My Current Used Tesla Buying Experience

[SBZRO]

I figured I'd kill some time and post about my ongoing Tesla purchasing experience and try to provide real-time updates. I guess I should start at the beginning

3/26/19 - Started my search for a used Model S. Was very fond of the P85D and P90D but couldn't find the exact configuration I was looking for. Reached out to a used vehicle sales adviser and was matched up with Tim. Asked him about a few options and shared a link with him regarding a certain vehicle I had found in New York (I'm in Maryland). Asked about the specs I wasn't 100% sure about, where in New York the delivery center would be and how Tesla financing works

3/27/19 - No answer from Tim. Sent a quick email just asking about the April 1st price increase and if that applied to used inventory as well

4/2/19 - Still now answer from Tim. Original vehicle I was looking at sold. Asked Tim if there was anything else similar in stock anywhere as I was coming up with nothing on EV-CPO and a few other sites.

4/5/19 - Found another P85D with just about the same specs as before located about 35 minutes from my house based on the GPS position in the pictures. Price is amazing but still hesitant because I've heard the horror stories when it comes to the used car buying experience. Decide to stalk it while I debate on putting down a deposit

4/8/19 - Finally pulled the trigger and put in the deposit. Hardest mouse click I've had to done. The first 3 times it error-ed out due to a missing phone number field that I could find (hidden in a drop down menu). About 30 minutes later, Tim calls and congratulates me on becoming a Tesla owner. Informs me about the site and the steps that need to be taken to ensure the process isn't slowed down (Payment, Trade-In, Registration, Drivers License, Insurance and Pickup). I was preapproved at my credit union already at a pretty good rate but I decided to check Tesla just in case and I was given an even better offer. Whole process took about 5 minutes from filling out the application to getting an approval email. Completed 5 of the 6 steps in about 30 minutes or so, with Pick Up being the only thing missing. I was emailed again by Tim asking me to complete everything and once completed my Delivery Adviser would reach out.

4/9/19 - Received and email from Steve at the Tesla Delivery team as well as Jana and Tim. Just confirming that I completed all tasks in the MyTesla portal. I responded back letting them know that everything was done and that I was excited as well as asked for a possible ETA. Jana responded back within an hour stating that the delivery process can take up to 2 weeks. The car was currently at a Manhiem holding lot and they are looking for a car transport to delivery the vehicle to the Delivery Center right outside of Baltimore (25 minutes away from each other). I ask if it was easier to just pickup from the holding lot but I don't receive a response.

4/10/19 - I send a quick note just asking for updates and if there was anything I missed. I mention that the only part not completed is the last step, Pickup, because I assume they would be the ones to activate that portion. So far no response.

So now I'm here. All I can do is read other peoples posts and hope that I am not one of the people who have to wait 25+ days.

Should I send them another email tomorrow asking for updates or just wait until after the weekend?

 

[SBZRO]

In the 17 minutes since I've posted this, I received a call from Jana from the delivery team and have setup pickup for Saturday. She said she'd provide more info via the portal.

 

[wdskuk]

Let us know how it goes. I love hearing stories on Tesla deliveries.

 

[SBZRO]

I swear they're on this site watching these threads. I'll let you know how delivery goes. I'm super excited! Don't know how I'll be able to sleep the next two nights.

 

[wdskuk]

Yea same here. We were excited the week before we got our Model 3 Performance. Even though we put a deposit down on a demo model we have never seen or test drove the car. Overall the experience was great even though they made us wait an hour after our schedule delivery appointment. Car was beautiful though.

 

[FL510]

Good luck! I picked one up about a month ago, and the horror stories I read on here were enough to make me instantly question the decision.

But to the contrary, the delivery experience was great, the car was in great shape, and the service experience I've had since has been nothing short of outstanding. You're going to love the car!

 

[byeLT4]

Congrats! So am I reading your first post right that Tim did not reach out to you at all until you made the deposit?

 

[SBZRO]

Congrats! So am I reading your first post right that Tim did not reach out to you at all until you made the deposit?

Tim reached out to me about 30 minutes after I had put down my deposit. I sent him emails prior but he didn’t respond at all. Eventually I was so anxious about purchasing this particular vehicle that I called the Tesla number and was directed to the new car sales department. Spoke to a lovely person who gave me contact info for a local used car advisor. I called this person and left a voicemail. Eventually I sucked it up and put down the deposit without really talking to anyone from Tesla. I used this forum and a bunch of YT videos to answer a lot of my questions.

