Heated steering wheel. Am I going to get my hands on one?

[NielsChr]

Hey you dont nede a heated Sterling wheel. Your model S Will have autopilot, I asume we are then able to drive With no hands on the wheel....

 

[gpetti]

I get that this will be an ongoing problem given Tesla's constant innovation and I've already experience some of this with my first car which I absorbed without complaint here or elsewhere. (somewhat easier for me as it didn't happen for a month or two). That being said, I don't see this situation as the same for the following reasons:
- Several of us are buying our second cars. We have consciously decided to take a financial bath to get the newest, latest and greatest version of the Tesla,i.e. the P85D. My expectation is that I will receive the most up-to-date version of Tesla available. I'm not buying mid-stream I'm buying the latest new model along with the quality risk that entails. I know that at some point something new will come out and my latest and greatest will not be cutting edge anymore. I just expected to have at least sat in the car before that happened.
- I believe that heated steering wheel was an option that was always supposed to be part of the Ds, particularly the P85D (although not officially announced) given the timing of its availability. If Tesla knew that they were about to start deploying heated steering at or about the exact same time they were starting to build their top of the line vehicle - surely given a choice all of the P85Ds would have that. I'm guessing that not all the parts were available in time for the first builds and they didn't want to hold them up. If that was the case - I agree with AndyW2100 that they could have prioritized non-Cold Weather package cars and or asked the buyers if they were prepared to take a 2 week slip. I also feel that at the very least, any wiring harnesses etc. could have been included even if hardware components were not available - thus making it easier to retrofit.
- My car has been in the factory for about 20 days now (well past the arrival of the parts and the build of cars which will have the feature). People who will get this feature may get their cars before I do. In previous scenarios, the owners at least got their cars earlier than more advanced cars.
- I understand that they can't retrofit every option for every car; however, there is a difference between allowing the few Ds who got built before the parts were available to be retrofitted, and retrofitting every single existing car. For that matter unless it it technically impossible, or excessively complex they could allow buyers to pay for this as an upgrade. Unless this is a technical impossibility - their no-retrofit policy should not apply here. There is already enough brewing annoyance without courting more through a blanket policy that was designed to avoid fleet wide changes.

 

[andrewket]

I get that this will be an ongoing problem given Tesla's constant innovation and I've already experience some of this with my first car which I absorbed without complaint here or elsewhere. (somewhat easier for me as it didn't happen for a month or two). That being said, I don't see this situation as the same for the following reasons:
- Several of us are buying our second cars. We have consciously decided to take a financial bath to get the newest, latest and greatest version of the Tesla,i.e. the P85D. My expectation is that I will receive the most up-to-date version of Tesla available. I'm not buying mid-stream I'm buying the latest new model along with the quality risk that entails. I know that at some point something new will come out and my latest and greatest will not be cutting edge anymore. I just expected to have at least sat in the car before that happened.
- I believe that heated steering wheel was an option that was always supposed to be part of the Ds, particularly the P85D (although not officially announced) given the timing of its availability. If Tesla knew that they were about to start deploying heated steering at or about the exact same time they were starting to build their top of the line vehicle - surely given a choice all of the P85Ds would have that. I'm guessing that not all the parts were available in time for the first builds and they didn't want to hold them up. If that was the case - I agree with AndyW2100 that they could have prioritized non-Cold Weather package cars and or asked the buyers if they were prepared to take a 2 week slip. I also feel that at the very least, any wiring harnesses etc. could have been included even if hardware components were not available - thus making it easier to retrofit.
- My car has been in the factory for about 20 days now (well past the arrival of the parts and the build of cars which will have the feature). People who will get this feature may get their cars before I do. In previous scenarios, the owners at least got their cars earlier than more advanced cars.
- I understand that they can't retrofit every option for every car; however, there is a difference between allowing the few Ds who got built before the parts were available to be retrofitted, and retrofitting every single existing car. For that matter unless it it technically impossible, or excessively complex they could allow buyers to pay for this as an upgrade. Unless this is a technical impossibility - their no-retrofit policy should not apply here. There is already enough brewing annoyance without courting more through a blanket policy that was designed to avoid fleet wide changes.

I agree completely with this. Stated exceptionally well.

 

[NigelM]

.....my DS havent even bothered answering my email about this....

