Latest "Finalize your order" date

[Larry Chanin]

Mulder, I specifically asked about this, and haven't yet heard back from Tesla. Apparently, there are Delivery Experience Specialists who contact you around 30 days out from delivery to go over, among other things, financing and trade-ins. I'm very curious on trade-ins as well because I want to determine if I should trade it in, or sell it through CarMax (or privately), which will increase my tax bill a bit for the Model S, but if I can sell it more privately (or the trade-in doesn't count against my purchase price) then I'd rather just take care of it myself. Once I hear something, if Tesla is cool with it, I will share here.

If you review line 1.G. of your MVPA you'll see that the "Total Cash Price" upon which the sales tax is calculated is derived "Less Trade-In Allowance".

So what will happen is that about 30 days prior to delivery we will take our cars to Tesla's agent, probably AutoNation.com, who will provide the Trade-In Allowance. Then our current preliminary MVPA will be converted to the final document with the line 1.G. which was previously zero now containing the allowance.

Larry

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Now that there are more and more people getting the "Finalize your order" email, I'm reposting my earlier questions about the trade-in process. There gotta be someone amongst the people who have been asked to configure who wants to trade-in.

Or, if the "Finalize your order" process doesn't ask, how do you get a quote for your old vehicle? Anyone knows?

Erik, Arnold, check out my post here:

Trade In

 

[teslasguy]

Is there any indication whether the gray leather option will delay your delivery? I like both tan and gray well enough, so I wouldn't delay my delivery date to get gray rather than tan.

I was told by the config support rep when I called Tesla that selecting the grey should not slow down my delivery, which is showing as November.

 

[Arnold Panz]

Erik, Arnold, check out my post here:

Trade In

Thanks gg -- I remember when you originally wrote that and it definitely clarifies some issues, but it still leaves several questions unanswered. I told my rep that it's not a big hurry (I'm not sure they have answers to all of my questions yet anyway), as long as they have them in mind so a few weeks out from my delivery I am able to determine whether or not I'm going to trade it in or sell it privately.

 

[Larry Chanin]

Erik, Arnold, check out my post here:

Trade In

Good information. It seems that this is all done on-line. Do you know whether a human ever verifies the actual condition of car before the transaction is finalized?

Thanks.

Larry

 

[andystj]

Pretty sure I'm going with Blue Performance, either Grey or Tan leather, Grey wheels, upgraded sound, Pano, and Tech package.
Will skip rear facing seats, second charger, HPWC and rear shelf.
A 50 amp outlet in my garage should easily allow me to fully charge the car overnight and I usually only drive 40 miles or less a day.
For the few occasions I need longer range we have a second ICE car.
The HPWC is really cool, but as far as I can tell it's worthless without the twin charger option.

Very similar to my configuration as it currently stands. Blue Performance; Grey Interior; Carbon Accents; Tech Package. We will get rear seats (4 kids) and HPWC/Twin Chargers (X coming next year and plan to share the charger between the two). Fence sitting on roof. I haven't been to a showroom at all yet, so I'm waiting for the Dallas Amp'd tour to finalize choices.

Zoom Zoom! Oh no, wait...that's Mazda.
We need a cool motto for the 'silent sound' of 416hp and 443 lb ft torque of the new MSP!!
;-)

I am partial to "Cooler than ICE" as a motto.

Andy

 

[Kipernicus]

I am partial to "Cooler than ICE" as a motto.

Andy

I like that too. What's your res number, Andy?

 

[andystj]

I like that too.

The more I think about it the more I like "Cooler than ICE" (copyright 2012). I'm sticking a copyright on that turn of phrase as used in reference to disparaging Internal Combustion Engines. Tesla's marketing department can feel free to give me a buzz; A little free performance upgrade love would definitely get them an assignment of rights.

What's your res number, Andy.

P957

Andy

 

[teslasguy]

I am partial to "Cooler than ICE" as a motto.

Andy

Wow! +1 for "Cooler than ICE"!!
Thanks!

 

[Baltimore Tesla]

Is Backlog Dropping?

Just finalized my order yesterday. Signature Performance Pearl White with black interior and CF and 21" performance wheels. I was told that it looked like I could get a November delivery. I got #1299.
This surprised me as I placed my order May 30th and was told not only could I not order a Signature (since the 2012 production was "sold out"), but they guessed that I might get a delivery date in the spring of 2013. What do you make of the sudden improvement in my delivery? I don't think that production has increased but suspect that many who are contacted for the additional $35,000 are opting out.

 

[dsm363]

The more I think about it the more I like "Cooler than ICE" (copyright 2012). I'm sticking a copyright on that turn of phrase as used in reference to disparaging Internal Combustion Engines. Tesla's marketing department can feel free to give me a buzz; A little free performance upgrade love would definitely get them an assignment of rights.

Wasn't that a Vanilla Ice movie?:smile:

 

[Krugerrand]

Wasn't that a Vanilla Ice movie?:smile:

I now know how old you are. :wink:

 

[dsm363]

I now know how old you are. :wink:

Was not a fan of his so never saw it (honest). I do like the slogan though.

