Picked up my Plaid yesterday, and here's my initial impressions for those interested:
- Seeing the new nose up close and personal : very aggressive, very shark-like. I had a 2014 and 2016 S, both with the round-cap nose, and this is like a perma grin.
- The 21's and the arachnids are a very nice combo.
- The interior is a marked improvement in fit and finish. Tight. And that new Tesla smell, mmmmm. Glad I changed to wood.
- The sound system is awesome ( Try "Sunday Afternoon in the Park" by Van Halen @ volume 9 ). The car itself is startlingly quiet. Rolling down I-5 in King County in my M3P is borderline irritating. In the Plaid, it's almost _soothing_.
- The Yoke, after Omar's videos, was almost natural - except for the turn signals. Still getting used to those, but I expect that the whole "Getting to know you" phase will be quick.
- The UI is... busy. Not bad, but takes an extra second or two in the settings panel to find what I'm looking for. Again, not bad just different.
- The driver's display is smaller than the 2016, but all of the graphical real-estate is well used. Clear, clean.
- I only had a brief opportunity to put the pedal down, and wasn't disappointed. I'll have this car for a while ( and my Dragy has arrived ) and will have plenty of opportunity for further testing.
The delivery experience, however, was not exactly stellar.
When I bought the 2014 S: I was lifted into the delivery area on a sedan chair, fanned with palm fronds, fed grapes, gliding through clouds of sweet-smelling, illuminated fog. A harp played in the distance, accompanied by a trio of classically trained vocalists. Some advisors wept openly and freely, as though seeing color for the first time after a lifetime spent in the dark.
When I bought the 2016 S: Car was prepped in and delivered with a group of three others. Bow on the hood, printed card with our names and "Welcome to your new Model S!" sat nearby. Pleasant, professional. "Take your time and let us know if you find anything". A scratch was buffed out immediately. I asked for the badging to be removed and *poof* it was gone. Professional, fast, complete.
When I bought the 2018 M3P: Car was prepped and ready when we arrived. Group of 5 people, went through paperwork quickly and efficiently. Found a couple of issues on the paint and they needed to find someone with appropriate tools, took 20 minutes. I pointed out a mis-aligned rear hatch, and was told to bring it back for a service appointment to get it adjusted.
The Plaid: We arrived 5 minutes early. Busy lot. We walk past the car on the way to the door and it looks great - a few fingerprints, smudges, but nothing that can't be quickly dispatched. No scratches. A random adviser asks if we need help - and spends 5 minutes telling us *in detail* what he loves about the Plaid and is happy for us. We get to the desk, check in - "Oh, I think your car is around here somewhere." I point to the exact car - "Oh right!" Some paperwork mixups in the process - "Pull out your phone and go do Tesla.com, and pull up your account" I'm told - and we get past the basics. Inside the car, plastic covers on screens and glossy surfaces are still in place. We finish, sign papers, temp plate is taped to the window. As we're about to leave, we're told to wait a minute and the advisor brings out a Congratulations card signed by those inside. "Go Embarrass A Lambo!" wrote one. As I pull out of the lot, I notice that the battery is at 40%.
There are opportunities to tune this process.
Summary: The wait for the car was agonizing and long. Reading through this thread was therapy and I thank you all for allowing me to lurk along. I can guarantee that once you sit in the driver's seat and grab the yoke, it will be a soothing balm for everything that's transpired. Be sure and wave when you pass another Tesla!
-HF
]
'd a post and I'm considering sending someone to do a wellness check on them.