And once I found this section about deliveries, I felt more comfortable about clicking that button.

And another update. Just received my purchase order paperwork and paid my remaining balance via the site. Tomorrow’s pickup should be signing some paperwork and getting the car. As excited as I am, I am still dead tired for some reason. Kinda like my body is shutting down because it knows it’ll be in a Tesla tomorrow

 

[Toasty_OH]

SBZRO,

Curious about the car you were looking at first but missed on. I pulled the trigger on a P85D located in NY on 3/30. I'm due to pick it up tomorrow. Also nervous as hell and trying to be prepared with checklists, etc. Curiously, my sales adviser was also a Tim.

 

[Denila]

Let us know how both deliveries go. I'm also waiting for my updates since I gave deposit on Tuesday morning 4/9

 

[SBZRO]

SBZRO,

Curious about the car you were looking at first but missed on. I pulled the trigger on a P85D located in NY on 3/30. I'm due to pick it up tomorrow. Also nervous as hell and trying to be prepared with checklists, etc. Curiously, my sales adviser was also a Tim.

The first one was this one.

New & Used Electric Cars | Tesla

Found it and watched the price drop until it was in my sweet spot. Emailed and called Tim on the 26th and again every few days. Car was sold around the 30th.

Edit: link wasn’t working. VIN ends in 092775.

 

[Toasty_OH]

Well, it seems we have the same tastes then, that's the one I bought.

This link should still work.

I'll let you know how it goes. I'm not likely going to sleep much tonight. I've been noticing the dwindling stock of P85Ds lately and even though I really wanted blue, the dark metallic silver looked good. I hope the one you got is great. The mileage on mine is a little higher than I wanted but the pics really didn't show any large flaws, and I've been looking at pics for a couple months, seeing all kinds of things. I even made a spreadsheet tracking my favorites to see what prices they sold at, etc.

This is the most I've ever spent on anything save my house, and both were used!

 

[SBZRO]

Nice!

We do have the same taste. I wanted blue. Gray was the backup. White if all else failed.

I liked the fact that the previous owner installed the center console. I actually preordered mine from Taptes the day I ordered my car and just got an email saying it was shipping out.

Let me know how delivery goes. I’m gonna attempt to get some sleep. Good luck!

 

[SBZRO]

Final update!

Took delivery of my 2015 P85D today. Had an appointment at the Ownings Mill Delivery Center in Maryland. Got there a few minutes before and I’m glad I did because there was almost no parking in a sea of Tesla’s. Went inside and was greeted and I informed them that I was there for vehicle pickup. They directed me to the service waiting area and I was greeted by another person. They provided all of my paperwork in a black Tesla folder before they went to get the car. I reviewed everything with my lawyer (read: my wife) and everything was pretty straightforward. Signed all paperwork in about 5 minutes and was given keys only to be told that the second key fob may be dead. They don’t have a battery to test the fob so they will note on the account that either a battery or fob is needed.

Was handed off to another person to go over the vehicle and it’s features. From the outside, the car looked flawless. Upon further inspect I found a few light scratches and rubber marks near the driver side rear door. They said they could buff it out real quick, and they did just that on the spot.

The interior was a bit dirty. My wife was in the backseat and she commented on what seemed like crumbs in the back. Floor mats were present but looked pretty dusty. Center storage area had dirt build up along the edges. Debris in the cup holder. Stuff like that. I even noticed that while going through the features that the previous owners paperwork was still sitting in the glovebox. Luckily, the car was factory rebooted and all personal information was wiped. The wall charger provided was missing pieces so I was given a brand new one, free of charge.

The person that gave the walkthrough of the car was decently knowledgeable but I feel it could have been better. Maybe it’s because I have been researching the car for months ahead of time.

Dirty interior aside, I’m happy with the car. I had already planned to get the thing fully detailed this week as I was expecting the worst.

The overall experience was good. Communication could be better since the customer is in the dark and my be anxious since putting down a non refundable deposit. I would say if you are in the market for a used Tesla, be patient. I can give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are just spread too thinly at the moment but once you’re in your car, only thing you’ll be thinking is how great of a car it is.