 

[Tommy]

Just finalized my order yesterday. Signature Performance Pearl White with black interior and CF and 21" performance wheels. I was told that it looked like I could get a November delivery. I got #1299.
This surprised me as I placed my order May 30th and was told not only could I not order a Signature (since the 2012 production was "sold out"), but they guessed that I might get a delivery date in the spring of 2013. What do you make of the sudden improvement in my delivery? I don't think that production has increased but suspect that many who are contacted for the additional $35,000 are opting out.

Tesla still has a large backlog of reservation holders. You were able to secure a Sig because a Sig reservation holder dropped their reservation. Several reasons why that occurred: Some of the Sigs upgraded to the X ; some because the GP's had more color choices, some deferred to GP to insure (to themselves) the quality was up to par; some were speculators; some got cold feet. There are at lot more reasons than I listed; it's a 100K+ purchase so one could say 100k reasons might have had an effect when it came time to pony up.

If one originally elected to get the sig, $40k had to be put up as a deposit. It's those on the wait list who want a Sig that are having to add an additional $35K. I don't see that as the reason why Sigs holders are opting out as they actually wanted "in" being on the list.

 

[Lyon]

Tesla still has a large backlog of reservation holders. You were able to secure a Sig because a Sig reservation holder dropped their reservation. Several reasons why that occurred: Some of the Sigs upgraded to the X ; some because the GP's had more color choices, some deferred to GP to insure (to themselves) the quality was up to par; some were speculators; some got cold feet. There are at lot more reasons than I listed; it's a 100K+ purchase so one could say 100k reasons might have had an effect when it came time to pony up.

If one originally elected to get the sig, $40k had to be put up as a deposit. It's those on the wait list who want a Sig that are having to add an additional $35K. I don't see that as the reason why Sigs holders are opting out as they actually wanted "in" being on the list.

I dropped my Signature reservation in order to have more color choice. I also told myself that I was allowed to get EITHER the Sig. or the Perf. but not both. Basically I'm waiting for a green performance version.

 

[CyberDutchie]

Erik, Arnold, check out my post here:

Trade In

Thanks GG, I read the whole thread.

I currently own one car that's fully payed off and lease another that has 2 years left on the lease. One has to go to make place for the Model S.

I requested an online quote from AutoTrader.com for the car that I own, but the offer was only half of Kelley's Bluebook trade-in value. I'll try AutoNationDirect next but I fear the offer will be equally disappointing. My other option is trying to get out of my lease early.

 

[unclfuzzy]

I requested an online quote from AutoTrader.com for the car that I own, but the offer was only half of Kelley's Bluebook trade-in value. I'll try AutoNationDirect next but I fear the offer will be equally disappointing. My other option is trying to get out of my lease early.

I've had great experience selling cars to CarMax. There's one in Modesto. Take your car in and they'll give you a quote in about a half an hour that's good for a week or 1000 miles.

 

[MarkR]

I got a quote from AutoNation as well as AutoTrader and they were nearly identical. The AutoNation online quote appeared to be based upon low KBB values, but they gave themselves plenty of wiggle room. Makes sense sell your old car privately if you've got the time and inclination.

 

[Arnold Panz]

I've had great experience selling cars to CarMax. There's one in Modesto. Take your car in and they'll give you a quote in about a half an hour that's good for a week or 1000 miles.

I highly recommend Car Max for anyone who lives near one. As noted above, they give you a no haggle quote after actually inspecting your car, and it's good for a week. I plan on going there once I'm on the cusp of delivery to see if their price beats the Tesla trade-in price plus tax benefit (assuming trade-in with Tesla offsets against the cost of the car in the MVPA). Last time I sold my car (over 6 years ago), they gave me a very fair price, but so did the dealership, and the tax benefit made it better to trade in, but I still think Car Max is a great place to go.

 

[jomo25]

I highly recommend Car Max for anyone who lives near one. As noted above, they give you a no haggle quote after actually inspecting your car, and it's good for a week. I plan on going there once I'm on the cusp of delivery to see if their price beats the Tesla trade-in price plus tax benefit (assuming trade-in with Tesla offsets against the cost of the car in the MVPA). Last time I sold my car (over 6 years ago), they gave me a very fair price, but so did the dealership, and the tax benefit made it better to trade in, but I still think Car Max is a great place to go.

I echo the CarMax recommendation. I've used them twice for selling cars. Their offers (for me) were relatively decent. Sure I could have gotten more if I sold them privately, but this was MUCH LESS hassle. The only things I'd say are:
1. Their quotes are good for 7 days. I suggest you only get a quote if you can actually execute within that time frame. My last one, I got a decent offer. But I couldn't sell them the car until the 9th day after, so I had to get it re-quoted. I drove the car 50 miles in those 9 days - basically the distance home and back to CarMax. The new quote was for $1000 less (on a $37000 quote). I felt like they docked it $1000 "just because". No other reason. They spoke of "changing market conditions, blah, blah, blah" but really there was no reason for it. The $37000 offer was very good. Lowering it to $36000 was still good, but I lost $1000 for essentially 50 miles driven.
2. Going this route negates the trade-in transaction. So, the tax benefits (in some states) of paying tax on only the difference in the vehicles cost, is lost here since the sale to them and the purchase from Tesla would be 2 separate transactions.

But otherwise, the experiences with CarMax have been positive. The quote process only takes about 20 min, once they start to look at your car. (You may have to wait in line for an appraiser to free up, so go on a weekday, non-peak time if you want to keep the time short.) And they dont press too hard on you to buying something from them, though they will try.