Here's my 2 cents with this process:
6/10/2017
Deposit made on a 2012 Signature Red P85 with an advertised 24,000 miles and 2-year warranty
6/10/2017 to 6/14/2017
Received autogenerated "Welcome to Tesla Family" and "Road to Ownership" emails. The first email from my CPO advisor came a few hours after placing the deposit. I was given a
6-week estimate to delivery.
I also applied for financing right away as directed on the My Tesla website, but did not realize I was supposed to wait until closer to delivery. Thankfully, my early application worked out in the end, but to all other future buyers: DO NOT APPLY FOR FINANCING RIGHT AWAY!
I also exchanged several emails with my CPO advisor, Mohamed, the first few days. He would respond within 24 hours. He actually sent the wrong CarFax report at first, but quickly corrected this. Already owning a 2013 Model S and being familiar with the car, I made a few requests, but he pretty much said his supervisor said no to everything about which I asked. This was not unexpected, but I figured it could not hurt to ask. As an example, I asked for updated sun visors, a parcel shelf, to pay for the TPMS upgrade, and to swap silver turbines for grey ones. I was denied on each request and told TPMS and sunvisors could be done after delivery. No big deal.
6/14/2017
Vehicle in Transit email received (I never received an email saying my vehicle reached it's reconditioning location)
7/5/2017
I read in another thread that a local CPO buyer saw my car at the local service center. That buyer sends me pictures of the car, which are, to date, still the only pictures I have seen of this impending purchase.
2012 Model S Signature Cars
7/7/2017
I email a couple of the service advisors I know at the local SC and inquire about some of the requests I asked of the CPO advisor. They agree to some of my requests as part of the reconditioning process. I'm not going to disclose what at this point and will wait until after delivery, but I think I had a small advantage being an existing owner of a Model S and Roadster and being familiar with the reconditioning service center already.
7/18/2017
Phone call and email from the Delivery Specialist (actual title "Delivery Experience Specialist"). Delivery scheduled for 7/22/2017 -
exactly 6 weeks from original order date.
7/19/2017
Finalized financing and paid non-financed amount via ACH transfer from checking on My Tesla website. Contacted my insurance agent for insurance as well. N.B., proof of insurance on my existing cars was good enough for my Delivery Specialist. I did not need to show proof of insurance for the car I am purchasing. In AZ, I am told you have something like 30 days after a car purchase to get insurance and they'll still honor claims within that period. Nobody quote me on this. Talk to your licensed agent.
Current status:
Awaiting delivery on 7/22/2017
I bought my Roadster as a CPO back in 2013 and it took about 5 weeks. There was very little communication (but I did get actual pictures of the car). Not much has changed. I bought my current 2013 Model S via a private party.
I know the lack of communication and long wait times are frustrating. I've read about some cases here in which the time to delivery is exceedingly and unacceptably long as well. For what it's worth, I tried in this case just to sit back and let them do their jobs. I was fortuitous in that another owner actually saw and took pictures of my car, so it satiated my curiosity and I reached out to some Tesla staff I knew with some requests. However, I had in my mind that I was just going to wait until that 6 week mark to ask for a status report. That said, I think asking for pictures during the process is quite reasonable.
I think I have a sense of why this takes so long. Tesla does not work with traditional dealerships, which would typically obtain a car, recondition it, and then advertise and sell it from their lot. Tesla gets a bunch of trade ins and rather reconditioning all of them and listing them for sale, they'll list the general specs and once people put down a deposit, they'll put the time in to recondition to high standards. I think this is actually more efficient than reconditioning the models they think will sell and listing them for sale (with potential quick delivery). I also think the parts issues mentioned elsewhere as well as relatively low number of service centers across the country increases the reconditioning time.
Communication could no doubt be improved - at least with information on vehicle location and general reconditioning status. I tried not to bother the reconditioning SC too much (and don't think I did other than my requests on 7/7/2017). They're busy enough with new car preparations and repairs.
I'll report back on inspection report, vehicle condition, and Due Bill if I find anything this weekend. The warranty is a huge piece of mind. I have full confidence based on 4 years of ownership thus far, that if any issue are found, Tesla will do their best to make it right.
Good luck everyone! You'll love your car!