Now I gotta start a thread up about random squeaks and other things and how the warranty works.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

Signed all paperwork in about 5 minutes and was given keys only to be told that the second key fob may be dead. They don’t have a battery to test the fob so they will note on the account that either a battery or fob is needed.

From reading this forum, one gets the impression that no delivery center has ever possessed a spare coin battery. Who wants to get together a GoFundMe for Tesla to buy a few thousand coin batteries? I mean, I bought 10 on Amazon just the other day for only a few bucks. What a silly phenomenon that Tesla can’t.

 

[Toasty_OH]

So I promised an update too... and maybe I'll do a separate, more detailed experience post when I have more time as well.

We got to Tesla Cincinnati a few minutes early and waited a couple minutes past our appointment time before our delivery agent came to get us. The car was waiting inside their delivery garage and it was very clean. Of course my eyes went to the first things I noticed I didn't see in the rather crappy photos they send out. There was a small white mark in the right rear bumper panel behind the wheel, marks on the right front wheel, a minor scratch in the hood along with small chips from road debris here and there. There was a noticeable dent in the hood as well. Some white chips/scratches in the top over the windshield and towards the back on the hatchback glass. Finally there was a plastic piece in front of the right rear wheel well sticking out. There were some other minor things we pointed out and the staff and manager were very helpful fixing the plastic piece and a rubbing out some other minor cosmetic issues.

Our delivery agent then gave us the tour, from charging to the different screens in the control center, etc. He was very knowledgeable and answered our questions well. He was also very patient which we appreciated. We did find another plastic piece behind the left front wheel sticking out like the other, but the service people had already left for the day so we couldn't get that fixed right then. Seems it's just a matter of taking it off, cleaning out the rocks or whatever trapped inside, and putting it back on. Hopefully mobile service will be able to fix that eventually. After we finally did the paperwork and paid for the thing, he even took us out to the parking lot and showed us how autopark worked, and then showed us a new Model X for good measure (and for my wife).

Finally almost 2 and a half hours later we were on our way. I will say I was surprised by some initial creaky sounds, and noticed on the way home that the steering wheel alignment was not right, as it was 15-20 leftward when driving in a straight line. I've let my delivery specialist know about this and hopefully I'll get that resolved as well.

Overall the car is in very good shape. The interior was about flawless. Either Tesla Cinci detailed the car perfectly or this was a well taken care of car. The back seats almost seems like they've never been used. There was some strange dirt spots on the seat belts when we pulled those out, but that was quickly taken care of and cleaned up.

So far I'm very happy about how this has all worked out. And I totally shocked my wife when I first mashed it in insane mode. It almost shocked me as well. Such fun!

Now on to getting my garage a 14-50 outlet, and figuring out how to wire my radar detector and dash cam in, not to mention getting a new phone mount as my current one does not work in the air vent slats.

Some pics:

 

[Denila]

Congrats!!!! Beautiful Tesla!!!!

 

[SilverGS]

Congrats!!!! Looks awesome!

 

[kent9272]

Took delivery at the Tyson’s location in Va. Was told be be there at 6p as they would be busy. Got here 15 mins early and waited an hour with no one updating me. Had to ask 3 different people. Didn’t go over the car because I was in a hurry to get home. Driver visor and top liner are stained. The passenger seat is dirty. No cables to charge phone and asked numerous times about this and the lack of follow up is absurd. Curb rash on the front passenger wheel too for the win. Overall, I would never ever buy a car from Tesla. No customer service at all and I’m regretting the whole process.

 

[Fleer]

Took delivery at the Tyson’s location in Va. Was told be be there at 6p as they would be busy. Got here 15 mins early and waited an hour with no one updating me. Had to ask 3 different people. Didn’t go over the car because I was in a hurry to get home. Driver visor and top liner are stained. The passenger seat is dirty. No cables to charge phone and asked numerous times about this and the lack of follow up is absurd. Curb rash on the front passenger wheel too for the win. Overall, I would never ever buy a car from Tesla. No customer service at all and I’m regretting the whole process.

Get some Leatherique, it's incredible to restore the leather if its dirty. If the damage was not in the photos you may have some leverage to get the issues addressed.