Weird factory delivery experience yesterday. As a TSLA shareholder, I hope it's not indicative of their common business practices.
I put $5k down like every other production holder.
As the time to deliver my car drew near, I financed $48k via Navy Federal Credit Union. It was an awesome, quick and painless process. Two minutes on the web, blank check arrives via US mail 2-3 days later. 1.99% for 72 months.
NFCU sent me a blank check and accompanying instruction sheet. In order to use this check, I needed to sign in two places and the dealer needs to call to "activate" it and get a four digit PIN to write on it. The check had a notation that it was good up to $48,xxx and needed car details such as the vin, mileage, year, mfg, etc.
When I received the check, I scanned it, and emailed it, in it's blank state, to my DS and told them that I'd be bringing this as well as my balance.
So I get my final paperwork and it shows two down payments, one for $5k and one for $48k. It shows a balance due of around $35k.
When I pick up the car, the only thing they ask for is the "balance due" of $35k !!!
I hand them the $35k check and ask "that's it?". I'm told that we can now go get my car.
I looked at the little angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, I consider taking delivery for a millisecond, and tell the DS "I think you want this too", showing him the loan check for $48k and explaining how I have to sign it, they have to activate it, etc.
I think I really could have driven away yesterday having paid less than $40k, including taxes, for my Model S! The only sticky issue would have been the lien registered to my credit union.
Waiting for my good Karma reward...
I put $5k down like every other production holder.
As the time to deliver my car drew near, I financed $48k via Navy Federal Credit Union. It was an awesome, quick and painless process. Two minutes on the web, blank check arrives via US mail 2-3 days later. 1.99% for 72 months.
NFCU sent me a blank check and accompanying instruction sheet. In order to use this check, I needed to sign in two places and the dealer needs to call to "activate" it and get a four digit PIN to write on it. The check had a notation that it was good up to $48,xxx and needed car details such as the vin, mileage, year, mfg, etc.
When I received the check, I scanned it, and emailed it, in it's blank state, to my DS and told them that I'd be bringing this as well as my balance.
So I get my final paperwork and it shows two down payments, one for $5k and one for $48k. It shows a balance due of around $35k.
When I pick up the car, the only thing they ask for is the "balance due" of $35k !!!
I hand them the $35k check and ask "that's it?". I'm told that we can now go get my car.
I looked at the little angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, I consider taking delivery for a millisecond, and tell the DS "I think you want this too", showing him the loan check for $48k and explaining how I have to sign it, they have to activate it, etc.
I think I really could have driven away yesterday having paid less than $40k, including taxes, for my Model S! The only sticky issue would have been the lien registered to my credit union.
Waiting for my good Karma reward...
Sorry if I bored you with the tale.
