JeffK
Well-Known Member
No, not for test drives at all... just for "sitting in". A display model that doesn't have to be totally functional.
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3s-a-charm
Active Member
Buy it, try it, and if you don't like it sell it. Probably one car that won't depreciate a penny in the first 12 months (at the beginning of production). That's my plan - although I'm pretty sure I'll love it.
Garlan Garner
Banned
Yep, I totally agree.
In business though....money shortens time. Tesla has a lot of it or at least access to it. I wonder why the Tesla time is still so stretched out.
Not all business. There are some projects that you simply can't throw money and/or people at. Long lead time manufacturing equipment is a key example. Construction is another. It's especially true when you are building a lower cost product, and are margin sensitive.
jgillispie
Member
I think there will be some early showroom models, perhaps not for test drive though. A major difference between the 3 release vs the S/X is how fast Tesla will be building them. Sending out 100 showroom models wouldn't be as big of deal compared to the other cars.
Garlan Garner
Banned
I agree that there are "some" projects like growing plants and or organic type projects that cant be impacted financially , however this isn't one of those. Manufacturing is one that you can throw money at and/or place competitive compensation against 2 companies.
This is indeed a project that will/can have money thrown at it to lessen the timeline.
Garlan Garner
Banned
I wish there was some kind of way to find out Tesla's priority/urgency in getting the M3 produced.
So far in the past year...there was one reservation date....and then one reveal date. Other than that....just a lot of hearsay. I wonder how many people will have birthed 2 children from the reservation date to the time they receive their car - even if they reserved on 3.31.16.
Oh yeah...I almost forgot. Tesla sent out a framed sketch to everybody.
A M3 in a store might happen....then again .... it might not.
So far in the past year...there was one reservation date....and then one reveal date. Other than that....just a lot of hearsay. I wonder how many people will have birthed 2 children from the reservation date to the time they receive their car - even if they reserved on 3.31.16.
Oh yeah...I almost forgot. Tesla sent out a framed sketch to everybody.
A M3 in a store might happen....then again .... it might not.
Red Sage
The Cybernetic Samurai
Happy New Year!
If you figure 200 cars, one for the showroom, one for test drives, for use at each of roughly 100 current Tesla Stores/Galleries in the U.S.... And consider that to reach even a 300,000 unit per year manufacturing rate that comes to 6,000 cars built per week... Then those 200 cars would represent only ~3.33% of a week's Production. That is unlikely to have a significant adverse effect on Delivery dates for the potentially 160,000-to-240,000 Reservations that may currently be in place for U.S. Customers. But their existence would do a lot for morale for Tesla employees nationwide, and would lift the spirits of Tesla fans all over. Further, it would relieve anxiety for those who might be susceptible to claims of vaporware alleged by [SINKING ANCHOR] or FAUX News outlets. If there were also traveling test drive events, where as many as 12-to-16 cars were on hand at a time as a sort of Tesla Festival to introduce people to the Model ☰ it would awesome marketing and promotion as well.
If you figure 200 cars, one for the showroom, one for test drives, for use at each of roughly 100 current Tesla Stores/Galleries in the U.S.... And consider that to reach even a 300,000 unit per year manufacturing rate that comes to 6,000 cars built per week... Then those 200 cars would represent only ~3.33% of a week's Production. That is unlikely to have a significant adverse effect on Delivery dates for the potentially 160,000-to-240,000 Reservations that may currently be in place for U.S. Customers. But their existence would do a lot for morale for Tesla employees nationwide, and would lift the spirits of Tesla fans all over. Further, it would relieve anxiety for those who might be susceptible to claims of vaporware alleged by [SINKING ANCHOR] or FAUX News outlets. If there were also traveling test drive events, where as many as 12-to-16 cars were on hand at a time as a sort of Tesla Festival to introduce people to the Model ☰ it would awesome marketing and promotion as well.
skitch23
Member
If they were to send cars to the showrooms, I hope they'd be smart enough to send more than two... I'd like to see three (no pun intended). One for the showroom floor and two for test drives. One of the test drive cars would be fully optioned and one would be minimally optioned. That way you can compare two different sound systems, air suspension vs no air suspension, the acceleration between two different battery packs, see a few different exterior colors and interior options (vegan, leather) etc. The differences between the two cars would be substantial and not everyone can afford a maxed out 3.