I've read comments like this on several threads lately (and it wouldn't be fair for me to single anyone out which is why I removed the name of the author of this quote) but we should perhaps have a little sympathy for the Delivery Specialists right now. The DS isn't responsible for corporate decisions and not only are they always busy, and right now dealing with the usual end of year demand, it's a pretty good bet that they've been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from customers wanting to know where their car is, what the delay is, when a delivery date will be, can they take into account vacation plans, do they know about the heated steering wheel, do they know about the "surprise", which cars will get the steering wheel, what's the situation with the seats etc.etc.etc.

It's quite possible that there's a Delivery Specialist here or there hiding from angry customers and not doing an ideal job, but could the majority have the benefit of the doubt and we'll just take it that they're all trying their best? I know personally a few DSs and the last two years they worked their butts off all through the holidays and I do recall stories of deliveries on Christmas Day and New Years Eve and [insert your favorite holiday here] and I'm pretty certain it's going to happen again this year, that's how dedicated they are.

Yep, Tesla does fantastic things, and sometimes they really tick us off with lack of communication or missed deadlines, but the poor Delivery Specialist is out there on the sharp end and trying to make us customers happy. When customers take delivery and there's two cars parked with one having X feature and the other not, it's the DS who's going to have to deal with that (perhaps justifiably) unhappy person.

By all means bug Tesla when you feel let down, but let's not assume the DS "hasn't bothered"; overall, they're a great bunch of people doing a really good, solid, job.

Full disclosure: I don't have a car on order, I received no inducements to write this post and it was completely my own idea.

 

[dsm363]

Well said Nigel. They work extremely hard and get the brunt of all the complaints.

 

[mspohr]

Hey guys! Relax... I found your solution:
Amazon.com: Heated Steering Wheel Cover: Automotive

 

[EnglishGuy]

Funny

Hey guys! Relax... I found your solution:
Amazon.com: Heated Steering Wheel Cover: Automotive

+1 I laughed very hard at this. As if an owner would want a 12v cable across her lap. Very funny.

 

[darthy001]

@NigelM hehehehe, I stand by my words so dont be afraid to include my username. The word "bother" was more related to getting no response whatsoever. I completely understand that the DS might not have the info or arent allowed to share it.

BUT I do think a "Please let me check" or even simpler "I dont have that information at the moment" etc etc would be in order.

Personally I have adapted one of the google-founders strategy of how to handle an email-queue, and find no response at all for several days a bit annoying.

Not losing any sleep over it. Same as for not potentially getting a heated wheel. It will make some of the joy go away though, and thats a pity. That Tesla does this for the new flagship-car so shortly after all the noise created by the sensor roll-out is indeed suprising to me. They now end up only annoying those who were the very first in line...

As gpetti putnit very elegantly I was expecting changes in a few months. But not before the car has even gone into production... Especially if people who ordered days/weeks after me end up getting the new gadget shipped on the same boat as mine...

btw, still no response from the ds in 3 business days.

 

[mrElbe]

Hey guys! Relax... I found your solution:
Amazon.com: Heated Steering Wheel Cover: Automotive

This is hilarious. Can you imagine the cord winding itself around the steering column during turns and then hanging loose between your knees when going straight.

 

[p1sl]

Moderator-
We need a thread, no, a forum category for "I can't believe Tesla came out with a new feature after I ordered/received my car, and I feel angry/betrayed that someone else has a shinier toy than me at the same time/price (and I can't retrofit!), even though I got EXACTLY what I ordered and would be happy as a clam if they didn't continue to improve the car..."
Separate threads for:
parking sensors
subzero package
folding rearview mirrors
"B" batteries (then C,D,E, etc..)
free parcel shelf!
autopilot hardware
heated steering wheels!

Someplace where the victims of these gross injustices can heal...

 

[Andyw2100]

Moderator-
We need a thread, no, a forum category for "I can't believe Tesla came out with a new feature after I ordered/received my car, and I feel angry/betrayed that someone else has a shinier toy than me at the same time/price (and I can't retrofit!), even though I got EXACTLY what I ordered and would be happy as a clam if they didn't continue to improve the car..."
Separate threads for:
parking sensors
subzero package
folding rearview mirrors
"B" batteries (then C,D,E, etc..)
free parcel shelf!
autopilot hardware
heated steering wheels!

Someplace where the victims of these gross injustices can heal...

Yeah, that's exactly what those of us pointing out what Tesla could have done better and why we're somewhat unhappy about how they handled this particular situation are doing. You hit the nail right on the head. That's one heck of a second post. Glad you waited to make that one worthwhile.

