Good evening everyone! It's been a crazy 24 hours but I finally have time to settle down and write up my overall Model S ordering and delivery experience. So I ordered my Model S back in late July and after many EDD changes, I finally received the car yesterday. Even the days leading up to delivery day was a nail biter: I received my VIN on Jan 15 and on the same day I get a text stating I can take delivery on Jan 18. Great! I'll be out of town on Jan 23 so just in time for me to get the car, send it to get it tinted/PPF'ed/ceramic-coated and I should come back to a nice shiny car. I got the car added to insurance, paid the balance through the app, and now play the waiting game. The next day (Jan 16), I get a text stating that due to logistical issues (lack of drivers?), they had to push off my delivery date to Jan 23 as a placeholder date. Uh oh... So I get on the phone with Tesla and let them know that I'll be out on Jan 23 so they would either have to hold it for me or delivery it sooner. From there, everyday I send a text to the delivery center asking for an update: "No updates as of yet." Lovely... So now I have to worry about if/when they can hold my car, is Tesla going to give it to the first person who shows up, do I go back to the end of the line? I check the app everyday and the Jan 23 date hasn't budged.
Saturday morning, Jan 22: I get the regular automated asking to confirm my pick-up for Jan 23. I call the delivery center and ask them if I can get it today instead since I won't be available on the 23rd. They said they'll get back to me. 20 minutes later: "Okay, we can have you come in as one of our last deliveries for the day." Amazing! I scramble to print out my documents, sign all the agreements on the app, and arrived 30 minutes earlier to meet this red beauty waiting in the lot.
Months of waiting and last minute tensions made delivery so worth it. Of course, Tesla had to get a few more jabs in:
- Still has the old style tail lights and headlights (not a big deal for me)
- The hood had a minor paint chip
- The frunk side linings were misaligned, so it made opening and closing the hood a bit difficult
- The trunk was missing the lower space covers and the privacy shelf
- No key fobs
- No license plate frames
Luckily, the fine people at the delivery center were able to get a couple of key fobs and license plate frames, but the other issues have already been submitted to Tesla for a service appointment. Interestingly enough, there were also a couple of the Model Xs with the new interior being delivered that day.
After watching so many videos of others drive their Model Ss, using the yoke and screen seemed pretty easy though I still am trying to get used to major turns and using the turn signal buttons properly. Sadly, I only got to spend maybe 3 hours total with the car... I'm on my business trip now but at least I'll have this waiting for me when I get home. As it's been said by other owners here: it's definitely worth the wait. Having parted ways with my beloved Audi A7 many years ago, this Model S brings me back to those days where I actually look forward driving and finding any excuse to take the car out (yes, even in LA traffic).
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