Chopr147
Active Member
Personally I had no plans on buying the Model S and was willing to wait for the Model ☰. Then I took a test drive in the S and 3 days later ordered one 
And it took 3 days because I had to sell it to my wife
Now the volume on a Model ☰ will be much more and test drives for all, I think, is too much for a car that Tesla has already sold! For the first 2 years anyway. I'm sure they will do some test drive "festivals" , events etc......but that is more for publicity. I still have my ☰ reservation but I won't be ready for it now until 2019 so I will delay mine. When the Tesla store has one in stock i will be headed down to check it out. Sit in it etc....... But if they want to give me a test drive I will not refuse
And it took 3 days because I had to sell it to my wife Now the volume on a Model ☰ will be much more and test drives for all, I think, is too much for a car that Tesla has already sold! For the first 2 years anyway. I'm sure they will do some test drive "festivals" , events etc......but that is more for publicity. I still have my ☰ reservation but I won't be ready for it now until 2019 so I will delay mine. When the Tesla store has one in stock i will be headed down to check it out. Sit in it etc....... But if they want to give me a test drive I will not refuse
Red Sage
The Cybernetic Samurai
I was speaking in terms of a bare minimum of two per Tesla Store location at shopping malls, in order to emphasize that relative to Production rate, it would not be a problem at all. Certainly for locations that feature a Showroom and Service Center in a converted traditional dealership lot, they could find room for at least six cars. And sure, plenty of Staff to help as people came by for test drives. Also, some of them might be used as loaners for cars that needed to stay overnight.
@erthquake is correct, there will be very few complete cars built from those parts. And, even the cars that are built will not be the test drive vehicles, these'll be the beta prototypes, one step removed from the final, finished product that will come of the line.
N5329K
Active Member
Garlan:
Dive into the nearest (heated) pool. Take a deep breath, then put your head underwater and stay there as long as you can. Start counting. 30 seconds? A minute?
I believe Tesla's "urgency" in getting the Model 3 into production is not too different from the urgency you would feel to come up for air.
Robin
dhanson865
Well-Known Member
As to Model X you are a little off on saying they didn't do it. Sure the first ones came out without a show room option but people that wanted the lower capacity battery pack non P with 6 or 5 seats were so far back in the build queue that they got to see a Model X before confirming their build if they wanted to.
Take that to the next level with Model 3 and hundreds of thousands of reservations instead of tens of thousands and so long as you aren't a SpaceX, Tesla, Solarcity employee or don't live in California you have a decent chance of seeing a Model 3 in a store before you get to finalize your build.
On top of that if you don't choose the P/largest battery config you'll probably be behind 100,000 or so cars pushing you back further, giving you more time to find a demo car.
dhanson865
Well-Known Member
1. this stops them from having to use gas rentals from enterprise or whoever when they sold all the S/X at end of quarter.
2. this is cheaper to replenish the inventory/demo fleet. Let S/X be special order / CPO only and let Model 3 be the bulk of the service fleet.
Certainly consistent with what local BMW and Mercedes shops do for service loaners ... almost exclusively they loan out 3s/Cs even if you're having your M5 serviced.
Garlan Garner
Banned
3s-a-charm
Active Member
He's saying they are doing as much as they can. I had to read that like 5 times before I got it.
N5329K
Active Member
IOW, you need to come up to breathe. Tesla needs to build the Model 3. It's a life or death evolution in both cases.
So, very urgent.
Robin