 

[breser]

Moderator-
We need a thread, no, a forum category for "I can't believe other Tesla owners are complaining about this..."
Separate threads for complaining about complaining about:
New features being added.
Repair costs
Service Plan not covering new hardware.
Tesla behavior towards salvage vehicle.
Battery degradation.
Trade-in values.

Someplace where the victims that just can't resist clicking on a thread where people disagree with them can heal...


Seriously, just because you don't agree with other people doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to post.

 

[toto_48313]

Hey you dont nede a heated Sterling wheel. Your model S Will have autopilot, I asume we are then able to drive With no hands on the wheel....

+1 !!

 

[bonnie]

Seriously, just because you don't agree with other people doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to post.

It goes both ways. People are also free to say they disagree with the poster.

 

[breser]

It goes both ways. People are also free to say they disagree with the poster.

Certainly, but asking for a place for people to post about this stuff isn't disagreeing, it's telling people to go away.

 

[gpetti]

Well I may vote with my feet - sort of. I'm going to look into whether I can essentially cancel and re-order; however, I'm not sure if I can avoid losing the deposit or not. This might seem extreme but essentially I would be trading my excitement in getting a car now versus in a month or two and while I am REALLY looking forward to getting a P85D its not like I haven't already owned a Tesla and to be honest I'm still sitting in the production queue with no date in sight and no information while it appears that others (even with the new feature) are starting to see deliveries. On the other hand, small though the heated wheel feature is, I am planning on keeping this car for a few years and I will get plenty of use out of the feature over time along with any minor improvement in re-sale value. A car in February is likely to be more stable than my car now and will be a 2015 - and who knows what else will come out by then I was really eager to get one of these cars ASAP but the longer I have to wait the more I'm tempering my expectations - and learning a bit of patience.
If this sounds like I'm trying to justify it to myself - it is. I've asked my DS to at least confirm the situation 100% before I take any action. Either way I'll be watching the deliveries with great interest.

 

[jpet]

Gpetti, you should be able to delay delivery. Not sure if that in all cases also results in a delay in building the car but since Tesla is production constraint I assume it is. Have it confirmed by your DS (or even better, by your sales because they do not have the same authorizations to do stuff in the system). Note that I just received my VIN during the night and it is a 2014 VIN although delivery is expected in March 2015. You might want to choose early Q2...

Well I may vote with my feet - sort of. I'm going to look into whether I can essentially cancel and re-order; however, I'm not sure if I can avoid losing the deposit or not. This might seem extreme but essentially I would be trading my excitement in getting a car now versus in a month or two and while I am REALLY looking forward to getting a P85D its not like I haven't already owned a Tesla and to be honest I'm still sitting in the production queue with no date in sight and no information while it appears that others (even with the new feature) are starting to see deliveries. On the other hand, small though the heated wheel feature is, I am planning on keeping this car for a few years and I will get plenty of use out of the feature over time along with any minor improvement in re-sale value. A car in February is likely to be more stable than my car now and will be a 2015 - and who knows what else will come out by then I was really eager to get one of these cars ASAP but the longer I have to wait the more I'm tempering my expectations - and learning a bit of patience.
If this sounds like I'm trying to justify it to myself - it is. I've asked my DS to at least confirm the situation 100% before I take any action. Either way I'll be watching the deliveries with great interest.

 

[andrewket]

Gpetti, you should be able to delay delivery. Not sure if that in all cases also results in a delay in building the car but since Tesla is production constraint I assume it is. Have it confirmed by your DS (or even better, by your sales because they do not have the same authorizations to do stuff in the system). Note that I just received my VIN during the night and it is a 2014 VIN although delivery is expected in March 2015. You might want to choose early Q2...

In one of the other threads people are reporting their VINs are changing from 2014 to 2015. Same suffix.

 

[jpet]

In one of the other threads people are reporting their VINs are changing from 2014 to 2015. Same suffix.

Indeed, I expect mine to change as well. Interesting to see they (Tesla) are able to do this. TMC is great at tracking these types of things.

 

[darthy001]

Yes my VIN changed to a 2015-one. So hoping that gives me increased odds of getting this unholy heated steering wheel. Have to admit I don't really need it, and after some consideration I will clearly not delay my order to get it.

BUT it is still a bit annoying if I end up not getting it.. I might have to apply for a job in Teslas "Not so great at timing new features and communicating it to customers"-department Then I could move to California where the need for a heated steering wheel most likely is very limited in the first place:biggrin: