Been waiting about 1 year for delivery for a 5 seat MXLR. Got a vin assigned last week and made appointment for 3pm on the 23rd. Wife and I decided to go look at the car in the lot on the 22nd. Got up to Loveland and went in the dealer, the SA looked us up and said "hi Im XXXX ill be the guy doing your appointment tomorrow"
us: "Great, we just want to look at it before delivery tomorrow we are excited"
him: "OK, but its probably dirty from delivery but its an open lot, I cant stop u walking around and finding your car and looking at it, just dont sit in it”
us: "Ummmm. OK". Slightly odd interaction, as if we were breaking the rules by looking at cars on the lot, but he was pleasant enough
We followed his rules and looked but didnt sit in it..
Found the car in the lot, mechanic has just plugged it in and said we could look at it all we wanted. It was dirty from delivery, so I only made a brief inspection but found numerous panel issues. Background note: I have restored multiple cars and aircraft over the years and owned multiple car brands at, above and below this price point. I do have enough background to know what would be an "easy" fix or a tough fix, even for a body shop, based on my body shop experience.
1. Drivers door "out" about an 1/8" at the waistline trim both the front and rear...but bottom of door and glass "OK" (level). This would be a difficult fix...sucking in the front top hinge and latch would cure the issue, but would pull the glass in waaaay too tight.
2. Looking at car from front, looking at where the "roof" (piece between the two FWD doors) meets the glass was "up" about an 1/8" on the drivers side and level on the passenger side. I have no clue if that center spine/roof piece is welded on, clipped on, or bonded on? Either way it was attached crooked. I would not personally know how to fix this.
3. Looking from the back of the car, there is a 60" wide by 3" tall strip that runs across the back of the car on the outside...this one was wavy AF and on the drivers side was even w the FWD and on the passenger side it was down 1/4". Again, no clue if this piece is clipped, bonded or welded on....but it was wavy enough and poorly attached it looked like they had trouble getting it. I had no clue how to fix this.
4. Both FWD doors opened and closed correctly, however, the driver side cleared the spine/roof in the open position by approx 1/32 (good). The pass side rear of the FWD impinged/rubbed on the spine/roof (not so good). I*probably* could have fixed this my removing the interior panel and repositioning the glass alone (I understand there is a certain amount of slop available).
There were a couple of other pre delivery MXs on the lot and sadly neither of them showed these issues (tho we couldn’t inspect them as thoroughly.)
We left and discussed on way home and decided to reject it. My wife was disappointed, but I can't justify 120k for a car that looks like it came of a 70's British Leyland production line (Im expat British). My primary concern would be their ability to correct these problems post sale. They aren’t a body shop. And I don’t want to work on my new car.
I went back up for delivery next day (23rd) alone as I knew I was going to reject. SA dude from day before was very chipper, car was parked outside looking very clean and well presented. I said I wanted to inspect again now its clean. He was fine with that and unlocked it.
It was actually more difficult to see the same issues I mentioned above now that it was all shiny, but nothing had been adjusted. I also found an additional door seal issue on the passenger FWD, it looked like the seal had come “untucked”. Nothing in the interior shouted out at me and I didn’t bother running thru anything else on the check list.
Went in and told him I wanted to pass on this VIN. He seemed genuinely surprised and asked me to show him the problem areas. This is where it got interesting…he summoned over his SA buddy (didn’t catch the guys title/name) who “knows a lot more about the MX than I do” (his words).
We went outside and I pointed out the issues….they made a little show of not being able to see what I was pointing out numerous times (dude…this panel IS QUARTER INCH DOWN….my blind 14 yr old Labrador could see this) and then I mentioned my background.
Long story short:
Overall, I was saddened by the experience (saddened for Tesla and as a shareholder). It felt like a typical car dealer interaction (tho much lighter pressure), with them pushing to try to get me to take a sub standard car. I couldn’t tell if they had really never took a look around a Lexus or Benz lot to see if “cars at this price point” all exhibit panel issues or if they were just BSing…sadly the latter I think.
For anyone in the northern CO front range , if you have a blue MXLR 5 seater, vin ending in 2021, I hope it works for you!
us: "Great, we just want to look at it before delivery tomorrow we are excited"
him: "OK, but its probably dirty from delivery but its an open lot, I cant stop u walking around and finding your car and looking at it, just dont sit in it”
us: "Ummmm. OK". Slightly odd interaction, as if we were breaking the rules by looking at cars on the lot, but he was pleasant enough
We followed his rules and looked but didnt sit in it..Found the car in the lot, mechanic has just plugged it in and said we could look at it all we wanted. It was dirty from delivery, so I only made a brief inspection but found numerous panel issues. Background note: I have restored multiple cars and aircraft over the years and owned multiple car brands at, above and below this price point. I do have enough background to know what would be an "easy" fix or a tough fix, even for a body shop, based on my body shop experience.
1. Drivers door "out" about an 1/8" at the waistline trim both the front and rear...but bottom of door and glass "OK" (level). This would be a difficult fix...sucking in the front top hinge and latch would cure the issue, but would pull the glass in waaaay too tight.
2. Looking at car from front, looking at where the "roof" (piece between the two FWD doors) meets the glass was "up" about an 1/8" on the drivers side and level on the passenger side. I have no clue if that center spine/roof piece is welded on, clipped on, or bonded on? Either way it was attached crooked. I would not personally know how to fix this.
3. Looking from the back of the car, there is a 60" wide by 3" tall strip that runs across the back of the car on the outside...this one was wavy AF and on the drivers side was even w the FWD and on the passenger side it was down 1/4". Again, no clue if this piece is clipped, bonded or welded on....but it was wavy enough and poorly attached it looked like they had trouble getting it. I had no clue how to fix this.
4. Both FWD doors opened and closed correctly, however, the driver side cleared the spine/roof in the open position by approx 1/32 (good). The pass side rear of the FWD impinged/rubbed on the spine/roof (not so good). I*probably* could have fixed this my removing the interior panel and repositioning the glass alone (I understand there is a certain amount of slop available).
There were a couple of other pre delivery MXs on the lot and sadly neither of them showed these issues (tho we couldn’t inspect them as thoroughly.)
We left and discussed on way home and decided to reject it. My wife was disappointed, but I can't justify 120k for a car that looks like it came of a 70's British Leyland production line (Im expat British). My primary concern would be their ability to correct these problems post sale. They aren’t a body shop. And I don’t want to work on my new car.
I went back up for delivery next day (23rd) alone as I knew I was going to reject. SA dude from day before was very chipper, car was parked outside looking very clean and well presented. I said I wanted to inspect again now its clean. He was fine with that and unlocked it.
It was actually more difficult to see the same issues I mentioned above now that it was all shiny, but nothing had been adjusted. I also found an additional door seal issue on the passenger FWD, it looked like the seal had come “untucked”. Nothing in the interior shouted out at me and I didn’t bother running thru anything else on the check list.
Went in and told him I wanted to pass on this VIN. He seemed genuinely surprised and asked me to show him the problem areas. This is where it got interesting…he summoned over his SA buddy (didn’t catch the guys title/name) who “knows a lot more about the MX than I do” (his words).
We went outside and I pointed out the issues….they made a little show of not being able to see what I was pointing out numerous times (dude…this panel IS QUARTER INCH DOWN….my blind 14 yr old Labrador could see this) and then I mentioned my background.
Long story short:
- SA buddy agreed they would have a hard time correcting these issues post sale as they aren’t a body shop (thanks for your honesty)
- SA buddy said “this is all within tolerance though” (dude, you’re losing me)
- SA buddy said “you can pass, but the next one might be worse" (thanks for your honesty again)
- SA buddy said (and this is the most hilarious part) “well once you get to this price point, cars are hand built, I mean robot built, so its within tolerances” (dude….I’m out).
Overall, I was saddened by the experience (saddened for Tesla and as a shareholder). It felt like a typical car dealer interaction (tho much lighter pressure), with them pushing to try to get me to take a sub standard car. I couldn’t tell if they had really never took a look around a Lexus or Benz lot to see if “cars at this price point” all exhibit panel issues or if they were just BSing…sadly the latter I think.
For anyone in the northern CO front range , if you have a blue MXLR 5 seater, vin ending in 2021, I hope it works for you!
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