So I went to pick it up yesterday.
Final Invoice arrived at 17:31 two days before, emailed from Salesman, nothing on My Tesla, so Salesman was clearly working around the system.
Bank transferred the money day before collection, no obvious indication that it was received, I was out that day so no ability to check with them myself.
Collection day: sent an email to the Delivery Specialist saying I was on my way and to call mobile if any problem. No call, no reply to email, but I suppose that doesn't matter.
Arrive at 10:50 for my "
I'll arrive 10:30 to 11:00". Can't find me on the list. When they do its "
Oh, you are the 9AM pickup" ... ermmm ... no ... I have confirmation from both Salesman and Delivery Specialist that 10:30 - 11:00 was fine.
"
OK, there's a presentation starting at 11:00, but I suppose you won't need that as an existing owner" ...
... "
The trade in paperwork has changed and I don't have a print out for your trade in, but I'll sort that out"
by this time I was holding up the queue for the one check-in guy.
I wander into the lounge. No water in the coffee machine, and only a couple of cups left. Can't find anyone around so someone decides to use one of the cups to transfer water from the drinking fountain. Some guys with trade plates rock up "
Are you fetching for delivery then? Sounds like a good idea, you could have picked mine up instead of me flogging here. Sorry, there aren't any cups" ... of course he is a regular so heads off through the No Entry to where he knows the cups are. Happy Campers.
The Model-3 presentation isn't particularly relevant to a Model-S so I get my book out, and when they all wander over to get their cars I follow suit. The Starting Grid Marshal! looks at his laptop and scratches his head as to where my car is, turns out it is right there
I had dumped my trade in round the back, the place was heaving with cars. There was a parking area next to the handover warehouse in which I counted about 60 cars and other cars parked on the side street (all without plates), and 3 transporters parked in the access road. I've seen the warehouse more full, but given I got there mid-morning it might have been choker first thing. There were about 10 people in the 11:00 presentation, and then me and a couple of trade-plate blokes, probably a few others who skipped the presentation .... assuming they are doing one an hour might well be 100 cars a day, even though not end of quarter.
I reckon 90% of the Model-3's were white, including the ones outside in the waiting area
I had a wander around the car checking it, all seemed fine. Went and got my box of stuff from the old car, paperwork for trade in materialised. Would have been handy if they had sent me a reminder to bring both keys and the V5 ... those I had thought to take.
They never even looked at my trade in (maybe they would for a non-Tesla)
Car has:
New UMC Version 2. A bit different to the original in that the flying-leads plug directly into the "box", rather than have connectors on the lead itself. It looks like the plug is hardwired until you actually wrestle it free.
Very short Type-2 cable, CCS adaptor, 16-AMP Commando for UMC and Towing hook
When I got my first car, nearly 4 years ago, they whipped a sheet off in the main showroom and gave me the best part of an hour 1:1 talk through. Towards the end of that another person arrived for the only other car, covered in a sheet, parked in the showroom. I don't need any of that, per se, but at least the original car was fully charged.
My new Model-S:
31% charged (long way short of being enough for my circumstances ... surprised that they don't even prioritise that, at least, for Model-S/X buyers)
No covers for key fobs. Very short Type-2, no 32AMP Commando
A Model-3 presentation ... which is not entirely relevant.
"
Can I get a 32AMP Commando adaptor"
"
Sure, over at Stores"
I wander over to stores. "
Sorry we are out of stock, due in next week, we can send you one"
"
Great, can I give you a card?"
"
No, you need to email [email protected]"
What craziness. Must cost a fortune in Admin compared to just raising an order whilst I was there, or actually having an eCommerce site.
"
Will my CHAdeMO work, or do I need to get the firmware updated?"
"
Absolutely no idea, sorry. Best to take it over to the workshop". I figured to do that whilst charging.
So I set off. Two cars waiting for chargers. I checked Heathrow and it had 10-of-12 free, so I decided to head off there. Probably won't ever need the CHAdeMO again ...
Loads of free spaces at Hilton Heathrow car park, sign says to take keyfob to reception for 30 mins free parking. I wander over, receptionist: "
Are you ready to leave?"
"
No, just arrived, actually I was thinking of getting a quick bite to eat"
"
OK, then you have 4 hours free parking, just come back after your meal"
I wander into the light bites restaurant and have a nice meal.
Waiter: "
Are you driving a Tesla"
"
I must look like a Tesla driver?!!"
"
No sir! its just that you are non-resident and on your own. If you put your REG on the receipt I can give you a discount"
Blimey!
How does that work then? Hilton provide car park space to attract Tesla punters and THEN also give them a discount? I'm scratching my head ...
So off to Topaz Detailing. Last time I went the car park out front was full of customer cars - Zondas and the like, now its the staff car park so I didn't feel so poor! But they showed me around the workshop littered with Maclarens ... so Poor-after-all
I told them how pleased I had been with the previous PPF wrap. There wasn't a mark on the car when i handed it to Tesla (a bit pissed that I'd had it washed at the Supermarket [
one of only a handful of times during ownership ...] to make sure of no reduced valuation, given that they didn't even look at it!) Ho!Hum!
