After over 6 weeks of serious Tesla OCD, we put in our order on October 12. Though we still had some unanswered config questions, it was time to put up or shut up.
Our prior test drive was way back on Labor Day and was before we knew anything about the cars really. Unfortunately in Austin you can only get test drives during their periodic Test Drive Events and due to our travel schedule, today was the first day we could get back in the gallery to test drive again. Unanswered questions were mostly around color/finishes, Pano or Panot, and most importantly, to P or not to P.
This morning, ahead of the test drive, I contacted Alliant and they took our application over the phone. About 30 minutes before we left for the gallery, they called back with the news that the loan is approved: 90k for 72 mo at 1.49%. That is practically free money. A good sign! We drove to the gallery somewhat nervous and assuming that all the test cars would be P85+ and the performance question would be difficult to gauge. We immediately ran into Jason who took us on our first test drive way back then and remembered us. And, lo and behold, they had a S60 with pano, textile seats, and regular sound and a P85 with leather seats, no pano, and upgraded sound. We had already decided on upgraded sound but were a little unsure based on all the threads on the topic. So, we both got to drive both cars and everything came clear. While the S60 was quick, the P is just breathtaking. The wife's comment was that the performance response made the car feel smaller. No contest on the stereo, the upgrade sounds way better and I am not up for an after market audio experience, which has never gone well for me in the past. We decided to pass on the pano; it was the one thing she felt strongly about and the truth is our cars have always had sun/moon roofs and living in the Texas heat, we almost never opened them. The plain white/tan leather/obeche matte looked really good to us.
We went back into the store and brought up our config on their very nice Mac, made the choices, and then I hovered the pointer over the confirm link. The air crackled between the two of us, and I pushed the link, and it was done! Wow. This is over twice what we have ever paid for a car before, and it feels both exciting and dangerous in a way. But it also feels right. Plus, they gave us free mugs for confirming in the store.
Now the waiting begins.
PS, the tech package upgrade with power folding mirrors came in between order and confirmation and my config still showed the old tech config. I emailed my guy in Denver and he says they will get that updated for us.
PPS, Jason said we should see the car in early December.
PPPS, I don't expect any birthday or Christmas presents from my wife for the foreseeable future! No problem.
Our prior test drive was way back on Labor Day and was before we knew anything about the cars really. Unfortunately in Austin you can only get test drives during their periodic Test Drive Events and due to our travel schedule, today was the first day we could get back in the gallery to test drive again. Unanswered questions were mostly around color/finishes, Pano or Panot, and most importantly, to P or not to P.
This morning, ahead of the test drive, I contacted Alliant and they took our application over the phone. About 30 minutes before we left for the gallery, they called back with the news that the loan is approved: 90k for 72 mo at 1.49%. That is practically free money. A good sign! We drove to the gallery somewhat nervous and assuming that all the test cars would be P85+ and the performance question would be difficult to gauge. We immediately ran into Jason who took us on our first test drive way back then and remembered us. And, lo and behold, they had a S60 with pano, textile seats, and regular sound and a P85 with leather seats, no pano, and upgraded sound. We had already decided on upgraded sound but were a little unsure based on all the threads on the topic. So, we both got to drive both cars and everything came clear. While the S60 was quick, the P is just breathtaking. The wife's comment was that the performance response made the car feel smaller. No contest on the stereo, the upgrade sounds way better and I am not up for an after market audio experience, which has never gone well for me in the past. We decided to pass on the pano; it was the one thing she felt strongly about and the truth is our cars have always had sun/moon roofs and living in the Texas heat, we almost never opened them. The plain white/tan leather/obeche matte looked really good to us.
We went back into the store and brought up our config on their very nice Mac, made the choices, and then I hovered the pointer over the confirm link. The air crackled between the two of us, and I pushed the link, and it was done! Wow. This is over twice what we have ever paid for a car before, and it feels both exciting and dangerous in a way. But it also feels right. Plus, they gave us free mugs for confirming in the store.
Now the waiting begins.
PS, the tech package upgrade with power folding mirrors came in between order and confirmation and my config still showed the old tech config. I emailed my guy in Denver and he says they will get that updated for us.
PPS, Jason said we should see the car in early December.
PPPS, I don't expect any birthday or Christmas presents from my wife for the foreseeable future! No problem.
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