit - Technology & science - Wireless | NBC News

 

[AmpedRealtor]

I read a suggestion somewhere that seemed a nice solution: Schedule hardware upgrade announcements every 4 months. (Feb, June, Oct)

Or, as a Tesla customer, don't order the vehicle prior to a major announcement. Wouldn't that be much simpler?

 

[MassModel3]

Or, as a Tesla customer, don't order the vehicle prior to a major announcement. Wouldn't that be much simpler?

But since these major announcements don't come on a timetable, it sounds like you're saying that buyers should wait an indeterminate amount of time until there is a major announcement, then order their car afterwards. Well, that's sure one way to be assured of the latest tech, but it's not very realistic -- people get excited about the purchase and have to have it NOW.

 

[JohnQ]

But since these major announcements don't come on a timetable, it sounds like you're saying that buyers should wait an indeterminate amount of time until there is a major announcement, then order their car afterwards. Well, that's sure one way to be assured of the latest tech, but it's not very realistic -- people get excited about the purchase and have to have it NOW.

I'm not sure how that's incompatible with AmpedRealtor's point. Either have the patience to wait for the next announcement--as you said, whenever that might be--or make your purchase and take the risk. All that is under my control. I take my pick and live with the consequences.

 

[Hawaii J]

Jobs added that "the technology road is bumpy," and there will always be people who pay top dollar for the latest electronics but get angry later when the price drops.
"This is life in the technology lane," Jobs said.[/url]

Well stated. I think this especially applies to Tesla. As long as Elon is leading development I think it's safe to assume a steep technology development curve. Look what the company has done in a short time. Just with performance, they have accomplished more than most manufacturers, whom by the way have been trying to accomplish for decades. Many of which have huge budgets, decades of shared advancements, racing development teams to help enhance aerodynamics, engine output, braking efficiency, yadda yadda. The future is bright and I'm excited to see what happens even if it means my Tesla will be eclipsed within months. At some point you need to pull the trigger unless you just dream of having a Tesla versus having a Tesla.

 

[pzz]

I just got mine on 9-30 and I'm OK about it. I got all the new tech sensors (f yeah!). The car is a complete blast and a beauty to boot. Normally I'm the kind of guy who thinks "dammit, already obsolete'. But I just don't feel that with my "Miss" (she is a lady, of course. A nasty one at that!). I love the RWD and while the 3.2 is unbelievably alluring, the reported 3.8 for the SW upgrade to 6.xx for the P85+RWD (is that what we call her now?) is still completely shocking and actually very useful!

Of course you are OK, only people who missed the sensors by few days are complaining (including myself). I have not seen one comment from a new owner that missed the new sensors by few days and is ok with it. It is very easy for some of you to say that you got what you paid for when you are not impacted.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes it sucks that many of us didn't get the autopilot sensors. My car seems to be one of the last ones off the line without them, and that sucks. A lot of us who took delivery in the past month would have ordered the P85D had we known it was coming. We didn't know, and that sucks.

But Tesla did nothing wrong. They had to announce new features at some point. We just happened to be the ones who barely missed the boat. We still got what we ordered, and we got what we paid for. We have the right to be sad and disappointed, but we shouldn't be angry at Tesla.

Some other guy got MORE than he ordered, and he got it for free. I'm excited for him. His bonus doesn't hurt me at all.

If you want a warning that in three months you'll be able to get a P85D, this is it. Buy one in three months. If you wanted the same warning a month ago, well, a guy named Steve wanted that warning TWO months ago, and a nice old lady named Barbara wanted that warning THREE months ago. If Tesla had announced the D a month ago, Steve and Barbara would be the ones bitching instead of you. Would that seem more fair to you?

In short, I'm sad I missed out on the autopilot sensors by mere hours. I'm sad I didn't know the D would be available so soon. But I've learned I need to quit being so concerned with what other people have and just be happy with what I have. I love my Model S, even though it's not quite as good as the newest ones.

Another point: your brand new Tesla now deprciated faster because it doesn't have the new features. Nobody is saying that Tesla did something wrong. They can easily offer something to people who got their cars 30 days prior to an update. Obviously Tesla made more money form my purchase since it sold me a car with less features: why not give me something back or offer me better trade-in for the new model. This is what I would expect from a company that wants to revolutionize the auto industry. In general, this is a good customer service.

 

[MassModel3]

Obviously Tesla made more money form my purchase since it sold me a car with less features: why not give me something back or offer me better trade-in for the new model. This is what I would expect from a company that wants to revolutionize the auto industry. In general, this is a good customer service.

You make a valid point, and that sounds like a perfect reasonable request from a customer perspective, but it's not how car companies do business. What you have to keep in mind is that even though Tesla and Elon Musk are revolutionizing the automotive industry, and even though Tesla owners are, for lack of a better word, spoiled by amazing customer service beyond that of any other car company, in the end, Tesla is still just another car company. Yes, they want to revolutionize the world, but they can't do that by giving away their profits.

Would it be nice if they reduced the mileage and time deductions when they calculate trade-ins for owners close to announcements? Absolutely. But there has to be a cut-off for how far back those calculations go, and no matter what, someone will always complain that they just missed it.

 

[enodog]

Okay, I have read every post in this thread. I am affected by this issue, and I am a little disappointed, so I think I can bring some honesty and insight into this thread. I ordered my car on September 6 and I was supposed to get it in late November. I was happy to see that there were several mid-year changes that I benefitted from. The black headliner with the padding on the dash is very nice, and was recently "enabled" for ordering. I later found out that I got the recently redesigned turn signal/cruise control/wiper controls. This is good since the car I drove on the test drive had the old design and I was constantly flicking the wrong stick. In any event a few days after ordering the car, I noticed that the website said that customers that bought the P version of the car might get preferential delivery treatment, so I called my sales advisor and asked about a faster delivery. 72 hours later my status changed from end of November to end of September. I was THRILLED and THANKFUL. It turns out that the benefit of buying the enhanced P version of the car which is supposed to be rewarded with a faster delivery, turned out to be a very bad benefit. I had no way of knowing and neither did my owner advisor. I will start by saying that I love the car. I work in technology (semiconductors) and love all manner of gadgets and options. I ordered my car with just about every option (Performance version, nice pearl white metallic paint, upgraded turbine 19" rims, enhanced lighting, sound system upgrade, cold weather package, pano-roof, and of course the mandatory technology package). I would LOVE to have the auto-drive options, even though I might not use them that much. For one thing I would play with them as they are very cool and I would love to see the technology evolve, secondly there will be constant software upgrades that will always focus on these features and I will miss out on all of that fun. I will also miss out on testing the upgrades and options and providing feedback (I like to beta test things and I always provide owner feedback). That bums me out. I missed the upgrades by 1 day!! I called my sales advisor and told him that I loved my new car and that I was honestly not interested in the D version at this time. I just do not want air suspension and 21" rims (that is why I did not order the P85+ and simply got the P85). I was told to list my car on Craig's list and Ebay as there may be folks that want a car ASAP and do not want to wait and will pay me the ~$117k I have into the car. I have already installed a killer JL audio amp and subwoofer as well as an Escort 9500CI with laser shifters (about $4500 in upgrades) along with some nice 35% tinting for the sides and back window. The install is SUPER clean and very stealthy. For his part my sales advisor said he would check to see what he might be able to do about a trade-in. I only have 350 miles on the car. I have stewed on this for several days and have come to the conclusion that anyone who is bummed out like me has the right to be disappointed. I don't think a petition is warranted simply because I have faith that Tesla, in general, is trying to do the right thing. Much much more than any regular car company (no comparison). I think that the D option represents a major model change and therefore there should not be much complaining from anyone who wished they had ordered the "D". Perhaps a slight rebate from Tesla on the order of $5k for P85+ owners that were within 60 days, but that is just an over the top nice thing to do and is in no way something I would expect if I were a P85+ owner. Where I think that Tesla may have dropped the ball is that these features represent an important part of the future of driving and is a lot more important than a second motor or more horsepower. I, and I suppose many others, bought their Tesla because they like technology and want to be part of the next generation of cars. Pilotless driving is one of those technologies. Tesla should absolutely have an upgrade path for all owners of the S model. The option should be offered with as little profit markup as possible. For older owners (like 2012 and early 2013) they might have to pay most of the cost of a $5k to $10k upgrade, for people like me maybe I might only pay 10% or 20% of the cost to upgrade. The bottom line is that I would not expect to have a way to get the latest thing that makes the car faster or handle better, but an upgrade like all of these sensors is a MAJOR enhancement. I just want a way to participate in a type of technology that is exceedingly important. I think I could create some analogies like, if Tesla just came out with a slight battery compartment change on newer cars that would allow new owners to immediately start performing battery swaps at newly disclosed batter swap locations, I would not be happy if there was not an affordable way for me to enjoy such a major change to the car that I missed by a matter of days. yes I am willing to pay something for my bad timing, but I still want to be able to "play". In the end if I get nothing, I can live with it and I would not begrudge the Tesla company or other luckier owners.

 

[enodog]

I had a very poor sentence structure on an important point and wanted to restate it. Unfortunately, I cannot edit my post! What I mean to say was:

...Where I think that Tesla may have dropped the ball is that these AUTOPILOT features represent an important part of the future of driving and is potentially much more important than AWD or more horsepower. I, and I suppose many others, bought their Tesla because they like technology and want to be part of the next generation of cars. Pilotless driving is one of those technologies. Tesla should try and have an upgrade path for all owners of the S model....[/QUOTE]

 

[CarlK]

I had a very poor sentence structure on an important point and wanted to restate it. Unfortunately, I cannot edit my post! What I mean to say was:

...Where I think that Tesla may have dropped the ball is that these AUTOPILOT features represent an important part of the future of driving and is potentially much more important than AWD or more horsepower. I, and I suppose many others, bought their Tesla because they like technology and want to be part of the next generation of cars. Pilotless driving is one of those technologies. Tesla should try and have an upgrade path for all owners of the S model....

[/QUOTE]

Answer for you is the same as answer to similar question concerning PC or iPhone. You probably have already guessed what the answer is. Nothing will stay the latest and greatest forever, or for that matter for a short period of time. That's why technology is great.